Manchester, CA

Until 2026 unincorporated Mendocino County had no general noise ordinance. The Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 4558, adding Chapter 8.100 (Noise Control Regulations) to the County Code on April 7, 2026. It sets nighttime quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. countywide in unincorporated areas.

Vehicle exhaust and engine noise on public roads in unincorporated Mendocino County is governed primarily by California state law, not a special county ordinance. California Vehicle Code 27150 requires an adequate muffler, and Section 27151 prohibits modified exhaust that amplifies noise beyond legal limits.

Under the county's new Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance, barking dogs are typically referred to Animal Control rather than handled as a general noise infraction by the Sheriff. Animal noise in unincorporated Mendocino County is addressed through animal control and nuisance channels rather than a decibel standard.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no special leaf-blower ban or dedicated gas-blower restriction in published sources. Leaf-blower noise falls under the general Chapter 8.100 noise rules adopted in 2026, which set nighttime quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Industrial-zone noise in unincorporated Mendocino County is shaped by the county's Right to Industry Ordinance (County Code Chapter 6.35), which protects established industrial operations from nuisance claims. The new Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance specifically exempts activities protected by the right-to-industry provisions.

Mendocino County's Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance (Ordinance 4558, adopted April 7, 2026) sets explicit nighttime decibel limits for unincorporated areas: 60 decibels for continuous noise and 75 decibels for intermittent noise, measured from an adjacent residential property line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Outdoor and event music in unincorporated Mendocino County falls under the Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance adopted in 2026. Nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) amplified sound is capped at 60 decibels continuous / 75 decibels intermittent at an adjacent residential property, with exemptions for school and public-agency activities.

Mendocino County cannot regulate aircraft-in-flight noise. Federal law preempts local control of aircraft operations, flight paths and overflight noise, so the county's Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance does not apply to aircraft in the air. Concerns about overflights generally go to the FAA.

Mendocino County's new Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance (adopted April 2026) focuses on nighttime quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and does not set out a separate, detailed construction-hours schedule in published reporting. Reported coverage does not confirm specific permitted construction times for the unincorporated county.

Mendocino County's Chapter 8.100 noise ordinance (Ordinance 4558, adopted April 7, 2026) specifically targets amplified sound. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., sound from radios, sound amplifiers and musical devices or instruments may not exceed 60 decibels (continuous) or 75 decibels (intermittent) measured from an adjacent residential property.

In unincorporated Mendocino County, vacation rentals are regulated differently by zone. Coastal-zone rentals need a business license plus any required coastal development permit; the Town of Mendocino requires County certification (deemed a minor use permit). Inland areas had no STR permit rules; a countywide ordinance is in development.

Coastal and Town rentals must register through Planning and Building Services certification and the County business license process, and the County keeps a status log of licensed rentals. A 2017 moratorium (Ord. 4391) paused new coastal and inland establishments while comprehensive rules were developed.

Mendocino County's zoning code does not set a single numeric guest-per-bedroom occupancy cap for vacation rentals. Instead, coastal and Town rentals are limited by their underlying single-family dwelling use, building/health codes, and (in the Coastal Zone) restrictions tying rentals to one existing dwelling. The proposed inland ordinance had not set occupancy numbers as of mid-2026.

Mendocino County's adopted STR provisions do not set a dedicated short-term-rental parking ratio. Rentals rely on the parking required for the underlying dwelling, and a proposed inland Good Neighbor Policy would have guests informed about parking expectations rather than mandating a numeric count. Coastal rentals must also meet Coastal Act and emergency-access requirements.

Mendocino County does not require short-term rentals to be the operator's primary residence. The Board of Supervisors expressly rejected an owner-occupancy mandate for the proposed inland ordinance, and the coastal/Town rules instead restrict rentals to a single legal dwelling without requiring the owner to live there.

Mendocino County does not require a host to be on-site during stays. Unhosted whole-home vacation rentals are the dominant model, and the proposed inland ordinance leaned toward requiring a responsible local contact (via a Good Neighbor Policy) rather than mandating host presence. A separate 'room and board' option allows hosted single-room rentals in the Coastal Zone.

Mendocino County does not cap the number of nights a short-term rental may operate per year. The 'short-term' threshold is occupancy under 30 days (which triggers TOT), and the Board rejected limits on rental numbers. The one numeric cap is on the count of licensed rentals in the Town of Mendocino, not on annual nights.

