Local Rules Near Downtown Burbank

BMC 9-3-210 makes it unlawful to repair, rebuild, or test a motor vehicle during nighttime in or within 500 feet of a residential zone if it annoys a reasonable resident, and BMC 9-3-211 and 9-3-212 restrict loud vehicle operation and unmuffled engines except where preempted by California state law.

Burbank Municipal Code 9-1-1-105.8 limits permitted construction to Monday-Friday 7:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M. and Saturday 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M., with no construction on Sundays or City holidays except owner-builder single-family work, emergencies, or a director-granted exception.

Burbank defines 'nighttime' as 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. and applies a lower ambient-noise base level (45 dBA) in residential zones at night than during the day (55 dBA), and a general prohibition makes any willful loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise that disturbs the peace unlawful at any hour.

BMC 9-3-207 prohibits keeping any animal or fowl that by any sound, cry, or behavior causes discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness in a residential area, and a violation is an infraction.

BMC 9-3-213 makes it unlawful to operate any radio, musical instrument, phonograph, television, or sound-producing device so as to disturb neighboring residents, with any noise exceeding the ambient level by more than 5 decibels treated as prima facie evidence of a violation.

Gas-powered leaf blowers banned citywide effective January 2027 (adopted December 2025 with one-year grace period). All leaf blowers restricted in residential zones to 8 AM-6 PM, max 15 min/hr on lots under 0.5 acres, one blower per parcel, and noise may not exceed ambient by more than 20 dB.

Because short-term rentals are prohibited in Burbank, no enforceable STR occupancy limit exists. A 2021 proposed (but not adopted) ordinance would have capped occupancy at two persons per bedroom plus two, never exceeding sixteen persons.

Burbank prohibits short-term rentals. The City's Zoning Code defines 'Hotel' and 'Motel' to include short term rentals and vacation rentals, and 'Hotel uses of any kind are not permitted in residential zones.' There is no City short-term rental permit available; a 2021 Planning Board proposal to license up to 600 STRs was not adopted.

Not applicable. Short-term rentals are banned in Burbank. No STR-specific parking regulations exist.

Burbank has no fire-pit-specific ordinance, but it adopts the 2025 California Fire Code in Burbank Municipal Code 9-1-9, which governs recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces. Under the adopted code a recreational fire must be kept 25 feet from structures and combustibles, and a portable outdoor fireplace 15 feet (except at one- and two-family dwellings), and the fire must be constantly attended until extinguished.

All fireworks are illegal in Burbank. Burbank Municipal Code 9-1-9-5608.1(a), a local amendment to the adopted California Fire Code, flatly prohibits any person from manufacturing, possessing, selling, or discharging fireworks, with the only exception being a permitted public display. California's State Fireworks Law (Health & Safety Code section 12500 et seq.) separately bans possession of dangerous fireworks without a permit.

Properties in fire hazard zones must maintain 100 ft of defensible space per CA PRC 4291. Burbank Fire Department enforces brush clearance in hillside areas near the Verdugo Mountains. Zone 1 (0-30 ft) requires lean/clean/green landscaping; Zone 2 (30-100 ft) requires fuel reduction.

Open burning is prohibited in Burbank except by permit from the Fire Code Official for a short list of purposes. Burbank Municipal Code 9-1-9-307.1.1.1 (a local amendment adding to the adopted California Fire Code) authorizes open-burning permits only for fire-hazard abatement, city lot-burning crews, fire-fighting instruction, and certain sponsored gatherings, and all permits must comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District rules.

Burbank has designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) in the hillside areas near the Verdugo Mountains. Properties in these zones face additional building requirements, vegetation management, and defensible space mandates under CA PRC 4291 and local fire codes.

Burbank Municipal Code Section 6-1-1008.1 makes it unlawful for any commercial vehicle exceeding 6,500 pounds unladen weight to park in any residential zone for any period of time. In commercial zones, trucks over 6,500 lbs may not park more than two hours, and no commercial vehicle may park there between 3:00 and 5:00 AM.

Burbank Municipal Code Section 6-1-1010.1 bars parking any Large Non-Commercial Vehicle (RV, motorhome, boat trailer, horse trailer, camper) on a public right-of-way unless a valid LNCV permit is displayed, and never within 80 feet of an intersection. Permits are 24 hours each, capped so no LNCV may stay on the street more than 72 hours.

Burbank supports EV adoption through Burbank Water and Power programs. CA Gov Code 65850.7 requires streamlined EV charger permitting. New construction must include EV-ready parking per CA Building Code.

Inoperable and abandoned vehicles are code violations in Burbank. CA Vehicle Code §22651 provides authority for removal. Report to Burbank Police or Code Compliance at (818) 238-5290.

