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Chico Municipal Code Chapter 9.38 sets dB-based limits at the property line. On residential property the cap is 70 dBA daytime (7 a.m.–9 p.m.) and 60 dBA nighttime (9 p.m.–7 a.m.). A separate 'general noise' rule under §9.38.052 prohibits any unreasonable noise at any time without needing a sound-level meter.
Under CMC §9.38.060 categorical exemptions, construction is permitted 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. For new residential development and for work in commercial/industrial zones, an extended summer window (June 15–Sept 15) allows a 6 a.m. start on non-Sunday/holiday days. Construction equipment must stay under 83 dBA at 25 ft and 86 dBA at the property line.
Amplified outdoor music in Chico is bounded by the dBA limits in §§9.38.030–9.38.050 unless the public works director issues a special-event permit under CMC §9.38.080. Applications must be filed at least 14 days before the event, and permitted noise cannot exceed the public-property baseline (60 dBA at 25 ft).
Barking dogs are regulated under Title 7 (not Title 6) of the Chico Municipal Code. CMC §7.08.120 declares howling, barking, or unusual noises that disturb a neighborhood a public nuisance. Chico Animal Services uses a structured process: a 7-day Notice of Violation, then a complainant-completed barking log, then an administrative citation ($75 / $150 / $300).
Chico has no local aircraft-noise ordinance. Aircraft in flight are exclusively regulated by the FAA under federal law (49 U.S.C. §40103), which preempts municipal noise rules. Chico Municipal Airport (CIC) operations are governed by FAA Part 150 framework. Chico's noise chapter (CMC Ch. 9.38) regulates ground-based human, machine, animal and device sources — it does not list aircraft as a regulated source.
Chico Municipal Code Ch. 9.38 contains no leaf-blower-specific time or gas-engine ban. Leaf blowers are regulated under the general residential noise caps in CMC §9.38.030 — 70 dBA at the property line 7 a.m.–9 p.m., 60 dBA 9 p.m.–7 a.m. — and the §9.38.052 unreasonable-noise standard. California Title 24 / CARB small off-road engine rules apply at the equipment level.
Amplified sound at public-property special events requires a permit application filed at least 14 days in advance (CMC §9.38.080). Vehicle-mounted sound systems are banned if audible more than 50 ft in public parks/parking lots or 25 ft on private property. Outside permitted events, residential 70/60 dBA limits and the §9.38.052 unreasonable-noise rule apply.
Chico Municipal Code §9.38.040 caps noise from any commercial or industrial property at 70 dBA, measured at any point outside the property plane — a single flat limit with no day/night split. Construction is treated separately under §9.38.060(B) with a higher 83 dBA equipment / 86 dBA property-plane allowance during permitted hours.
Chico sets explicit, meter-enforceable dBA limits by property type. Residential (CMC §9.38.030): 70 dBA day (7 a.m.–9 p.m.) / 60 dBA night (9 p.m.–7 a.m.) at the property plane, plus a 60 dBA interior limit in multifamily units. Commercial/industrial (§9.38.040): 70 dBA flat. Public property (§9.38.050): 60 dBA at 25 feet from source.
CMC §9.38.056 regulates vehicle sound systems and horns. Sound amplification audible >50 ft from a vehicle on public property (other than a highway), or >25 ft / beyond the property line on private property, is prohibited. Vehicle horns may not be sounded when at rest absent imminent danger. Highway vehicle noise is governed by the California Vehicle Code (preempted from local meter limits).
Chico requires STR operators to obtain (1) a city business license, (2) a TOT registration, and (3) an administrative permit from the Department of Development Services. The municipal code defines a 'hotel' to include short-term home-sharing and vacation rental units rented for under 31 days, per Chico Municipal Code Chapter 3.52 (TOT).
Chico does NOT impose a citywide primary-residence-only rule on short-term rentals. The administrative permit framework and Title 19 zoning allow non-owner-occupied STRs, though performance criteria (local property manager, occupancy caps, parking) apply. Single-family residential (RS) zone applications historically have been the most constrained.
Chico's municipal code does not require short-term rental operators to carry a specific commercial liability insurance policy or name the City as additional insured. Insurance obligations come from the operator's homeowner's/landlord policy, any HOA CC&Rs, and the indemnity terms of the hosting platform (Airbnb AirCover, Vrbo Liability Insurance). State law does not preempt cities from setting STR insurance minimums; Chico has simply not adopted one in CMC Title 5 or Title 19 to date.
