Moving to Alhambra, CA?

Alhambra's noise code (Municipal Code Ch. 18.02) sets no single citywide curfew. Instead it caps received noise by interior dBA limit at all hours and restricts construction and property-maintenance activities to daytime windows, with nighttime hours protected mainly through the construction and maintenance exemption cutoffs.

In the City of Alhambra, construction, repair, remodeling and grading noise is exempt from the noise code only when it does NOT occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays including Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a federal holiday (Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.060(C)).

Alhambra Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.080 makes it unlawful to keep any animal or fowl that, by sound, cry, or behavior, causes annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness in any residential neighborhood. The standard is reasonableness, not a fixed decibel level or time window.

Alhambra's Municipal Code does not impose a gas-leaf-blower ban. Leaf blowers fall under property-maintenance noise, allowed only 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. any day except Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday (Sec. 18.02.060(D)). Statewide, new gas-powered units are also regulated by California's small off-road engine rule.

Amplified music in Alhambra must keep received noise within the interior dBA limits in Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.050 (55 residential, 60 mixed use, 70 commercial dBA). Outdoor public-address speaker systems are separately restricted to certain commercial zones with a city permit and a 95 dBA-at-four-feet cap (Sec. 18.02.090).

Alhambra's noise code expressly defers motor-vehicle noise to state law (Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.060(E) preempts motor-vehicle, aircraft, and railroad noise). California Vehicle Code 27150-27151 require an adequate muffler and prohibit modified exhaust that amplifies noise; passenger vehicles under 6,000 lbs must stay at or below 95 dBA.

Alhambra Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.050 sets interior received-noise limits by zone: 55 dBA residential, 60 dBA Mixed Use, and 70 dBA commercial/industrial. Measurements are A-weighted, slow response, taken at least four feet from the nearest surface with windows and doors closed. Limits rise to match a higher ambient level.

Outdoor music in Alhambra must keep received noise within the zone dBA limits in Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.050. Occasional outdoor gatherings, public dances, shows, and sporting or entertainment events are exempt only when held under a permit or license that may restrict noise (Sec. 18.02.060(A)).

Industrial and commercial noise in Alhambra is capped at 70 dBA received in the Commercial Noise Zone (C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2) under Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.050. The stricter residential limit (55 dBA) applies at the boundary if a commercial source affects a residential property, and perceptible vibration is separately prohibited.

Alhambra does not regulate aircraft-in-flight noise. Municipal Code Sec. 18.02.060(E) expressly exempts activity preempted by state or federal law and names aircraft in flight as preempted. Aircraft noise is governed by the Federal Aviation Administration and federal law, not the city's noise code.

Alhambra short-term rentals (30 nights or fewer) are transient occupancy subject to the City's Transient Occupancy Tax under Municipal Code Chapter 5.70, plus a residential business license and an STR permit application fee set by City Council resolution. Hosts also reimburse the City for building inspection costs.

The City of Alhambra allows short-term rentals but requires a Short-Term Rental Permit before renting any eligible dwelling for 30 nights or fewer. Permits became required March 1, 2025, are capped at 500 citywide, run one year, and only a natural person who owns the property may apply.

Alhambra STR hosts register through the Finance Department: complete an online residential business license, fill out the STR permit application, and submit the packet (with a third-party building inspection report) to Code Enforcement at 111 S. First Street. Applications opened March 3, 2025 on a first-come, first-served basis up to the 500-permit cap.

Alhambra caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom under Municipal Code Section 5.92.050. Only guests registered with the host may stay, and commercial events, parties, and group gatherings such as weddings, banquets, and corporate events are prohibited.

Alhambra requires short-term rental parking to be provided on-site and to comply with Municipal Code Chapter 9.95 (Vehicular Parking). Each rental must post a guest notice stating parking capacity, the location of parking spaces, and any parking rules.

Alhambra short-term rentals must observe quiet hours of 10 PM to 7 AM. During quiet hours no sound-producing device may be used outdoors or heard beyond the property line, and outdoor pools, spas, and hot tubs are closed. STRs must also comply with the City's Noise and Vibrations Control Regulations (Ch. 18.02).

Alhambra does NOT require a short-term rental to be the host's primary residence. Chapter 5.92 only requires the host to be a natural-person owner (or qualifying family trust) limited to one permit citywide; non-owner-occupied and whole-home rentals are allowed, unlike cities that mandate hosted, owner-occupied stays.

