9 rules for unincorporated Calaveras County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Calaveras County Code Compliance does not enforce overgrown vegetation or a numeric grass-height limit. Tall, dry grass is instead controlled as a wildfire hazard through California's defensible space law (PRC 4291), enforced locally by CAL FIRE/county Fire Prevention, which calls for grass cut to 4 inches near structures.
Calaveras County imposes no general permit for routine pruning or trimming of trees on private property. Trimming is encouraged for fire safety under state defensible space law (PRC 4291), which calls for limbing up trees and keeping branches clear of chimneys and roofs. Discretionary projects affecting protected oaks are the exception.
Unincorporated Calaveras County has no general permit for removing ordinary trees on private property. However, removing native oaks tied to a discretionary development project triggers CEQA review and oak-woodland mitigation under General Plan Policies COS 3.5/3.6/3.9. A dedicated Oak Woodlands Ordinance remained in draft form as of late 2025.
Calaveras County Code Compliance does not enforce weeds as a property-maintenance nuisance. Weeds and brush are instead abated as a wildfire hazard under California's defensible space law (PRC 4291), enforced by CAL FIRE and the County Fire Prevention office, which require clearing within 100 feet of structures.
Most unincorporated Calaveras County water customers are served by the Calaveras County Water District (CCWD). CCWD's Water Shortage Contingency Plan sets staged outdoor-watering rules. A permanent prohibition bars irrigating during, and within 48 hours after, measurable rainfall, and mandatory stages add day-of-week and 10 AM-6 PM limits.
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged. Under California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, no county permit is required to install or operate a residential rain barrel system, and rooftop rainwater capture needs no state water-right permit. Calaveras County has no ordinance restricting residential rain barrels.
Calaveras County does not mandate native plants for homeowners, but its adopted Zoning Code (Chapter 17.20) requires water-efficient landscaping for projects subject to landscaping standards. The County lies in Sierra foothill oak-woodland and pine country, where native, low-water species are encouraged for fire safety and water conservation.
Calaveras County has no ordinance banning artificial turf, and no county permit is generally needed to install synthetic lawn on private property. Statewide, California's AB 1572 phases out potable-water irrigation of non-functional turf on commercial, institutional, and HOA common areas, making synthetic or low-water landscaping an accepted alternative.
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Calaveras County. California's SB 1383 organics law applies statewide, but Calaveras County obtained a rural exemption that delays residential curbside organics-collection requirements until December 31, 2026, so there is currently no change to residential collection rules.
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