Chico imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on lodging stays of 30 days or less under authority of Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §7280, collected by the operator and remitted to the City Finance Department. Short-term rental operators must also obtain a City of Chico business license (Chico Municipal Code Title 5 — Business Taxes, Licenses & Regulations). The fee schedule is set annually by City Council resolution rather than fixed in the code.
STR guest parking in Chico is governed by CMC Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) for on-street parking and CMC Title 19 (Land Use & Development Regulations) for off-street parking minimums tied to the dwelling. Chico does not publish a stand-alone 'one off-street space per bedroom' STR rule, but Title 19 sets parking ratios for residential uses, and any condition on a Title 19 use permit for the STR is binding.
Short-term rental guests in Chico are bound by CMC Chapter 9.38 (Noise), which sets specific decibel limits and prohibits unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace, plus general nuisance provisions in CMC Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals & Welfare). Operators are responsible for guest conduct and may face a citation under the city's loud-and-unruly-gathering enforcement, which is concentrated in the Cal State Chico south-campus area.
Every STR operator in Chico must register with the city Finance Department for a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate and obtain a business license (renewed annually) before accepting bookings. TOT is collected at 10% of rent for stays of 30 days or fewer per CMC Chapter 3.52.
Chico does NOT cap the number of nights per year an STR may operate, and does not distinguish between 'hosted' and 'extended unhosted' home shares the way San Francisco (90-day unhosted cap) or Portland (95-day cap) do. All STRs — hosted or unhosted, occasional or year-round — operate under the same business license + TOT + administrative permit framework so long as performance criteria are met.
Chico has not adopted an annual night cap (e.g., 90-night or 120-night ceiling) on short-term rentals in its municipal code. STRs operate under CMC Title 19 zoning and CMC Title 5 business-license rules without a hosted-vs-unhosted day limit. California does not preempt cities from adopting night caps, but Chico has not exercised that authority to date.
Chico does NOT require the operator/host to be physically present during STR stays. Instead, the administrative permit framework requires a designated local property manager available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to guest issues, noise complaints, or code violations.
Chico does not publish a stand-alone overnight-guest cap for short-term rentals in its municipal code. STR occupancy is governed by the California Building Code/Title 24 occupancy load for the unit and by CMC Title 16 (Buildings & Construction) and CMC Title 19 (Land Use). Operators must also respect any cap set by the use permit or zoning approval issued for the property under CMC Title 19.
All fireworks — including those classified as 'Safe and Sane' by the State of California — are banned within Chico city limits. CMC 16R.42.100 amends CCR Title 19 Ch. 6 and California Fire Code §5601 to prohibit the manufacture, possession, storage, sale, use and handling of any fireworks. The only exception is permitted public displays under CMC 16.48.020, which must follow CCR and CFC rules. This is significantly stricter than state law, which lets cities choose to allow Safe-and-Sane sales around July 4. Chico's ordinance reflects the city's wildfire-adjacent status (Camp Fire, 2018) and the dry late-summer climate of the Sacramento Valley.
Chico adopts the California Fire Code via CMC 16R.42.010 — including Chapter 49 (Requirements for Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Areas). CAL FIRE released updated LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps on March 24, 2025; parts of the eastern Chico foothill fringe (Skyway / Forest Ranch edge) are mapped as High and Very-High FHSZ within or just outside the city. New construction or substantial remodel in any FHSZ must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A (ignition-resistant materials, ember-resistant vents, Class A roofs, enclosed eaves). The 2018 Camp Fire — 10 miles east in Paradise / Magalia — drives unusually rigorous enforcement.
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 9.35 (Outdoor Warming Appliances with Open Flame) restricts where residents may operate fire pits, chimineas and similar open-flame warming devices. CMC 9.35.020 limits use to private property or to a city park where allowed under CMC 12.18.230. Use on public sidewalks, streets, alleys, open spaces, greenways and non-designated park areas is prohibited. The ordinance, adopted to mitigate fire risk in this WUI-adjacent community (10 miles from the 2018 Camp Fire burn scar), targets unattended or unauthorized open flames; cooking devices such as barbecues remain permitted under the exemptions in CMC 16R.42.070.
Chico regulates propane/LP-gas storage primarily by adopting the California Fire Code via CMC 16R.42.010, with local amendments. CMC 16R.42.020 restricts above-ground tanks of flammable and combustible liquids, and CMC 16R.42.050 amends CFC §6104.3 — Restrictions on Container Location for storage of liquefied petroleum gases — limiting where larger LP-gas containers may be sited. For typical homeowners, small DOT propane cylinders (BBQs, patio heaters) up to 5 gallons / 20 lb water capacity are allowed and exempt under CFC §6103. Larger stationary tanks (>125 gallons) require Chico Fire plan review, separation distances per CFC Table 6104.3 and NFPA 58, and may be restricted in certain zones.
