Pop. 25,583 · Contra Costa County
We currently have 1 ordinance verified for El Cerrito, CA. Our research team is actively working to add more categories including noise rules, parking restrictions, fence regulations, building permits, and other local ordinances that affect daily life.
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El Cerrito limits on-street parking to 72 consecutive hours and prohibits overnight parking (2 AM-6 AM) of trailers, RVs, motor homes, utility trailers, and boat trailers on any public…
Vehicles parked on any Contra Costa County road for 72 or more consecutive hours may be removed under the California Vehicle Code. Enforcement is handled by the Contra Costa County…
Contra Costa County has no specific county-wide ordinance restricting where commercial vehicles may park on public roads beyond the general 72-hour limit. State law (California Vehicle…
Contra Costa County's Division 430 establishes an abatement program for abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on public or private property. Code Enforcement may…
Storage of recreational vehicles, travel trailers, vessels, and vessel trailers on private property in unincorporated Contra Costa County requires that the unit be adequately screened…
California Civil Code sections 4745 and 1947.6, plus Government Code 65850.7, create statewide rights for residents to install EV charging stations and require expedited local…
All pool and spa drains in Contra Costa County must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act and California Health & Safety Code 116064, requiring…
Pool enclosures in unincorporated Contra Costa County must be at least 60 inches tall, have self-closing/self-latching gates that open away from the pool, and limit ground clearance to…
A building permit from the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division is required before installing any pool or spa in unincorporated areas. In-ground pools must be at least 5…
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act covers above-ground pools deeper than 18 inches, requiring uniform drowning-prevention features and barriers regardless of pool type.
Hot tubs and spas fall under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act when capable of holding water deeper than 18 inches, requiring barriers, covers, or other approved safety features.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Chapter 44-2 (as amended by Ordinance 2021-19) and Section 5601.1.3 of the County Fire Code (Ord. 2025-14) prohibit the possession, manufacture…
Properties in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones across unincorporated Contra Costa must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources…
Every dwelling in unincorporated Contra Costa must have working smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every floor per California Health and Safety Code…
Backyard burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is tightly limited: BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning yard waste, and recreational wood fires aren't among its allowed…
Open burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is governed by BAAQMD Regulation 5 and County Fire Code Section 324. Residential yard-waste and trash burning is prohibited…
Wildfire rules in unincorporated Contra Costa County combine the state's 100-foot defensible-space requirement (PRC §4291) with the county fire code's hazardous-vegetation standards…
Fire pits in unincorporated Contra Costa County fall under Fire Code Section 4104.2 — a 10-foot setback from combustibles, with exceptions for single-family residential use, small…
California uniformly applies the State Fire Marshal's propane storage standards through the California Fire Code, which all local jurisdictions must enforce as a minimum.
In unincorporated Contra Costa County, no one may maintain weeds, grass, or similar vegetation exceeding 18 inches in height on private property under Ordinance Code § 720-2.006.
Under Contra Costa County Ordinance 2023-07 and Cal. Health & Safety Code Div. 12, Part 5, property owners must clear dry grass, weeds, brush, tree litter, and other flammable…
Contra Costa County protects native trees — oaks, bay, buckeye, madrone, sycamore and big-leaf maple — starting at 6.5 inches trunk diameter. Removal requires a permit from DCD…
Native and drought-tolerant landscaping is encouraged in unincorporated Contra Costa County. California's MWELO applies to new or rehabilitated landscapes over 500 square feet, turf is…
Contra Costa County regulates landscape water use through Chapter 82-26, which adopts the state's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for new landscapes of 500 sq ft or more and…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County protects larger trees under Ordinance Code Chapter 816-6: single-trunk trees 6.5 inches in diameter (at 4.5 feet) and multi-stem trees with combined…
Since SB 676 took effect in 2024, Government Code 53087.7 protects only drought-tolerant living landscaping from local bans, so cities may again prohibit artificial turf. Civil Code…
SB 1383 requires every California resident and business to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash, with universal collection or on-site composting.
