Santa Cruz County, CA Ordinances (2026)

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County allows permitted construction noise only 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays under County Code 13.15.040, extendable to 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. only with prior Building Official approval. Saturday work needs advance authorization (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., up to three Saturdays a month). No work on Sundays or federal holidays.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no dedicated leaf-blower ban or time-of-use ordinance. Leaf blowers, mowers, and similar portable power equipment fall under the general 'offensive noise' standard of County Code Chapter 8.30. The County General Plan notes such equipment 'frequently create noise during daylight hours' and can temporarily produce very high noise levels.

Amplified music in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is regulated as 'offensive noise' under County Code Chapter 8.30, with stricter night thresholds after 10:00 p.m. County Code 13.15.040 exempts reasonable noncommercial gatherings and community events only when held 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and in compliance with Chapter 8.30; larger events need a special event or amplified-sound permit.

On public roads, vehicle noise in Santa Cruz County is controlled by California state law (Vehicle Code muffler and noise-limit rules), which preempts local ordinances. Off-road and property-based vehicle activity such as 'vehicle repair and testing' and powered motor vehicles is addressed by County Code Chapter 8.30 offensive-noise rules.

Santa Cruz County uses two decibel frameworks. County Code Chapter 8.30 makes noise automatically offensive above 75 dB at the property line by day (8 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 60 dB at night (10 p.m.-8 a.m.). For stationary sources, General Plan Table 9-3 caps daytime at 50 dB Leq / 70 dB max and nighttime at 45 dB Leq / 65 dB max.

Outdoor music at events in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is allowed under County Code 13.15.040(C) for reasonable noncommercial gatherings and community events only when held 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and within Chapter 8.30 offensive-noise limits. Larger events require permits, and decision-makers may cap noise level, hours, duration, and location.

New commercial and industrial development in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must meet General Plan Table 9-3 stationary-source limits (50 dB Leq / 70 dB max by day; 45 dB Leq / 65 dB max at night) at the receiving property line. Quarry and mining noise is capped at 60 dB for 15 minutes per hour under Chapter 16.54.

Persistent barking dogs in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are handled as 'offensive noise' under County Code Chapter 8.30. The County General Plan specifically lists 'loud birds and animals' among the nuisance noises the Sheriff enforces under the Noise Ordinance. Day and night decibel/distance thresholds apply just as for other noise sources.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County (Live Oak, Soquel, Aptos, Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Davenport, La Selva Beach), County Code Chapter 8.30 prohibits 'offensive noise.' Night hours run 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., when a stricter standard applies; daytime is 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The County, not the cities, enforces this in unincorporated areas.

SCCC § 8.30.020 escalates any repeat noise-ordinance violation within 48 hours of a citation to a misdemeanor, exposing the offender to criminal penalties rather than infraction-level fines.

Aircraft noise is governed by the FAA, not Santa Cruz County; flight paths are set federally. No commercial airport lies within the unincorporated county, and the sole general-aviation field, Watsonville Municipal Airport, is in the City of Watsonville. The County addresses aircraft noise only through land-use compatibility planning around the 60-65 CNEL contours.

Registration is a two-part process: a land-use permit from the Planning Department plus transient occupancy tax registration with the Tax Collector (or proof of registry with a verified platform). Vacation rental permits run for a five-year term and must be renewed; the rental must operate at least three of any five consecutive years to keep the permit valid.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County levies transient occupancy tax at 14% on vacation rentals (and 12% on hotels/motels) under SCCC Chapter 4.24, plus a Tourism Marketing District assessment. Permit fees are substantial: a new Non-Hosted permit deposit is about $1,807.90 for three or fewer bedrooms or $3,316.45 for larger homes; renewal is $149.60.

SCCC 13.10.694 requires at least one on-site parking space for one- and two-bedroom vacation rentals and at least two on-site spaces for three-or-more-bedroom rentals. Guests may park one additional vehicle off-site on the street, but get no exclusive or assigned use of street parking; in parking districts the host must buy a business-rate permit.

