Moving to Chino, CA?

Chino does not impose a strict bedtime curfew on residents, but Chino Municipal Code Chapter 9.40 (Noise) sets enforceable A-weighted decibel limits at the receiving residential property line that drop 5 dB between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Section 9.40.040 (Exterior Noise Standards) caps continuous noise (L50) at 55 dBA daytime / 50 dBA nighttime, with maximum (Lmax) of 75 dBA daytime / 70 dBA nighttime.

Amplified music is regulated under two parallel layers in Chino: CMC § 9.40.040 (general exterior noise standards) caps any amplified sound at 55/50 dBA L50 day/night at the neighbor's property line, and CMC Chapter 9.36 — substantially rewritten by Ordinance No. 2019-005 — imposes flat administrative fines on hosts of 'loud or unruly gatherings' without any decibel proof, on a per-response escalating schedule.

On-road motor-vehicle exhaust and engine noise is primarily a matter of California Vehicle Code, not the Chino Municipal Code. Vehicle Code §27150 requires every motor vehicle to have an adequate muffler in constant operation, with no cutout, bypass, or similar device. §27151 prohibits modifying an exhaust system to amplify or increase noise; for passenger vehicles under 6,000 lb GVWR (other than motorcycles), an exhaust sound level over 95 dBA (measured per SAE J1492 / J1169) is a violation. CHP and Chino Police enforce these under state law. Article 2.5 (Veh. Code §§27200–27207) sets vehicle-class noise limits (e.g., motorcycles: 80 dBA at 50 ft for post-1985 models). Loud cars off public roadways, or stationary vehicle noise (revving in a driveway, idling refrigerated trucks), fall under Chino CMC §9.40 exterior noise standards (65 dBA day / 55 dBA night at residential property line). Cal. Vehicle Code §21461 preempts cities from regulating equipment on vehicles operated on public highways beyond what state law allows.

Chino has no leaf-blower–specific ban or hour restriction in its Municipal Code; leaf-blower operation is governed by the general exterior noise standards in CMC § 9.40.040 and by California state law. Under California AB 1346, the California Air Resources Board prohibits the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines (SORE) — including most gas leaf blowers — beginning with model-year 2024.

Construction noise in Chino is exempt from the exterior decibel limits in CMC § 9.40.040 only when the work occurs within designated construction hours. The City of Chino General Plan Noise Element (Objective N-1.3, Policy P2) limits construction work near noise-sensitive uses to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and CMC Chapter 9.40 carries that limit through as the exemption window.

Chino Municipal Code §9.40.040 (Exterior Noise Standards) establishes maximum permitted noise levels at the receiving (residential) property line: 65 dBA during daytime hours (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and 55 dBA during nighttime hours (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). Measurement is per §9.40.020: A-weighted scale, slow response, referenced to 20 micropascals, using a sound level meter that meets ANSI specifications. Noise sources in commercial and industrial zones must comply with the residential standard when measured at the nearest residential property line. The standard is exceeded when the level is exceeded for any 30 minutes in an hour; lower thresholds (typically 5 dBA below the base) apply for shorter cumulative durations (15 min, 5 min, 1 min, instantaneous).

Chino contracts with San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control for animal services (not the Inland Valley Humane Society, which serves neighboring Chino Hills). Continuous or habitual barking that exceeds the CMC § 9.40.040 decibel limits, or that constitutes a public nuisance under CMC Title 9, can be cited. San Bernardino County Code Title 3, Division 2 (Animal Control) prohibits keeping any animal whose noise disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.

Industrial noise in Chino is governed primarily by Chino Municipal Code Chapter 9.40 (NOISE), §9.40.040 Exterior Noise Standards, with measurement methodology fixed in §9.40.020 (A-weighted, slow response, reference 20 micropascals). Per the city's General Plan Noise Element and CMC, the baseline exterior noise standard applied at the receiving property line is 65 dBA. Industrial sources (M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial zones, including The Preserve specific-plan industrial areas, Chino Industrial Park along Edison Ave / Pine Ave, and the Auto Center) must not cause noise at adjoining residential property lines exceeding the residential standard (65 dBA daytime 7 a.m.–10 p.m. / 55 dBA nighttime 10 p.m.–7 a.m.). Mechanical and electrical equipment at industrial sites (cooling towers, compressors, dust collectors) is independently regulated under CMC §§9.40.030–9.40.060. Title 20 Zoning performance standards layer in vibration, glare, and noise limits enforced at the time of site-plan review.

Amplified outdoor music in Chino is regulated by Chino Municipal Code Chapter 9.40 (NOISE) plus the City's special-event permitting process. Amplified sound that exceeds the §9.40.040 exterior noise standards (65 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime at the nearest residential property line) is a violation unless covered by an exemption — most commonly a city-permitted special event, parade, or authorized public-park activity. Routine amplified music from a backyard party, restaurant patio, or event venue must comply with the standard. Chino updated its loud-party ordinance in 2019 to impose a flat-rate fine schedule for noise nuisance / disturbing-the-peace responses; subsequent responses to the same address within a defined period trigger escalating cost-recovery charges and may be assessed against the property owner.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. §§40103, 41713 and FAA regulations) preempts the City of Chino from regulating aircraft-in-flight noise. Operations at Chino Airport (KCNO) — a San Bernardino County-owned general aviation reliever airport along Merrill Avenue at the southern edge of the city — are governed by the FAA and the airport sponsor, not Chino Municipal Code §9.40. What Chino does regulate is the land-use side: under the Chino Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan (ACLUP) administered through San Bernardino County's 'Alternative Process' (no formal ALUC; local jurisdictions handle compatibility planning), the City must notice development applications within adopted airport noise and safety zones and assure compatibility with Chino Airport operations. The CMC §9.40.040 exterior noise standards (65 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime in residential zones) expressly do not apply to aircraft operations.

