Pop. 84,070 · Contra Costa County
San Ramon Zoning Ordinance D4-27.C.2.i requires every STR registration to include proof of insurance demonstrating that the property is insured for use as a short-term rental. The City…
San Ramon allows STRs in any residential district subject to Zoning Ordinance D4-27, which makes the operator jointly responsible for compliance with all City noise regulations under…
Where short-term rentals are permitted in San Ramon, occupancy is constrained by California Building Code and San Ramon Municipal Code limits on residential density, typically 2…
Short-term rentals in San Ramon are heavily restricted. The City does not have a permissive STR ordinance, and most residentially-zoned properties are not authorized to operate rentals…
San Ramon requires off-street parking for all residential uses, and STRs cannot rely on on-street parking to accommodate guest vehicles. Most HOAs in Canyon Lakes, Gale Ranch, and…
San Ramon imposes a 7.25% Transient Occupancy Tax on short-term stays under 31 days. Operators collect the tax from guests and file quarterly returns. Guests staying 31+ consecutive…
San Ramon allows STRs in all residential districts under Zoning Ordinance §D4-27, but requires annual registration. Hosted STRs (owner present) have no annual night cap; unhosted…
Garage conversions to ADUs permitted under CA statewide ADU law. No replacement parking required. Must meet building code for habitable space. Reviewed through building permit process.
ADUs allowed per CA Gov Code §65852.2 and San Ramon Zoning Ordinance §D4-39. One detached ADU and one JADU per single-family lot. Setbacks: 4 ft side/rear, 20 ft front for detached…
Accessory structures limited to 12 ft height in most residential zones (HR, RE-B, RS, RM, RMH, RH, RVH) and 16 ft in RC, RR, and RE-A zones. Structures in front setback limited to 3 ft…
Carports in unincorporated Contra Costa County are regulated as accessory structures under Title 8 (Zoning) of the County Ordinance Code and as covered structures under the California…
California HCD guidance and Health and Safety Code 18007 classify many tiny homes on wheels as manufactured housing or ADUs, granting statewide siting protections.
San Ramon enforces the 2022 California Building Standards Code for residential pool installations and exempts only small prefabricated above-ground pools from the building permit (less…
Pool and spa drain covers in San Ramon must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) and California Health & Safety Code 116064. Anti-entrapment…
Swimming pool barriers in San Ramon are governed by California Health & Safety Code sections 115920-115929 (Swimming Pool Safety Act). Pools built or substantially remodeled after 2018…
A building permit from the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division is required before installing any pool or spa in unincorporated areas. In-ground pools must be at least 5…
Hot tubs and spas fall under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act when capable of holding water deeper than 18 inches, requiring barriers, covers, or other approved safety features.
Noxious weeds designated by the Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 5004 must be controlled on private property. Common…
San Ramon enforces weed and grass abatement under California Government Code Sections 39560-39588 and the municipal code. Overgrown vegetation over approximately 6 inches may be…
San Ramon encourages drought-tolerant landscaping under California's MWELO (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance). New and renovated landscapes over 500 sq ft must meet Maximum…
San Ramon water service is provided by EBMUD and Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD). Permanent statewide water waste rules under SWRCB prohibit runoff, watering within 48 hours…
San Ramon's Tree Preservation Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter D2-50) requires a permit to remove protected trees including native oaks, California bay, buckeye, and sycamore above…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County protects larger trees under Ordinance Code Chapter 816-6: single-trunk trees 6.5 inches in diameter (at 4.5 feet) and multi-stem trees with combined…
Since SB 676 took effect in 2024, Government Code 53087.7 protects only drought-tolerant living landscaping from local bans, so cities may again prohibit artificial turf. Civil Code…
SB 1383 requires every California resident and business to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash, with universal collection or on-site composting.