Mendocino County's adopted short-term rental rules do not impose a specific liability-insurance mandate. No insurance amount appears in Chapter 20.748 or the coastal provisions, and the proposed inland ordinance (as directed in February 2026) emphasized a Good Neighbor Policy, fire/safety information, and three-strike enforcement rather than an insurance requirement.

Coastal and Town vacation rentals must not create noise exceeding the County General Plan's exterior and interior noise standards (Tables 3-J and 3-L). Mendocino County lacks a stand-alone numeric noise ordinance, so the proposed inland rules rely on a Good Neighbor Policy and complaint-based enforcement instead.

Unincorporated Mendocino County levies a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10% on the rent paid for stays under 30 days, collected since 1965. Licensed coastal and Town vacation rentals are expressly subject to the County's Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax, plus a County Business License Tax under Chapter 6.04.

Because most of unincorporated Mendocino County is State Responsibility Area, property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code Section 4291. The clearance is split into an ember-resistant zone (0-5 feet), an intensive fuel-reduction zone (5-30 feet), and a reduced-fuel zone (30-100 feet).

All fireworks - including state-classified safe-and-sane devices - are illegal everywhere in unincorporated Mendocino County. The Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services and CAL FIRE enforce a zero-tolerance policy; only licensed public displays with a permit are allowed. Possessing, selling, transporting, or discharging fireworks is prohibited year-round.

Wood-burning recreational fires in unincorporated Mendocino County require a year-round burn permit and a declared permissive burn day. Under California fire rules, a recreational fire is limited to roughly a 3-foot-wide by 2-foot-high fuel area. Propane and natural gas fire features are not subject to the burn-day rules that target wood smoke.

Open outdoor burning in unincorporated Mendocino County is regulated by MCAQMD District Regulation 2 and requires both an air quality permit and a local fire agency permit, and is allowed only on permissive burn days. Only vegetative matter grown on the property may be burned; milled lumber, paper, cardboard, garbage, plastics, and burn barrels are prohibited.

Most of inland unincorporated Mendocino County lies in the State Responsibility Area, where CAL FIRE maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones (moderate, high, very high). CAL FIRE's 2025 maps classify about 8,402 acres of unincorporated land as very high, much of it near Ukiah and Willits along Highway 101, triggering defensible space and building requirements.

Backyard debris and waste burning in unincorporated Mendocino County requires both an air quality and a fire agency burn permit and is allowed only on permissive burn days. Only vegetation grown on the property may be burned, burn barrels are banned, and CAL FIRE typically suspends residential burning during fire season.

Smoke alarm requirements in unincorporated Mendocino County follow California law. Smoke alarms are required in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on each level under Health and Safety Code 13113.7, and a single-family home being sold must have an operable State Fire Marshal-approved alarm under HSC 13113.8. Carbon monoxide alarms are required by HSC 17926.

Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Mendocino County follows the California Fire Code and NFPA 58. A typical residential tank of 125 to 500 gallons must be kept at least 10 feet from buildings and the adjoining property line, and tank fill, relief, and vent openings must be at least 10 feet from any building opening or ignition source.

In unincorporated Mendocino County, recreational vehicles are NOT exempt from the 72-hour street parking limit and may be towed after 72 hours. Living or sleeping in a parked vehicle or trailer on public property for more than one day is separately prohibited.

Mendocino County controls on-street parking in unincorporated areas through Chapter 15.12 of the County Code, which designates specific no-parking zones, angle-parking areas, and time limits by road and milepost. General on-street rules otherwise follow the California Vehicle Code.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no blanket ban on parking a vehicle overnight on public streets, but a 72-hour continuous-parking limit applies, vehicle camping is capped at one day on public property, and a few specific roads bar parking between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Mendocino County Code Section 15.12.090 prohibits parking heavy commercial vehicles (10,000+ lb unladen weight) overnight in designated residential areas between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., with exceptions for active deliveries and permitted construction work.

Mendocino County does not maintain a general loading-zone color ordinance for unincorporated streets, but the County Code designates specific loading and bus-stop segments in the Town of Mendocino. Loading-zone curb colors otherwise follow the California Vehicle Code.

Mendocino County Code Chapter 15.28 makes it an infraction to leave a wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on public or private property for more than 10 days, and declares such vehicles a public nuisance subject to abatement under California Vehicle Code Sections 22660 and 22661.

