Pop. 51,428 · Kern County
Delano allows the sale and discharge of state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks during a permitted Independence Day window. Fireworks stands are subject to Development Code §20.11.160 and require a Community Development Department permit issued only to qualifying nonprofit groups.
Delano enforces weed abatement and brush-clearance requirements via the Code Enforcement Division. Property owners must keep parcels clear of dry weeds, rubbish, and other flammable material that creates a fire hazard.
Delano lies on the western edge of the Tehachapi foothills; CAL FIRE maps portions of eastern Kern County as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ). Properties in a VHFHSZ must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources Code §4291.
Outdoor burning in Delano is governed by the California Fire Code as adopted by the City and by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's Rule 4103 (Open Burning), which restricts when open burning is allowed.
Outdoor burning of agricultural and yard waste in Delano is regulated by SJVAPCD Rule 4103 (Open Burning), which requires permits and prohibits burning on declared No-Burn Days.
Small recreational backyard fires for cooking or warmth are allowed under California Fire Code § 307 as adopted by Kern County, but any burning of vegetation, debris, or trash requires a burn permit and an air-district 'permissive' day.
The Kern County Fire Code requires a construction permit to install or modify LP-gas containers of 125 gallons water capacity or more (other than at a single-family residence) and caps aggregate LP-gas storage at 2,000 gallons water capacity outside M-2/M-3 industrial zones.
Converting an enclosed garage to a habitable accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is allowed in Delano under California ADU law. The conversion must meet building code (including ceiling height, egress, smoke alarms) and may require replacement parking only in limited circumstances.
Delano follows California ADU law (Gov't Code §§65852.2, 65852.22) and allows one ADU plus one JADU per single-family lot. Detached ADUs may be up to 1,200 sq ft and 16 feet tall; JADUs are capped at 500 sq ft.
Delano Development Code §20.10.30.1.e allows detached accessory structures in interior side and rear yards, with a maximum height of 15 feet and never higher than the main structure.
Patio covers and carports attached to a residence may extend into a required rear or interior side yard under Delano Development Code §20.10.30.1.b, subject to height and lot-line limits.
Kern County has no tiny-home-specific ordinance: a tiny house built on a permanent foundation can be permitted as an accessory dwelling unit under Zoning Ordinance Chapter 19.90 (implementing Government Code Sections 66310-66342), but a tiny house on wheels is classified as a recreational vehicle and cannot serve as a permanent dwelling in unincorporated areas. Temporary RV occupancy requires a conditional use permit and is limited to vacant lots of at least 20 acres in select districts.
Delano relies on California Penal Code §415(2) (disturbing the peace by loud and unreasonable noise) and the City's CNEL-based noise standards under DMC §20.10.180 to address amplified music complaints.
Delano regulates noise through the Development Code's noise hazard provisions (DMC §20.10.180), which apply standards drawn from the General Plan Noise Element to any property within the 65 dB CNEL noise contour.
Vehicle exhaust and stereo noise within Delano city limits are enforced under California Vehicle Code §§27150–27151 (muffler/exhaust modification) and §27007 (sound amplification audible at 50 feet), with Delano PD handling field enforcement.
Delano's grading ordinance (DMC §20.10.100) authorizes the City to impose limits on the periods during which grading and earthmoving operations may occur, and construction noise is captured by the same 65 dB(A) CNEL exterior standard that protects residential neighborhoods.
Animal noise complaints are handled under Delano Municipal Code Title 8 (Animals) and the Delano Police Department's Animal Control policy. Kern County Animal Services provides field response under contract.
Delano Development Code §20.10.90.2.b requires walls for screening commercial and industrial activities and for sound attenuation as a condition of approval for adjacent commercial or industrial development.
Delano has not adopted a specific leaf-blower ordinance. Use of gas-powered leaf blowers is regulated through the 65 dB(A) CNEL noise standard (DC §20.10.180) and CARB's small off-road engine (SORE) rule, which prohibited sales of new gas leaf blowers statewide in 2024.
Kern County does not impose local aircraft-overflight noise restrictions; aircraft noise is federally preempted by the FAA. The county participates in a FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program for Meadows Field Airport (BFL), approved by the FAA effective September 18, 2008.
