Hartley, CA

Unincorporated Solano County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance, no decibel cap, time-of-day limit, or gas-blower ban beyond the general noise rule. Leaf blowers are restricted only via Solano County Code Sec. 21-10: they cannot produce non-agricultural noise above 65 dBA at the property line after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. Statewide, California's gas SORE phase-out limits new gas-blower sales.

Vehicle noise in unincorporated Solano County is governed primarily by the California Vehicle Code, which sets statewide muffler and exhaust requirements and decibel limits enforced by CHP and the Sheriff. The county's own Sec. 21-10 disturbance-of-the-peace rule adds local authority over loud non-agricultural noise above 65 dBA at the property line overnight, capturing things like idling or revving in residential areas.

Unincorporated Solano County's principal numeric noise limit is 65 dBA at the property line. Solano County Code Sec. 21-10 makes overnight non-agricultural noise above 65 dBA a disturbance of the peace, and the zoning ordinance (Chapter 28, Art. III) requires all land uses to prevent noise exceeding 65 dBA at any property line and caps outdoor amplified event sound at 65 dB.

Outdoor music in unincorporated Solano County is limited by Solano County Code Sec. 21-10 (overnight non-agricultural noise above 65 dBA at the property line is a disturbance of the peace) and, for permitted special events, wineries, and agritourism, by the zoning ordinance (Chapter 28, Art. III), which caps outdoor amplified sound at 65 dB at the property lines and requires events to end by 10:00 p.m.

Industrial and commercial noise in unincorporated Solano County is controlled through the zoning ordinance (Chapter 28, Art. III), which requires all land uses to prevent offensive noise and specifically noise exceeding 65 dBA at any property line. Confined-animal, agricultural-processing, and similar facilities must take adequate measures to control noise so as not to constitute a nuisance. Sec. 21-10 adds an overnight 65 dBA disturbance rule.

Aircraft noise in unincorporated Solano County, dominated by Travis Air Force Base, is governed by federal and regional rather than county police-power rules. The Solano County Airport Land Use Commission applies the Travis AFB Land Use Compatibility Plan, which uses a 60 dB CNEL noise-contour threshold to restrict new noise-sensitive development; FAA preempts in-flight operations.

Unincorporated Solano County has no standalone amplified-music ordinance. Amplified sound is enforced through Solano County Code Sec. 21-10, where non-agricultural noise above 65 dBA at the property line after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. is a per se disturbance. At permitted special events, wineries, and agritourism, the zoning code (Chapter 28, Art. III) caps outdoor amplified sound at 65 dB at the property lines.

Unincorporated Solano County sets nighttime quiet hours through Solano County Code Sec. 21-10 (Disturbing the Peace). Any non-agricultural noise exceeding 65 dBA at the property line after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. is, by definition, a disturbance of the peace and a misdemeanor. California Penal Code Sec. 415 provides statewide backup authority.

Unincorporated Solano County has no dedicated construction-hours ordinance. Construction noise is governed indirectly by Solano County Code Sec. 21-10, which makes any non-agricultural noise exceeding 65 dBA at the property line after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. a per se disturbance of the peace. In practice this confines noisy construction to roughly 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

In unincorporated Solano County, the county's general noise standard in Solano County Code Sec. 21-10 captures barking dogs as 'loud or unusual noise.' The county Animal Services and Sheriff handle barking-dog complaints, and persistent barking that exceeds 65 dBA at the property line overnight, or that maliciously disturbs neighbors at any hour, is enforceable as a disturbance of the peace.

Unincorporated Solano County requires every short-term lodging operator to register on two tracks: a planning/land-use permit (Administrative Permit for hosted rentals, Minor Use Permit for non-hosted VHRs) and a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate with the Treasurer-Tax Collector. A separate County business license is also required.