Alhambra does not require the host to be physically present during a stay, but the host or a designated Local Contact Person must be available 24 hours and able to respond within 30 minutes to any City complaint about nuisance, noise, or suspicious activity. The contact's name and 24-hour phone number must be posted for guests.

Alhambra's Chapter 5.92 sets NO annual night cap or maximum number of rental days for short-term rentals. A permitted STR may operate year-round, subscribing only to the 30-night definition of a single short-term stay, the 500-permit citywide cap, and the one-permit-per-host limit.

Alhambra's Chapter 5.92 does NOT require a host to carry liability insurance or name the City as additional insured. The ordinance imposes a building-inspection and life-safety standard instead, so any STR coverage is at the host's discretion or the booking platform's policy.

Alhambra is one of the few San Gabriel Valley cities that still permits state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks. They may be sold from 12 noon June 28 through 12 noon July 6 from licensed nonprofit stands. All other ('dangerous') fireworks are illegal under California's State Fireworks Law, and violators face misdemeanor fines.

Recreational fires and outdoor fire pits in Alhambra are governed by the 2022 California Fire Code, adopted as Chapter 19.02 of the Alhambra Municipal Code and enforced by the Alhambra Fire Department. The Fire Code allows small recreational fires and approved portable outdoor fireplaces but requires safe clearances from structures and bans open burning of trash.

Backyard recreational fires in Alhambra are allowed under the 2022 California Fire Code (Alhambra Municipal Code Chapter 19.02), but uncontrolled open burning of yard waste or trash is not. Recreational fires must be small, burn clean wood or charcoal, be attended, and kept clear of structures. The Alhambra Fire Department can order any offensive or hazardous fire put out.

Open burning in Alhambra requires a permit from the Alhambra Fire Department before any fire is started. Per the Department's published requirements, open burning must stay 50 feet from structures (15 feet in an approved appliance), be attended with water ready, and can be stopped by the Fire Chief if smoke is offensive. SCAQMD burn-day rules also apply.

Alhambra is a flat, fully built-out San Gabriel Valley city and is not in a CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone, so California's 100-foot defensible-space law (Public Resources Code 4291) does not apply here. Brush clearance is handled through ordinary weed-abatement and nuisance enforcement rather than wildfire defensible-space requirements.

Propane (LP-gas) storage in Alhambra is regulated by the 2022 California Fire Code, adopted as Chapter 19.02 of the Alhambra Municipal Code and enforced by the Alhambra Fire Department. Small barbecue and patio-heater cylinders are allowed for home use, but larger aggregate quantities and any commercial LP-gas storage trigger permit and clearance requirements under California Fire Code Chapter 61.

Alhambra does not appear to have a separate local smoke-alarm ordinance; smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm requirements come from California law and the building/fire codes the city has adopted. State law requires working smoke alarms in all dwellings used for sleeping and carbon-monoxide alarms in homes with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage, with landlords responsible for maintenance in rentals.

Alhambra is a flat, fully built-out San Gabriel Valley city and is not in a CAL FIRE Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. It lies in a Local Responsibility Area, not a State Responsibility Area, so wildfire-specific defensible-space (PRC 4291) and WUI building rules do not apply here. Standard fire-code rules still apply through the Alhambra Fire Department.

The City of Alhambra heavily restricts recreational vehicles and trailers on city streets. RVs may only obtain a 3-day permit for loading or unloading, capped at two per month at $15 each, sold in person at the Police Department Traffic section. Trailers and non-motorized vehicles cannot get an overnight permit at all.

General street parking in the City of Alhambra is governed by its own Municipal Code Title XI, layered over the California Vehicle Code. The defining local feature is a citywide 2 a.m.-6 a.m. overnight parking ban requiring a permit, plus a 72-hour limit under Section 11.28.130 and strictly posted street-sweeping windows.

The City of Alhambra bans overnight parking on all public streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. every day under Municipal Code Chapter 11.36, unless the vehicle has a valid permit or disabled placard. Annual virtual permits cost $65 (rising to $70 on July 1, 2025), and temporary permits cost $5 per night for up to ten nights.

The City of Alhambra restricts commercial vehicles in residential districts under Municipal Code Section 11.28.132. The ordinance defines a heavy-duty commercial vehicle by its size, height and axle count and limits where such vehicles may park. House trailers and motor homes are treated separately and are not included in this definition.

The City of Alhambra treats vehicles left on a street or alley for 72 or more consecutive hours as subject to removal under Municipal Code Section 11.28.130. Residents report suspected abandoned vehicles to the Alhambra Police Department at 626-570-5151 with the plate number, description, and location.