The 2012 Rainwater Capture Act allows California residents to capture rainwater from rooftops for non-potable outdoor use without a state water-right permit, preempting most local…
STR parking in unincorporated Contra Costa County must comply with the residential zone's parking standards, typically 2 off-street spaces for a single-family home. On-street parking…
Overnight guest occupancy may not exceed two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons, with a hard cap of 20 total persons gathered at any time. Children under 12 do not count…
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Contra Costa County require registration with the Treasurer-Tax Collector under the county's transient occupancy tax ordinance (Chapter 64-10) plus…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County does not set a minimum liability-insurance requirement for short-term rental hosts. The STR rules in Ordinance Code Chapter 88-32 focus on the…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County regulates short-term rental noise under Ordinance Code Chapter 88-32: no fixed decibel limit or quiet-hours window, but excessive noise inconsistent…
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Contra Costa County pay a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 days or less. Hosts must register with the county within 30 days of starting…
Operating a short-term rental in unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a ministerial STR permit issued under Chapter 88-32, plus a business license and a transient occupancy…
Small family day care homes (up to 8 children) and large family day care homes (up to 14 children) are protected by California Health & Safety Code sections 1597.30-1597.622. Contra…
Home occupations are permitted in every legally established residential dwelling unit in any zoning district of unincorporated Contra Costa County, but only as a use 'incidental and…
Contra Costa County prohibits all exterior indication of a home occupation in unincorporated areas. Exterior signs, window displays, outdoor displays, and any other outward signs that…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a Home Occupation Permit (ministerial, issued over the counter) or a Land Use Permit before any business activity may be conducted from a…
Home occupations in unincorporated Contra Costa County generally may not receive customer or client visits at the home. State-licensed family daycare is the protected exception…
The California Homemade Food Act sets uniform rules for cottage food operations, and Government Code 51035 bars local governments from prohibiting them in residential dwellings…
Beekeeping is allowed in most unincorporated Contra Costa County residential and agricultural zones subject to hive setbacks (typically 10–20 feet from property lines) and registration…
Exotic and wild animals are broadly prohibited in unincorporated Contra Costa County. California Fish and Game Code restricts ownership of venomous snakes, big cats, primates, and most…
Wildlife in unincorporated Contra Costa County is regulated primarily by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). It is illegal to feed deer, coyotes, raccoons, or wild…
Under Chapter 416-6 of the Contra Costa County Animal Ordinance, no household in a non-agricultural zone may keep more than three dogs or more than five cats over six months old for…
Contra Costa County does not impose breed-specific restrictions on pit bulls or any other dog breed. Chapter 416-18 of the Animal Ordinance (formerly Article 416-12.4) regulates…
Chapter 82-50 (Urban Farm Animals) of the County Ordinance Code permits residents in unincorporated single-family and two-family residential zones to keep hens, fowl, rabbits…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires dogs to be leashed in public, with leashes capped at 6 feet. Dogs must be licensed by 4 months old with current rabies vaccination; at-large…
Livestock in unincorporated Contra Costa County is allowed mainly in the A-2 through A-80 agricultural zones, with setbacks from dwellings typically 50–100 feet; most suburban zones…
Hedges and living screens in unincorporated Contra Costa County are generally treated as landscaping and are not subject to the same permit thresholds as fences, but height limits in…
Contra Costa County's Ordinance Code does not impose a general material restriction on residential fences in unincorporated areas. The only material-specific rule is that concrete and…
In unincorporated Contra Costa County, fences may be built up to 7 feet tall without a building permit. Anything taller, or any concrete or masonry wall, requires a permit from the…
Building permits are not required for fences up to 7 feet tall in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Taller fences, any concrete or masonry wall, and retaining walls over 3 feet…
Retaining walls up to 3 feet (measured footing to top) are exempt from building permits in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Combined with a fence, the total height may not exceed 7…
Pool barriers in unincorporated Contra Costa County follow California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920+): a minimum 60-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates…
Carports in unincorporated Contra Costa County are regulated as accessory structures under Title 8 (Zoning) of the County Ordinance Code and as covered structures under the California…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on lots of at least 6,000 sq ft in single-family, multi-family, P-1, and agricultural districts under…
In unincorporated Contra Costa County, one-story detached accessory structures (sheds) with a floor area not exceeding 120 sq ft do not require a building permit, but they must still…
Contra Costa County allows an attached ADU to be created through an internal conversion of an existing garage; no setback is required for an existing garage being converted to an ADU…
California HCD guidance and Health and Safety Code 18007 classify many tiny homes on wheels as manufactured housing or ADUs, granting statewide siting protections.