Only the County may paint or maintain regulatory curb markings on County-maintained roads in unincorporated Mendocino County. The Road Commissioner places markings under Code Section 15.12.080, and curb colors carry the meanings set by California Vehicle Code Section 21458.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no dedicated 'oversized vehicle' parking ordinance. Large vehicles are reached through the 72-hour street limit, the heavy commercial-vehicle residential ban, and the California Vehicle Code.

Mendocino County processes electric vehicle charging station permits through an expedited building-permit process as required by California law, and new construction must meet CALGreen EV pre-wiring standards. There is no county parking-quota EV ordinance.

Constructing a new driveway approach onto a County highway in unincorporated Mendocino County requires an encroachment permit from the County Road Department under Code Section 15.20.030. Blocking a driveway with a parked vehicle is governed by the California Vehicle Code.

Mendocino County's zoning code (Section 20.152.015) sets fence height and placement limits, but cost-sharing and maintenance of boundary fences between neighbors are governed by California's 'Good Neighbor Fence' law, Civil Code Section 841. Adjoining owners are presumed to share equally in the cost of a boundary fence, and a landowner must give 30 days' written notice before incurring shared costs. The County does not arbitrate private boundary-fence disputes.

Mendocino County, following the California Building Code, exempts retaining walls not over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) from a building permit, unless the wall supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II, or III-A liquids. Taller walls or walls with a surcharge need a building permit. Significant grading associated with walls is regulated by the Excavation and Grading ordinance (Chapter 18.70), and coastal-zone walls may require a Coastal Development Permit.

Fences in unincorporated inland Mendocino County must comply with the Inland Zoning Code's yard and height rules (Section 20.152.015): 3.5 feet in front yards and street-frontage yards, 8 feet elsewhere, with a building permit required over 6 feet. Pool-enclosure fencing must meet the California Building Code. In the Coastal Zone, fences may require a Coastal Development Permit and must respect coastal view protection in highly scenic areas. Standards vary by zoning district.

Mendocino County's Inland Zoning Code (Section 20.152.015) regulates fences by height and view-obstruction rather than by listing prohibited materials. View-obstructing materials (board, picket) face the 3.5-foot and 8-foot limits, while loose-meshed animal wire (barbed, chicken, hog) and non-view-obscuring chain-link are exempt from those height limits. In the Coastal Zone's highly scenic areas, materials and colors are reviewed for visual compatibility and view protection (Section 20.504.015).

Mendocino County allows common fence materials and regulates fences mainly by height and view-obstruction under Section 20.152.015, not by an approved-materials list. Solid view-obstructing fences (board, picket) are height-capped; loose-meshed animal wire and chain-link are exempt from those limits. Any fence over 6 feet needs a building permit. In coastal highly scenic areas, fence material, color, and transparency are reviewed for coastal view protection (Section 20.504.015).

Mendocino County requires a building permit for fences over six feet tall (per Section 20.152.015 and Title 18). In the Coastal Zone, a fence may be 'development' requiring a Coastal Development Permit under the Division II Coastal Zoning Code; repair and maintenance that does not enlarge a structure can be exempt under Section 20.532.020. Building permits come from the Building Division and CDPs from the Planning Division.

In unincorporated inland Mendocino County, the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code (Section 20.152.015) limits view-obstructing fences and hedges to 3.5 feet in front yards and in any rear or side yard having street frontage, and to 8 feet in rear or side yards without street frontage. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit. Animal-containment and non-view-obscuring fences are exempt. In the Coastal Zone (Division II), fences can be development requiring a Coastal Development Permit.

Mendocino County cannot ban dogs by breed. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 bars any county dangerous-dog program from being breed-specific. The County instead regulates dangerous animals by conduct under Chapter 10.10 (Vicious Animals). No breed-specific ban was found in the County Code.

Unincorporated Mendocino County regulates backyard chickens and small animals through its Zoning Ordinance (Title 20). 'Animal raising—personal' allows hen chickens or rabbits for personal use on parcels 40,000 sq ft or less, with coops/pens kept at least 50 feet from dwellings and at least 5 feet from side/rear property lines.

Exotic-pet possession in unincorporated Mendocino County is governed primarily by California state law. Under 14 CCR §671, importing, transporting or possessing 'restricted' species (primates, most wild cats, bears, wolves/hybrids, many reptiles and birds) requires a Department of Fish & Wildlife permit — and permits are not issued for private pet possession.