Santa Cruz County does not require a vacation rental to be the owner's primary residence; a Non-Hosted Rental under SCCC 13.10.694 is explicitly a whole home the owner does not occupy. Instead, the County controls non-owner-occupied rentals through countywide caps, designated-area caps, a 20% per-block density limit, and a one-permit-per-owner rule.

Whether a host must be present depends on the permit type. A Hosted Rental under SCCC 13.10.690 requires the owner or a long-term resident to occupy one legal bedroom on site during the stay. A Non-Hosted (Vacation) Rental under SCCC 13.10.694 has no on-site host, but requires a local property manager who must respond to calls within 60 minutes.

Santa Cruz County does not impose an annual maximum number of nights a permitted vacation rental may operate. Instead it caps the total number of permits. Designated-area caps are LODA 262 non-hosted plus 18 hosted, SALSDA 147 non-hosted plus 45 hosted, DASDA 3 plus 4, with a countywide 270 non-hosted and 185 hosted outside those areas.

Santa Cruz County's vacation rental ordinance (SCCC 13.10.694) does not impose a specific liability-insurance mandate or minimum coverage amount on short-term rental operators. The enforceable requirements center on the land-use permit, transient occupancy tax registration, occupancy and parking standards, noise compliance, and a responsive local property manager.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, every short-term rental of fewer than 30 days needs a County permit. A Non-Hosted (Vacation) Rental permit covers an entire home; a Hosted Rental permit covers one to three bedrooms with the owner living on site. Both are issued by the Planning Department under SCCC 13.10.694 and 13.10.690.

Operators of short-term rentals in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must collect a 14% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on the rent charged to guests staying 30 days or less. TOT returns are due quarterly under SCCC Chapter 4.24.

Under SCCC 13.10.694, overnight occupancy of a vacation rental may not exceed two guests per legal bedroom plus two additional guests, with children under eight not counted. For daytime celebrations and gatherings between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., the maximum is twice that overnight limit. These figures must be written into the rental's house rules.

If more than two significant violations occur at a vacation rental within any 12-month period, the County must notice a Level V public hearing to consider revocation of the permit. Violations are enforced under SCCC Chapter 19.01.

In Live Oak (LODA), Seacliff-Aptos-La Selva Beach (SALSDA), and Davenport-Swanton (DASDA) Designated Areas, no new vacation rental may be approved if permitted vacation and hosted rentals already total 20% or more of residential parcels on the same block.

Vacation rentals must comply with the County Noise Ordinance, SCCC Chapter 8.30, and a copy must be posted inside the rental where guests can see it. Daytime gatherings are limited to 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Citations for violating SCCC 8.30 are listed as significant violations that can lead to revocation of the permit. Fireworks are illegal in the County.

All fireworks are illegal in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Even California-legal 'Safe and Sane' fireworks are banned countywide in unincorporated areas and on all beaches. The Sheriff's Office steps up enforcement around July 4, when violations can carry fines up to $1,000.

Residential (backyard) outdoor burning in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is allowed only during the open burn season, on a permissive burn day, with a CAL FIRE burn permit and a Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) permit. The county fire code section 7.92.307.2 governs burn season and permits.

Property owners in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code 4291, plus roadway/driveway clearance under the county's hazardous-vegetation rules. Local fire districts inspect High Fire Hazard areas each spring.

Small backyard recreational fires are allowed under the adopted California Fire Code but must stay 25 feet from structures and combustibles and be constantly attended. Burning yard debris is different - it requires CAL FIRE and MBARD permits, the open burn season, and a permissive burn day.

There is no separate Santa Cruz County smoke-alarm ordinance - statewide California law controls. Health & Safety Code 13113.7 requires State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms in dwellings, and HSC 17926 requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.