The City Council declares weeds, rubbish, refuse and debris a public nuisance and runs an annual lot-clearing & weed-abatement program administered by Community Development under CMC Ch. 1.14. Owners receive notice and a hearing each spring; if vegetation isn't cleared, the City's contractor abates it and assesses costs against the parcel. On parcels in or adjacent to the LRA Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone east of town (Skyway / upper foothills), state law layers California Public Resources Code §4291 on top: 100 feet of defensible space around any structure (Zone 0: 0-5 ft ember-resistant — phasing in; Zone 1: 5-30 ft lean/clean/green; Zone 2: 30-100 ft reduced fuel).
Open burning of yard waste, vegetation, debris and similar material is prohibited inside Chico city limits year-round, regardless of lot size or burn-day status. The rule is enforced by the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) under its Outdoor Residential Burning rule and by Chico Fire under CMC Ch. 16R.42 (which adopts the California Fire Code). Recreational fires, cooking fires and exempt devices listed in CMC 16R.42.070 (BBQs, fireplaces, gas heating) are still allowed if attended and CFC-compliant. In Chico's unincorporated 'sphere of influence,' residential burning is allowed only on lots of at least 0.90 acre, only on a declared permissive 'burn day,' and only between 8:45 a.m. and one hour before sunset.
Chico does not impose a citywide overnight street-parking ban. The key limit is Chico Municipal Code Section 10.20.200, which prohibits storing any vehicle, recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer on a city street or public right-of-way for more than 168 hours (7 days) in a row. Commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds GVW are separately banned from on-street parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. under CMC Section 10.20.160.
Chico Municipal Code §10.20.200 restricts storage and parking of recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers on city streets and public rights-of-way. Cross-reference with CMC §9.20.030 (unlawful camping) which limits overnight occupancy of RVs/trailers parked on streets to seven days when in front of a residence the occupant is staying at or has permission from. Stays beyond that, or anywhere else overnight in an RV/trailer within city limits, are prohibited and enforced by Chico Police and Code Enforcement.
Chico relies primarily on the California Vehicle Code to prohibit blocking driveways and parking on sidewalks. Off-street parking design - including driveway paving, dimensions, and surface materials - is set by Chico Municipal Code Chapter 19.70 (Parking and Loading Standards), which requires all-weather paved surfaces for residential driveways and parking areas.
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 10.52 (Abandoned Vehicles) treats any abandoned, dismantled, wrecked, or inoperative vehicle - or vehicle parts - left on public or private property for more than 168 hours (7 days) as a public nuisance subject to abatement. Section 10.52.150 makes the parking, storing, or leaving of such vehicles unlawful, and the City may remove them at the owner's expense.
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 10.20 governs on-street parking citywide, supplementing the California Vehicle Code. Time-limited zones, preferential parking permit areas (CMC Ch. 10.30) near Cal State Chico, and metered downtown blocks (CMC Ch. 10.25) are the most actively enforced restrictions. Statewide AB 413 'daylighting' now bans parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk approach, and Chico Public Works began painting red curbs at ~55 intersections in April 2025.
EV-charger permitting in Chico is governed by California state law: AB 1236 (Gov. Code §65850.7) requires the City to use an expedited, ministerial permit process limited to health-and-safety review, and Civil Code §4745 forbids landlords and HOAs from blocking tenant-funded EV charging stations. New construction is subject to the EV-ready and EV-capable parking-space mandates in Title 24, Part 11 (CALGreen) of the California Building Code. Chico does not impose a discretionary local ordinance that would override these state requirements.
Chico Municipal Code §10.20.160 prohibits parking any commercial vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more in residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-P, RD-1, RDH) between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Limited exceptions exist for active deliveries, permitted construction work, and public improvements. Title 19 zoning further restricts long-term commercial-vehicle storage in residential zones.
Chico Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) prohibits dogs from running at large. Dogs must be restrained on a leash or otherwise under physical control when off the owner's premises. Bidwell Park has dedicated off-leash areas; outside those, leash rules apply throughout city parks and public spaces.
Chico Municipal Code (CMC) Title 19.76.040 allows hens as accessory animal keeping at a ratio of 1 bird per 250 sq ft of lot area, with coops set back 50 ft from any dwelling. Roosters are prohibited and no coop permit is required. Larger livestock (goats, horses, cattle) is limited to AG/RR-zoned parcels under Title 19.