Unincorporated Solano County reviews on-site parking as part of the Vacation House Rental permit, and the County's published FAQ confirms hosts are asked about providing on-site parking. There is no single countywide numeric space requirement published in the VHR program materials reviewed; parking is set through the discretionary permit and Chapter 28 standards.

Unincorporated Solano County manages short-term rental noise through the VHR program's Good Neighbor materials and permit conditions, backed by the countywide noise provisions of the Solano County Code. The County publishes a VHR Good Neighbor flyer and a Statement of Rules and Regulations that operators must use, and noise complaints are a basis for enforcement.

Unincorporated Solano County does NOT limit short-term rentals to an owner's primary residence. The County expressly allows a non-hosted Vacation House Rental, defined as a dwelling used for transient occupancy without a resident family present - i.e., a whole-home rental of a property the owner does not live in - subject to a Minor Use Permit.

Unincorporated Solano County offers both hosted and non-hosted short-term rentals. A Hosted Rental offers a single guest room (Administrative Permit, LUR 28.72.40(B)(5)) and a Bed and Breakfast Inn or Agricultural Homestay is owner-occupied, while a Vacation House Rental is defined as transient occupancy without a resident family present - so on-site host presence is not required for a VHR.

Unincorporated Solano County does not publish an annual cap on the number of nights a Vacation House Rental may operate in its primary VHR program materials. VHRs are defined by stay length (30 days or less per booking) and governed by zoning, fire-zone, and permit conditions rather than a fixed yearly night limit.

Unincorporated Solano County requires proof of commercial insurance as part of the Vacation House Rental operating-permit application. The County's apply-for-a-new-VHR-permit page lists 'proof of commercial insurance' among the items an operator must provide before the permit is issued.

Unincorporated Solano County does regulate short-term lodging (stays of 30 consecutive days or less) under Chapter 28 of the County Code. Hosted rentals need an Administrative Permit; non-hosted Vacation House Rentals need a Minor Use Permit, plus a business license, a TOT certificate, and proof of commercial insurance.

Short-term lodging in unincorporated Solano County is subject to a 5% Transient Occupancy Tax on rent for stays of 30 days or less. Operators must hold a posted TOT registration certificate and remit quarterly. A County business license and a planning-permit application fee also apply.

Unincorporated Solano County caps overnight occupancy for a Vacation House Rental at two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests per property, up to a maximum of 10 guests, not counting children under three years of age. The limit is a published VHR program standard tied to the operating permit.

Recreational fire pits are allowed in unincorporated Solano County under the California Fire Code, which the County adopted as part of the 2025 California Building Standards Code. Open recreational fires must be kept at least 25 feet from structures and combustibles; manufactured portable outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 feet away. All fires must be constantly attended.

Backyard recreational fires are allowed in unincorporated Solano County under the adopted California Fire Code, but open burning of yard waste and trash is separately controlled by the air districts. Recreational wood fires must stay 25 feet from structures and be attended; pile burning of vegetation is allowed only on approved burn days with fire-district authorization.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in unincorporated Solano County are required by California law, not a unique county ordinance. California Health & Safety Code 13113.7 and 17926 require State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms in every dwelling and CO detectors in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages, enforced through the adopted California Building and Fire Codes.

Residential propane storage in unincorporated Solano County follows the California Fire Code (Chapter 61) and NFPA 58, which the County adopted in its 2025 code. Above-ground tanks under 125 gallons must be at least 10 feet from buildings; larger tanks need greater setbacks. Containers may not be stored in basements or below-grade spaces, and large quantities require a fire-department permit.

Much of unincorporated Solano County - especially the western hills near Vacaville, English Hills, and Green Valley - lies in Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated by CAL FIRE. The Office of the State Fire Marshal released updated Local Responsibility Area maps for Solano County on February 24, 2025, triggering defensible-space and wildfire-resistant building requirements that the County now enforces.

