Anaheim, CA

Anaheim Municipal Code Chapter 6.70 establishes quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM in residential zones throughout the city. During these hours, any noise that is plainly audible at or beyond the property line of a residential dwelling and that disturbs the peace, comfort, or repose of persons of ordinary sensitivity is prohibited. Daytime nuisance noise complaints are also actionable but are evaluated against the broader disturbance standard rather than the stricter nighttime threshold. The ordinance applies citywide, including the resort and entertainment corridor areas near Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center, where residential neighborhoods border major tourist destinations.

Anaheim permits construction activity in or adjacent to residential zones only during designated hours: Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 7 PM. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. These time restrictions apply to all construction, demolition, grading, excavation, and renovation work that generates noise audible at a residential property. Projects in the Anaheim Resort area or other commercially zoned districts may have extended hours under specific conditional use permit conditions, but residential buffer protections still apply.

Anaheim Municipal Code Section 6.70.106 establishes exterior noise level standards by land use zone. Residential zones are limited to 55 dBA during the day (7 AM to 10 PM) and 50 dBA at night (10 PM to 7 AM). Commercial zones are set at 65 dBA and industrial zones at 70 dBA around the clock. Sources that exceed the applicable zone standard at the property line of the receiving property are in violation. Measurements are taken using the A-weighting network with slow meter response.

Anaheim regulates outdoor amplified music and sound through its noise control ordinance and special event permitting system. Amplified sound from residential properties must not exceed the applicable exterior decibel limits at the receiving property line: 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime in residential zones. During quiet hours (10 PM to 7 AM), any amplified music audible beyond the property line is prohibited. Commercial entertainment venues, including those in the Anaheim Resort corridor, operate under conditional use permits with specific sound conditions. Street performers and mobile sound systems require a city permit.

Anaheim requires a Short-Term Rental Permit for any residential property rented for periods of fewer than 30 consecutive days. The city enacted Chapter 4.05 of the Municipal Code to regulate the growing short-term rental market driven largely by proximity to the Disneyland Resort and Convention Center. Permits are issued by the Planning and Building Department and require compliance with operational standards including noise, parking, occupancy limits, and insurance. Properties must pass an initial inspection and are subject to annual renewal with re-inspection.

In addition to obtaining a Short-Term Rental Permit, Anaheim requires all STR operators to register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate and remit the city's 15% TOT on all rental income from stays under 30 days. Registration is processed through the Finance Department. Operators must also register with the Orange County Tax Collector for any applicable county assessments. Platform operators like Airbnb collect and remit TOT on behalf of hosts under a voluntary collection agreement with the city, but hosts remain ultimately responsible for ensuring full compliance.

Anaheim does not impose a traditional annual night cap on short-term rentals. Instead, the city controls STR density through a permit cap system that limits the total number of active STR permits in each residential zone, effectively restricting the overall volume of STR activity citywide. Individual permitted properties may operate year-round without a specific per-property night limit. However, properties that accumulate verified noise, parking, or nuisance complaints may have their permits conditioned with restricted rental days or revoked entirely.

Anaheim permits recreational fires in residential backyards under the California Fire Code Section 307 as locally adopted. Fires must be contained in an approved fire pit, chiminea, or outdoor fireplace and must not be used for burning trash, yard debris, or construction materials. All recreational fires must be attended by a responsible adult, maintained at a manageable size (no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height), and positioned at least 15 feet from structures, fences, and combustible materials. Wood-burning devices are subject to SCAQMD no-burn day restrictions.

Fire pits in Anaheim are regulated under the California Fire Code and the city's building code as enforced by Anaheim Fire & Rescue and the Building Division. Portable manufactured fire pits do not require a permit but must comply with clearance and operational requirements. Permanent built-in fire pits and outdoor fireplaces require a building permit and inspection to ensure compliance with setback, fuel supply, and structural requirements. Gas-line fire pits require a plumbing permit and must be installed by a licensed contractor. All fire pits are subject to SCAQMD no-burn day restrictions if wood-burning.

Anaheim falls within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which enforces mandatory No-Burn day curtailment orders during winter months when particulate matter levels are forecast to exceed federal health standards. Residential wood-burning in fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves is prohibited on declared No-Burn days. Open burning of trash, vegetation, and debris is prohibited year-round within Anaheim city limits. The Anaheim Fire & Rescue Department enforces California Fire Code provisions that further restrict outdoor burning during Red Flag Warning conditions.