Residential propane is regulated by the California Fire Code (Chapter 61), adopted through County Code Chapter 7.92. No permit is needed for one cooking appliance plus one spare 20-lb cylinder at a home. For fire safety, county fire guidance directs that LPG tanks be at least 30 feet from structures.

Most of unincorporated Santa Cruz County is mapped High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, with extensive Wildland-Urban Interface. The 2020 CZU Lightning Complex burned 86,509 acres and destroyed about 1,490 structures. WUI building standards and 100-foot defensible space apply.

Recreational backyard fires are governed by the California Fire Code, adopted via County Code Chapter 7.92. Recreational fires must stay at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, be constantly attended, and have a means of extinguishment ready. High fire-hazard conditions can trigger added restrictions.

Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 7.92, § 7.92.9000 adds 'Chapter 90 - Suppression and Control of Fire in Wildfire Risk Areas.' Property owners must remove ignitable weeds and brush, and welding, tar pots, decorative torches, off-road motor vehicles, and similar ignition sources are prohibited in wildfire risk areas without a fire-chief permit.

Backyard grilling is governed by the California Fire Code adopted via County Code Chapter 7.92. Charcoal and other open-flame cooking devices generally may not be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings.

No special Santa Cruz County ordinance targets backyard smokers; they fall under the California Fire Code's open-flame cooking rules adopted via County Code Chapter 7.92. Wood, pellet, and charcoal smokers generally may not be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustibles, with a 1-2 family dwelling exception.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, SCCC 9.70.620 makes it unlawful to park a mobile home or recreational vehicle overnight on any highway, street, or alley. A resident may park one adjacent to their own home for up to 24 hours, or up to 72 hours on a host property with a Sheriff-issued permit.

SCCC 9.70.600 lets residents petition to designate a street where parking a commercial vehicle of 10,000 lbs GVW or more (or an RV) is unlawful once signs are posted. SCCC 9.70.610 separately bars businesses with fleets of three or more vehicles from storing them on county roads when not in use.

SCCC Chapter 9.57 prohibits abandoning a vehicle on a public street or highway. A vehicle left 72+ hours without moving 1,000 feet is deemed abandoned; the Sheriff issues a 10-day abatement notice before towing. Inoperable, stripped vehicles can be removed immediately, and recovery requires a $50 minimum administrative fee plus costs.

SCCC 9.70.610(C) bars parking a vehicle more than six feet tall, including loaded sideboards or trailer contents, within 100 feet of any County-maintained road intersection. Streets can also be posted to ban RVs and 10,000-lb-plus commercial vehicles via the SCCC 9.70.600 petition process.

In county-owned off-street lots, SCCC 9.36.070(16) limits parking in spaces marked 'electric vehicle charging only' to a maximum of three hours. Statewide, California Vehicle Code Section 22511 lets agencies and lot owners reserve EV-charging stalls and tow vehicles that are not connected for charging.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, SCCC 9.36.010 sets curb-color loading rules: yellow curbs are commercial loading zones limited to 30 minutes, white curbs are passenger loading limited to five minutes. Commercial development must also provide off-street loading berths under County Code Chapter 13.16.

SCCC 9.36.010 defines the curb colors used in unincorporated Santa Cruz County: red means no stopping/standing/parking, green a 20-minute limit, yellow a 30-minute commercial loading zone, white five-minute passenger loading, and blue disabled parking. Only authorized county markings have legal effect.

Santa Cruz County has established a permit parking zone in the Fall Creek Drive area near Felton under SCCC Chapter 9.46; only vehicles displaying a county-issued permit may park during posted hours.