Chico does not have a stand-alone hive-density ordinance; beekeeping is regulated as accessory animal keeping under CMC §19.76.040. State law (Cal. Food & Agric. Code §29040) requires every California beekeeper to register apiaries annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner by January 1, regardless of hive count. Butte County administers registration via the state BeeWhere portal.
Chico does not impose breed-specific bans. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts cities from declaring a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on breed. Chico Municipal Code Title 6 regulates dangerous and vicious dogs based on individual behavior, not breed. Mandatory spay/neuter by breed is permitted under state law but Chico has not enacted breed-targeted spay/neuter.
Chico has no local exotic-pet code; the controlling law is state. Cal. Fish & Game Code §2118 and 14 CCR §671 prohibit possession of restricted live wild animals (most primates, large carnivores, non-domestic felids, alligators, venomous reptiles, ferrets, etc.) without a CDFW permit, and CDFW does not issue permits for pet keeping. Common-domestic species (dogs, cats, rabbits, most reptiles, birds in the parrot family) remain legal.
Chico has no city-specific wildlife-feeding prohibition in its Municipal Code; the controlling rule is state. 14 CCR §251.1 defines feeding game and non-game mammals or birds in a way that disrupts normal behavior as 'harassment,' which is a misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §12000. Chico Animal Services actively encourages residents to eliminate food sources to prevent conflicts with raccoons, deer, coyotes, skunks, and bears moving in from the Bidwell Park and Camp Fire burn-scar corridor.
Chico Municipal Code Title 7 limits residential dog keeping to 3 dogs over 3 months of age per single street address. Hoarding beyond welfare capacity is prosecuted under Cal. Penal Code §§597 / 597t (cruelty) and §599aa (animal seizure). Title 7 fines escalate from $75 (first offense) to $300 (third offense).
CMC §19.60.060(F) prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing in all zoning districts unless approved by use permit in a commercial or industrial zone. Approved commercial electrified fences must sit behind a 6-ft perimeter fence with warning signs.
Chico defers to California Civil Code §841, the Good Neighbor Fence Act. Adjoining owners are presumed to share equally in the cost of a boundary fence's construction, maintenance, and replacement. A landowner planning fence work must give 30 days' written notice to neighbors.
Under Chico Municipal Code (CMC) §19.60.060, front-yard fences on standard parcels are capped at 3 feet, while side and rear yard fences may rise to 7 feet. Greater heights require an administrative use permit or use permit through the Planning Division.
Per CMC §16.10.020 and the City of Chico Building FAQ, retaining walls 4 feet or less in height (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) that do not support a surcharge are exempt from building permits. Walls exceeding 4 feet, supporting a structure/fence, or impounding hazardous liquids require a building permit with engineered plans.
Chico enforces the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (HSC §115920–115929, amended by SB 442). New or remodeled pools/spas at single-family homes must install at least two of seven drowning-prevention safety features, including a 60-inch enclosure meeting Cal. Building Code Appendix AX.
Above-ground pools holding water more than 18 inches deep are 'swimming pools' under Cal. HSC §115921(a) and are treated the same as in-ground pools by the Chico Building Division. A building permit is required, the pool must comply with the California Building Code/California Residential Code, and at least two of the seven SB 442 drowning prevention features must be installed. The pool wall itself (if 60+ inches high) may satisfy the enclosure requirement, provided ladders are removable or secured.
Chico does not publish a standalone pool ordinance in the Municipal Code. Pool, spa, and hot tub installations are permitted by the Chico Building Division under Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (California Building Standards Code), which is enforced citywide per the Building Division's stated mandate. A building permit is required for in-ground pools, above-ground pools, and permanently installed spas before excavation or installation begins; plumbing and electrical sub-permits typically attach.
Chico follows the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Cal. HSC §§115920–115929). At new pool construction or any pool/spa remodel requiring a building permit, the property must have at least two of seven drowning prevention safety features, verified at final inspection by the Chico Building Division. State law preempts the field; there is no separate Chico pool safety ordinance.
Cal. Health & Safety Code §115921(a) expressly includes 'hot tubs, spas, portable spas' within the definition of 'swimming pool.' Chico enforces the Swimming Pool Safety Act and the California Building/Electrical Codes for spa installation. Permanently installed spas require a building and electrical permit through the Chico Building Division. A locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is the most common way to satisfy one of the two required SB 442 drowning prevention features.
Chico does not adopt a standalone pool fence ordinance; the controlling rule is the California Swimming Pool Safety Act enforced through the building permit process. If an isolation enclosure is selected as one of the two required SB 442 safety features, it must be at least 60 inches high with no more than a 2-inch gap from the ground (Cal. HSC §115923). Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and open outward away from the pool, with the latch located at least 60 inches above ground.