Livestock keeping in unincorporated Mendocino County is governed by the Zoning Ordinance (Title 20) — 'animal raising—general agriculture' on parcels over 40,000 sq ft covers cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry. Mendocino is not a free-range county, so adequate perimeter fencing to contain livestock is required under California Food & Agricultural Code §17121.

Unincorporated Mendocino County does not publish a simple flat household pet cap, but keeping five (5) or more dogs triggers a kennel-licensing requirement under Title 10. A certified agricultural kennel license is available where the dogs (5 or more) are used solely for herding/protection of farm animals or hunting and are not sold or traded commercially.

Unincorporated Mendocino County does not require cat licenses. Mendocino County Animal Care Services manages free-roaming feral cats through spay/neuter and return: since July 1, 2020 it spays/neuters and returns feral cats to the field rather than long-term sheltering them, and uses a Barn Cat Program. The County is not required by law to take in free-roaming feral cats.

Feeding wild big-game mammals is prohibited by California law (14 CCR §251.3): no person shall knowingly feed big game mammals such as deer and bears. Mendocino County strongly discourages feeding deer, raccoons and other wildlife, warning it inadvertently attracts mountain lions, which are common in the county.

Animal hoarding in unincorporated Mendocino County is addressed through California's animal-cruelty laws, enforced with the assistance of Mendocino County Animal Care Services. Under Penal Code §597, neglecting animals so they lack adequate food, water or veterinary care is a crime; §597.1 allows officers to seize animals found in immediate danger.

Beekeepers in Mendocino County must register their colonies with the County Agricultural Commissioner, consistent with California's statewide apiary-registration requirement administered through the BeeWhere/CalAgPermits system. Registration is $10 per beekeeper, and beekeepers must notify origin and destination counties within 72 hours of any hive movement.

In unincorporated Mendocino County, dogs may not run at large. Mendocino County Animal Care Services enforces Title 10 (Animals) of the County Code, and the county confirms owners must obey local ordinances including licensing, leash requirements and noise control, with citations issued for animals running at large.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no fixed grass-height number in its code. Chapter 8.77 declares flammable weeds, dry grass and brush that create a fire hazard a public nuisance. Because all unincorporated land is a State Responsibility Area, CAL FIRE's defensible-space rule (annual grass cut to about 4 inches) effectively controls.

Mendocino County's code has no general permit requirement for routine pruning or trimming of trees on private inland property. For wildfire safety, CAL FIRE's defensible-space rules (limbing trees up and separating canopies) apply countywide. In the Coastal Zone, larger trimming that becomes 'major vegetation' removal can trigger a Coastal Development Permit.

Mendocino County has no countywide inland tree-removal permit for ordinary yard trees. In the Coastal Zone, removing 'major vegetation' requires a Coastal Development Permit. Larger timber harvesting requires a state CAL FIRE Timber Harvesting Plan. Intentionally killing trees and leaving them standing can be a public nuisance under Chapter 8.400.

Chapter 8.77 of the Mendocino County Code makes flammable weeds, dry brush, combustible material and rubbish that create a fire hazard a public nuisance in unincorporated areas. The County Building Official can order abatement; enforcement runs through the Chapter 8.75 nuisance procedure with fines up to $1,000 per violation per day.

Mendocino County's own water-conservation code (Chapter 16.24) regulates indoor plumbing fixtures, not outdoor watering schedules. Countywide outdoor water-waste rules come from the State Water Board's permanent prohibitions (effective Jan 1, 2025): no hosing pavement, no runoff, and no irrigating within 48 hours of measurable rain. Local water districts may add stricter rules.

Mendocino County has no ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting, and none is needed: California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 lets any landowner install and operate rain barrels and rooftop capture systems for outdoor, non-potable use without a local permit or a state water right. Larger cistern plumbing tied to buildings still follows the state plumbing code.

Mendocino County does not mandate native landscaping, but its Chapter 9A.32 adopts California's Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (MWELO) for larger projects, which favors low-water, climate-appropriate plants. In the Coastal Zone, native and sensitive-habitat vegetation gets added protection under the Environmentally Sensitive Habitat rules.

Mendocino County has no ordinance specifically banning or restricting artificial turf on unincorporated residential property. Synthetic lawns are an accepted water-saving option and are a recognized compliance path under California's AB 1572 non-functional turf law. Standard County building, drainage and setback rules still apply to any associated structures.

Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Mendocino County. Under California's SB 1383, organic-waste recycling is mandatory: the County's Title 9A solid-waste code governs organics collection, and Chapter 9A.32 requires recycled compost and mulch in qualifying landscape projects. Residents must keep compost from becoming a nuisance or fire hazard.

A building permit is required to build an in-ground swimming pool, spa, or hot tub in unincorporated Mendocino County. Permits are issued by the Planning and Building Services Department under Title 18 of the County Code, which adopts the California Residential Code. Plumbing and electrical permits are also typically required.

Outdoor swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs in unincorporated Mendocino County must be enclosed by a safety barrier meeting the California Residential Code adopted in Title 18. The barrier must be at least 60 inches high measured from the outside, with limited bottom clearance, and must be inspected and approved by a County inspector before the pool is filled.

When a building permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home in unincorporated Mendocino County, California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115922) requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features, such as an isolation fence, safety cover, or pool alarm. The County enforces this state law at permit issuance.

In unincorporated Mendocino County, prefabricated above-ground pools that sit entirely above adjacent grade and hold no more than 5,000 gallons are exempt from a building permit. Larger above-ground pools, or those needing electrical hookups, still require permits, and all outdoor pools must have a compliant safety barrier under the adopted California Residential Code.

Hot tubs and spas in unincorporated Mendocino County are treated like pools under Title 18 and the adopted California Residential Code. A spa with a locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the full enclosure barrier requirement; otherwise the spa needs a compliant barrier. Permanently installed spas require building, plumbing, and electrical permits.

Signs for a home occupation in unincorporated Mendocino County must comply with the County's Sign Regulations in Chapter 20.184 of the inland Zoning Code and must not change or disturb the residential or rural character of the property under the home-occupation standards of Chapter 20.156. Home businesses are expected to keep on-site signage minimal.

Mendocino County does not require a discretionary use permit to operate a home occupation in the unincorporated inland area. Under Chapter 20.156, the home business simply must meet the general standards (incidental, secondary, and not disturbing residential/rural character) and obtain any other required County approvals, such as building permits and a County business license.

Cottage food operations in unincorporated Mendocino County are governed by California's Homemade Food Act (Health & Safety Code 113758 et seq.). A Class A operation registers with Mendocino County Environmental Health (Consumer Protection); a Class B operation needs a permit and a home-kitchen inspection. Operators must complete a food processor course and use approved labels.

Both small (up to 8 children) and large (7 to 14 children) family daycare homes are a residential use by right in unincorporated Mendocino County. California law (Health & Safety Code 1597.40 et seq. and SB 234) preempts local zoning, bars a use permit, and prohibits a business license fee. Providers are licensed by the state.

Home occupations are allowed in unincorporated Mendocino County under Chapter 20.156 of the inland Zoning Code (Title 20, Division I). A home business must be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use and must not disturb the residential or rural character of the area. No use permit is required, but other County permits still apply.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A permanent tiny house on a foundation is regulated as a dwelling or as an Accessory Dwelling Unit under the County's ADU rules (detached ADUs up to 1,200 square feet). Tiny homes on wheels are treated as recreational vehicles and generally cannot be used as permanent residences.

Unincorporated Mendocino County allows ADUs and Junior ADUs consistent with California state law. Detached and attached ADUs are capped at 1,200 square feet and JADUs at 500 square feet. Inland ADUs are approved ministerially; coastal-zone ADUs are regulated by Chapter 20.458 and generally require a Coastal Development Permit.

Carports are treated as accessory structures in unincorporated Mendocino County. They must meet the zoning district's setback, height and lot-coverage standards; small detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less are exempt from a building permit, but most carports exceed that and require one. Coastal-zone carports may require a Coastal Development Permit.

Unincorporated Mendocino County exempts one-story detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less from a building permit, though zoning still applies. Small detached accessory buildings 15 feet or less at the ridge and 500 square feet or less may use a reduced 5-foot setback under the County's yard regulations (Section 20.152.015).

Converting a garage into living space in unincorporated Mendocino County requires a building permit and zoning compliance. Converting a garage into an ADU is permitted under the County's ADU rules (state-law-based), and a converted-garage ADU is one of the streamlined ministerial options. Coastal-zone conversions may also require a Coastal Development Permit.