The 2012 Rainwater Capture Act allows California residents to capture rainwater from rooftops for non-potable outdoor use without a state water-right permit, preempting most local…
San Ramon limits residential properties to 3-4 dogs and 3-4 cats per household, with combined totals varying by lot size. Kennel permits are required for households keeping more…
San Ramon permits up to 6 backyard hens on residential lots with coop setback requirements (typically 10-20 feet from property lines and 25+ feet from neighboring dwellings). Roosters…
San Ramon borders extensive East Bay Regional Park District open space (Las Trampas, Bollinger Canyon, Iron Horse Trail) hosting deer, coyotes, mountain lions, turkeys, and raptors…
San Ramon requires all dogs over 4 months old to be licensed through Contra Costa County Animal Services and leashed (max 6 ft) when off the owner's property. Current rabies…
Livestock is prohibited on standard residential lots in San Ramon. The city's suburban master-planned zoning does not include agricultural districts, and lot sizes in Dougherty Valley…
San Ramon follows California Food & Agricultural Code §31601-31683 for dangerous dog determinations, which are strictly behavior-based. No breed-specific bans are permitted statewide…
San Ramon prohibits exotic and wild animals as pets, with regulation primarily governed by California Fish and Game Code §2118 which bans private possession of dangerous wildlife…
Backyard beekeeping is permitted in San Ramon with setback and hive limit restrictions. Typical requirements include minimum 10-25 foot setbacks from property lines, water source on…
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. SRVFPD conducts annual inspections in San…
California Health and Safety Code Section 13113.7 and the California Building Code require working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every story of all…
Wood-burning fire pits and chimineas in San Ramon are restricted by BAAQMD Regulation 5. Permanent natural gas fire features may be permitted with appropriate building permits. No…
Open burning is prohibited in the Bay Area under BAAQMD Regulation 5. San Ramon falls within BAAQMD jurisdiction. Backyard burning of leaves, trash, and yard waste banned since 1970…
ALL fireworks are banned in San Ramon, including state-approved Safe and Sane fireworks. Possession, sale, use, and storage of any consumer firework is a misdemeanor with fines up to…
Backyard burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is tightly limited: BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning yard waste, and recreational wood fires aren't among its allowed…
Wildfire rules in unincorporated Contra Costa County combine the state's 100-foot defensible-space requirement (PRC §4291) with the county fire code's hazardous-vegetation standards…
California uniformly applies the State Fire Marshal's propane storage standards through the California Fire Code, which all local jurisdictions must enforce as a minimum.
Gas-powered lawn and garden equipment can be operated in San Ramon Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-7:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday and holidays 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Commercial landscapers (common in Bishop…
Vehicle noise in San Ramon is regulated by both California Vehicle Code and Municipal Code Chapter B3-40. Modified exhaust systems, engine revving, tire squealing, and horn abuse are…
San Ramon prohibits amplified music audible beyond the property line of the source, with stricter enforcement during quiet hours (10 PM-7 AM). Outdoor events with amplified sound…
San Ramon authorizes administrative penalties for barking dogs and noisy animals. Contra Costa County Animal Services enforces animal noise complaints. The general noise ordinance…
Construction in San Ramon is permitted Monday-Friday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. No construction is allowed on Sundays or city-recognized holidays except for…
San Ramon enforces quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM daily under Municipal Code Chapter B3-40. During these hours, sound levels at residential property lines cannot exceed 50 dBA…
No local airport in San Ramon. Aircraft noise regulated federally by the FAA. Nearest general aviation airport is Buchanan Field in Concord. CA Health & Safety Code §46000 authorizes…
Pool safety barriers in San Ramon must meet California Health & Safety Code §115920-115929 requirements: minimum 60-inch height, self-closing/self-latching gates, no climbable…
Retaining walls in San Ramon require a building permit if over 4 feet in height measured from bottom of footing to top, or if supporting a surcharge load. Engineered plans are required…
San Ramon permits standard fence materials including wood, vinyl, masonry, wrought iron, and chain link, with restrictions on barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fences in…
Hedges in San Ramon are regulated similarly to fences for sight-line purposes. Front yard hedges must not exceed 3.5 feet within the front setback, and corner lot sight triangles…
San Ramon permits 6-foot fences in side and rear yards and 3.5-foot (42-inch) fences in front yards. Corner lots have additional sight-triangle restrictions at intersections. Fences…
Building permits are not required for fences up to 7 feet tall in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Taller fences, any concrete or masonry wall, and retaining walls over 3 feet…
San Ramon home occupations strictly limit customer visits. On-site retail sales to walk-in customers are prohibited. Occasional client visits by appointment may be allowed for…
San Ramon requires a Home Occupation Permit and a Business License for any business operated from a residence. Home occupations must be incidental and subordinate to the residential…
San Ramon prohibits all exterior commercial signage on home-business properties. No signs, banners, lighted displays, or window advertising that identifies a business are permitted…