Anaheim enforces a 72-hour street parking limit on public streets citywide, prohibiting any vehicle from remaining in the same location for more than 72 consecutive hours. The city also maintains posted time-limited zones near commercial corridors, schools, and the Anaheim Resort District surrounding Disneyland. Street sweeping schedules require vehicles to be moved on designated days, and overnight parking restrictions apply in certain residential areas near the resort and entertainment venues. Anaheim's Parking Enforcement Division actively patrols and responds to resident complaints regarding abandoned or long-term parked vehicles.

Anaheim strictly regulates the parking and storage of recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, and other oversized vehicles in residential zones. RVs and boats may not be parked on public streets for more than 72 hours and are subject to additional size-based restrictions in certain areas. On private residential property, RVs and boats must be stored behind the front building setback line and screened from public view. Anaheim's dense suburban development, relatively compact lot sizes, and proximity to major tourist attractions make oversized vehicle storage a frequent code enforcement concern.

Anaheim regulates vehicle parking on residential property through its zoning code and municipal code provisions governing property maintenance and nuisance conditions. Vehicles parked on driveways and residential lots must be on approved paved surfaces and may not extend over public sidewalks or into the right-of-way. Inoperable, unregistered, or dismantled vehicles may not be stored in open view on driveways or front yards. Anaheim's relatively compact residential lots and high population density make driveway and on-property parking compliance a common code enforcement issue.

Anaheim restricts the parking of oversized commercial vehicles on residential streets to maintain neighborhood livability and ensure safe traffic flow. Commercial vehicles exceeding certain weight and size thresholds may not be parked overnight on residential streets. The city's mix of residential neighborhoods adjacent to major commercial corridors, industrial zones, and the Anaheim Resort District creates frequent conflicts between commercial vehicle operators and residents. Short-term parking for active loading and unloading is generally permitted, but extended commercial vehicle storage in residential areas is prohibited.

Anaheim's zoning code establishes maximum fence and wall heights that vary by location on the property and the underlying zoning district. In residential zones, fences in the front yard are generally limited to 42 inches, while side-yard and rear-yard fences may be up to 6 feet tall. Fences and walls on corner lots have reduced height limits near the street intersection to maintain sight-line visibility for traffic safety. Taller fences or walls may be permitted through a variance or conditional use permit in specific circumstances.

Anaheim generally does not require a building permit for fences and freestanding walls that are 6 feet or less in height, consistent with the California Building Code exemption. Fences and walls exceeding 6 feet, retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), and any fence or wall that incorporates electrical components require a building permit. Even when a building permit is not required, all fences must comply with the zoning code's height, setback, and material restrictions, and property owners are responsible for locating their property lines accurately before construction.

Fence disputes between neighbors in Anaheim are governed primarily by California Civil Code Section 841, known as the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013, which establishes a statutory framework for shared responsibility of boundary fences. Under this state law, adjoining landowners are presumed to share equally in the reasonable costs of constructing, maintaining, and replacing a boundary fence. The City of Anaheim does not mediate property line or fence disputes between neighbors but enforces zoning code compliance regarding fence height, materials, and placement on individual properties.

Anaheim requires all dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet when on public property, including streets, sidewalks, parks, and trails. Dogs must be under the control of a competent person at all times when off the owner's property. The city operates under a contract with the Anaheim Animal Care facility for animal control enforcement. Anaheim provides designated off-leash dog park areas where dogs may exercise unleashed under their owner's supervision, offering alternatives to the citywide leash requirement.

The City of Anaheim strictly regulates the keeping of chickens, roosters, and livestock on residential properties. In standard residential zones (RS, RM), chickens and other poultry are generally prohibited unless the parcel meets minimum lot-size thresholds associated with agricultural overlay or equestrian-designated areas. Roosters are prohibited in all residential zones citywide due to noise concerns. Livestock such as goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle are not permitted on standard residential lots and are restricted to parcels in agricultural or equestrian overlay zones that meet minimum acreage requirements. Anaheim's urban density — the city is home to approximately 350,000 residents and the Disneyland Resort — drives these restrictive policies to manage noise, odor, and public health impacts in closely spaced neighborhoods.