Gas and electric lawn equipment in unincorporated Contra Costa County may generally be operated between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekends. Outside…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County enforces quiet hours of 10 p.m.–7 a.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m.–8 a.m. on weekends, using a plainly-audible standard — noise heard inside a…
Construction in unincorporated Contra Costa County is limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays, with no construction on Sundays or holidays. Emergency utility and…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County restricts amplified music that is plainly audible inside a neighbor's closed home, prohibits nighttime amplification from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and…
Contra Costa County's Noisy Animal Ordinance (County Code §416-12.202) makes it a violation for an animal to create noise 30 continuous minutes or 60 intermittent minutes within 24…
Vehicle noise in unincorporated Contra Costa County is enforced under the California Vehicle Code: mufflers are required (CVC §27150), modified exhausts can't exceed factory noise…
California sets statewide airport noise limits under Title 21 CCR, with the state preempting most local aviation noise control because federal FAA authority dominates aircraft…
Illicit discharges to the storm drain system are prohibited in unincorporated Contra Costa County under Ordinance Code Chapter 1014-6 and the Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County regulates floodplain development under Ordinance Code Chapter 914-14 to maintain FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participation…
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…
Medical cannabis is legal for CA patients under MAUCRSA. Contra Costa County Title 88 restricts commercial dispensaries in unincorporated areas; personal medical cultivation allowed (6…
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…
HOAs in Contra Costa County may impose fines for CC&R violations only after adopting a schedule of monetary penalties, providing notice, and holding a disciplinary hearing per Civil…
HOAs in Contra Costa County operate under the California Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act (Civil Code 4000-6150). HOA rules may be stricter than county code but cannot…
Disputes between HOAs and owners in Contra Costa County are governed by Davis-Stirling (Civil Code 5900-5965) requiring Internal Dispute Resolution, with Alternative Dispute Resolution…
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…
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…
California HOAs enforce recorded CC&Rs and architectural rules, but Civil Code section 4765 requires architectural decisions to be fair, reasonable, and in good faith, and sections…
Food truck operators in unincorporated Contra Costa County require a Contra Costa Environmental Health Mobile Food Facility permit and a Business License. Statewide preemption under SB…
Mobile food facility location restrictions in unincorporated Contra Costa County are limited by state preemption (SB 972). Operators generally must have landowner permission, respect…
Federal Title X and California Health & Safety Code require lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 rental units in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Landlords must provide EPA pamphlet…
California Civil Code Section 1940.9 and Health & Safety Code Section 26147 require landlords to disclose known visible mold to prospective tenants. Contra Costa County follows state…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County does not operate a mandatory rental registration program for single-family or small multi-family rentals. Landlords are subject to state requirements…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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%…
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…
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…
Electrical permits are required in unincorporated Contra Costa County for most work beyond minor repairs. The county Building Inspection Division enforces the California Electrical…
California Health & Safety Code 13113.7 and the California Residential Code require working smoke alarms in all dwelling units in Contra Costa County. Alarms are required in each…
California Health & Safety Code 13260-13263 (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010) requires CO alarms in all dwelling units with fossil-fuel appliances, fireplaces, or…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires building permits for reroofing projects under the California Building Code as adopted in County Ordinance Code Title 7. Class A fire-rated…
Plumbing permits are required in unincorporated Contra Costa County for new installations, alterations, water heater replacements, and sewer lateral work under the California Plumbing…
Hauler-issued carts only; lids must remain closed and waste contained. Overfilled, damaged, or non-franchise containers will not be serviced. Extra bags require pre-paid tags.