Recreational vehicle spaces are not permitted within Delano multifamily developments unless a dedicated RV parking facility is approved as part of the project (DC §20.13.30.4). RV stalls must provide 400 square feet of usable area.
Off-street parking for commercial and residential uses is set by Delano Development Code Table 13.A. Single-family dwellings require 2 spaces per unit in an enclosed garage; multifamily ratios scale by bedroom count.
On-street parking in Delano is regulated under Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic), Chapter 10.16 (Parking). The code restricts parking at specific high-traffic locations including portions of High Street and within posted distances of stop signs.
Delano Development Code §20.13.20.12 prohibits parking any vehicle on an unpaved portion of a front yard setback, or on a paved area not designated as an access corridor (driveway), in any residential zone.
Abandoned and inoperable vehicles on public or private property are addressed by Delano Code Enforcement under state authority (Cal. Vehicle Code §§22660–22670) and the City's nuisance ordinance.
Delano Development Code §20.10.350.1 prohibits long-term storage of motor vehicles, trailers, boats, airplanes, loose rubbish, garbage, junk, or building materials in any front or street-side yard. 'Long-term' means storage for 72 or more consecutive hours.
Kern County's zoning ordinance requires commercial, industrial, and larger residential developments in unincorporated areas to provide on-site loading and unloading space in addition to required parking, with freight loading spaces scaled to building floor area or apartment unit count.
California law requires Kern County to approve applications to install electric vehicle charging stations administratively through a nondiscretionary building permit, limits county review to health and safety requirements, and deems applications complete or approved if the county misses statutory deadlines.
Delano levies a Transient Occupancy Tax on accommodations rented for fewer than 30 days within city limits under authority of California Revenue & Taxation Code §7280. The current TOT rate is set by the City Council and applies to hotels, motels, and STRs.
Delano has not adopted a short-term rental (STR) ordinance. STRs operate under the general residential-use rules of the underlying zone, the city Business Tax Certificate (BTC) requirement, and California's Transient Occupancy Tax authority.
Kern County's Transient Occupancy Tax Chapter 4.16 does not set per-bedroom guest caps, overnight occupancy limits, or daytime gathering limits for short-term rentals in the unincorporated area. The only quantitative threshold is the 30-day stay length that triggers the TOT.
Kern County has no STR-specific noise ordinance, but Ordinance Code Chapter 8.36 prohibits loud and raucous noise and restricts amplified sound in unincorporated areas. Construction noise is barred 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays and 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekends near homes.
No Kern County ordinance imposes parking requirements specifically on short-term rentals. The standard residential off-street parking minimums of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 19.82 apply, including two spaces per single-family dwelling in unincorporated areas.
California law requires hosting platforms to verify or disclose liability insurance for short-term rental listings, applying uniformly across all California cities.
Boundary fences between Delano property owners are governed by California Civil Code §841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act), which presumes neighbors share equally in the reasonable cost of construction and maintenance of a division fence.
Delano follows the California Building Code threshold for fence permits: fences 7 feet tall or shorter are generally exempt from building permits, while fences over 7 feet require a building permit issued by the Delano Building Department.
Delano Development Code §20.10.90.1 limits residential front-yard and street-side-yard fences to 40 inches tall. Interior side and rear yard fences may be up to 6 feet, measured from adjacent grade.
Delano Development Code §20.10.90.1.c prohibits barbed wire on any front, side, or rear property line in a residential district, and no sharp wire or sharp points may project above the top of any fence or wall.
Kern County prohibits barbed wire and electrified fences in residential and Estate zones, with narrow exceptions: electrified fences are allowed only for animal containment on RS-combining-district lots of at least 2.5 acres. Sharp wire or points are also barred at the top of fences under 6 feet.
In unincorporated Kern County, a retaining wall needs a building permit if it is over 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or if it supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II, or III-A liquids at any height. The retaining portion of a wall does not count toward the county's zoning height limits for fences and walls.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act in Health and Safety Code Section 115920 mandates statewide drowning prevention barriers around residential pools, with cities prohibited from adopting weaker standards.
California Food & Agriculture Code §31683 preempts cities from adopting breed-specific dangerous-dog ordinances. Delano regulates dangerous dogs case-by-case under Cal. F&A Code §§31601–31683 and DPD Policy 811.