Chico has no fixed grass-height number in its code. Instead, weeds, rubbish, and dry vegetation are declared a public nuisance and abated each year through the City's annual Lot Clearing and Weed Abatement Program, authorized by California Government Code §39501 et seq. and administered through CMC Chapter 1.14 nuisance abatement procedures.
Each year the Chico City Council declares weeds, rubbish, refuse, and debris on private parcels a public nuisance and orders abatement under Cal. Gov't Code §§39501-39588. The program runs through Code Enforcement and CMC Chapter 1.14 procedures. Owners receive notice, a hearing, and a deadline; missed parcels are mowed by City contractors and billed back as a tax-roll lien.
Chico has one of the stronger urban-forest ordinances in inland California. CMC Chapter 16.66 (Tree Preservation Regulations) requires a Tree Removal Permit for protected and heritage trees, and CMC Chapter 14.40 governs the urban forestry program covering street trees. Topping, severe pruning, or removal without a permit is a violation.
Under CMC §19.68.050 and §19.68.070, at least 90% of plants in non-turf areas must be suited to Chico's climate and require minimal water once established. Species must be drawn from the 'very low' or 'low' WUCOLS categories (with limited 'moderate'), and turf areas must be under 10% of total landscape area. New landscapes meeting MWELO thresholds must submit a Landscape Documentation Package.
Most Chico residents are served by California Water Service (Cal Water). Under Cal Water's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (CPUC Rule 14.1), outdoor irrigation is limited to two days per week, watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. is prohibited, no watering within 48 hours of rain, and leaks must be repaired within 5 days of notification.
Chico has no ordinance prohibiting rainwater catchment. California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (AB 1750, Cal. Water Code §10574) authorizes residential, commercial, and government landowners to install rooftop rainwater capture systems without a state water-right permit. Small rain barrels are unregulated; larger cisterns must meet California Plumbing Code (CCR Title 24, Part 5) and city building-permit thresholds.
Chico does not ban artificial turf and the City permits it as part of drought-tolerant landscapes. State law (AB 1572, Cal. Water Code §10608.14, eff. 2027) prohibits potable water for irrigating purely ornamental turf at CII properties, and AB 1164 (Civil Code §1940.10) protects homeowners from HOA bans on synthetic grass. Local landscape standards under CMC §19.68.070 still cap living turf at under 10% of landscape area.
Butte County applies oak woodland mitigation requirements to discretionary development projects under its draft Oak Woodland Mitigation Ordinance and CEQA. Up to 10% canopy removal is generally not significant; 10%–70% removal triggers mandatory replacement; removal of more than 70% is prohibited.
SB 1383 requires every California resident and business to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash, with universal collection or on-site composting.
Per CMC 19.20.060, a Chico home occupation may not generate more than 10 additional pedestrian or vehicular trips per day beyond what is customary for the residential zoning district. Customers and clients are prohibited on the premises between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. All home-occupation parking must occur on-site or in legal on-street spaces without obstructing neighbor access.
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 19.20 allows home occupations in any residential zoning district with an approved Home Occupation Permit issued by the Community Development Director. The use must be clearly incidental and secondary to the dwelling's residential character, conducted entirely within the principal residence of the applicant, and may not exceed 50 percent of net floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is less. CMC 19.20.060 caps employment at residents plus one additional employee.
California Health & Safety Code §1597.40 preempts local zoning of family daycare homes. Small family daycare homes (up to 8 children) are treated as residential use in every zone allowing single-family homes. Large family daycare homes (up to 14 children) cannot be prohibited on lots zoned for single-family dwellings. Chico cannot require a Home Occupation Permit, conditional use permit, or business license that would directly or indirectly restrict a licensed family daycare home. Licensing is handled by California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing (CCLD).
CMC 19.20.060 limits home occupation signage to one non-illuminated name plate not exceeding 1 square foot in area, with placement approved by the Community Development Director. No display of merchandise, stock-in-trade, or other identification of the home occupation is allowed on the premises. Citywide sign rules in CMC Ch. 19.74 also apply.
California's Homemade Food Act (Health & Safety Code §113758 et seq.) governs Cottage Food Operations (CFOs). Class A CFOs (direct sales) self-certify with Butte County Environmental Health; Class B CFOs (indirect sales through retailers) require a county-issued permit and annual kitchen inspection. State law sets the gross-sales caps ($75,000 Class A, $150,000 Class B). Chico does not impose a separate ban — CFOs that meet state law are an allowed home occupation use under CMC 19.20.060.