Chino does not use an annual night-cap (e.g., 90 or 120 nights/year) to limit short-term rentals because the city bans STRs outright under Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020. The night-cap regulatory tool — popular in Los Angeles (120 nights unhosted) and San Francisco (90 nights unhosted) — assumes lawful STR operation. In Chino, zero nights of sub-30-day rental are permitted in any residential or mixed-use zone.

Chino does NOT issue short-term rental permits because STRs are entirely prohibited citywide. Per Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020, a 'short-term rental' is the rental of any residential building or portion thereof for 30 consecutive calendar days or less, and the use is not permitted in any zoning district. The October 2022 ordinance expanded a prior residential-zone-only prohibition into a citywide ban. There is no licensing pathway, no Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration for residential property, and no business license category for STRs — applying for one will be refused. Hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, or any platform is a zoning violation. Only rentals of 30 days or longer are lawful.

Some California cities distinguish 'hosted' STRs (owner on-site during the guest stay) from 'unhosted' rentals, allowing the former more liberally. Chino draws no such distinction. CMC §20.24.020's STR definition turns solely on rental duration (30 consecutive calendar days or less), not on host presence. A host who shares their own home with a paying guest for a weekend is in violation of Title 20 just as surely as an absentee owner renting an entire dwelling. There is no 'home-share', 'hosted stay', or 'room rental' exemption in the Chino code.

Chino does not collect Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on short-term rentals because the city banned STRs (rentals of 30 consecutive days or less) citywide in October 2022. There is no STR permit, no business license category for vacation rentals, and no TOT remittance pathway because the use itself is prohibited in every zoning district under Chino Municipal Code Title 20. Operators who advertise or rent property for under 30 days face administrative citations up to $1,000 per day per Code Enforcement.

Chino has no STR registration, TOT certificate, or business license program because short-term rentals are banned outright by Title 20 zoning (CMC §20.24.020 defines STRs as <31-day residential rentals; no zoning district permits the use). Hosts cannot 'register and comply' — the only compliance path is not to operate. By contrast, neighboring jurisdictions (e.g., unincorporated San Bernardino County, City of Big Bear Lake) require registration; Chino does not. Hosts who previously held a city business license tied to vacation-rental activity have had those classifications closed.

While Chino bans STRs of 30 days or fewer, rentals of 31 consecutive days or more — including extended home-share, room rentals, corporate housing, and travel-nurse stays — fall outside the §20.24.020 STR definition and are lawful in any residential zone. They are treated as ordinary residential tenancies subject to California landlord-tenant law: AB 1482 just-cause eviction protections and the 5%+CPI annual rent cap (Civ. Code §§1946.2, 1947.12) apply after 12 months of continuous occupancy, the Mobilehome Residency Law applies to mobile-home parks, and Civil Code §§1940 et seq. govern habitability and security deposits. ADUs and JADUs may be rented under this 31+ day framework consistent with Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6).

Many California cities (e.g., Los Angeles, San Diego) permit STRs only at a host's primary residence. Chino has no such carve-out: per CMC §20.24.020, ANY residential rental under 31 days is an STR and is prohibited in every zoning district. Whether the dwelling is the host's primary residence, second home, or investor-owned makes no difference under Chino's ordinance. The State Government Code 65852.2(a)(6) ADU rule (30+ day minimum) reinforces this for accessory dwelling units: an owner cannot offer the ADU on their primary-residence lot for short-term stays either.

Chino does not set per-bedroom or per-unit guest occupancy caps for short-term rentals because the use is prohibited citywide under Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020 (rentals of 30 days or less). No regulatory framework — and therefore no maximum-guest rule — applies. Long-term residential occupancy is governed by the California Building Code and HUD/Uniform Housing Code 'two-plus-one' guideline (2 persons per bedroom + 1), not by Chino-specific STR ordinance.

Chino has no STR-specific quiet-hours or 'one-strike' noise rule because short-term rentals are banned citywide under Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020. General residential noise rules in Title 7 (Public Welfare, Morals and Conduct) and Title 8 (Health and Safety) — which prohibit loud, unreasonable, or disturbing noise — apply to all residents and would govern any unlawful STR activity, but no STR-tailored decibel thresholds, three-strike permit-revocation, or 24-hour hotline exists.

Chino has no minimum liability-insurance requirement for short-term rentals because the use is prohibited citywide. Many California cities require $500K–$1M general-liability coverage as a permit condition; Chino bypasses this entirely by banning STRs under Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020. Homeowners attempting to operate an STR face a separate problem: standard homeowner's policies typically exclude 'business use' losses, and Airbnb's Host Liability Insurance / AirCover does not legalize an otherwise-prohibited use.

Chino does not set STR-specific guest-parking minimums (e.g., one off-street space per bedroom rented) because short-term rentals are prohibited citywide under Chino Municipal Code §20.24.020. Standard residential off-street parking minimums in Title 20 Zoning apply to all dwellings — typically two covered spaces per single-family home — and on-street parking follows Title 10 Vehicles and Traffic, including any posted permit-district or overnight restrictions.