Delano Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 8.12 (Dogs) prohibits dogs from running at large in the city. Kern County Animal Services provides field response and impoundment under contract.
Delano's Right-to-Farm provisions (DC §20.10.270) protect commercial agricultural operations from nuisance claims by neighbors after three years of continuous operation, recognizing the city's central role in the Kern County ag economy.
Beekeeping (apiculture) is expressly included in the agricultural activities protected by Delano's Right-to-Farm provisions (DC §20.10.270.4.a). Commercial apiaries that meet the three-year operating standard are not a nuisance.
Unincorporated Kern County does not mandate spaying or neutering of pets. Owners of unaltered dogs instead pay higher license fees ($60 per year versus $15 for altered dogs), and California law requires shelters and rescues to sterilize dogs before adoption.
Exotic animal ownership in unincorporated Kern County is controlled by California state law. Fish and Game Code section 2118 makes it unlawful to import, transport, or possess restricted wild animals -- including primates, bears, and crocodilians -- without a state permit.
Delano Development Code §20.10.360.2 requires every new land-division parcel to plant at least one tree per parcel frontage prior to final building inspection, chosen from the City's approved Street Tree List.
Delano is within the Kern County Subbasin under California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The City and the Kern Groundwater Authority adopted a Groundwater Sustainability Plan that targets safe yield by 2040, leading to ongoing pumping restrictions.
Delano Code Enforcement treats overgrown weeds, dry vegetation, and unmaintained yards as public nuisances. Property owners must keep landscaping in a healthy and attractive condition under DC §20.10.390.8.
Delano regulates hazardous materials under DC §20.10.110, requiring businesses storing more than 55 gallons of liquid, 300 pounds of solid, or 200 cubic feet of compressed gas of any hazardous material to file a Business Plan with Kern County Environmental Health and the Fire Department.
No Kern County-specific ordinance restricts residential rainwater harvesting in unincorporated areas. Under the California Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, property owners may capture and use rainwater from rooftops without a water right permit.
No Kern County ordinance prohibits artificial turf in unincorporated areas, and state law bars the county from prohibiting living drought-tolerant landscaping on residential property. HOA bans on artificial turf are void under state law, though since 2024 local governments may regulate synthetic turf if they choose.
Removing a western Joshua tree anywhere in Kern County requires authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. The California Desert Native Plants Act also requires a permit from the county agricultural commissioner or sheriff before harvesting protected desert plants such as yuccas, cacti, ocotillo, and mesquites.
SB 1383 requires every California resident and business to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash, with universal collection or on-site composting.
AB-1572 prohibits using potable water to irrigate non-functional turf at commercial, institutional, and HOA-common areas, accelerating native and low-water landscape conversions statewide.
Every business in Delano — including in-home operations — must obtain a Business Tax Certificate (BTC) from the Delano Finance Department. Home occupations must also conform to use limits in the underlying residential zone.
Home-occupation signage in Delano is governed by Sign Requirements (DC Chapter 20.14) and general performance standards. Residential zones strictly limit on-premise commercial signage to preserve neighborhood character.
Home occupations in Delano must not generate customer traffic, deliveries, or noise beyond what is normal for the residential zone. Off-street parking requirements for a home business follow the residential standard (DC Table 13.A).
Kern County Chapter 19.96 sets development standards and a Planning Director permit process for large family day-care homes serving up to 14 children, though California law now treats family daycare homes as a residential use by right.
Kern County residents can sell approved low-risk homemade foods as cottage food operations. Class A operations register with Kern County Public Health for direct sales; Class B operations need a permit and may also sell through stores and restaurants.
Unincorporated Kern County requires a ministerial Home Occupation Permit from the Planning and Natural Resources Department before any business activity may be conducted from a residential dwelling. The one-time filing fee is $50 and applications are typically processed within one to two weeks with no public hearing required.
Pool equipment in Delano must be installed to California Building Code, California Electrical Code (drain VGB compliance), and Pool & Spa Safety Act standards. Public pools (HOA, motel, apartment) are inspected by Kern County Public Health.
All swimming pools and spas in Delano require a building permit issued by the Delano Building Department. Plans must comply with the California Building Code and the California Pool & Spa Safety Act (Cal. H&S Code §§115920–115929).