SCCC 9.70.610 bars parking any vehicle on a County-maintained road for more than 72 consecutive hours in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. A vehicle is considered parked the whole time unless it is moved more than 1,000 feet. Curb colors and posted no-parking zones add further restrictions.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no blanket overnight ban on ordinary cars on residential streets, but SCCC 9.70.620 bans overnight RV/mobile-home street parking, SCCC 9.36.080 bans overnight parking in county lots, and several beach areas (SCCC 9.36.050) close to parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, SCCC 9.70.140 requires an encroachment permit from Public Works before building, altering, or repairing any driveway that connects to a County-maintained road. Blocking a public driveway is prohibited in county parking areas, and curb-cut work is regulated for traffic safety.

Santa Cruz County Code does not set out boundary-fence cost-sharing rules. Shared 'good neighbor' fences in the unincorporated County are governed by California Civil Code 841, which presumes adjoining landowners are equally responsible for the reasonable costs of a boundary fence and requires 30 days' prior written notice before incurring costs.

Retaining walls in unincorporated Santa Cruz County fall under the same yard height rules as fences (SCCC 13.10.525) and are measured the same way. A building permit is required when a wall retains more than 3 feet of material, or retains a surcharge or impounds liquids, per the County Building FAQ and the California Building Code.

Beyond height, fences in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must preserve sight distance at driveways and intersections, keep corner sight clearance triangles clear to 3 feet, and obtain a coastal development permit in the Coastal Zone unless exempt. Walkway archways/trellises/pergolas up to 8 feet are allowed but may not exceed 25% of fence length.

SCCC 13.10.525 does not impose a general list of prohibited fence materials for ordinary residential fences, but it sets material-based building-permit thresholds (concrete/masonry over 6 ft; wood/metal over 8 ft) and material standards for agricultural and temporary farm fencing. Coastal Zone fences need a coastal development permit unless exempt.

Common wood, metal, masonry, wire, and woven materials are allowed for fences in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Material drives building-permit thresholds (concrete/masonry over 6 ft; wood/metal over 8 ft), and SCCC 13.10.525 sets material criteria for agricultural and temporary farm fencing and for open decorative features like lattice.

Fences in unincorporated Santa Cruz County may be built on the property line, but the allowable height depends on which required yard the fence sits in - front, side, or rear, and whether the yard abuts a street. Within corner sight-clearance triangles, no fence may exceed 3 feet regardless of yard type.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, SCCC 13.10.525 regulates fence and retaining-wall heights within required yards. The County's Planning publication allows fences up to 8 feet in side and rear yards not abutting a street and 3 feet in front yards without discretionary approval, measured from finished grade at the base.

Two separate permit tracks apply: a building permit under the California Building Code (fences over 8 ft wood/metal, over 6 ft concrete/masonry) and zoning over-height certification under SCCC 13.10.525 (Minor Site Development Permit up to 8 ft, Administrative Site Development Permit above 8 ft). Coastal Zone fences also need a coastal development permit unless exempt.

Residential setbacks in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are set by zone in SCCC 13.10.323. R-1 single-family lots typically require a 20-foot front yard, 5- to 10-foot interior side yards, and a 15-foot rear yard, while rural RR/RA and large R-1 lots require 40-foot front and 20-foot side and rear yards. Setbacks vary by specific zone district.

Most residential structures in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are limited to 28 feet and 2 stories under SCCC 13.10.323. The oceanfront RB district is capped at 25 feet (17 feet on the beach side), and rural RR/RA/large R-1 lots may build 3 stories within the 28-foot maximum. Coastal Zone projects face additional scenic review.

Maximum parcel ('lot') coverage in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is set by zone in SCCC 13.10.323. Standard R-1 single-family and RM multifamily lots are capped at 40 percent (45 percent in small-lot R-1), while rural and large-lot districts drop to 20 percent (R-1-16 to under 1 acre) and 10 percent (RR, RA, and R-1 over 1 acre).

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, a dog off its owner's premises must be under actual physical restraint or control, such as a leash, tether, or in the grasp of a competent person, under County Code Chapter 6.12. A dog not restrained that way is an 'animal at large.'