Chino Valley Fire Protection District enforces the California Fire Code (CFC) as adopted under CVFD Ordinance 2022-01 and amended by Ordinance 2025-01 (effective Sept. 1, 2025). CFC Section 307.4.2 limits recreational fires to a pile no larger than 3 ft in diameter and 2 ft in height, set back at least 25 ft from any structure or combustible material. Portable outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 ft from structures. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 also limits open burning, and SCAQMD seasonal No-Burn Days (Rule 445) restrict wood-burning in the South Coast basin, which includes Chino.

Chino sits within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) basin, where SCAQMD Rule 444 prohibits virtually all open outdoor burning. Burning rubbish, leaves, yard waste, construction debris, or land-clearing material is banned year-round. Only narrow exemptions exist: code-compliant recreational fires (CFC §307.4.2), agricultural burning by special permit, prescribed fire by CVFD, and gas-fueled appliances. CVFD must issue an open-burning permit under CFC §105.6.30 for any allowed open burn.

Properties in Chino's High and Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) — primarily parcels adjacent to the Chino Hills State Park / Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor — must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California Public Resources Code §4291 and CVFD Ordinance 2022-01. Citywide, all parcels must control weeds, dry grass, and combustible vegetation as a fire and public-nuisance hazard. CVFD conducts inspections in late spring, summer, and fall; non-compliance triggers fees, fines, and forced clearance by the district's contractor with costs lien-assessed to the parcel.

Under California Government Code §51178–§51182 and CVFD Ordinance 2025-01 (effective September 1, 2025), CAL FIRE designates Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Chino. While most of the urbanized city is outside any FHSZ, parcels along the southern and western edges — particularly those near the Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor and adjacent to Chino Hills State Park (>7,300 acres of Very High FHSZ) — fall into Moderate, High, or Very-High zones. Owners in High/Very-High FHSZ must maintain PRC §4291 defensible space, build to Chapter 7A WUI standards on new construction, and provide Natural Hazard Disclosures on sale (Civil Code §1103).

Chino is one of the few Inland Empire cities that still permits Safe-and-Sane fireworks. Under Chino Municipal Code Chapter 8.12, State-Fire-Marshal-approved Safe-and-Sane fireworks may be sold from noon July 1 through 9:00 p.m. July 4, and discharged within residential zones from purchase through midnight July 4. All other fireworks (aerial, exploding, sky rockets) are illegal under California Health & Safety Code §12500 et seq. Improper Safe-and-Sane use carries a $500 fine; illegal-fireworks possession or use is a $1,000 fine and potentially a misdemeanor.

Propane (LPG) storage in Chino is regulated by the California Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) as adopted by CVFD Ordinance 2022-01, plus NFPA 58. Cylinders ≤2.5 lb water capacity may be stored anywhere; 1–4 cylinders ≤20 lb (BBQ-size) are permitted at residences but must be kept outdoors away from ignition sources; aggregate residential storage >720 lb (about 175 gallons) requires CFC §105.6.20 permit. Permanent tanks (e.g., 250–500 gallon ASME tanks) have minimum setbacks of 10 ft from any building or property line.

Chino does not impose a blanket citywide overnight street-parking ban. Overnight parking is generally permitted on residential streets, subject to (1) the California Vehicle Code §22651(k) 72-consecutive-hour limit, (2) street-sweeping side-of-street restrictions, (3) Chino Municipal Code Chapter 10.30 commercial-vehicle prohibitions (Ord. 2021-005), and (4) any posted signs in specific zones (school zones, downtown, permit districts).

Chino Municipal Code §20.10.100 allows boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles to be parked on a private driveway for up to 72 hours only. Inoperable vehicles are nuisance under CMC §8.50.040 — also a 72-hour max, must be out of public view, and must be made operable to remain; covering them or filing a DMV non-operation does not satisfy the code. Code Enforcement (909-334-3319) actively cites violations.

Chino enforces California Vehicle Code §22651(k) — any vehicle parked on a public street for 72+ consecutive hours can be tagged, cited, and towed. The City also prohibits parking on swept-side streets during scheduled street sweeping (twice monthly, odd/even address rotation). Commercial vehicles cannot park on public or private property except to load/unload, max 3 hours (Chino Municipal Code Chapter 10.30, as amended by Ordinance 2021-005).

A vehicle parked on a Chino public street for 72+ consecutive hours can be tagged and towed under California Vehicle Code §22651(k). On private property, inoperable or apparently abandoned vehicles are public nuisances under Chino Municipal Code §8.50.040 — Code Enforcement issues a Notice of Abatement and can remove the vehicle at owner expense. Commercial vehicles left 6+ hours under CMC Chapter 10.30 are 'deemed abandoned.'

California Government Code §65850.7 (AB 1236) requires every California city — including Chino — to provide an expedited, streamlined permitting process for residential and commercial Level 2 EV charging stations, with use of a checklist and 5/20-business-day deemed-approval timelines. Civil Code §4745 overrides HOA bans on owner-installed EV chargers. Chino building permits are issued by the City Building Division (Title 15).

Per Chino Municipal Code 20.10.100, boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles may be parked on a private residential driveway for a maximum of 72 hours at a time. Longer-term keeping must be in a screened side or rear yard consistent with Title 20 zoning. On-street RV parking is governed by California Vehicle Code 22651/22651.5 plus Chino's general 72-hour rule prohibiting vehicle storage on public streets.