Chico Municipal Code §19.76.130 authorizes ADUs on every R-zoned lot consistent with state law (Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2). Detached ADUs are capped at 16 ft height; attached ADUs may reach 25 ft. Statewide-exempt ADUs up to 800 sq ft are by-right with 4 ft side/rear setbacks. Larger ADUs on multifamily lots are capped at 850 sq ft (1 BR) or 1,000 sq ft (2 BR). Minimum efficiency unit = 150 sq ft. Post-Camp-Fire, Chico stripped out barriers to ADU production.
Under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) and CMC §19.76.130, an ADU may not be rented for terms of less than 30 days. Short-term/vacation rental of an ADU is prohibited in Chico. The primary dwelling and ADU cannot be sold separately (AB 1033 condo-conversion opt-in has not been adopted by Chico). Long-term leases (≥30 days) are unrestricted and not subject to additional licensing beyond the standard CMC Title 5 business license for residential rental property.
Chico processes ADU applications ministerially via Community Development per CMC §19.76.130 and Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(b). No discretionary hearing, no public notice, no CEQA. Statutory clock: 60 days from a complete application. Applicants may request Zoning Clearance for the site plan or submit directly to Building Division. Plans must show floor area, setbacks, height, and utility connections. Permitting fee schedule is set by Council resolution.
Under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) (as amended by AB 587/AB 671), Chico cannot require owner-occupancy for an ADU permitted between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024. JADUs (junior ADUs ≤500 sq ft inside the primary residence) require owner-occupancy of either the primary or JADU under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.22. Chico codified this dual standard in CMC §19.76.130 — no owner-occupancy for standard ADUs in the current window; owner-occupancy mandatory for JADUs and recorded in a deed restriction.
Chico Municipal Code §19.76.020 governs detached accessory structures including tool sheds. Sheds 120 sq ft or smaller without plumbing or electricity are exempt from a building permit but must still comply with zoning setbacks. Detached accessory structures may not exceed 15 ft in height and cannot be located in a front yard setback or closer than 10 ft from any property line adjoining a public street. Architectural compatibility with the main dwelling is required.
Under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(f)(3)(A), ADUs under 750 sq ft are statutorily exempt from impact fees (city, special-district, school, and water-corporation). ADUs at 750 sq ft and larger pay impact fees proportional to the ratio of ADU floor area to the primary dwelling. Chico's 2022–2030 Housing Element documents the City Council's 50% reduction of locally-controlled ADU impact fees on top of the state exemption — a direct post-Camp-Fire housing response.
Chico Municipal Code §19.76.130 permits conversion of an existing attached or detached garage into an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in R1 and R2 zones. When a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is demolished or converted as part of ADU creation, the city cannot require replacement off-street parking. This aligns with California Government Code §66323. Conversions still require a building permit and must comply with CALGreen, Title 24 energy, and fire-rated wall standards. Owner-occupancy is not required for ADUs (eliminated post–Camp Fire to encourage housing).
Chico Municipal Code §19.76.020 defines a carport as an attached or detached accessory building not enclosed on more than two sides, designed to shelter motor vehicles. Carports may not be located in front yard setbacks and must be set back at least 10 ft from any property line adjoining a public street. A garage entrance face approximately parallel to the lot line must be set back at least 20 ft from the property line providing driveway access to preserve off-street parking depth. Building permits are required.
Chico has no separate tiny-home ordinance; tiny dwellings are regulated under CMC §19.76.130 (ADUs) and California state law. A tiny home on a permanent foundation that meets the California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) may qualify as an ADU in R1/R2 zones (detached minimum 4 ft side/rear setback, max 1,200 sq ft). Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs) that do not meet HCD park trailer (HSC §18009.3) or manufactured home definitions are not legal full-time dwellings outside a permitted mobilehome/RV park, per HCD Information Bulletin 2016-01.
Under CMC Ch. 16.66 (Tree Preservation Regulations), Native Oak (Quercus) species or Sycamore (Platanus) species at 36-inch DBH (single trunk) or 36-inch cumulative DBH (multi-trunk) in good health and structure are protected — they cannot be removed without a permit and trigger automatic Heritage Tree status. This local layer is substantially more protective than the California state forestry baseline (CCR Title 14).
Planting a tree in the parkway (the strip between sidewalk and curb) or anywhere in the public right-of-way requires a permit from the City of Chico Public Works (Park Division) under CMC Ch. 14.40 (Street Trees). Species must be selected from the city's Approved Street and Parking Lot Tree List, adopted by the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission under CMC 14.40.080. Subdivision and development projects also trigger street tree planting under CMC 18R.08.090 and CMC 19.68.