Blocking a driveway in the City of Alhambra is governed mainly by the California Vehicle Code, which prohibits stopping or parking in front of any public or private driveway. Alhambra's own Municipal Code (Title XI) layers on local parking rules, including the citywide 2 a.m.-6 a.m. overnight permit requirement, and the police enforce both.

The City of Alhambra effectively bars oversized vehicles from overnight street parking. Its permit system will not issue a standard overnight permit to any vehicle over 6,000 pounds, 8 feet high, 6 feet wide, or 20 feet long. Section 11.28.132 separately defines heavy-duty commercial vehicles by size and limits them in residential districts.

No Alhambra-specific electric-vehicle parking ordinance was found in the materials reviewed. EV charging-space parking in the city is governed by California Vehicle Code Section 22511, which lets local authorities reserve charging spaces and makes it an offense to park a non-charging vehicle in a designated space, with a $100 fine.

Loading-zone parking in the City of Alhambra follows the curb-color scheme set by California Vehicle Code Section 21458: yellow curbs allow stopping only to load or unload freight or passengers, and white curbs are for loading or unloading passengers. Specific time limits are set by posted signs and local ordinance.

Curb colors in the City of Alhambra follow the statewide scheme in California Vehicle Code Section 21458: red means no stopping, yellow is for loading freight or passengers, white is for loading passengers, green is time-limited parking, and blue is reserved for disabled placard holders. Only these colors may be used.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.12.050 limits fences, walls and dense hedges to a maximum of three feet in the front yard or within five feet of a street side property line, and six feet on all other portions of a residential lot, measured from finished grade.

Per the City of Alhambra's Community Development Department, a building permit is not usually required for a fence, but a Planning application is required, and the type of application depends on the fence or wall proposed. Applicants must submit a site plan showing property lines, location, length, height and design.

Alhambra's Zoning Code 23.12.050 requires the finished side of all perimeter fencing to face adjacent properties. Boundary-fence cost sharing between neighbors is governed by California Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Law), which presumes equal responsibility and requires 30 days' written notice before incurring costs.

Under Alhambra Zoning Code 23.12.050, where a retaining wall exists, a fence or wall on top may not exceed three feet measured from the grade of the retained dirt, and in no event may the retaining wall together with the fence or wall exceed six feet above sidewalk elevation.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.12.050 favors finished, architecturally treated materials. Grey smooth block must be treated (sand-finish stucco, veneer or similar); wire and chain link are restricted; and hazardous materials like barbed, razor and electrified wire are barred unless legally required.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.12.050 requires all walls and fences to be maintained in a safe, neat and orderly condition, the finished side of perimeter fencing to face adjacent properties, and a Planning application before installation. Heights are capped at three feet in front yards and six feet elsewhere.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.12.050 prohibits fences of grey smooth block unless architecturally treated (e.g., sand-finish stucco or veneer), and bars wire and chain link in regulated locations. Barbed wire, razor wire, ultra-barrier and electrified fencing are not permitted unless required by law.

Alhambra adopts the Los Angeles County animal control ordinance (Title 10) by reference under Municipal Code Ch. 7.04. County Code 10.32.010 requires dogs on public property to be restrained on a substantial leash not exceeding six feet, held by a person able to control the dog. Off-leash is allowed only on private property with the owner's consent.

Alhambra has no widely published city-specific backyard-chicken count or coop-setback figure in its animal control framework; the city adopts L.A. County Title 10, where 'poultry' is included in the definition of livestock (County Code 10.08.170). Roosters are practically constrained by the excessive animal noise rule. Confirm coop limits and setbacks with city zoning before building.

Alhambra has no breed-specific ban. California Food & Agricultural Code 31683 bars cities from declaring any breed dangerous or vicious; only breed-neutral dangerous-dog rules apply. Alhambra adopts L.A. County Title 10, whose potentially-dangerous and vicious dog provisions (Chapter 10.37) are based on behavior, not breed.

Alhambra has no published city-specific beekeeping ordinance; it adopts L.A. County Title 10, whose Chapter 10.76 (Apiaries) requires identifying signage on apiaries kept away from the owner's residence and on hives. State law (Food & Agricultural Code) also governs apiary registration and identification. Confirm hive placement with city zoning.

Alhambra adopts L.A. County Title 10, which bars keeping a 'wild animal' without a license. County Code 10.28.060 requires a wild-animal license to keep nondomestic, exotic, or dangerous animals, but exempts ordinary pets: birds, domestic rodents, fish, non-venomous reptiles under six feet, and rabbits. The city also states wild animals and hogs are not allowed as pets.