Outdoor cooking with propane and charcoal grills in unincorporated Mendocino County follows the California Fire Code. Charcoal and other open-flame cooking devices may not be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with an exception for small LP-gas grills using tanks of 2.5 pounds water capacity or less, or where the structure is fully sprinklered.

Outdoor smokers in unincorporated Mendocino County are treated as open-flame cooking devices under the California Fire Code. They may not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction in multifamily buildings, and the wood-smoke they produce is for cooking - not waste disposal - so MCAQMD open-burning permits do not apply.

Setbacks in unincorporated Mendocino County are set by the zoning district under the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code, so required yards vary widely. Rural and agricultural districts such as Rangeland (Ch. 20.060) and Agricultural (Ch. 20.052) require 50-foot front and rear yards, though nonconforming parcels under 5 acres may use 20-foot minimum yards. Detached accessory buildings up to 15 feet tall and 500 square feet may observe a 5-foot setback (Section 20.164.015). Coastal parcels also face geologic and bluff setbacks.

Maximum building heights are set by zoning district under the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code. The Rangeland District (Ch. 20.060) limits height to 35 feet; the Agricultural District (Ch. 20.052) allows up to 50 feet, with exceptions in Section 20.152.025. Detached accessory buildings using the reduced 5-foot setback are capped at 15 feet at the ridge. In coastal highly scenic areas, development west of Highway 1 is limited to 18 feet above natural grade (Section 20.504.015).

Mendocino County regulates building intensity mainly through large minimum lot sizes and required yards rather than a single countywide lot-coverage percentage. Each zoning district in the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code sets its own minimum parcel size and yard standards (such as the 50-foot yards in Agricultural and Rangeland districts). ADUs must conform to lot-coverage requirements generally applicable in their zone. Coastal parcels add habitat and resource-protection constraints.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no general inland tree-removal permit, but three approvals can apply: a Coastal Development Permit for 'major vegetation' removal in the Coastal Zone, a state CAL FIRE Timber Harvesting Plan for commercial harvest, and special protection for trees in Highly Scenic Areas and sensitive habitat under the Coastal Zoning Code.

Unincorporated Mendocino County Code Ch. 8.77 declares hazardous vegetation, weeds, and combustible material that create a fire hazard a public nuisance. The County Building Official can order abatement, including defensible space around structures, with fines up to $1,000 per violation per day.

In unincorporated Mendocino County, blighted property conditions such as accumulated solid waste, junk, abandoned excavations, and health hazards are public nuisances under County Code Chapter 8.75 and can be abated by the County, with costs charged to the owner as a lien.

Unincorporated Mendocino County requires refuse carts to be kept closed and sanitary, set out no more than 12 hours before pickup, removed within 12 hours after, and stored at least 10 feet from the road. Carts left continuously at the curb can be tagged and service canceled under County Code Sec. 9A.16.010.

Owners of vacant or improved parcels in unincorporated Mendocino County must keep land free of hazardous vegetation, combustible material, and rubbish that creates a fire hazard (County Code Ch. 8.77), and free of illegally dumped solid waste, which is a public nuisance under Ch. 8.75.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no dedicated garage- or yard-sale ordinance and does not require a permit specifically for occasional residential yard sales. Sellers are still bound by general zoning, home-occupation limits, and California sales-tax law.

In unincorporated Mendocino County, every owner or tenant must arrange satisfactory refuse removal under County Code Sec. 9A.08.040, either by subscribing to the franchised hauler or by self-hauling to a permitted facility without compensation. The County provides franchised collection in all unincorporated areas.

Unincorporated Mendocino County Code Sec. 9A.16.030 specifies where carts must be placed for pickup: single-family carts go next to the nearest County or State road, accessible without entering a fenced yard. Carts may be set out only within 12 hours of collection and must be stored 10 feet back otherwise.

Unincorporated Mendocino County does not set bulky-item rules in the County Code; instead the franchised hauler, Redwood Waste Solutions, gives residential customers two free bulky-item collections per year, and County transfer stations accept mattresses, appliances, and large items, some for a fee.

Unincorporated Mendocino County requires source-separated recyclables to be kept out of the trash and placed in the blue recycling container under County Code Title 9A. Commercial businesses must subscribe to recycling service, and contaminating recyclables can draw warnings and fees.