County Code 6.12.150 prohibits possessing, keeping, or controlling any animal of a 'wild species' as defined in California Fish & Game Code 2118 anywhere in the unincorporated county. The Animal Shelter likewise states no exotic (zoo-type) animals are permitted in residential zones. California also bars common 'exotic pets' like ferrets and hedgehogs.

Livestock keeping in the unincorporated county is governed by zoning (Ch. 13.10) and depends on parcel size. The County Animal Shelter states a maximum of about two horses per acre is allowed (a discretionary permit applies in some residential zones), and farm animals other than horses are generally limited to rural and agricultural zones by acreage.

Pet limits in the unincorporated county depend on zone. Per the County Animal Shelter: single-family residential allows up to 2 dogs and 2 cats; multiple-residential up to 1 dog and 2 cats; and rural-residential and agricultural-residential up to 4 dogs or cats, no more than 4 total. Five or more dogs/cats is a kennel.

Cats over six months in the unincorporated county must be spayed or neutered under County Code 6.10.030 unless the owner holds an unaltered-animal certification. Feeding a feral/community cat colony requires registering with Animal Services and following trapping, sterilization, testing, and vaccination conditions (Code 6.10.040). Pet limits allow up to 2 cats in most residential zones.

Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 contains no general ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife such as deer in the unincorporated county. The only feeding-with-conditions rule is for feral cat colonies (Code 6.10.040). California law separately makes it unlawful to feed big-game mammals like deer (Cal. Code of Regs. Title 14, 251.3).

Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 has no statute titled 'hoarding,' but it controls excessive-animal situations through zoning pet limits (5+ dogs/cats is a kennel), care-and-housing standards, and a cruelty provision. Code 6.24.030 authorizes Animal Services to stop cruelty as defined in California Penal Code 599b; California Penal Code 597 and 597.1 also reach neglect.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, keeping chickens and other small animals is governed by the County zoning code (Ch. 13.10) and depends on zone and parcel size. The County Animal Shelter states small animals such as fowl and rabbits are allowed in single-family residential on lots of 6,000 to 15,000 sq ft at roughly one animal per 1,000 sq ft.

Beekeeping in the unincorporated county is governed by zoning. The County Animal Shelter states no bees are permitted in single-family or multiple-residential zones, while bees are allowed in agricultural-residential zones with a discretionary (level 5) permit. Apiculture is treated as an agricultural use under County Zoning Code Ch. 13.10.

Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 contains no breed-specific ban (no pit bull or other breed prohibition). Dangerous dogs are regulated by behavior, not breed: any 'vicious animal' under Code 6.12.140 may be ordered confined. California Food & Agricultural Code 31683 also bars breed-specific laws that are not breed-neutral on the dangerous-dog issue itself.

In the unincorporated County, tree removal is regulated mainly by location. Inside the Coastal Zone, removing a 'significant tree' requires a Significant Tree Removal permit (SCCC 16.34). Removing trees in a riparian corridor (16.30) or sensitive habitat (16.32) needs additional approval. Outside those areas, most private tree removal needs no County permit, though CAL FIRE timber rules may apply.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County controls weeds primarily as a wildfire fuel hazard. The County adopts the California Fire Code (SCCC Ch. 7.92) and follows state defensible-space law (PRC 4291), which requires clearing flammable weeds, brush, and dead vegetation within 100 feet of structures. There is no general 'noxious weed' nuisance-height ordinance; abatement is fire-driven.

Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. The County WELO actively promotes rain barrels, captured rainwater, and graywater, and exempts landscapes watered entirely by harvested rainwater, graywater, or recycled water from water-efficiency limits. Simple rain barrels are generally permit-free; larger systems and graywater follow state plumbing/building codes.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County encourages native and climate-adapted planting but does not mandate native plants for ordinary yards. The County WELO exempts native and other low-water plant landscapes from water limits, asks owners to remove invasive species, and warns against planting native cultivars that could hybridize with rare endemic manzanita and ceanothus.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County permits artificial turf and even suggests it as a recreation surface in its WELO guidance. There is no county ban on synthetic lawns. The County asks owners to choose low-petroleum, biodegradable products and to design sites so runoff from the artificial surface is filtered or captured rather than sent straight to storm drains.

Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Separately, California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste recycling: residents in the mandatory-collection area of the unincorporated County must subscribe to organics (Green Cart) service for food scraps and yard trimmings, which are composted at the Buena Vista Landfill. SB 1383 is a state mandate the County implements.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, routine trimming of trees on your own property is generally allowed without a permit. But in the Coastal Zone, cutting more than one-third of a 'significant tree's' foliage requires a Significant Tree Removal permit (SCCC 16.34), and heavy trimming inside a riparian corridor or sensitive habitat may need approval (SCCC 16.30 / 16.32).

Most outdoor water restrictions for unincorporated Santa Cruz County come from state law and local water districts, not one county ordinance. The State Water Board's permanent water-waste prohibitions ban hosing down pavement, irrigation runoff, and unattended hose washing statewide. Many residents are served by Soquel Creek Water District or other purveyors that set their own watering-day limits.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no numeric lawn-height limit. Tall grass and weeds are regulated only as a wildfire fuel hazard: under California Public Resources Code 4291 (via the County Fire Code) and CAL FIRE, owners in State Responsibility Areas must keep grass and flashy fuels managed within 100 feet of structures. Aesthetic height rules do not apply.

Santa Cruz County's signature tree-protection law is the Significant Trees Protection Ordinance, Chapter 16.34, which operates in the Coastal Zone. Removing or destroying a designated 'significant tree' there requires an approved Significant Tree Removal permit, supported by an arborist report. Riparian (16.30) and Sensitive Habitat (16.32) ordinances add protection elsewhere; CAL FIRE timber permits may also apply.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, installing or altering a swimming pool, in-ground spa, or hot tub requires a building permit and engineered plans meeting current California codes and County Code Section 12.10.216. A spa or hot tub holding water over 18 inches deep is treated as a swimming pool.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, a spa or hot tub holding water over 18 inches deep is defined as a swimming pool requiring a building permit. A separate spa or hot tub not inside a compliant pool enclosure must have a lockable, fully functioning safety cover under the County's Swimming Pool Enclosure Ordinance.

Santa Cruz County requires a written certification of pool barrier compliance prior to sale of any residential property containing a pool, spa, or hot tub, and requires installation of anti-entrapment devices. Day-to-day water quality and chemistry for private residential pools is not regulated by the County; public pools fall under California Health & Safety Code §§ 116025-116068 enforced by Santa Cruz County Environmental Health.

Santa Cruz County's Swimming Pool Enclosure Ordinance (SPEO), effective 1/1/08, requires single-family homes and duplexes in the unincorporated area with a pool, spa, or hot tub to have a barrier at least 60 inches high with restricted openings and self-closing, self-latching gates that swing away from the pool.

Pool safety in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is governed by the County's Swimming Pool Enclosure Ordinance plus California codes. Requirements include anti-entrapment suction outlet fittings, dual hydraulically balanced drains, GFCI electrical protection, and barrier, alarm, or safety-cover features to prevent child access.

Above-ground pools in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are regulated under the same Swimming Pool Enclosure Ordinance as in-ground pools. The pool's top edge (or a barrier mounted on it) must be at least 48 inches above ground on all sides, with a securable, lockable, or removable ladder, or a compliant surrounding barrier.

Under Santa Cruz County Code 13.10.613(B)(2), a home occupation may have no visible or external evidence other than one unlighted sign not exceeding one square foot in area, affixed to the dwelling or building where the occupation is conducted. Larger or illuminated signs require a Level V conditional home occupation use permit.