All fireworks are illegal in unincorporated Solano County. The Solano County Code (Chapter 12.5, pyrotechnics) makes it unlawful to possess, use, discharge, sell, or offer for sale any fireworks in the unincorporated area, including state-approved 'Safe and Sane' items bought in cities like Dixon, Rio Vista, or Suisun City.

Property owners in fire-prone unincorporated Solano County must maintain defensible space under California Public Resources Code 4291, which requires 100 feet of clearance around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Requirements include an ember-resistant zone, a lean-clean-and-green zone, and a reduced-fuel zone enforced by CAL FIRE and local fire districts.

Outdoor burning of vegetation in unincorporated Solano County is tightly regulated by air and fire authorities. The northeastern county (Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista) is governed by Yolo-Solano AQMD; the western/southern county by Bay Area AQMD. Burning is allowed only on approved burn days, with local fire-district authorization, and only for dry vegetative material.

Curb-color meanings in unincorporated Solano County are set by California Vehicle Code Section 21458, not by a County ordinance: red means no stopping, yellow is for loading, white is brief passenger loading, green is time-limited parking, and blue is disabled-only. Within the County, curb openings tie into Section 28.94 and Department of Transportation encroachment standards.

Solano County has no general on-street ban targeting commercial trucks in residential areas; that area is governed by California Vehicle Code Section 22507.5. The County's zoning code instead limits commercial and 'large' vehicles tied to home-based businesses, capping heavy vehicles connected to cottage industries and home occupations.

Solano County has no general on-street ban on oversized vehicles in the unincorporated area; on-street size and weight limits come from California law. The County's zoning code does cap 'large vehicles' (defined by gross vehicle weight rating) kept on property in connection with home-based cottage industries, requiring enclosed storage.

Solano County's parking ordinance (Section 28.94) does not set specific standards for electric-vehicle charging stations or EV-only parking spaces in the unincorporated area. EV charger installations are handled through the building-permit process, and accessible-parking and parking-area design follow the Building Code and County zoning standards.

Unincorporated Solano County does not operate a city-style system of designated on-street loading zones, and the County Code contains no loading-zone ordinance. Curb-color loading rules default to California Vehicle Code Section 21458, where yellow curbs are for loading freight or passengers and white curbs for brief passenger loading.

Solano County Code Section 28.94 sets driveway and parking-access standards in the unincorporated area: a two-way driveway must be at least 18 feet wide, any driveway at least 10 feet wide, and required residential parking spaces a minimum of 9 by 18 feet. Connections to County roads require an encroachment permit from the Director of Transportation.

Unincorporated Solano County has no specific zoning ordinance restricting where residents may park or store a recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer on their own private property. The Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28) only addresses RVs as temporary construction security quarters and as commercial sales/storage lots, leaving residential RV and boat storage largely unregulated by the County.

Solano County Code Chapter 6.5 makes it a misdemeanor to leave an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on public or private property for more than 10 days unless fully enclosed in a building. The County's Environmental Management Department abates these vehicles as public nuisances under authority of California Vehicle Code Section 22660.

On unincorporated County roads, the main local rule is Solano County Code Section 6.5-36, which bans parking or leaving a vehicle standing on any street, highway, or public road for 72 or more consecutive hours. Beyond that, on-street parking is governed by the California Vehicle Code, enforced by the CHP and the Sheriff's Office.

Unincorporated Solano County has no blanket overnight on-street parking ban. The closest local rule is the 72-hour continuous-parking limit in Section 6.5-36; an overnight stay well under 72 hours on a County road is not by itself a County violation, though state Vehicle Code rules and any posted signs still apply.

Solano County's Zoning Code (Chapter 28) sets fence height and placement, but cost-sharing and disputes over boundary fences are governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the 'Good Neighbor Fence Law,' which presumes adjoining owners share equally in the cost of a division fence after 30 days' written notice.

In unincorporated Solano County, retaining walls not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are exempt from a building permit, unless the wall supports a surcharge or impounds liquids. Taller or loaded walls require a building permit.