Chino Municipal Code 10.30.030 (Ord. 2021-005) makes it unlawful to store any commercial vehicle on private residential property for more than 3 hours in any 30-day period, and to park a commercial vehicle on any public or private property except while actively loading or unloading for up to 3 consecutive hours. 'Commercial vehicle' is defined in CMC 10.30.020.

Chino Municipal Code Title 20 (Zoning) regulates fence heights through CMC § 20.10.080 (Walls and Fences). Typical residential standards allow 6 ft in side/rear yards and 42 in (3.5 ft) in required front yards, with corner-lot visibility triangles required at intersections.

California Civil Code § 841 (the 'Good Neighbor Fence Law') presumes adjoining owners share equally in the cost of construction, maintenance, and replacement of a boundary fence. A 30-day written notice is required before incurring shared costs. Chino has no separate local cost-sharing rule.

Per CBC § 105.2 (as adopted in CMC Title 15), retaining walls 4 ft or less in height (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) and not supporting a surcharge are exempt from building permit. Taller walls or surcharge-loaded walls require permits, plans stamped by a licensed engineer, and inspections.

Chino Municipal Code § 20.10.080 (Walls and Fences) regulates fencing materials. Wood, masonry, wrought iron, vinyl, and tubular steel are standard. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences are prohibited in residential zones consistent with San Bernardino County practice.

Chino enforces California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §§ 115920–115929, SB 442) requiring at least TWO of seven drowning-prevention features for any new or remodeled pool/spa at a single-family home. Enclosure barriers must be 60 in minimum, with ≤ 2 in ground clearance and no 4-in sphere passage.

California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts breed-specific dangerous-dog ordinances — no city, including Chino, may declare a breed dangerous or vicious by breed alone. The only carve-out is Health & Safety Code §122331, which lets local governments require mandatory spay/neuter and breeding regulation by breed. Through its San Bernardino County animal-control contract, that exception applies in Chino: San Bernardino County Code §32.1501 requires pit bulls and pit-bull-mix dogs over 4 months to be spayed or neutered.

Chino contracts animal services to San Bernardino County Animal Care (Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire). Dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash or otherwise restrained under San Bernardino County Code §32.0108, and Chino Municipal Code §6.08.020 requires every dog over 4 months kept in the City to be licensed and rabies-vaccinated. California Food & Agricultural Code §30954 separately prohibits letting a female dog in heat run at large.

Chino's identity is rooted in the Chino Agricultural Preserve (historically the largest dairy concentration in the U.S.), so livestock and poultry keeping is broadly permitted in agricultural and equestrian-zoned parcels under Title 20 Zoning, while standard residential zones limit fowl/livestock to small accessory numbers with setbacks. The Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC) — which began servicing Chino on July 1, 2025 — handles enforcement.

California has one of the most restrictive exotic-pet regimes in the country: Cal. Fish & Game Code §2118 and 14 CCR §671 bar private possession of nearly all non-domesticated mammals (primates, bats, most carnivores other than dogs/cats), most non-domesticated birds, and many reptiles without a Restricted Species Permit from CDFW. Chino does not override this state floor; the Chino municipal code (Title 6 Animals) layers local dangerous-animal and licensing rules on top of state law.

California requires every beekeeper in the state to annually register apiary locations with the county agricultural commissioner by January 1 under Cal. Food & Agricultural Code §29040 — this applies to Chino regardless of any local rule. Chino permits hobby beekeeping primarily in Agricultural and Equestrian zones under Title 20, with hive setbacks from property lines and flyway-barrier requirements typical of Inland Empire cities. Africanized honey bee (AHB) presence is established throughout San Bernardino County, so hives must be managed accordingly.

Chino's WUI boundary touches the Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor and Chino Hills State Park, where coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, and mountain lions routinely move through neighborhoods. California 14 CCR §251.3 prohibits intentional feeding of big-game mammals (deer, elk, bear, etc.) statewide. Locally, Chino Title 8 (Health & Safety) addresses food sources that attract wildlife as a public nuisance, and intentional coyote feeding is generally treated as a nuisance/code violation.

California addresses animal hoarding primarily through Cal. Penal Code §597 (animal cruelty/neglect — felony or misdemeanor, up to $20,000 fine) and §597.9 (5-year ownership ban after misdemeanor cruelty conviction, 10-year ban after felony). Chino's Title 6 Animals layers a per-household animal-number limit and dangerous/nuisance animal provisions on top; the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire (ARC) handles seizure and sheltering.

Street trees and parkway trees in Chino are regulated under Title 11 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places) and Title 12 (Public Property). Property owners are responsible for trimming private trees that overhang the public right-of-way to maintain mandated clearance (typically 8 feet over sidewalks and 14 feet over roadways). Removal or major pruning of designated street trees requires a city permit and follows ISA pruning standards. State law (Public Utilities Code section 12808) and CPUC General Order 95 govern clearance around overhead utility lines.

Chino abates noxious and fire-prone weeds under Title 8 (Health and Safety) using the state weed-nuisance framework in Cal. Health & Safety Code section 14875 et seq. Vacant lots, unmaintained parcels, and pasture edges that accumulate dry grass, brush, or weeds with downy seeds receive notices to clear. Defensible-space rules in PRC section 4291 (100 feet of clearance) apply only in State Responsibility Areas or designated WUI portions adjacent to Chino Hills State Park; most of Chino is a Local Responsibility Area governed by city code.