Many home occupations in unincorporated Santa Cruz County operate without a discretionary permit when they meet all by-right standards of SCCC 13.10.613. A Level V conditional home occupation use permit is required to exceed those limits, such as more than two non-resident employees, over 35% floor-area use, or outdoor activity.

Cottage food operations in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are registered or permitted by County Environmental Health under California's Cottage Food law (Health & Safety Code Chapter 11.5). Class A (direct sales) registers; Class B (direct and indirect sales) is permitted and inspected annually. Zoning is handled as a home occupation under SCCC 13.10.613.

Both small and large family day care homes are a permitted residential use in all residences in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, consistent with California state law. Under Health & Safety Code 1597.40 and 1597.46 (as amended by SB 234), local zoning cannot require a use permit or prohibit family day care homes on residentially zoned lots.

Santa Cruz County Code Section 13.10.613 allows home occupations as a secondary use in residential zones. The activity must be carried on entirely within the dwelling or an allowed accessory structure and not affect the residential character of the property or neighborhood; outdoor activities require a Level V conditional home occupation use permit.

Santa Cruz County allows home occupations in unincorporated areas without a zoning permit when the activity stays within ten limits in SCCC 13.10.613 (no more than 35% of floor area, 1-2 clients at a time, 1-2 non-resident employees max, no outdoor activity, no hazardous materials, and noise that does not cross the property line). Operations exceeding any of those thresholds require a discretionary Use Permit. The unincorporated county does not impose a general business license tax, but the operator must still file a Fictitious Business Name with the County Clerk and obtain any required state licenses.

Home occupations in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must not generate traffic, parking demand or deliveries beyond what is normal for a residence; significant customer visits can disqualify the use.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, conditions that violate County Code, including accumulated junk, debris, and blighting conditions, are public nuisances under Chapter 1.14. Code Compliance is complaint-driven; an enforcing officer can order abatement within 10 days, and abatement costs are recovered on the property tax bill.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County requires waste containers to be set out no more than 24 hours before pickup and removed within 24 hours after collection, per the County Solid Waste ordinance (Ch. 7.20). GreenWaste asks that carts be at the curb by 5 AM on collection day.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, garage and yard sales are allowed as a temporary residential use under the zoning code (Ch. 13.10) without a special permit, provided they don't exceed four weekends per year at a site with a legal residential use.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no separate numeric 'vacant-lot' ordinance; vacant and unimproved parcels are kept up through the County's nuisance-abatement code (Ch. 1.14) and, in the State Responsibility Area, California defensible-space law (PRC 4291), which requires hazardous vegetation clearance around improved buildings.

Most of unincorporated Santa Cruz County is in California's State Responsibility Area, where state law (PRC 4291) requires 100 feet of defensible space around buildings, including cutting annual grass to 4 inches. Overgrown weeds can also be abated as a nuisance under County Code Chapter 1.14.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County requires every developed property to subscribe to trash, recycling, and organics service through GreenWaste Recovery, or register as a self-hauler, under the County's Universal Service ordinance (Ch. 7.20). GreenWaste collects weekly; materials must be ready by 5 AM.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County limits curbside cart placement to no more than 24 hours before pickup, with removal within 24 hours after collection (County Code Ch. 7.20). GreenWaste asks that gray, blue, and green carts be at the curb and ready by 5 AM on collection day.