Franchised residential customers receive one to two free bulky item pickups annually (appliances, furniture, mattresses). Schedule through hauler with at least one week notice…
Contra Costa County Code Chapter 418-10 and Penal Code 374.3 make illegal dumping a misdemeanor with fines up to $10,000, possible jail time, and mandatory cleanup costs. County…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County uses franchised haulers (Republic Services, Mt. Diablo Recycling) with assigned weekly collection days by route. Carts must be curbside by 6 AM on…
SB 1383 mandates organics recycling for all residents and businesses. Contra Costa County requires separation of recyclables (blue cart) and organics including food scraps (green cart)…
Political signs receive same treatment as other non-commercial signs — up to 6 sq ft, no permit, on private property with owner consent. Content-neutral after Reed v. Gilbert; cannot…
Garage sale signs permitted on private property with owner permission; not allowed in public right-of-way. Must be removed promptly after sale concludes. Size limits match general…
Contra Costa County Code Chapter 54-4 imposes a curfew on minors under 18 from 10 PM to 5 AM in unincorporated areas, with exceptions for accompanied minors, emergencies, and First…
Contra Costa County parks close from sunset (or 10 PM) to 6 AM unless special use permitted. Violation is infraction under CCC Chapter 1110-6 with fines up to $250 per CA Public…
CA Civil Code 1708.8 creates civil liability for drone-based invasion of privacy. Recording or observing individuals in areas with reasonable expectation of privacy is actionable…
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…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County does not require a permit for residential garage sales. No registration fee or application — residents may hold sales on their own property with…
No formal frequency cap on garage sales in unincorporated CCC, but repeated sales may trigger classification as home business or unlicensed retail under Zoning Code Title 88. Industry…
CCC Code Chapter 54-6 regulates door-to-door solicitors. Commercial solicitors must obtain a County permit and carry photo ID. Hours limited to 9 AM to sunset. No-soliciting signs must…
Contra Costa County does not maintain a formal no-knock registry. Residents enforce solicitor restrictions by posting 'No Soliciting' signs, which are enforceable under CCC Chapter…
Homeowner association restrictions on rooftop solar in unincorporated Contra Costa County are governed by California Civil Code 714 (Solar Rights Act). HOAs cannot effectively prohibit…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County issues residential solar permits through the SolarAPP+ online platform in compliance with AB 2188 (3-day expedited processing). Permits are required…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County regulates outdoor lighting through Ordinance Code Title 8 zoning provisions and CEQA review, with stricter standards near Mt. Diablo and in rural…
Light trespass and glare onto adjacent properties in unincorporated Contra Costa County is prohibited under Ordinance Code Title 8 nuisance and zoning provisions. Commercial and…
Contra Costa County has no dedicated data-center ordinance. In the unincorporated county, a data center is treated as an industrial use, allowed in the L-I, H-I, C-M, or W-3 industrial…
Contra Costa County has no ordinance specific to cryptocurrency or blockchain mining. A commercial mining operation is treated as a data center or industrial use, allowed in the L-I…
Contra Costa County has no codified decibel ordinance for stationary sources. A data center's cooling and generators are held to the 2045 General Plan land-use compatibility standard…
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, $16.90 per hour for all employers as of January 2026. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher…
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…
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…
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…
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…
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Labor Code 2812. The…
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…
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…
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…
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…
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that…
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…
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…
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…
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…