Beyond height, Solano County's Zoning Code requires screening fences in certain situations. Section 28.94.I requires a minimum six-foot-high solid wall or fence, of a design approved by the Zoning Administrator, to separate parking and other non-residential uses abutting residential districts or residences.

Solano County's Zoning Code does not impose broad fence-material bans for ordinary residential fences. Where screening is required between a non-residential use and homes, Section 28.94.I specifies a solid wall or fence of a design approved by the Zoning Administrator, and special-area design review can add material standards.

Solano County allows standard fence materials for residential lots without a general material ban. Section 28.94.I requires a solid wall or fence approved by the Zoning Administrator only where screening separates non-residential uses from homes, and the controlling limits are height, visibility, and permit thresholds.

Solano County Building & Safety Services exempts fences not over 6 feet high from a building permit. Fences over 6 feet, and certain walls or retaining walls, may require a permit, and all fences must still comply with the height and visibility limits in Chapter 28 zoning.

In any residential (R) district of unincorporated Solano County, Section 28.93.A.3 limits fences behind the building line to 7 feet and fences between the building line and a street to 3 feet, unless the portion over 3 feet is open enough to permit adequate visibility.

In unincorporated Solano County, keeping wild or exotic animals requires being properly zoned and obtaining an annual license/permit from Animal Control (County Code Chapter 4, Article VI). Exotic animals that require a state license must also be registered with Animal Control. Chapter 4 defines specific reptiles, large cats, primates, and other wild species as regulated 'wild animals.'

In unincorporated Solano County, County Code Chapter 4 bars letting cattle, horses, sheep, goats, hogs, and similar animals run at large or be staked, tied, or pastured on public places or on private property without the owner's consent. Where and how livestock may be kept is set by the County zoning code, including a 200-foot setback from residential parcels.

Solano County Code Chapter 4 sets no fixed numeric limit on how many dogs or cats a household may keep in unincorporated areas. Instead, keeping dogs or cats over four months of age as a business, or in numbers that create a nuisance, can trigger kennel/cattery licensing or animal-nuisance rules. Dogs over four months must be licensed.

In unincorporated Solano County, cat licensing is optional (not mandatory) under County Code section 4-142, but any cat that is licensed must be rabies-vaccinated. Cats over four months of age must be currently vaccinated against rabies (section 4-156). Cats are also subject to the animal nuisance and at-large provisions of Chapter 4.

Solano County Code Chapter 4 contains no general ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wild animals such as deer, coyotes, or raccoons in unincorporated areas. Conditions that attract or sustain pests or create unsanitary, odorous accumulations could be addressed under the County's animal-nuisance provisions. Wildlife is otherwise managed under California Fish and Game law.

Solano County Code Chapter 4 has no provision using the term 'hoarding,' but it addresses the underlying conditions: it bars keeping animals in numbers or conditions that create a nuisance, requires proper care and sanitary premises, and defines 'abused animals' as those deprived of food, water, or shelter or kept under unsanitary conditions. Inspections and impoundment back these rules.

In unincorporated Solano County, no person may permit any animal to be at large on a public street, road, alley, other public place, or any unenclosed lot or premises unless the animal is under restraint by leash, lead, or chain, at heel beside a competent person, or confined. Enforced by County Animal Care/Animal Control under County Code Chapter 4.

Solano County's animal code (Chapter 4) does not regulate beekeeping; it only notes that honey-producing bees are excepted from the definition of venomous 'wild animals.' Where hives may be kept in unincorporated areas is governed by the County zoning code (Chapter 28). California law requires apiaries to be registered with the County Agricultural Commissioner.

Solano County's animal code (Chapter 4) contains no breed-specific ban or restriction. Dangerous and vicious animals are regulated by behavior, not by breed. Under California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683, local dog-control programs cannot be breed-specific, except for spay/neuter or breeding programs allowed by Health and Safety Code section 122331.