GreenWaste gives unincorporated Santa Cruz County residents up to three free bulky-item reuse collections per year (covering reusable items, e-waste, and appliances). Larger loads go to the County's Buena Vista Landfill or Ben Lomond Transfer Station; debris-box rentals are available for big jobs.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County requires every developed property to recycle through GreenWaste's blue cart under the Universal Service ordinance (Ch. 7.20), implementing California's SB 1383. Recyclables and organics must be separated from trash; service is mandatory or residents must register as self-haulers.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County mandates organics (food scraps and yard trimmings) collection in GreenWaste's green cart under the Universal Service ordinance (Ch. 7.20), implementing California SB 1383. Organics must be separated from trash; material is composted at the Buena Vista Landfill.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County allows accessory dwelling units ministerially under County Code 13.10.681 and California's state ADU law. Detached ADUs can be 850-1,200 sq ft, with 4-foot side/rear setbacks and limited parking. Coastal Zone projects may face added review, and certain coastal areas require a replacement parking space.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, a detached storage shed needs no building permit if it is 120 sq ft or smaller, one story and 10 feet or less in height, with no electricity, plumbing, or habitable use. Such sheds may sit within 3 feet of side and rear property lines under County Code 13.10.611.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County treats carports as accessory structures under the zoning code. County Code 13.10.323 provides setback exceptions: on qualifying sloped residential lots an unenclosed carport may have a reduced 5-foot front setback, and detached structures in the rear yard can sit 3 feet from side and rear lines.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County is one of few California counties with a dedicated Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) permit program. Under County Code 13.10.680 (Ordinance 5413), a THOW is capped at 400 sq ft, limited to one per parcel, must meet ANSI A119.5, and the County permit is renewed every five years with annual DMV registration.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County allows converting a legal garage into a conversion ADU under County Code 13.10.681 and state ADU law. Only legally built structures qualify, no new parking is required for the conversion, and the minimum unit size is 150 sq ft. Coastal Zone conversions may need extra review.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County permits Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) between 150 and 500 sq ft constructed entirely within the walls of the existing or proposed single-family dwelling under SCCC 13.10.681, consistent with California Government Code Section 65852.22.

In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, political signs are allowed without size or location limits under County Code 13.10.583, provided they do not create a traffic hazard and are removed no more than 10 days after the election. State law caps temporary political signs at 32 sq ft and keeps them out of highway rights-of-way.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County limits temporary signs (including garage-sale and real-estate signs) to small sizes and short display windows under County Code 13.10.580-587. Residential-zone temporary signs are capped at about 6 sq ft, signs must stay clear of the right-of-way, and they must come down within roughly 10 days after the event.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance, but its design-review lighting standards (County Code Chapter 13.11) require site, building, security, and landscape lighting to be directed onto the site and away from adjacent properties, with light sources not visible off-site and parking-area light poles limited to 15 feet.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County addresses light trespass through its design-review lighting standards (County Code Chapter 13.11), which require lighting to be directed onto the site and away from adjacent properties and bar light sources from being visible off-site. Permitted sign lighting must be unobtrusive with glare directed onto the site.

County parks in unincorporated Santa Cruz County operate on hours designated and posted by the Parks Director under County Code 10.04.060. Violating park rules is generally an infraction under County Code 1.12.040, and a person ordered to leave a park for a public offense cannot return before 8:00 a.m. the next day.

Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 16.13 (Floodplain Management Regulations) implements FEMA floodplain rules countywide. Developers and subdividers of parcels in flood hazard areas must record a Declaration of Flood Hazards with the County Recorder as a condition of permit approval. New construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas must meet elevation, anchoring, and flood-resistant materials standards.

Most development in Santa Cruz County's Coastal Zone (extending roughly five miles inland from the Pacific along the North Coast and along Highway 1) requires a Coastal Development Permit under SCCC Chapter 13.20 (Coastal Zone Regulations) and Chapter 18.60 (Local Coastal Program Administration). The County's certified Local Coastal Program implements the California Coastal Act of 1976.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no local rent-control ordinance. The City of Santa Cruz rejected Measure M (a comprehensive rent-control measure) in November 2018. The only applicable rent cap is statewide AB 1482 (Cal. Civ Code 1947.12): 5% + regional CPI annually, maximum 10%, for most non-exempt rentals more than 15 years old.

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no local just-cause eviction ordinance; California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civ Code 1946.2) applies. AB 1482 requires 'just cause' to terminate tenancies of 12+ months and caps annual rent increases at 5% + CPI (max 10%) for most rentals more than 15 years old.