Burbank has no citywide ban on overnight passenger-vehicle parking, but the 72-hour storage rule (BMC 6-1-1010) and permit-parking zones (BMC 6-1-1003) effectively limit overnight stays. Large Non-Commercial Vehicles (RVs, trailers) may not park overnight on the street without a displayed LNCV permit, and commercial vehicles are barred from commercial-zone streets between 3:00 and 5:00 AM.

Burbank Municipal Code Section 6-1-1010 prohibits using city streets for vehicle storage: no vehicle may be parked on any street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours, and merely moving it within the same block does not reset the clock. Police may remove any vehicle left standing 72 or more consecutive hours.

CA Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) requires shared cost for boundary fences. Burbank allows fence exception permits for disputes. Spite fences over 10 ft are a private nuisance under CA Civil Code 841.4.

Burbank Municipal Code 10-1-603 and 10-1-628 prohibit fences, walls, and hedges from being composed of dangerous wire (razor, barbed, electric, or similar), and Table 10-1-603(A) requires any portion of a front-yard fence or wall over 3 feet to use an open design that is at least 50% see-through.

In Burbank's single-family R-1 zone, fences and walls are limited to 4 feet within the front-yard setback (6 feet for hedges), 6 to 8 feet within the street-facing side yard, and 8 feet elsewhere, all under Burbank Municipal Code Section 10-1-603 and Table 10-1-603(A).

Under the California Building Code (adopted by Burbank), fences not over 7 feet high are exempt from a building permit, while Burbank's zoning code requires a planning-side Minor Fence Exception Permit (for over-height up to 6 ft) or Major Fence Exception Permit (over 6 ft) to exceed the standards in BMC 10-1-603 and 10-1-628.

Under the Burbank Municipal Code, any premises keeping five or more dogs, cats, or a combination of them aged four months or older is a 'kennel' and requires a kennel permit. Fewer than five pets needs no kennel license.

CA Code of Regulations Title 14 §671 prohibits most wild and exotic animals as pets statewide. Pygmy goats allowed with a city permit (max 1 per property). Horses require permit and R-1-H zone designation with minimum 3,000 sq ft per horse.

Burbank bans crowing roosters on residential property and caps birds, fowl, rabbits, and chinchillas at 25 (combined) without a permit. Cows, goats (except one permitted pygmy goat), sheep, and most livestock are outright prohibited.

Burbank imposes no breed-specific restrictions. Its potentially-dangerous and vicious-animal rules are based on behavior, and California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683 prohibits any dog-control program from being breed-specific.

Burbank requires a written city permit to trim, prune, or otherwise maintain any tree in the public right-of-way or parkway, and unauthorized pruning of a public tree is unlawful (BMC 7-4-104; 7-4-113).

Burbank caps parkway shrubs/ground cover at 8 inches above the curb and treats dry grass and overgrown vegetation as an abatable public nuisance, but the code does not fix a numeric lawn-height limit for private yards (BMC 7-4-110(B); 4-2-207).

Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in California. No state or local permit required for residential rain barrels. Burbank Water and Power may offer rebates for rain barrel installation.

Burbank's Sustainable Water Use Ordinance (BMC 8-2-301 et seq.) limits outdoor irrigation by day, hour, and duration, and the city is currently in Stage III. Year-round Stage I rules also ban runoff onto paved surfaces and hosing down hard surfaces.

Removing any public (street/parkway) tree in Burbank requires a public tree removal permit, payment of the tree's appraised value, and replacement; the Parks Director also maintains a restricted list of landmark and outstanding trees (BMC 7-4-111; 7-4-108).

Artificial turf is permitted as a water-efficient landscape option in Burbank. AB 1572 (2024) bans irrigating non-functional turf with potable water for commercial properties. MWELO standards support turf alternatives.

Burbank's Sustainable Water Use Ordinance bans irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians and encourages drought-tolerant landscaping; new and rehabilitated landscapes must also comply with California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO).

Burbank Municipal Code 10-1-672.K prohibits any sign, nameplate, or other advertising on the premises of a home occupation except one non-free-standing sign per dwelling unit, not exceeding one-half square foot, located on the mailbox or near the mail delivery area. No alteration of the premises to attract attention to the home occupation is allowed.

Burbank Municipal Code 10-1-672 limits a home occupation to no more than the greater of 400 square feet or 20 percent of the combined dwelling/accessory floor area, restricts work to residents of the dwelling (one non-resident allowed only for a cottage food operation), and confines the activity and storage to inside the dwelling or an enclosed roofed accessory structure that is not a garage. A maximum of two home occupations may be conducted per residence.

Burbank Municipal Code 10-1-672 provides that a home occupation shall not create pedestrian or vehicular traffic in excess of that normal to a residential use, and bars commercial vehicles on the premises except one residential-use vehicle no longer than 22 feet and no higher than 8 feet that is used for residential purposes at least 51 percent of the time weekly. Music lessons are separately capped at ten students per day and two students per lesson.