Family day care homes in San Ramon are protected under California Health & Safety Code 1597.45, which preempts most local restrictions. Small family day care homes (up to 8 children)…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a Home Occupation Permit (ministerial, issued over the counter) or a Land Use Permit before any business activity may be conducted from a…
The California Homemade Food Act sets uniform rules for cottage food operations, and Government Code 51035 bars local governments from prohibiting them in residential dwellings…
CA Vehicle Code requires vehicles to move every 72 hours. Vehicles missing essential parts (engine, transmission, wheels, doors, windshield) may be towed immediately as safety hazards…
San Ramon limits on-street parking to 72 consecutive hours under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k) and San Ramon Municipal Code Chapter 6.12. Vehicles parked longer than 72…
San Ramon prohibits overnight parking of commercial vehicles over a certain weight or length in residential zones under San Ramon Municipal Code and California Vehicle Code Section…
San Ramon prohibits long-term on-street parking of recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, and oversized vehicles under California Vehicle Code Section 22507.5 and local ordinance. RVs…
Contra Costa County has no county-wide ordinance prohibiting overnight parking on public roads in unincorporated areas. The general 72-hour limit in Sec. 46-4.004 applies, and…
California Civil Code sections 4745 and 1947.6, plus Government Code 65850.7, create statewide rights for residents to install EV charging stations and require expedited local…
San Ramon regulates outdoor lighting through its Development Code (Title D) to reduce light pollution, glare, and spillover onto adjacent properties. The city is not a formal IDA Dark…
San Ramon Development Code limits light glare and spillover from private lighting onto neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. Typical standards require illumination at…
San Ramon does not operate an official No-Knock Registry. Residents rely on California's statewide Do Not Call Registry for phone, the FTC/FCC registries, and posted No Soliciting…
Commercial door-to-door solicitation in San Ramon requires a Business License and in some cases a Solicitor Permit, with state and federal background-check rules. Solicitation is…
San Ramon does not currently operate a mandatory city-wide residential rental registration program. Landlords must still obtain a City of San Ramon business license and comply with…
California Civil Code 1941.7 and Health & Safety Code 17920.3 require San Ramon landlords to disclose known visible mold in a unit and to remediate mold that makes a dwelling…
San Ramon follows federal Title X and California disclosure rules for lead-based paint in pre-1978 housing. Landlords must provide the EPA pamphlet, a written disclosure of known lead…
California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and…
California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat…
Civil Code 1946.2 requires landlords statewide to have just cause to terminate tenancies of qualifying tenants who have lived in a covered unit at least 12 months.
California Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written…
California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is…
To end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more…
California limits annual rent increases statewide to 5% plus the local change in the cost of living, capped at 10%, under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB-1482). It also lets…
California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10%…
As of July 1, 2024, California landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. The deposit, minus any lawful…
California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A…
San Ramon parks and open space are closed from 30 minutes after sunset until 6:00 AM unless a permit or scheduled event is in progress. Trespass after hours is a misdemeanor under…
San Ramon enforces a juvenile curfew for persons under 18 between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM (with earlier hours on school nights in some neighboring jurisdictions), consistent with Contra…
San Ramon enforces the California Building Code and California Health & Safety Code sections 13113.7-13114 for smoke alarm placement. Smoke alarms are required in every sleeping room…
Plumbing permits in San Ramon are issued through Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division and governed by the 2022 California Plumbing Code. Permits are required for water…
Carbon monoxide alarms are required in all San Ramon dwellings with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages under California Health & Safety Code 17926 (Senate Bill…
Electrical work in San Ramon requires permits issued by the Building Division, with work performed by licensed C-10 electrical contractors or qualifying homeowners under California…
San Ramon requires a building permit for reroofing projects through the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division, which provides permit services to San Ramon. Roofing must…
San Ramon recycling is single-stream through Waste Management's blue cart, with materials processed at the Davis Street MRF. Accepted: paper, cardboard, glass, metal, rigid plastics…
Single-family San Ramon households receive two free bulky-item pickups per year through Waste Management. Residents schedule in advance, place items curbside the morning of pickup, and…
San Ramon residents must use Waste Management-issued carts for garbage, recycling, and organics. Carts cannot exceed capacity, overflow lids, or contain prohibited items. Extra garbage…
Illegal dumping in San Ramon is prohibited under the municipal code and California Penal Code 374.3. Fines start at $250 for a first offense and escalate to $3,000+ plus cleanup costs…