Pools and spas in Delano must comply with the California Pool & Spa Safety Act (H&S Code §115922), which requires at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features.
Hot tubs and spas count as swimming pools under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act, but units fitted with a locking safety cover meeting the ASTM International F1346 standard are exempt from the Act's drowning prevention requirements in unincorporated Kern County.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act defines a pool as any structure holding water over 18 inches deep and expressly includes above-ground structures, so above-ground pools in unincorporated Kern County face the same drowning prevention and permit rules as in-ground pools.
Delano Development Code §20.10.70.4 requires subdivisions and developments crossed by a watercourse to dedicate storm-drainage rights-of-way and construct drainage improvements consistent with City Engineering Design Standards.
Delano Development Code §20.10.100 authorizes grading conditions including slope direction, planting/irrigation of slopes, import/export caps, haul-route designation, and time-of-day limits on grading.
Most of incorporated Delano lies outside FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Kern County (panel 06029C) shows the developed core in Zone X (minimal risk), with portions near canals and tributaries in Zone A.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Title 13 §2485 prohibits idling of commercial diesel vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR for more than 5 minutes anywhere in the state, including Delano. SJVAPCD enforces locally.
The California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction over local decisions.
Delano has not adopted a commercial cannabis ordinance and commercial cannabis activity (cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing, retail) is prohibited within city limits under Cal. Business & Professions Code §26200, which allows local control.
Adults 21+ may cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants per residence for personal use under Cal. Health & Safety Code §11362.1 (Proposition 64). Cultivation must occur inside the residence or in a secure, fully enclosed structure on the same property.
Health and Safety Code section 11362.2 grants every adult 21 or older the statewide right to cultivate up to six cannabis plants indoors, and bars local governments from completely prohibiting indoor personal cultivation.
Political signs in Delano are protected by the First Amendment and California Elections Code §13002. Time, place, and manner restrictions are governed by Delano Development Code Chapter 20.14 (Sign Requirements).
Garage sale signs in Delano are limited under DMC §6.22.070 to a maximum of 4 square feet in area. Signs may not be displayed at times other than the permitted sale dates and may not be placed on city-installed traffic-control signs or posts.
Garage sales in Delano require a permit issued by the Finance Director. Delano Municipal Code §6.22.030 sets the fee at $5 for the first and second permit and $10 for the third and fourth during any 12-month period.
Delano Development Code §20.10.350.2 prohibits use of any vacant or undeveloped residential parcel — or any residential parcel where no main building exists — for storage of motor vehicles, trailers, boats, junk, garbage, building materials, or similar items.
The Delano Code Enforcement Officer addresses structural conditions posing public danger, building code violations, unpermitted construction, illegal dumping, liquid waste, zoning violations, abandoned vehicles, and occupied RVs as public nuisances.
Delano Development Code §20.10.290.3 requires outdoor trash receptacles for multifamily and nonresidential uses to be sized for the trash generated and screened on at least three sides by a solid decorative wall ≥5 feet tall, with a working opaque gate on the fourth side.
Delano's Central Valley climate means snow on sidewalks is essentially nonexistent. Sidewalk obstruction by vegetation, debris, or merchandise is addressed under general nuisance authority.
Mobile food facilities (food trucks) operating in Delano must hold a Kern County Public Health Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit under Cal. Retail Food Code (H&S §113700+) and a Delano Business Tax Certificate.
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.
Delano Development Code §20.10.300 requires front, side, and rear setbacks to conform to the regulations of the underlying zone district. Setback specifics vary by zone (R-1, R-2, R-M, etc.) and use type.
Delano Development Code §20.10.120 requires structure heights to conform to the regulations of the underlying zone district. Architectural elements like chimneys, antennas, elevators, spires, and bell towers may exceed the district limit by up to 25%.
Delano Development Code §20.10.360.2.a(1) requires street trees on new development to be chosen from the City of Delano Approved Street Tree List. The Community Services Department, Parks Division (925 Ellington St., (661) 721-3335) maintains the list.
California provides statewide protections for native oak woodlands and heritage trees through CEQA review, Public Resources Code, and Forest Practice Rules that apply uniformly.
Illegal dumping is one of the specific public-danger issues the Delano Code Enforcement Officer addresses. Liquid waste disposal is treated as a separate enforcement category.