Unincorporated Mendocino County Code Sec. 9A.08.050 requires single-family homes to subscribe to three-container service and put food scraps and green waste in the green organics cart, implementing California SB 1383, unless they self-haul or get a waiver. Waivers exist for de minimis, physical-space, and low-density situations.

Unincorporated Mendocino County regulates signs under inland Sign Regulations (Chapter 20.184) and the Coastal Zoning Code. Temporary signs are generally capped at 32 square feet and limited to under 90 days. Political signs are protected non-commercial speech under California law, and signs along state highways must also follow Caltrans rules.

Unincorporated Mendocino County does not have a garage-sale-sign-specific ordinance. Garage and yard sale signs fall under the temporary-sign rules of Sign Regulations Chapter 20.184, generally limited to 32 square feet and under 90 days. Signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way, and Caltrans rules govern state-highway frontage.

In the unincorporated Coastal Zone, Mendocino County requires exterior lighting to be shielded and directed downward under Coastal Zoning Code Section 20.504.035, with extra protection for designated highly scenic areas (Section 20.504.015). Inland, the County has no comprehensive dark-sky ordinance, though scenic and review standards can apply.

In the unincorporated Coastal Zone, Mendocino County requires exterior lighting to be shielded and directed downward (Coastal Zoning Code Section 20.504.035), which limits light spilling onto neighbors and the night sky. The County has no comprehensive inland light-trespass ordinance, so off-site glare disputes are usually addressed through permit conditions or nuisance law.

Mendocino County regulates floodplain development through Chapter 22.17 (Floodplain Ordinance) in the inland portion of the county and Chapter 20.420 (Floodplain Requirements) of the Coastal Zoning Code in the Coastal Zone. Both implement the National Flood Insurance Program minimum standards under 44 CFR Part 60. Principal Special Flood Hazard Areas follow the Russian River, Navarro River, Big River, Noyo River, Eel River, and Garcia River.

Stormwater discharges in unincorporated Mendocino County are regulated by Chapter 16.30 of the Mendocino County Code (Stormwater Runoff Pollution Prevention), adopted October 4, 2011, which applies to the regulated MS4 urbanized areas surrounding Ukiah and Fort Bragg. Coastal Zone parcels are also governed by Chapter 20.492 (Grading, Erosion and Runoff) and Chapter 20.717 (Water Quality Protection).

Mendocino County's Pacific coastline from Gualala north through Fort Bragg and Westport is regulated by the Mendocino County Local Coastal Program, certified by the California Coastal Commission in 1992 and currently being comprehensively updated. The Coastal Zoning Code is codified at Title 20, Division II of the Mendocino County Code. Most development in the Coastal Zone requires a Coastal Development Permit.

Mendocino County has a longstanding juvenile curfew ordinance codified at Chapter 8.08 (Curfew - Minors) of Title 8 (Public Health, Safety and Welfare) of the Mendocino County Code. The Chapter restricts minors (generally under 18, with a distinct provision for those under 16) from being on public streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public places during nighttime hours, subject to standard exceptions for being accompanied by a parent/guardian, emergencies, employment, religious or organized activities, and travel to/from those activities. Enforcement is by the Mendocino County Sheriff in unincorporated areas; cities (Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits, Point Arena) enforce their own municipal curfew provisions.

Mendocino County parks are regulated under Code Title 14, Chapter 14.28 (Use of County Parks and Camping Prohibition). Camping or trailer parking is allowed only where expressly posted and is limited to a maximum of 14 nights; day-use parks are generally open dawn to dusk, and overnight use is prohibited where not posted for camping.

There is no rent control ordinance in unincorporated Mendocino County. State law — AB 1482 (Cal. Civil Code §1947.12) — caps annual rent increases on most covered residential units at 5% plus the regional CPI, with an absolute maximum of 10% per 12 months.

Unincorporated Mendocino County has no county-level just cause ordinance. State law — California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civil Code §1946.2) — applies to most residential tenancies and requires landlords to state a just cause to evict after a tenant has lived in the unit 12 months (or 24 months if multiple tenants).

Mendocino County allows adult personal cannabis cultivation in line with state law: up to six plants per private residence with a total canopy of no more than 100 square feet, cultivated indoors or within a fully enclosed accessory structure on the grounds of a private dwelling. Commercial cultivation is governed by Chapter 10A.17 (Mendocino Cannabis Cultivation Ordinance) and Chapter 20.242 of the Zoning Code.