Waste Management of Alameda County / Contra Costa is the exclusive franchise hauler for San Ramon, providing once-weekly curbside pickup of garbage, recycling, and organics. Collection…
San Ramon bans all commercial medical cannabis operations - dispensaries, cultivation, manufacturing, and testing - within city limits. Patients may possess and consume under…
Health and Safety Code section 11362.2 grants every adult 21 or older the statewide right to cultivate up to six cannabis plants indoors, and bars local governments from completely…
Food trucks operating in San Ramon must hold a Contra Costa County Environmental Health mobile food facility permit, a California seller's permit, a City of San Ramon business license…
San Ramon restricts food truck and mobile food facility operating locations through zoning and SB 972-consistent regulations. Typical restrictions include: no parking within a…
San Ramon does not require a permit or fee for residential garage, yard, or estate sales at an owner-occupied single-family home. Sales must stay on private property, signs must follow…
San Ramon limits residential garage sales to approximately 2-4 events per address per calendar year, each lasting no more than 2-3 consecutive days. Exceeding this frequency converts…
California Civil Code 1708.8 makes it a tort to use a drone to capture images or recordings of private activity where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Penalties…
Commercial drone operations in California follow uniform federal rules under 14 CFR Part 107 plus statewide California provisions in Civil Code 1708.8 and Public Utilities Code 21401…
California Civil Code Section 714 (Solar Rights Act) prohibits San Ramon HOAs from banning solar panels. HOAs and CC&Rs can impose only 'reasonable restrictions' — those that do not…
San Ramon streamlines solar permits under California AB 2188 and SB 379, which require expedited review and online permitting for small residential rooftop solar. Standard rooftop…
HOA fines in San Ramon must follow the due process requirements of California Civil Code 5850 and 5855. Fines must be reasonable, set forth in a published schedule, and imposed only…
In San Ramon, HOA CC&Rs and City ordinances operate as parallel regulatory systems. HOAs enforce private covenants under the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, while the…
Disputes between San Ramon homeowners and their HOAs follow a statutory process under Davis-Stirling Act Civil Code 5900-5965, which requires Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and…
California HOAs may levy regular and special assessments, charge late fees and interest, record liens, and ultimately foreclose on delinquent owners under the Davis-Stirling Act. State…
California tightly regulates HOA governance. The Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955) governs board meetings and member access, sections 5100-5145…
California HOAs enforce recorded CC&Rs and architectural rules, but Civil Code section 4765 requires architectural decisions to be fair, reasonable, and in good faith, and sections…
Garage sale signs are allowed on private property with owner consent during the sale and must be removed within 24 hours after. Signs in the public right-of-way, on utility poles…
Political signs are strongly protected under the First Amendment and Civil Code 4710. San Ramon may not regulate them more strictly than other non-commercial signs and cannot ban them…
San Ramon prohibits illicit discharges to its storm drain system under the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP) and local ordinance. Illicit discharges include any non-stormwater…
San Ramon has FEMA-mapped flood zones primarily along San Ramon Creek, Alamo Creek, and their tributaries. Properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA, Zones A and AE) are subject…
The California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal…
Contra Costa County has no dedicated data-center ordinance. In the unincorporated county, a data center is treated as an industrial use, allowed in the L-I, H-I, C-M, or W-3 industrial…
Contra Costa County has no ordinance specific to cryptocurrency or blockchain mining. A commercial mining operation is treated as a data center or industrial use, allowed in the L-I…
Contra Costa County has no codified decibel ordinance for stationary sources. A data center's cooling and generators are held to the 2045 General Plan land-use compatibility standard…
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, $16.90 per hour for all employers as of January 2026. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher…
California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours…
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…
California broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition…
California prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or…
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Labor Code 2812. The…
The California Values Act (SB 54, 2017) codified at Government Code 7284-7284.12 limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It applies…
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use…
The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The…
California prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified…
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that…
California Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer…
California prohibits sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21 statewide under Business and Professions Code 22958, enacted by SBX2-7 in 2016. The Tobacco 21 standard…
California bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide under Health and Safety Code 104559.5, enacted by SB 793 (2020) and upheld by voters via Proposition 31 in…
California requires statewide licensing of tobacco and vape retailers under the STAKE Act and the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act. Business and Professions Code 22970…