California SB 1383 (2016) requires all jurisdictions, including Delano, to provide organic-waste collection service to residents and businesses and to divert 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025.
California universally requires every resident and business to separate organic waste for recycling, alongside mandatory commercial recycling under AB 341 and AB 1826.
Solar permits in Delano are processed under California's Solar Rights Act (Cal. Civ. Code §714) and AB 2188's expedited permitting requirements (Cal. Gov't Code §65850.5). The Building Department issues residential rooftop solar permits over-the-counter for systems up to 10 kW.
Cal. Civil Code §714 (Solar Rights Act) preempts HOA and CC&R restrictions that significantly increase the cost or decrease the efficiency of a residential solar energy system. Delano CC&Rs are subject to this state law.
Delano residential rentals are subject to California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Cal. Civil Code §§1946.2, 1947.12) which caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (max 10%) and requires 'just cause' for evictions on most multi-unit properties.
California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and holidays), and lease violations require a 3-day notice to cure or quit. No-fault terminations of covered tenancies require 30, 60, or 90 days. Self-help lockouts are illegal.
California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat, water, electricity, and sanitation. If repairs fail after notice, a tenant may repair and deduct up to one month's rent under § 1942 or withhold rent.
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.
California Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written notice (24 hours is presumed reasonable) and may enter only during normal business hours, for specific permitted reasons such as repairs, inspections, or showings.
California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is valid only if it reasonably estimates the landlord's actual loss from late payment; arbitrary penalty fees are unenforceable.
To end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more, under Civ. Code § 1946.1. AB 1482 requires just cause after 12 months; military and DV tenants may exit early.
California limits annual rent increases statewide to 5% plus the local change in the cost of living, capped at 10%, under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB-1482). It also lets cities and counties enact their own stricter rent-control ordinances, subject to the limits of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10% need 90 days' notice. AB 1482 separately caps yearly increases on covered units.
As of July 1, 2024, California landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. The deposit, minus any lawful deductions, must be returned with an itemized statement within 21 days after move-out, or the landlord risks penalties of up to twice the deposit.
California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A squatter or trespasser who has not paid taxes gains no ownership and can be removed by unlawful detainer, ejectment, or a police trespass action.
Recreational drone operation in Delano is governed primarily by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 14 CFR Part 107 and the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations (49 U.S.C. §44809). FAA preemption limits what cities can regulate.
Commercial drone operations in California follow uniform federal rules under 14 CFR Part 107 plus statewide California provisions in Civil Code 1708.8 and Public Utilities Code 21401, with local rules limited to ground-based regulation.
Homeowner associations in Delano subdivisions are governed by California's Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act (Cal. Civil Code §§4000–6150). The City does not enforce HOA CC&Rs — they are private contracts.
California HOAs may levy regular and special assessments, charge late fees and interest, record liens, and ultimately foreclose on delinquent owners under the Davis-Stirling Act. State law (Civil Code sections 5650-5740) caps fees and interest and imposes strict notice steps and a delinquency threshold before any foreclosure may proceed.
California tightly regulates HOA governance. The Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955) governs board meetings and member access, sections 5100-5145 mandate secret-ballot elections with independent inspectors, and sections 5200-5240 give members broad rights to inspect association records.
California HOAs may fine members for rule violations, but only under a published schedule of fines and after strict due-process steps. Civil Code section 5855 requires written notice and a hearing before any monetary penalty, and section 5725 bars fines from becoming a foreclosable lien on the home.
California overrides HOA governing documents on several owner protections. The Davis-Stirling Act and related Civil Code sections bar HOAs from prohibiting solar systems, U.S. flag displays, drought-tolerant landscaping, EV charging stations, and most noncommercial signs, even where local city rules are silent.
Delano sits in the heart of Kern County agriculture (grapes, almonds, citrus). Agricultural operations on the city edge are subject to San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Rule 8021 (Construction, Demolition, Excavation, Extraction, and Other Earthmoving Activities) for fugitive-dust control.
Delano Development Code §20.10.270.4 requires the Community Development Director to include a Right-to-Farm notice on any proposed land division that lies partly or wholly within or within 300 feet of agriculturally-zoned land.
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.
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.
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.