California overrides HOA governing documents on several owner protections. The Davis-Stirling Act and related Civil Code sections bar HOAs from prohibiting solar systems, U.S. flag displays, drought-tolerant landscaping, EV charging stations, and most noncommercial signs, even where local city rules are silent.
Several statewide rules trump conflicting CC&Rs. Solar: Civil Code sections 714, 714.1, and 4746 protect a member's right to install solar energy systems against HOA bans. U.S. flag: Civil Code section 4705 provides no governing document "shall limit or prohibit" display of the United States flag. Landscaping: section 4735 voids rules prohibiting low-water plants or artificial turf and bars fines for reducing irrigation during a declared drought. EV charging: section 4745 makes any provision that prohibits or unreasonably restricts an EV charging station "void and unenforceable." Signs: section 4710 bars prohibitions on noncommercial signs, flags, and banners, subject to size limits. California has no statute compelling HOAs to permit ADUs, so HOA ADU restrictions may still apply.
An HOA rule conflicting with these statutes is void and unenforceable. Owners who prevail in enforcement actions (e.g., flag under section 4705, EV charging under section 4745) may recover reasonable attorney's fees, and section 4745 allows civil penalties up to $1,000.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Vacaville, CA
Vacaville enforces California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115921-115929) and California Building Code Section 3109. Every new or remodel...
Vacaville, CA
Vacaville Municipal Code 14.09.200 permits standard fence materials including wood, masonry, brick, wrought iron, and vinyl. Barbed wire, razor wire, ultra-b...
Vacaville, CA
Vacaville has no special neighbor-fence ordinance - California Civil Code 841 (the 2014 Good Neighbor Fence Act) governs shared boundary fences. Adjoining la...
Vacaville, CA
Vacaville follows the California Building Code as adopted in VMC Title 15 - fences 7 feet tall or less are typically exempt from a building permit under CBC ...
Vacaville, CA
Vacaville Municipal Code 14.09.200 (General Site Regulations) caps residential fences at 6 feet outside required setbacks and 3 feet within 5 feet of the bac...
Vacaville, CA
Vacaville Municipal Code limits residential households to three dogs and three cats over four months old per lot, plus six adult rabbits. Higher counts requi...
See how Vacaville's hoa vs. city rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.