In unincorporated Solano County, keeping chickens and other fowl is regulated through the County zoning code (Chapter 28) by district and use, while County Code Chapter 4 makes it a nuisance to let fowl or rabbits run at large or onto a neighbor's property. Animal keeping must also satisfy zoning setback and use-permit standards.

Unincorporated Solano County has no general ordinance regulating how you trim trees on your own property. For wildfire safety in the State Responsibility Area, California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires clearing limbs and vegetation to maintain 100 feet of defensible space, including removing dead branches and creating vertical clearance. Boundary-tree and overhanging-limb disputes are handled under California Civil Code, not county code.

Unincorporated Solano County has no standalone countywide tree-protection or tree-removal-permit ordinance for trees on private residential land; the Solano County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28) contains no general tree-preservation chapter. Tree and oak-woodland protection arises mainly through the 2008 General Plan resource policies, CEQA review on development projects, and permit conditions - not a blanket cut-a-tree permit.

Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in unincorporated Solano County. There is no county ordinance prohibiting rain barrels or cisterns; California law (the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012) permits residential rooftop capture without a water-rights permit. Under the County's adopted MWELO (Chapter 13.5), landscapes irrigated entirely with captured rainwater or graywater receive a streamlined compliance path.

Unincorporated Solano County does not mandate native or drought-tolerant plants for ordinary home landscaping, but its adopted Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Chapter 13.5, applying state MWELO) strongly favors low-water and climate-appropriate species by capping a project's water budget. Regulated landscapes must stay within a Maximum Applied Water Allowance, which in practice pushes designs toward native and water-wise plants.

Unincorporated Solano County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or specially permitting synthetic/artificial turf on residential property. Under the County's adopted MWELO (Chapter 13.5), artificial turf counts as a non-irrigated surface and is treated favorably for water-efficiency compliance. Large installations may trigger grading, drainage, or stormwater requirements through Building & Safety Services.

Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Solano County. Statewide law SB 1383 makes organic-waste recycling mandatory: residents and businesses in the unincorporated county must subscribe to organics (green-cart) collection unless granted an exemption by the County's Environmental Health Division. The County runs an Organic Waste Reduction Program and an Edible Food Recovery Program to meet SB 1383 targets.

Unincorporated Solano County adopts the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) at Solano County Code Chapter 13.5, applying to new landscapes of 500+ square feet and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500+ square feet. Day-to-day drought and outdoor-watering restrictions are set by the State Water Resources Control Board and by individual local water suppliers, not by a county watering-schedule ordinance.

Unincorporated Solano County does not have a separate numbered weed-abatement chapter; overgrown, dead, or hazardous vegetation is abated as a public nuisance under Solano County Code Chapter 10. In the State Responsibility Area, California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space, and local fire districts inspect for hazardous vegetation. The Agricultural Commissioner separately controls noxious and invasive weeds.

Unincorporated Solano County has no countywide ordinance setting a specific lawn grass-height limit (such as a 6- or 12-inch maximum) for residential yards. Overgrown or dead vegetation is instead addressed two ways: as a public nuisance under Solano County Code Chapter 10, and as a wildfire fuel under California Public Resources Code Section 4291 (defensible space) in the State Responsibility Area.

New and remodeled residential pools in unincorporated Solano County must include at least two of seven drowning-prevention features from California Health & Safety Code 115922(a) and anti-entrapment suction outlets meeting Health & Safety Code 115928. These state rules are enforced through County Code Chapter 6.3 building inspections.

In unincorporated Solano County, a building permit is required to build an in-ground pool, in-ground spa, or most above-ground pools. Permits are issued by the Department of Resource Management, Building & Safety Services Division, which enforces the 2022 California Residential and Building Codes through County Code Chapter 6.3.

Above-ground pools in unincorporated Solano County need a building permit if 24 inches or deeper or holding over 5,000 gallons, per California Building Code Section 105.2 as adopted under County Code Chapter 6.3. Regardless of permit status, any pool holding water more than 18 inches deep must meet the state barrier rules.