Burbank Municipal Code 10-1-672 expressly recognizes a cottage food operation as a permitted home occupation, allowing one non-resident employee and use of the home kitchen area permitted by the Health Department, with accessory structures limited to storage. Cottage food operations are governed at the state level by California Health & Safety Code Section 113758, which the City code cross-references.

Pool fencing must be at minimum 60 inches tall per CA Building Code Title 24. Self-closing, self-latching gates required. At least one additional safety feature mandatory under CA Swimming Pool Safety Act (HSC 115920-115929).

Building permits are required for in-ground pool construction in Burbank. Above-ground pools under 24 inches deep and 5,000 gallons (entirely above ground) are exempt. Pool size and shape are not restricted beyond setback compliance. Community Development handles permits.

Burbank allows converting an existing legal garage or accessory structure into an ADU under BMC 10-1-620.3, requiring removal of the garage door, permitting the existing nonconforming setback to be kept, and waiving replacement parking for the demolished or converted garage.

Burbank Municipal Code Section 10-1-604 treats detached storage sheds and similar buildings as accessory structures, capping the combined enclosed accessory floor area (excluding garages) at 1,000 square feet, requiring at least 6 feet of separation from other structures, and prohibiting kitchens, sleeping use, and most plumbing.

Burbank permits accessory dwelling units ministerially in all residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MDR-3, MDR-4, R-1-H) under BMC 10-1-620.3, capping detached and attached ADUs at 850 square feet (1,000 with more than one bedroom) and a junior ADU at 500 square feet, with 4-foot side and rear setbacks.

Not applicable to Burbank. The city is an inland community in the San Fernando Valley with no coastal zone. California Coastal Commission jurisdiction does not extend to Burbank.

Indoor cultivation of up to 6 mature or 12 immature cannabis plants is permitted for personal medical use under state law. Recreational home cultivation of up to 6 plants is legal per Prop 64. Plants must not be visible from public areas.

CA Civil Code 714 (Solar Rights Act) prohibits HOAs from unreasonably restricting solar panel installation. HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic requirements but cannot effectively prohibit solar. Any restriction reducing system efficiency by more than 10% is void.

Political signs are protected by the First Amendment and CA Elections Code 18310. Cities cannot prohibit political signs on private residential property. Time, place, and manner restrictions may apply but cannot be content-based.

Burbank Code Enforcement enforces property maintenance, zoning, and unpermitted construction standards. Blighted properties are addressed through the BMC nuisance provisions. Report issues via OurBurbank 311 app or (818) 238-3800.

Snow is extremely rare in Burbank due to its Southern California climate. No snow removal ordinance exists. Property owners are responsible for keeping sidewalks clear of debris and obstructions under general property maintenance standards.

Burbank adopted a Tenant Protection Ordinance (No. 24-4,014) effective August 31, 2024. Requires just cause for evictions per CA Civil Code 1946.2. No-fault evictions require relocation assistance of 3 months rent (exceeding state minimum of 1 month). Anti-retaliation and anti-harassment protections added in 2025.

Burbank does not currently have a mandatory rental registration program. The Tenant Protection Ordinance focuses on eviction protections and relocation assistance rather than unit registration. State law AB 1482 applies to covered units.

Burbank does not have a local rent control ordinance. State law AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act) applies, capping rent increases at 5% + CPI or 10%, whichever is lower, over 12 months. The city has been conducting a Rent Cap Study to explore local rent stabilization measures.

Mandatory recycling and organics separation required under SB 1383. Blue bin for recyclables, green bin for organics/yard waste. Commercial businesses must also comply. Athens Services handles commercial waste. New requirements phased in since 2022.

Trash, recycling, and organic waste collected weekly by the city Monday-Friday, 6:30 AM-3:30 PM. Three containers provided: blue (recycling), green (organic/green waste), black (trash). SB 1383 organics recycling required. Start service by calling BWP at (818) 238-3700.

Food truck vending locations are regulated by Burbank zoning and right-of-way rules. Vendors must comply with location restrictions including minimum distances from brick-and-mortar restaurants. Special event permits may be required.

Food trucks operating in Burbank require a CA mobile food facility permit from the LA County Department of Public Health, a CA seller's permit, and a Burbank business license. Health department inspections required. Commissary agreement mandatory per CalCode.

Residents may post No Soliciting signs to deter unwanted solicitors. Violating a posted No Soliciting sign may constitute trespassing under CA Penal Code 602. The city enforces anti-solicitation rules through police response.

Burbank has no data-center ordinance and no "data center" use in its Zoning Code. A data center sites in the M-1 or M-2 industrial zones under Article 8, classified by the City Planner into the closest listed use and requiring a Conditional Use Permit.

Burbank sets noise by an ambient-plus-five rule. Municipal Code Section 9-3-208 bars machinery, fans, and air conditioning from raising the ambient level more than 5 dBA above base levels: 45 dBA residential night, 55 residential day, 65 commercial, 70 industrial. A data center's cooling must comply.