Chino is served by the city water utility within the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) wholesale service area and the adjudicated Chino Basin Watermaster. State regulations adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board prohibit specific outdoor water-waste practices statewide (runoff onto sidewalks, hosing down hardscape, non-recirculating fountains, irrigating within 48 hours of measurable rain). Chino additionally enforces day-of-week and time-of-day watering restrictions through its water utility under Title 13 (Public Services).

Rainwater harvesting from rooftops for outdoor irrigation is allowed in California without a water-right permit under the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code section 10574). Chino does not prohibit residential rain barrels or cisterns. Larger above-ground tanks may trigger building/zoning review under Title 15 and Title 20 (setbacks, height of accessory structures). Mosquito control under California Code of Regulations Title 17 requires covered/screened storage.

California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) under CCR Title 23 sections 490-495 applies in Chino because Chino is required to either adopt a local water-efficient landscape ordinance 'at least as effective as' MWELO or default to the state model under Cal. Gov. Code section 65595. New residential landscapes over 500 square feet and non-residential landscapes over 2,500 square feet must comply. California-native and low-water plants are encouraged, and Civil Code section 4735 forbids HOAs from banning low-water plantings or drought-tolerant replacements of turf.

Chino enforces overgrown grass and weeds through Title 8 (Health and Safety) nuisance abatement, mirroring California's statewide weed abatement framework. Cal. Health & Safety Code section 14875 defines weeds to include 'weeds that bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature' and 'dry grass, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable material which endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard.' There is no specific blade-height number, but tall dry vegetation that creates a fire menace to adjacent improved property is abatable.

California Civil Code section 4735 prohibits HOAs and similar associations from banning artificial turf, and AB 1572 (signed 2023, Water Code section 10608.14) phases out non-functional turf at commercial, institutional, and industrial sites. Chino allows residential synthetic turf in front and rear yards subject to material, drainage, and zoning standards in Title 20. Front-yard installation typically must meet permeability and aesthetic standards as part of the city's MWELO-compliant landscape rules.

Chino permits home occupations in residential zones via a Home Occupation Permit issued by the Community Development Department under Title 20 (Zoning) of the Chino Municipal Code (CMC). The use must be clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, conducted entirely within the dwelling by residents, with no exterior evidence of the business. Statewide, Cal. Gov't Code section 65852.2(e) protects ADUs from owner-occupancy and use restrictions; SB 9 (Gov't Code 65852.21) does not authorize commercial use in residential lots.

Chino's Title 20 (Zoning) and Title 17 (Signs) prohibit any sign, display, or other exterior evidence advertising a home occupation. Home occupations must produce no visible change to the residential character of the dwelling or lot. This is a near-universal California municipal standard and is content-neutral under Reed v. Town of Gilbert (576 U.S. 155).

Under California Health & Safety Code sections 1597.30 - 1597.622 (Family Day Care Home Act / California Child Day Care Facilities Act), Small Family Child Care Homes (up to 8 children) and Large Family Child Care Homes (up to 14 children) are a residential use by right in any zone permitting single-family dwellings. Chino cannot require a use permit, conditional use permit, variance, or special zoning approval and cannot impose business-license fees beyond those charged to other residences. The state Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division licenses providers.

Chino's Title 20 home occupation standards require that traffic, parking demand, and deliveries generated by the home business not exceed what is typical for a residence. On-site customer/client visits are restricted, on-street parking demand cannot be increased, and commercial delivery vehicles larger than a standard delivery van are prohibited from making routine deliveries to the home.

California's Homemade Food Act (AB 1616 / AB 1144) permits Cottage Food Operations (CFOs) producing approved non-potentially-hazardous foods from a private home kitchen, under California Health & Safety Code section 113758 et seq. CFOs are permitted by San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services. Cal. HSC section 113758 expressly preempts local zoning bans on CFOs as long as state requirements are met; Chino must allow Class A and Class B CFOs as a residential use, though it may impose reasonable zoning conditions consistent with state law.

Chino enforces the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Cal. Health & Safety Code §115923) at building-permit issuance. Pool enclosures must be at least 60 inches high with no more than 2 inches of ground clearance, gates self-closing and self-latching with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground.

Chino requires a building permit for any swimming pool, spa, or hot tub deeper than 18 inches under the California Building Code adopted in Chino Municipal Code Title 15 (Buildings and Construction). Permit review covers structural plans, electrical bonding (CEC Art. 680), gas/plumbing, and barrier compliance with state pool safety law.

When Chino issues a permit for a new pool or remodel, the pool must include at least TWO of seven drowning-prevention features under Cal. Health & Safety Code §115922 (SB 442, 2018). Options include a code-compliant enclosure, ASTM F2286 mesh fence, ASTM F1346-23 safety cover, exit alarms, self-closing door device, ASTM F2208 water-entry alarm, or equivalent approved protection.

Above-ground pools deeper than 18 inches are treated as 'swimming pools' under Cal. Health & Safety Code §115921 — Chino requires a building permit, SB 442 barrier features, and CEC Article 680 electrical bonding even for inflatable or portable units. Zoning setbacks in residential zones apply under Chino Municipal Code Title 20.