Hot tubs and spas in unincorporated Solano County are exempt from the 60-inch pool barrier if fitted with a locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346, per California Health & Safety Code 115922(b)(2). Permanently installed spas still require a building permit and electrical permit from Solano County Building & Safety.

Pool barriers in unincorporated Solano County follow California state law. Through the 2022 California Residential Code (Appendix AX) adopted under County Code Chapter 6.3 and the Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115922-115923), pools need a 60-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates that swing away from the pool.

Before a home-based business can get a Solano County business license, the owner must obtain a Business License Zoning Clearance from Planning Services confirming the use complies with Zoning Code Section 28.72.40. There is no fee for the zoning clearance, but a site plan and a short site inspection are required.

Cottage food operations are allowed in unincorporated Solano County, governed by California's Cottage Food law (Health & Safety Code 113758, AB-1616). Operators register or permit through Solano County Environmental Health as a Class A (direct sales) or Class B (direct and indirect sales) operation from their home kitchen.

By California state law (SB 234, Health & Safety Code 1597.45), unincorporated Solano County cannot require a zoning permit or business license for a small or large family daycare home - both are a residential use by right. The home is licensed by the California Department of Social Services, and large homes need a local fire clearance.

Unincorporated Solano County allows home occupations as an accessory residential use under Zoning Code Chapter 28. Section 28.72.40 defines Type I home occupations (no employees, no customers on site) and Type II home occupations (limited employees, customers, and retail), each with floor-area and operating limits.

Unincorporated Solano County limits home occupation signs under Zoning Code Section 28.72.40. A Type I home occupation generally permits no on-site signage advertising the business, while a Type II home occupation allows one small non-illuminated sign no larger than about two square feet.

Unincorporated Solano County's zoning code addresses carports mainly through residential parking standards. Each primary dwelling must have a two-car enclosed garage; carports may count as covered/uncovered parking in some contexts and must meet accessory-structure setbacks. There is no standalone carport ordinance.

Unincorporated Solano County allows ADUs and JADUs by right on residential lots in rural residential (R-R) and residential-traditional community (R-TC) districts. The County's ADU ordinance (Ch. 28) follows California state ADU law, with four-foot side and rear setbacks and limited parking demands.

Unincorporated Solano County has no separate 'tiny home' ordinance. A tiny house on a permanent foundation is regulated as an ADU or dwelling under Chapter 28; movable tiny houses on wheels are treated as recreational vehicles and cannot be used as permanent residences outside permitted situations.

Unincorporated Solano County allows garage conversions to ADUs or JADUs under Chapter 28 consistent with California ADU law. Conversions of existing legal space require no additional setbacks, but each primary dwelling must still be served by a two-car enclosed garage.

In unincorporated Solano County, a one-story detached storage or tool shed of 120 square feet or less with no utilities is exempt from a building permit. Sheds must still meet zoning setbacks - generally at least 10 feet from property lines and 10 feet from the main dwelling.

Backyard barbecuing is allowed at homes in unincorporated Solano County, with no special county ordinance for single-family use. The California Fire Code, adopted by the County, restricts charcoal and large-propane grills on combustible balconies of multi-family buildings - they may not be used within 10 feet of combustible construction - while one- and two-family dwellings are exempt.

Backyard smokers are allowed at homes in unincorporated Solano County with no special county ordinance. As open-flame cooking devices under the adopted California Fire Code, charcoal and wood smokers cannot be used on combustible multi-family balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction (one- and two-family homes are exempt), and fire-safe placement matters in wildfire-prone areas.

Maximum lot coverage in unincorporated Solano County is established by zoning district under Chapter 28 and set out in the development-standards tables (such as Tables 28.31B and 28.32C). There is no single countywide coverage percentage - the limit depends on the property's zone and accompanying setback and yard rules.