Alhambra adopts L.A. County Title 10. County Code 10.08.170 defines livestock as including swine, cattle, equines, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, poultry, and rabbits. Livestock may not run at large (10.32.040, a misdemeanor). Numeric counts and setbacks come from city zoning, not the county animal ordinance, so confirm with Alhambra Planning.

Alhambra limits households to two domestic dogs (Municipal Code Sec. 7.20.120, per the city), a stricter limit than the L.A. County baseline of three dogs (County Code 10.20.038). The county cat limit of five, kept primarily indoors, applies; Alhambra exempts cats from county licensing. Each dog must be licensed.

Alhambra exempts cats from the L.A. County mandatory cat-licensing rule (Municipal Code Sec. 7.04.030), so cat licensing is voluntary. The county limit of up to five cats per residence, kept primarily indoors, still applies (County Code 10.20.038), and cats must be spayed or neutered, which Alhambra sets at six months of age.

Alhambra adopts L.A. County Title 10, which makes it unlawful to feed nondomesticated predators or rodents. County Code 10.84.010 bars feeding coyotes, raccoons, foxes, opossums, and ground squirrels, with narrow exceptions, and a violation is a misdemeanor. Feeding wildlife attracts nuisance animals and is discouraged.

Alhambra has no standalone 'hoarding' statute; it relies on adopted L.A. County Title 10. Pet limits (2 dogs per Municipal Code 7.20.120; 5 cats per County Code 10.20.038) cap household animals, and County Code 10.40.010 requires humane care. Keeping more animals than can be properly cared for triggers enforcement and possible impoundment.

Alhambra's municipal code does not set a numeric grass-height limit. Instead, visible front and side yards must be mowed, landscaped and maintained to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director, and overgrown or dead vegetation is a prohibited public nuisance under Chapter 6.26.

Alhambra regulates weeds and overgrown vegetation through its weed-removal chapter (AMC Chapter 6.24) and Real Property Nuisances chapter (AMC Chapter 6.26). Dead, diseased or overgrown vegetation and unmaintained yards are prohibited nuisances abated by Code Enforcement, with no fixed weed-height number in the code.

Routine trimming or pruning that does not damage or kill a tree is exempt from Alhambra's tree-removal permit. But topping, severe pruning, or any work that materially alters or harms a protected tree requires a permit. Street (parkway) trees may only be trimmed by City Public Works crews.

Alhambra runs its own Water Division and has mandatory conservation in effect since June 10, 2022: landscape watering no more often than every three days, never between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and not within 48 hours after measurable rain. Hosing hardscape and washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle are prohibited.

Alhambra encourages California native and drought-tolerant landscaping and protects native trees through its Tree Preservation Ordinance. Front yards must keep live plants as the primary material (max 50% hardscape). State law (Civil Code 4735) protects a homeowner's right to drought-tolerant and native landscaping.

Alhambra allows artificial turf in private yards under detailed quality standards but bans it in parkways. Synthetic turf must be infill-type with a minimum 1-2/3 inch pile, multiple green colors, a permeable backing draining at least 30 inches per hour, and professional installation. Hardscape and turf can't exceed front-yard limits.

Alhambra requires a Tree Removal Permit (AMC 23.12.170) to remove protected oaks, California native trees, and mature trees on private property. Replacement trees are required by a set formula. Illegal removal brings administrative citations, doubled replacement, and up to a 1-year ban on future permits.

Alhambra has no ordinance prohibiting rain barrels or rainwater capture, and rebates are available. Through the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, City customers can get $35 per rain barrel or $250-$350 per cistern. California law broadly allows residential rainwater collection.

Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in Alhambra. Under California's SB 1383, the City provides mandatory organic-waste (green/food scrap) collection so residents must separate organics from trash. Home compost piles should be kept tidy to avoid nuisance and vector problems.

Alhambra prohibits any exterior indication of a home occupation. Under Municipal Code Section 23.22.160, the residential appearance of the dwelling must be maintained and no exterior indication of a home occupation is permitted, which means home businesses cannot post signs, displays or other outward advertising at the residence.

Alhambra allows home occupations as an accessory use in any residential unit regardless of zoning designation, under Municipal Code Section 23.22.160, provided the activity stays incidental to and compatible with surrounding residential uses. The home occupation must be confined to one room of no more than 25% of one floor or 100 square feet, whichever is less, with no exterior indication of the business.