Hot tubs and portable spas holding water deeper than 18 inches are 'swimming pools' under Cal. Health & Safety Code §115921 and trigger Chino building permits, SB 442 features, and CEC Article 680 electrical bonding. A locking cover meeting ASTM F1346-23 is the most common compliance choice for portable spas.

ADU permits in Chino are processed ministerially through the Planning Division and Development Services per CMC Chapter 20.11 and Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(b). State law requires the city to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days without discretionary review or public hearings. Apply via the city's Accela Citizen Access portal at aca-prod.accela.com/CHINO.

Chino regulates sheds and detached accessory buildings under Title 20 (Zoning). Small sheds 120 sq ft or less are exempt from building permits under the California Residential Code (CRC Section R105.2 / CBC Appendix M as adopted in Chino Municipal Code Title 15), but zoning setbacks, height limits, and lot-coverage rules in Title 20 still apply. Sheds may not be placed in a required front yard, and equestrian-zone parcels in the Chino Agricultural Preserve have separate barn/stable provisions.

Carports in Chino are regulated as accessory structures under Chino Municipal Code Title 20 (Zoning) and require a building permit under Title 15 (which adopts the California Building Code and California Residential Code). Detached carports must meet residential-zone setbacks (typically 5 ft side / 5 ft rear in R-1) and height limits, and attached carports must meet the principal-dwelling setbacks. Replacing a garage with a carport does not eliminate required covered parking unless the conversion is to an ADU (then state law exempts replacement parking).

Chino regulates Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs (JADUs) under Chino Municipal Code Chapter 20.11 (Accessory Structures), implementing California Gov. Code §65852.2 and §65852.22. One ADU and one JADU are allowed per single-family lot; JADUs must be entirely within the existing single-family residence footprint or attached garage and capped at 500 sq ft. State law preempts the city on ministerial approval, size minimums, and parking exemptions within 1/2 mile of transit.

ADUs and JADUs in Chino may NOT be rented for terms shorter than 30 days. This is mandated by Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) statewide and reinforced by Chino's citywide short-term rental ban under Title 20 Zoning. STRs are not a permitted use in any Chino residential zone, with enforcement penalties reported at up to $1,000/day.

Per Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(f)(3), Chino CANNOT charge impact fees on ADUs under 750 sq ft. For ADUs 750 sq ft or larger, impact fees must be proportional - charged at a fraction equal to the ADU's square footage divided by the primary dwelling's square footage. Standard building-permit plan-check and inspection fees still apply.

For ADUs permitted from Jan 1, 2020 through Dec 31, 2024, Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) prohibited cities including Chino from imposing owner-occupancy requirements. As of Jan 1, 2025, cities may again require owner occupancy on new ADU permits but Chino's CMC Chapter 20.11 follows state defaults. JADUs ALWAYS require owner occupancy of either the primary residence or the JADU under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.22(a)(2).

California Gov. Code §65852.2 (now re-codified by SB 477 at Gov. Code §66310 et seq.) preempts local bans on converting an existing garage into an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Chino adopted a conforming ADU ordinance on March 17, 2020 (Chino Municipal Code Title 20). Garage-to-ADU conversions are permitted ministerially, replacement parking is NOT required when a garage is converted to an ADU, and approval must be issued within 60 days of a complete application.

Chino allows tiny homes only through three regulated pathways: (1) a permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) up to 1,200 sq ft on a permanent foundation under Gov. Code §65852.2 (now §66310 et seq.) and Chino's 3-17-20 ADU ordinance; (2) a Junior ADU (JADU) up to 500 sq ft within an existing single-family dwelling under Gov. Code §65852.22 (now §66333 et seq.); or (3) a Movable Tiny House registered as a recreational vehicle / park trailer under Cal. Health & Safety Code §18010 and ANSI A119.5 — but only as a temporary RV, not a permanent residence on a single-family lot.

The City of Chino participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and adopts the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for San Bernardino County. Most of Chino is mapped Zone X (minimal flood hazard), but Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA — Zones A/AE) follow Chino Creek, Mill Creek, San Antonio Channel, Cypress Channel and the Prado Flood Control Basin. The southern edge of the city below elevation 566 ft is within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Prado Dam inundation/flowage easement.

Grading work in Chino requires a grading permit under California Building Code Appendix J (adopted by reference in Chino Municipal Code Title 15), with drainage plans showing positive flow away from structures, no concentrated runoff onto neighboring properties, and tie-in to the city's master-planned storm drain system. Major drainage facilities are governed by the City of Chino Drainage Master Plan (1993, updated 1998, 2003, 2022) covering 11.25 sq mi in Subarea 1 and 8.5 sq mi in Subarea 2 (The Preserve).

Construction sites in Chino must implement erosion and sediment control Best Management Practices (BMPs) under the San Bernardino MS4 Permit (Order R8-2010-0036), California Building Code Appendix J (grading), and — for sites disturbing 1 acre or more — the statewide Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ). BMPs must keep sediment, concrete slurry, and construction debris out of Chino's storm drains and creeks year-round, with intensified controls during the October 1 – April 30 wet season.

The City of Chino is a co-permittee under the San Bernardino County Area-Wide NPDES Municipal Storm Water Permit (Order R8-2010-0036, adopted January 10, 2010 by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board), with the San Bernardino County Flood Control District as Principal Permittee. The MS4 discharges to flood-control channels, San Antonio Channel, Cypress Channel, Chino Creek, and ultimately the Prado Basin and Santa Ana River. Only rainwater and a narrow list of allowed non-stormwater flows may enter the storm drain system.