In unincorporated Solano County, building setbacks are set by zoning district under Chapter 28, with district-specific front, side, and rear yard requirements found in the development-standards tables (such as Tables 28.31B and 28.32C). Setbacks vary by district, so owners must identify their zone first.

Maximum building and structure height in unincorporated Solano County is set by zoning district under Chapter 28 and listed in the development-standards tables (such as Tables 28.31B and 28.32C). Certain features - chimneys, vents, and similar architectural or mechanical appurtenances - may exceed the district height limit.

Unincorporated Solano County has no countywide tree-removal-permit ordinance for trees on private land. The Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28) contains no general tree-protection chapter. Tree protection arises indirectly through 2008 General Plan resource policies, CEQA review on discretionary development, and conditions of approval - not a standalone permit a homeowner files to cut a tree.

Chapter 23 of the County Code sets storage rules for trash, recycling, and green waste in unincorporated Solano County. Containers must be lidded, leakproof, vector-resistant, and durable, and after curbside collection empty containers must be pulled back out of public view by the day following pickup.

In unincorporated Solano County, any condition that violates the County Code is a public nuisance under Chapter 10. Code compliance staff in the Department of Resource Management pursue blight, junk, and substandard property through a warning, notice of violation, and formal abatement process, with administrative penalties and cost liens.

Vacant parcels in unincorporated Solano County are covered by the same nuisance and refuse rules as occupied ones. Section 23-20 bars solid waste from accumulating more than seven days on any lot, vacant or otherwise, and the fire hazard and nuisance chapters reach dry grass, rubbish, and litter on undeveloped land.

Unincorporated Solano County regulates weeds and dry grass mainly as a fire hazard under Chapter 12.5. The county fire officer may flag flammable material, and the applicable fire protection district may clear or order the clearing of dry grass, stubble, brush, rubbish, and litter, recovering the cost as a lien if the owner does not comply.

Unincorporated Solano County has no dedicated garage-sale or yard-sale ordinance in its County Code, and no county permit or frequency cap was found in the published code. Occasional residential garage sales are generally treated as an incidental use of a home, distinct from a regulated home occupation or business under Chapter 28.

Garbage service is mandatory in the developed residential and commercial parts of unincorporated Solano County. Chapter 23 requires residents in congested and mandatory service areas to subscribe with the county's franchised contractor for the area, and the unincorporated franchised hauler provides weekly garbage, recycling, and organics collection.

Where there is garbage service, Chapter 23 requires carts to be set at curbside for the franchised contractor, and the customer must pull empty containers back out of public view by the day after collection. The unincorporated hauler directs residents to have carts roadside by 5 a.m. on the service day with the lid closed.

Chapter 23 defines bulky waste (appliances, furniture, large auto parts, tree stumps) as items too large for normal carts. The unincorporated franchised hauler offers a once-a-year cleanup pickup of two bulky items (200 lb each), and residents are also free to self-haul their own bulky waste to an approved facility.

Recycling collection is part of the mandatory franchised service in unincorporated Solano County. Chapter 23 defines recyclables and folds them into mandatory collection, and the unincorporated hauler issues residents weekly recycling service using blue bags placed with the garbage cart. State law (AB 341/AB 1826/SB 1383) also mandates recycling diversion.

California's SB 1383 requires residents and businesses in unincorporated Solano County to keep organic waste out of the landfill. The county franchised hauler provides weekly organics collection (food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste), and the Department of Resource Management administers compliance, edible food recovery, and commercial waivers.

Unincorporated Solano County allows campaign signs without a sign permit. Under Code Section 28.96.70(D), campaign signs may go up on private property with the owner's consent up to 60 days before an election, are capped at 12 sq ft in residential zones (32 sq ft in nonresidential), and must come down within 7 days after the election.