CMC Ch. 16.68 (Voluntary Heritage Tree Program), established by CMC 16.68.010, identifies, promotes public awareness of, maintains, and protects designated Heritage Trees on public and private property. Any person may apply (with property owner's signed consent if not the owner). The Urban Forest Manager reviews and forwards to the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, which recommends to City Council for designation. Designated heritage trees may only be removed under Ch. 16.66.
CMC 16.66.085 (Tree Replacement) requires that for every six inches in DBH (diameter at breast height) removed, a new 15-gallon tree shall be planted on-site. If on-site replanting is infeasible, payment of an in-lieu fee per the Council-adopted fee schedule is required. Replacement species must be similar to those removed unless the urban forest manager approves an alternative.
Chico Municipal Code Ch. 16.66 (Tree Preservation Regulations) requires a permit from the Urban Forest Manager before removing any protected tree on regulated property. CMC Ch. 14.40 governs trees in the public right-of-way (street trees), which also require a city permit to remove or plant. Emergency hazard removals authorized by the city manager, fire chief, police chief, public works director, community development director, urban forest manager, or code enforcement officer are exempt.
Erosion control in Chico is enforced through the State Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ) for projects disturbing 1+ acre, the city's Phase II MS4 program for smaller sites, and California Building Code Appendix J for grading. SWPPPs and rainy-season BMPs are required to prevent sediment-laden runoff from entering the MS4 and creeks.
Chico participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and adopts FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Butte County. Construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs — Zones A, AE, AO) along Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Mud Creek, and Sycamore Creek must comply with California Code of Regulations Title 23 Division 5 floodplain management standards.
Chico is enrolled in the State Water Board's statewide Phase II Small MS4 General Permit (Order WQ 2013-0001-DWQ, as amended). The city must prohibit non-stormwater discharges into the municipal storm-drain system and implement a six-program-element stormwater program (public education, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction BMPs, and good housekeeping).
Grading in Chico is regulated under California Building Code Appendix J as adopted in Chico Municipal Code Title 16, plus engineering and drainage standards administered by Public Works. A grading permit is required for cuts exceeding 5 feet, fills exceeding 1 foot on slopes >5:1 or supporting structures, and any disturbance of 50 cubic yards or more (CBC App. J §J103).
No local rule. Chico is an inland city in Butte County, roughly 100 miles from the Pacific coast, and is entirely outside the California Coastal Zone. The California Coastal Act (Public Resources Code §30000 et seq.) and Coastal Commission jurisdiction do not apply.
Chico Municipal Code §19.22.020(F) limits residential garage/yard sales to two events per 12-month period, each not exceeding 3 consecutive days. Per CMC §19.74.060, one single- or double-faced sign up to 4 sq ft per face may be displayed at the sale site for the duration of the sale only. Sign height max 3 ft in setbacks/sight-distance areas, 6 ft elsewhere. Off-site directional signs in the public ROW (lamp posts, medians, traffic signs) are prohibited under §19.74.110.
Chico has no specific ordinance regulating residential holiday lights or seasonal decorations — no city-imposed put-up or take-down dates apply. General nuisance, light-trespass, and noise rules govern excessive impacts. Animated/flashing decorations on commercial property may qualify as 'signs' under CMC Chapter 19.74 and trigger sign approval. Sound from amplified displays must comply with Chico's noise ordinance (CMC Ch. 9.38). HOAs may impose stricter limits independently. Lights and cords must comply with California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3) for outdoor use.
Chico exempts noncommercial (including political/campaign) signs on residential property from sign approval under CMC §19.74.060, provided each sign is ≤4 sq ft in area. Height is capped at 3 ft inside required setbacks or sight-distance areas, 6 ft outside them. No state-mandated election display window is added by the city — California Elections Code framework allows display from 90 days before through 10 days after the election on public ROW. Signs may not be posted on utility poles, street signs, traffic devices, medians, or trees per CMC §19.74.110.
Yard waste is collected in the mandatory organics (green) cart under Chico Municipal Code Ch. 8.13 implementing California SB 1383. Subscription is required for all residences; the organics cart accepts grass clippings, leaves, prunings, and food scraps. Open burning of yard waste is restricted by CMC Ch. 9.35 and Butte County Air Quality Management District burn-day rules.
Illegal dumping in Chico is prohibited under CMC Chapters 8.04 (Solid Waste General Provisions) and 9.20 (Litter), with state backstops at Cal. Penal Code §374.3 (misdemeanor dumping) and Cal. Vehicle Code §23111 (throwing from a vehicle). Penalties range from $250 to $3,000 per occurrence with additional clean-up cost recovery and possible misdemeanor charges. Chico Code Enforcement runs periodic 'Drop and Dash' events.