Chino is an inland Inland Empire city in southwestern San Bernardino County roughly 40 miles from the Pacific coast. It is NOT within the California Coastal Zone, has no coastline, and is not subject to the California Coastal Act (Public Resources Code §30000 et seq.) or California Coastal Commission jurisdiction. No Coastal Development Permit (CDP) is required for any project in Chino — there is no local rule because state law does not apply here.

Chino regulates temporary signs (including political signs) through Title 17 (Signs) of the Chino Municipal Code, which the city codifies on Municode through Supplement 37 (Ord. 2025-002, March 18, 2025). On private residential property, temporary political signs are generally allowed without a permit subject to size, placement, and removal rules; state law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §5405.3) caps temporary political signs at 32 sq ft and requires removal within 10 days after the election. Posting political signs in the public right-of-way, on traffic signs, utility poles, or other public property is prohibited (Cal. Penal Code §556 makes unpermitted signs on public property a misdemeanor) and Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §5405 bars signs within 660 ft of state/interstate highways visible from the right-of-way (relevant to SR-71, SR-83, and SR-60 corridors through Chino).

Chino does not have a stand-alone ordinance regulating residential holiday lights or seasonal yard displays. Temporary holiday decorations on private residential property are not classified as regulated 'signs' under Title 17 of the Chino Municipal Code (codified through Supp. 37, Ord. 2025-002, March 18, 2025), and there is no city-imposed time limit or permit requirement for putting up Christmas lights, menorahs, inflatable displays, or other seasonal decor. State law governing electrical safety (Cal. Code Regs. Title 24 Part 3 — California Electrical Code, adopted statewide) applies to any temporary electrical installation. Noise from animated displays remains subject to the Chino noise ordinance (Title 7), and excessive nighttime lighting or traffic impacts can be addressed under the city's general nuisance provisions in Title 8. HOA CC&Rs in The Preserve and other planned communities are the most common source of holiday-display restrictions, though Cal. Civil Code §4710 protects noncommercial expression on members' separate property.

Garage sale signs in Chino are temporary signs regulated under Title 17 (Signs) of the Chino Municipal Code (codified through Supp. 37, Ord. 2025-002, March 18, 2025). On private residential property where the sale is held, a small temporary sign is generally permitted without a separate sign permit. Posting garage sale signs on public property — including utility poles, traffic signs, street trees, parkway strips, medians, and the public right-of-way — is prohibited under Cal. Penal Code §556 (misdemeanor) and may be removed without notice. Off-premises (directional) signs placed on other private property without owner consent and on state-highway right-of-way (SR-71, SR-83, SR-60) are also prohibited under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §5405. Signs must be removed promptly at the close of the sale.

Chino Municipal Code Section 8.16.070 requires that all garbage, recycling, and yard-waste carts be removed from the curb within 24 hours of collection and stored out of public view — behind a fence, inside a garage, or within an enclosure not visible from the public right-of-way. Carts must be placed against the curb with handles facing the residence and at least two feet of clearance from any obstruction.

Recycling participation is mandatory in Chino under Chino Municipal Code Chapter 8.18 (Specific Regulations for Organic Waste Disposal Reduction, Recycling and Solid Waste Collection, added by Ordinance No. 2021-014), which implements California AB 341 (commercial recycling), AB 1826 (organics recycling), and SB 1383. Single-family residences must use the blue-lid recycling cart; businesses and multi-family complexes (5+ units) must subscribe to recycling and organics service or self-haul to a permitted facility.

The City of Chino contracts curbside refuse, recycling, and organics collection to Waste Management (WM) under an exclusive franchise codified in Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the Chino Municipal Code. Every single-family home receives weekly automated service of three 95/96-gallon carts: black-lid trash, blue-lid (gray-lid on older carts) recycling, and green-lid organics. Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the assigned service day and removed within 24 hours of pickup.

Illegal dumping in Chino is enforced under California Penal Code § 374.3 (waste-matter dumping) and Chino Municipal Code Title 8 (Health and Safety) nuisance provisions. Penal Code § 374.3 sets escalating fines from $250 up to $3,000 per offense (plus mandatory cleanup costs and possible community service), and commercial dumping is a misdemeanor with fines up to $10,000 and possible vehicle impoundment.

Single-family residential customers in Chino receive up to three (3) free bulky-item curbside pickups per calendar year through Waste Management, plus a separate allotment of up to three e-waste items per year. Acceptable items include furniture, mattresses, and appliances; excluded are construction debris, tires, hazardous waste, and anything two people cannot safely lift. Pickups must be scheduled in advance — placing bulky items at the curb without a scheduled appointment is prohibited.

Chino single-family residents receive a 95-gallon green-lid organics cart that takes BOTH yard waste and food scraps under California SB 1383, codified locally in Chino Municipal Code Chapter 8.18. Acceptable yard waste includes grass, leaves, plant material, and branches up to 3 inches in diameter. Plastic bags (including 'compostable' bags) are prohibited.

Chino's Municipal Code (Title 12 Public Property and Parks Department rules under cityofchino.org/204) does not contain a published park-specific drone prohibition. Recreational drone flight in Chino city parks remains subject to 49 U.S.C. §44809 (CBO safety code, 400 ft AGL, VLOS, LAANC in controlled airspace) and Cal. Civil Code §1708.8 (privacy). California state parks separately prohibit drone takeoff/landing under 14 Cal. Code Regs. §4316.5, and that rule applies if you fly at Chino Hills State Park or Prado Regional Park (San Bernardino County Regional Parks Ordinance). Chino Airport (CNO) Class D airspace covers most parks in the city — LAANC authorization is required before launching.