Unincorporated Solano County's sign code (Section 28.96) has no specific 'garage sale' or 'yard sale' sign category. Off-premises signs are generally prohibited, and signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way, so garage-sale signs on roadside poles or medians are not authorized.

Unincorporated Solano County has no comprehensive countywide dark-sky lighting ordinance. Instead, Chapter 28 imposes shielding and downcast lighting requirements on specific uses - exterior night lighting must be directed downward and inward, shielded, and aimed away from neighbors and roadways to prevent light pollution and glare.

Unincorporated Solano County controls light trespass through Chapter 28 performance standards. Exterior lighting must be directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way to prevent offensive light or glare, and no glint or glare may be detectable beyond any property line or by overflying aircraft.

Solano County Parks operate on posted hours set by the parks division under Code Chapter 19. Day-use areas are open during posted daylight hours; quiet hours run 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in camping areas, no camp arrivals are allowed after 9:00 p.m. at Lake Solano, and overnight stays require a camping permit.

Solano County Code §16-10 makes it unlawful for any person under 18 to loiter in or about any public street or public place in the unincorporated county between 10:00 p.m. and sunrise unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other adult having legal care. Section 16-11 makes the parent or guardian responsible. Section 16-12 prohibits restaurants, bars, and dance halls from letting minors stay after 10:00 p.m.

Unincorporated Solano County has not adopted a local just-cause eviction ordinance. Tenants in the unincorporated county are protected by the California statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, codified at Cal. Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12). AB 1482 requires "just cause" to terminate tenancies after a tenant has continuously occupied a dwelling for 12 months (or 24 months if any additional adult tenant joined later). Just cause is split into at-fault grounds (e.g., nonpayment, lease breach, nuisance) and no-fault grounds (owner move-in, withdrawal from rental market, government order, substantial remodel), with relocation assistance equal to one month of rent required for no-fault terminations. Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals (not corporations or REITs) are exempt if the landlord delivers the statutory exemption notice. Three-day pay-or-quit notices follow Cal. Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161, and self-help evictions are barred by Cal. Civil Code Section 789.3.

Unincorporated Solano County has no local rent control ordinance. Rent increases are governed by the statewide rent cap in the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), codified at Cal. Civil Code Section 1947.12. AB 1482 caps annual rent increases on covered units at the lesser of 5% plus the regional April-to-April CPI (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward CPI applies in Solano County) or 10%, measured over any 12-month period. The cap covers most multi-family rentals and corporate-owned single-family homes once the unit has a Certificate of Occupancy more than 15 years old (a rolling exemption). New construction within the prior 15 years, individually-owned single-family homes and condos with proper exemption notice, owner-occupied duplexes, and pre-1995 deed-restricted affordable housing are exempt. Costa-Hawkins (Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 1954.50 et seq.) further preempts local vacancy control. The AB 1482 cap expires January 1, 2030 unless extended.

Solano County Code Chapter 31 — Grading, Drainage, Land Leveling, and Erosion Control — is the County's grading and erosion-control ordinance. Most ground-disturbing work in unincorporated Solano County requires a grading permit issued by the Resource Management Department, and that permit incorporates erosion- and sediment-control conditions. Small-fill projects (under 50 cubic yards, under 5,000 sq ft, under 3 ft deep, on slopes flatter than 7:1) are exempt if they meet narrow criteria.

Solano County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) under Solano County Code Chapter 12.2 — Flood Damage Prevention. Large floodplain areas exist along the Sacramento River and Suisun Marsh, around Putah Creek, and along many smaller drainages. Any building, zoning, use, or grading permit within an SFHA is referred to the Floodplain Administrator before approval.

Unincorporated Solano County operates under a Phase II NPDES Small MS4 stormwater permit from the State Water Resources Control Board. Any construction or grading project that creates 2,500 square feet or more of impervious surface in the unincorporated county must obtain a grading permit under Solano County Code Chapter 31, which incorporates NPDES stormwater requirements including a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for larger sites.