The City of Anaheim has no breed-specific legislation restricting or banning any particular dog breed. California state law expressly preempts local breed-specific bans: Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits any city or county from declaring a specific dog breed to be inherently dangerous or vicious. Animal control services in Anaheim are administered by Orange County Animal Care, and all regulations are entirely behavior-based, applying equally to every breed. Individual dogs that have demonstrated dangerous behavior may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious regardless of breed, and their owners become subject to additional confinement, insurance, and spay/neuter requirements.

The City of Anaheim regulates tree trimming and removal through Anaheim Municipal Code Chapter 13.12, which governs street trees and public right-of-way trees, and through landscape plan requirements in Title 18 (Zoning) for private development projects. Property owners may trim trees on their own private residential lots without a city permit, provided they do not damage the tree's health through topping or other destructive practices. However, city-owned street trees and parkway trees may not be trimmed, removed, or altered by residents without written authorization from the Anaheim Public Works Department. Removal of significant or specimen trees on private property within planned development areas may require Planning Commission approval as part of the landscape plan review process.

The City of Anaheim requires property owners to maintain their yards and landscaped areas in a neat, orderly condition free from overgrown vegetation. Under the city's property maintenance and nuisance abatement standards codified in Title 6 (Sanitation and Health) and enforced through the Code Enforcement Division, grass and vegetation that is allowed to grow excessively tall creates a fire hazard, harbors pests, and constitutes a public nuisance. While the Anaheim Municipal Code does not specify a single numeric maximum grass height, the general standard applied by code enforcement officers is that grass exceeding approximately 12 inches in height is presumed to be a nuisance condition requiring correction. All residential and commercial property owners are responsible for maintaining vegetation on their lots and adjacent parkway strips.

The City of Anaheim requires all property owners to control weeds and maintain their properties free from conditions that create fire hazards, harbor pests, or constitute public nuisances. Weed abatement is enforced through Anaheim's Code Enforcement Division under Title 6 (Sanitation and Health) of the Municipal Code, as well as through the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) seasonal weed abatement program that targets fire-prone vacant lots and hillside properties. Anaheim's Mediterranean climate produces vigorous weed growth from late winter through spring, and property owners are expected to clear weeds before they mature, dry out, and become fire fuel during the summer months. Both improved and unimproved (vacant) lots are subject to weed abatement requirements.

The City of Anaheim permits home-based businesses (home occupations) as an accessory use in residential zones, subject to specific zoning conditions designed to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods. Under Anaheim Municipal Code Chapter 18.38, home occupations must remain clearly incidental and subordinate to the primary residential use of the dwelling. The business activity must be conducted entirely within the dwelling unit by the residents who live there, must not generate noticeable noise, odor, vibration, or traffic, and must not alter the residential appearance of the property. A valid City of Anaheim business license is required for all home occupations. Certain business types — including vehicle repair, manufacturing, and retail sales with on-site customer visits — are expressly prohibited as home occupations.

The City of Anaheim imposes strict limitations on signage for home-based businesses operating as home occupations in residential zones. Under Chapter 18.38 (Supplemental Use Regulations) and Chapter 18.44 (Signs), home occupations must maintain the residential appearance of the property, and business signage that would identify the property as a commercial establishment is effectively prohibited. The only signage permitted on a residential property is a small nameplate sign — typically limited to one square foot — displaying the resident's name and, in some cases, the name of a profession. No freestanding, illuminated, banner, projecting, or window signs advertising a home business are permitted. This approach reflects Anaheim's priority of preserving the residential character of neighborhoods, which is especially important in a city that already manages significant commercial signage impacts from the Disneyland Resort area and the Anaheim Convention Center corridor.

The City of Anaheim strictly limits customer and client traffic at home-based businesses (home occupations) to protect the residential character of neighborhoods. Under Chapter 18.38 of the Anaheim Municipal Code, home occupations must not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic noticeably in excess of what is normal for the residential neighborhood. Businesses that depend on regular on-site customer visits — such as retail stores, salons, medical offices, and repair shops — are expressly prohibited as home occupations. The standard effectively requires that the home's use as a business be invisible to neighbors and passersby, with no parking congestion, increased foot traffic, or commercial delivery activity that would distinguish the property from a purely residential dwelling.