Operating a business from a home in Alhambra requires a Home Occupation Permit reviewed by the Planning Division to confirm the business is permitted in the residence. The city's stated permit fee is $100.00, payable through the online Permit Portal or at the Planning counter, and a Property Owner Authorization of Use form must accompany the application.

Alhambra expressly allows a cottage food operation as a home occupation and accessory use to any legally established residential unit, registered as Class A or Class B under California Health and Safety Code Section 114365 et seq. Cottage food rules are more permissive than the general home occupation standards: one full-time-equivalent employee is allowed and limited on-site sales are permitted, with state gross-sales caps applying.

Family day care is regulated separately from home occupations in Alhambra and is governed largely by California state law. A family day care home is a state-licensed facility in a residential unit caring for children under 18 for less than 24 hours a day. Under California Health and Safety Code Section 1597.40 et seq., both small and large family day care homes are a residential use by right, limiting local zoning restrictions.

Alhambra's pool safety standards are set primarily by California's Swimming Pool Safety Act, adopted locally through Municipal Code Chapter 20.15 (Swimming Pool and Spa Code) and referenced in zoning Section 23.12.150. New and remodeled residential pools need two of seven drowning-prevention features and anti-entrapment suction outlets, all inspected by the city building official before final approval.

Alhambra zoning Section 23.12.150 governs all swimming pools and spas deeper than 18 inches, which captures most above-ground pools. They may not be placed in a required front yard, must sit at least three feet from interior side/rear property lines and five feet from a street-side property line, and must meet the city's Swimming Pool and Spa Code and California's pool safety law.

Building a swimming pool or spa in the City of Alhambra requires a building permit from the Building Division, plus a plumbing permit for pool equipment. Pools and spas must satisfy the city's Swimming Pool and Spa Code (Municipal Code Chapter 20.15) and the zoning setback rules of Section 23.12.150 in addition to California's statewide drowning-prevention requirements.

Alhambra requires pools and spas deeper than 18 inches that are not enclosed in a building to comply with Municipal Code Chapter 9.52 and the city's Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act, new and remodeled residential pools must have at least two of seven drowning-prevention features, which typically means an isolation enclosure with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

Alhambra zoning Section 23.12.150 covers spas alongside swimming pools: spas and their equipment may not sit in a required front yard and must meet the same three-foot interior/rear and five-foot street-side water-line setbacks. Spas deeper than 18 inches that are not enclosed in a building must comply with Municipal Code Chapter 9.52 and California's pool safety law, though approved spa safety covers can satisfy the barrier requirement.

Alhambra allows existing garages and accessory structures to be converted into ADUs or JADUs ministerially under Zoning Code 23.22.040. Conversions within existing footprints need no added setback and no replacement parking, but the converted space must meet building, fire, and habitability codes.

The City of Alhambra permits accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs ministerially under Zoning Code Section 23.22.040, implementing California Government Code 66310 et seq. Detached ADUs may reach 1,200 sq ft on single-family lots; JADUs are capped at 500 sq ft. ADUs may not be used as short-term rentals.

Alhambra regulates sheds as detached accessory structures under its Zoning Code. One-story tool/storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses up to 120 sq ft and 12 feet tall are permitted, while larger accessory structures cap at 15 feet and must sit at least 3 feet from interior side and rear lot lines.

Alhambra has no separate 'tiny home' ordinance. A tiny home placed on a permanent foundation can be permitted as an ADU under Zoning Code 23.22.040, but a tiny home on wheels is treated as an RV under California law and cannot be used as a permanent residence.

Alhambra regulates carports as detached accessory structures in its Zoning Code. They may not exceed 15 feet in height, must be set back at least 3 feet from interior side and rear lot lines, and are reviewed through Minor Site Plan Review along with other accessory structures.

Backyard propane and charcoal barbecues are allowed at single-family homes in Alhambra. The 2022 California Fire Code (Municipal Code Chapter 19.02) restricts open-flame cooking devices on combustible balconies and near combustible construction at apartments and condos, where charcoal and LP-gas grills are limited. Store propane cylinders upright and outdoors.

Backyard smokers (wood, pellet, charcoal or gas) are allowed at single-family homes in Alhambra and are treated as outdoor cooking devices under the 2022 California Fire Code (Municipal Code Chapter 19.02). The main constraints are the Fire Code's restriction on open-flame cooking near combustible construction at apartments and condos, and South Coast AQMD smoke-nuisance rules in this dense urban area.

