Santa Ana, CA Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Santa Ana's Property Maintenance regulations (SAMC Chapter 8, Article X) target genuine blight: junk, debris, abandoned appliances, dead vegetation, and structures in disrepair. Decorative items including statuary, lawn flamingos, garden gnomes, religious figures, and seasonal ornaments are not regulated by the City regardless of how long they remain in place. Front-yard fencing and structures over certain heights (typically 3 ft in front yards) are regulated under SAMC Chapter 41 (Zoning) as accessory structures or fences. Decorations placed in the public right-of-way (parkway strips, sidewalks) require permission from Public Works under SAMC Chapter 36. HOA-governed neighborhoods typically have architectural review committees with authority to enforce CC&R restrictions on visible-from-street decorations; these private restrictions are enforced through the HOA's dispute-resolution process and ultimately through civil court, not the City. Religious displays on private property receive constitutional protection regardless of any local regulation.