Chino Municipal Code Title 9 (Public Peace and Welfare) imposes a nighttime curfew on minors under 18 — typically 10:00 p.m. to sunrise on school nights and midnight on weekends, with exceptions for emancipated minors, accompanied minors, and minors traveling to/from work or a school-sanctioned activity. California Education Code §48264 separately authorizes peace officers to take into temporary custody any minor of compulsory school age (6–18) found away from home without valid excuse during school hours — the operative daytime 'curfew' for Chino students enrolled in Chino Valley Unified School District. Penal Code §625b (aircraft tampering) is unrelated; California has no statewide nighttime minor-curfew statute, leaving the rule to local ordinance.

Chino has no local UAS ordinance, so commercial drone work — real estate photography, construction surveys, agricultural / dairy-preserve inspections, wedding videography — is governed entirely by FAA 14 C.F.R. Part 107. The pilot must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate under §107.61, the aircraft must be registered under §107.13, and operations are capped at 400 ft AGL (§107.51), within visual line of sight (§107.31), and during civil twilight or with proper anti-collision lighting. Operating in Chino Airport (CNO) Class D or Ontario (ONT) Class C airspace requires LAANC authorization. Cal. Civil Code §1708.8 separately governs privacy.

California SB 946 (Gov. Code §§51036–51039) decriminalizes sidewalk vending statewide and sharply limits local restrictions — Chino may not prohibit sidewalk vending outright or restrict it to particular zones without an objective health, safety, or welfare justification (Gov. Code §51038). Stationary sidewalk vending may be barred from exclusively residential zones; roaming vending may not. Mobile food facilities (food trucks) additionally need a San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit under Cal. Health & Safety Code §§113700 et seq. (California Retail Food Code). Chino requires a city business license under Title 5 and complies with Gov. Code §51038 time/place limits.

Chino has no drone-specific section in its Municipal Code (Title 9 Public Peace and Welfare / Title 11 Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places — see Municode portal). Recreational drone flight is therefore governed by federal law: 49 U.S.C. §44809 (the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations) and 14 C.F.R. Part 89 (Remote ID). Operators must pass the FAA TRUST test, register any drone over 0.55 lb (250 g) under 14 C.F.R. §107.13 / 91.203, stay at or below 400 ft AGL in Class G airspace, fly within visual line of sight, and obtain LAANC authorization in controlled airspace. Chino Airport (CNO) Class D / Class E controlled airspace covers most of the city — recreational flight there requires prior FAA LAANC authorization.

California requires door-to-door commercial solicitors to comply with the Home Solicitation Sales Act (Cal. Civil Code §§1689.5–1689.14) — written contracts, three-day right of cancellation, and prescribed disclosures. Chino Municipal Code Title 5 (Business Licenses) requires solicitors operating in the city to obtain a city business license, and Title 9 (Public Peace and Welfare) reinforces 'no solicitation' / 'no trespassing' postings — a posted sign on residential property creates a trespass barrier under Cal. Penal Code §602(o)/(t). Federal: pure noncommercial canvassing (political, religious, charitable) is protected under the First Amendment per Watchtower v. Stratton, 536 U.S. 150 (2002), and may not be subjected to prior permit requirements.

Chino does not designate specific protected native tree species (such as California sycamore, coast live oak, or California black walnut) on private property. That contrasts sharply with neighboring Chino Hills, which lists those four natives plus coastal scrub oak under CHMC Ch. 16.90. In Chino, protection of native species attaches only at the project-CEQA level via California Fish & Game Code §§1360-1372 (Oak Woodlands Conservation Act) for projects impacting oak woodlands.

Chino does NOT have a heritage tree ordinance. There is no city-maintained list of heritage trees, no DBH (diameter at breast height) threshold for protection, and no special permit required to remove a large or historically significant tree on private property. This is markedly different from neighboring Chino Hills, which protects any tree 44 inches DBH or greater under CHMC Ch. 16.90 — a Chino Hills rule that does not extend into Chino city limits.

Chino has no citywide heritage/private-tree preservation ordinance comparable to neighboring Chino Hills CMC Ch. 16.90. On private property, owners can generally remove trees without a city permit. A permit is required only when the tree is in the public right-of-way (parkway/street tree) or when removal is tied to a discretionary project subject to a landscape/site plan reviewed under Chino Development Code Title 20 (Zoning).

Chino imposes replacement-tree requirements only through Title 20 (Zoning) landscape standards for new development, multi-family projects, commercial/industrial site plans, and parking lots — not through a standalone tree-removal ordinance. Replacement is also required for any city-owned parkway tree removed by Public Works (typically a 15-gallon or 24-inch box replacement in the same parkway). Single-family homeowners removing trees on their own lots have no city-imposed replacement obligation.

Trees in the public parkway (the strip between sidewalk and curb) and elsewhere in the public right-of-way are city property, planted, maintained, and removed only by Chino Public Works Services (909-334-3266). Residents may not plant, remove, top, or substantially prune parkway trees themselves. Two HOA-maintained areas — College Park and The Preserve — handle their own street trees instead of Public Works.