Alhambra's Zoning Code treats election-related political signs as exempt signs under Chapter 23.21, requiring no permit but requiring removal within 14 days after the election. California free-speech protections sharply limit how cities and HOAs may restrict noncommercial political signage.

Alhambra allows residential yard/garage sales up to three consecutive days, no more than four times a year, under its zoning temporary-use rules. All sale items, signs, and temporary structures must be removed within ten days after the sale, and signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way.

Alhambra's own Real Property Nuisances code (Chapter 6.26) prohibits deteriorated, unsafe, and blighted property conditions citywide. The Code Enforcement Division investigates exterior maintenance, overgrown vegetation, dead lawns, junk accumulation, and inoperable vehicles in public view as public nuisances.

Alhambra requires residents to store trash, recycling, and organics carts out of public view between collections. Carts may be placed at the curb no earlier than the afternoon before pickup and must be removed before 6 a.m. the day after collection.

Alhambra does not publish a vacant-lot-specific ordinance, but its Real Property Nuisances code (Chapter 6.26) applies to all property in the city. Owners of vacant or undeveloped parcels must prevent dead vegetation, weed overgrowth, junk accumulation, and other nuisance conditions.

Alhambra prohibits overgrown vegetation, dead or brown lawns, and the absence of healthful ground cover under its Real Property Nuisances code. The City warns that high grass and dead lawns create blighted conditions and can result in a Code Enforcement violation.

Alhambra allows no permit-free garage sales beyond two per calendar year, each lasting no more than two consecutive days, per household or property. Hours are limited to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., signs are restricted, and no merchandise may be displayed in the public right-of-way.

Alhambra is an urban city without a formal dark-sky ordinance, but its Zoning Code (Section 23.12.090) requires all outdoor lighting to be directed, oriented, and shielded so it does not cast glare or light trespass onto adjacent properties, capping light at the property line at 0.3 foot-candles.

Alhambra's Zoning Code Section 23.12.090 directly addresses light trespass: all lights must be directed, oriented, and shielded to prevent light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties, and illumination at the property line may not exceed 0.3 foot-candles.

Republic Services is Alhambra's exclusive franchised hauler, providing weekly curbside collection of trash, recycling, and organics in the same week. Collection begins at 6 a.m., so carts must be set out by then. Residential billing is quarterly in advance.

Alhambra residents may place carts at the curb no earlier than the afternoon before collection and must remove them before 6 a.m. the day after pickup. Between collections, carts must be stored out of public view, and bins must not block sidewalks or the public right-of-way.

Alhambra adopted a Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance (Ordinance No. O2M21-4787, May 24, 2021) requiring all residential and commercial premises to subscribe to the green-cart organics program. With over 70,000 residents, Alhambra is not rural-exempt from SB 1383.

Alhambra residents get free bulky item pickup from Republic Services on their regular weekly collection day. Up to six bulky items per pickup need no advance scheduling; more than six, plus e-waste and appliances, require scheduling. Items must be curbside by 6 a.m.

Alhambra residents must sort recyclables into the blue cart provided by Republic Services. Accepted items include clean, dry paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, and metal cans. Plastic bags, Styrofoam, and contaminated items are prohibited. Contaminated carts may be tagged.

Alhambra's public parks are closed overnight: under Municipal Code Section 14.04.030, it is unlawful to remain, stay, or loiter in any public park between 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless participating in an event authorized by a City Manager permit. A separate minors' curfew applies citywide.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.04.030 sets residential setbacks by zone. In the RL (R-1) zone the front setback is 25 feet, street side 10 feet, interior side 5 feet (first story) / 6 feet (upper stories), and rear 20% of lot depth up to 15 feet. RM and RH zones use different, generally smaller setbacks.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.04.030 limits buildings by zone: RL (R-1) to 2 stories / 25 feet, RM (R-2) to 3 stories / 35 feet, and RH (R-3) to 45 feet (up to 75 feet in a designated downtown area). Accessory structures are limited to 15 feet.

Alhambra Zoning Code 23.04.030 limits lot coverage by zone: the RM (R-2) zone allows up to 45% and the RH (R-3) zone up to 55%. The RL (R-1) zone is controlled chiefly by a maximum floor area ratio of 0.40 rather than a published lot-coverage percentage.

Alhambra's Tree Preservation Ordinance (AMC 23.12.170) requires a Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Division before removing or materially altering a protected oak, California native, or mature tree on private property. Applications are decided within ten working days, and replacement trees are required.