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 8.13 (adopted to implement California SB 1383) requires every residence and business to subscribe to recycling AND organics collection service. CMC §8.08.030 prohibits disposing recyclables in the trash. CMC §8.12.110 makes it unlawful to remove recyclables from another person's container (anti-scavenging).
Chico Municipal Code Title 8 mandates that every residential premises subscribe to franchised curbside collection for garbage, recyclables, and organics (3-cart system). Service is provided by city-franchised haulers Waste Management (North Valley Waste) and Recology Butte Colusa, with one weekly collection day per address covering all three streams.
Chico residents served by Waste Management get two free on-call bulky item pickups per year (up to 3 large items per pickup). Recology Butte Colusa customers can schedule bulky pickups Monday/Wednesday/Friday with charges by trip and item type. Items must be set out only on the scheduled day — not in advance — per CMC Ch. 8.08.
Chico Municipal Code Ch. 8.08 governs storage and curbside placement of solid waste containers. Carts must be at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, removed the same day, and stored out of public view between pickups. The central business district has separate receptacle screening rules under CMC §8.12.085.
Commercial drone work in Chico requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate; the city does not issue separate commercial UAS permits. Operations on city-owned land (Bidwell Park, civic facilities) require advance written permission per CMC Title 12R; CSU Chico has its own UAS authorization process for campus.
Chico has no standalone municipal drone ordinance for recreational hobbyists; FAA Part 107 and FAA recreational rules (49 USC §44809) govern airspace citywide. Local layer kicks in only at parks (CMC Title 12R, Bidwell Park) and on private property (trespass/nuisance).
City of Chico parks — including the 3,670-acre Bidwell Park — restrict drone operations under CMC Title 12R; advance written permission is required. CARD-managed facilities prohibit drones outright except by prior written agreement. Adjacent Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park (CDPR Superintendent Order 645-385) bans all UAS launches and landings.
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 19.23 regulates Mobile Food Vendors with a dedicated permit process covering applications, operating standards, and enforcement. Vendors also need a Butte County Public Health mobile food facility permit (CalCode, HSC §113700 et seq.) and a Chico business license under CMC Title 5.
California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code 113700-114437) sets uniform mobile food facility permit, equipment, and food safety standards enforced by counties statewide.
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, currently $16.50 per hour for all employers as of 2025. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher minimums; many cities exceed the state rate substantially.
California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours or five days annually effective January 2024, applying universally.
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant standards, preempting local variations on issuance criteria and qualifications.
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However, local governments retain limited authority over discharge, sensitive places, and zoning of gun businesses.
California broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition applies uniformly across all California cities and counties without local variation.
California prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or the vehicle's locked trunk; long guns must be unloaded but need not be locked.
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Government Code 7285.1 and 7285.3. The restriction applies uniformly to every California city and county.
The California Values Act (SB 54, 2017) codified at Government Code 7284-7284.12 limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It applies uniformly to every California agency and bars participation in most civil immigration enforcement.
Civil Code 1946.2 requires landlords statewide to have just cause to terminate tenancies of qualifying tenants who have lived in a covered unit at least 12 months.
Civil Code 1947.12 limits annual rent increases to 5 percent plus CPI, capped at 10 percent total, on most California rental units regardless of local ordinances.
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use for ten-year minimum terms in exchange for reduced property tax assessment based on farming income.
The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The law applies statewide and limits both private and local government nuisance actions.
California prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified as Proposition 67 in 2016. Recycled paper or reusable bags require a 10-cent minimum charge.
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that polystyrene foodware achieve 25 percent recycling by 2025 or face statewide sales prohibition.
California Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer. The on-request rule applies uniformly to dine-in restaurants statewide.
Civil Code section 714 voids HOA covenants and rules that prohibit or unreasonably restrict residential solar energy systems, preempting private and local restrictions.
California's Solar Rights Act and the SolarAPP+ mandate (SB 379) require expedited permit review of small residential solar systems, preempting restrictive local processes.
California prohibits sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21 statewide under Business and Professions Code 22958, enacted by SBX2-7 in 2016. The Tobacco 21 standard applies uniformly across all California jurisdictions.
California bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide under Health and Safety Code 104559.5, enacted by SB 793 (2020) and upheld by voters via Proposition 31 in November 2022. The ban applies uniformly to all California retailers.
California requires statewide licensing of tobacco and vape retailers under the STAKE Act and the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act. Business and Professions Code 22970 establishes uniform retailer licensing, while local governments may adopt stricter rules.