Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana permits small recreational backyard fires in compliance with the California Fire Code as locally adopted in Municipal Code Chapter 15, subject to SCAQMD burn day rules. Recreational fires must be contained, not exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, and be at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible material. Open burning of wood is prohibited on SCAQMD mandatory no-burn days; gas and propane fire appliances are exempt from no-burn restrictions. The Santa Ana Fire Department enforces local fire code provisions.

Santa Ana allows residential fire pits — both portable and permanently installed — under the California Fire Code as adopted through Municipal Code Chapter 15. Portable fire pits must maintain a minimum 15-foot clearance from structures and combustible materials. Permanent built-in fire pits and outdoor fireplaces may require a building permit depending on size and fuel type. Gas and propane fire pits are the preferred option in Santa Ana due to SCAQMD no-burn day restrictions on wood burning and the city's compact residential lots.

Santa Ana falls within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and is subject to mandatory no-burn day orders issued during fall and winter months when PM2.5 levels are forecast to exceed federal health standards. On declared no-burn days, all wood-burning in fireplaces, wood stoves, fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor wood-burning devices is prohibited under SCAQMD Rule 445. Open burning of waste, yard debris, trash, and construction materials is prohibited at all times in Santa Ana as a densely urbanized city. Gas and propane fireplaces and appliances are exempt from no-burn orders.

Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 18 establishes quiet hours during which residential noise is subject to stricter enforcement. Nighttime quiet hours run from 10 PM to 7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM to 8 AM on weekends and holidays. During these hours, any noise that disturbs the peace of a residential neighborhood may result in a citation. The Santa Ana Police Department handles noise complaints during quiet hours, while Code Enforcement addresses daytime issues.

Santa Ana restricts construction activity in or adjacent to residential zones to specific hours under Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code. Permitted construction hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 8 PM. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. All powered construction equipment must be equipped with manufacturer-standard mufflers, and the contractor or property owner is responsible for ensuring compliance.

Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 18 sets quantitative noise standards based on land use zone and time of day. Residential zones have an exterior noise limit of 55 dBA during daytime hours (7 AM to 10 PM) and 50 dBA during nighttime hours (10 PM to 7 AM), measured at the property line of the receiving land use. The city's General Plan Noise Element supplements these standards with CNEL-based thresholds for long-term noise exposure. Code Enforcement uses calibrated meters for measurement-based complaints.

Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 18 prohibits the use of loudspeakers, amplifiers, or other sound-reproducing devices at volumes that disturb neighboring residents. Amplified outdoor music is subject to the city's general noise standards at all hours, with enforcement tightening significantly after 10 PM. Commercial venues, restaurants with outdoor patios, and special events require permits with sound conditions. The Santa Ana Police Department responds to amplified music complaints, particularly during evening and nighttime hours.

Santa Ana requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a Home-Sharing Permit from the Planning and Building Agency before listing or renting a property for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Only the primary residence of the applicant is eligible for an STR permit. Operators must obtain a City business license, collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), carry minimum $1 million liability insurance, and designate a local contact person available 24/7. Unpermitted STR operation is subject to fines and enforcement action.

Santa Ana requires all short-term rental operators to register with the City through a multi-step process that includes obtaining a Home-Sharing Permit, a business license, and TOT collector registration. Each STR listing must display the City-issued permit number. The registration must be renewed annually, and operators must maintain compliance with all conditions including insurance, local contact designation, parking, and occupancy limits. Failure to register or display the permit number on listings is a separate citable violation.

Santa Ana limits unhosted short-term rental activity to a maximum of 180 nights per calendar year. Hosted rentals — where the primary resident is present on the premises during the guest's stay — are not subject to the annual night cap. Only primary residences are eligible for any STR activity, so investment properties have an effective cap of zero nights. The City tracks night counts through platform data-sharing and operator self-reporting. Exceeding the 180-night unhosted cap triggers automatic permit review.

Santa Ana enforces strict street parking regulations throughout its dense urban grid. Vehicles may not be parked on any city street for more than 72 consecutive hours without being moved. The city enforces an extensive street sweeping program with posted no-parking times, and violations carry significant fines. Abandoned, inoperable, and unregistered vehicles on public streets are subject to citation and towing. Many residential neighborhoods also have posted permit parking zones restricting non-resident parking during specified hours.

Santa Ana restricts the parking and storage of recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, and oversized vehicles on both public streets and residential property. Oversized vehicles exceeding 7 feet in height or 22 feet in length may not park on residential streets for extended periods. On private residential property, RVs and boats must be stored behind the front building line and screened from public view. Santa Ana's dense urban layout and narrow residential streets make oversized vehicle parking particularly problematic and enforcement is active.

Santa Ana regulates vehicle parking on residential property to maintain neighborhood appearance and ensure safety in one of California's most densely populated cities. Vehicles parked on driveways must be on a paved or approved hard surface and may not extend over the public sidewalk or into the right-of-way. Inoperable, unregistered, or dismantled vehicles may not be stored in open view on driveways or front yards. Garage spaces designated as required parking under the zoning code must retain their vehicle-parking function and may not be converted without a permit.

Santa Ana restricts the parking and storage of commercial vehicles on residential streets and in residential zones to protect neighborhood character and ensure safe traffic flow. Oversized commercial vehicles — including box trucks, tractor-trailers, flatbeds, and heavy construction equipment — are prohibited from parking overnight on residential streets. On residential property, commercial vehicles must be stored behind the front building line and screened from view. Santa Ana's narrow residential streets and dense housing make large commercial vehicle parking particularly disruptive to neighborhoods.

Santa Ana's zoning code establishes maximum height limits for fences and walls based on their location on the property. Front yard fences are limited to 42 inches (3.5 feet) in residential zones, while side and rear yard fences may be up to 6 feet in height. Fences on corner lots must maintain sight-line triangles at intersections to ensure traffic safety. Retaining walls with fences on top are measured by combined total height. Santa Ana enforces these limits to preserve neighborhood aesthetics and sightlines across its dense urban residential areas.

In Santa Ana, most wood, chain link, and wrought iron fences up to 6 feet in height do not require a building permit under the California Building Code as locally adopted, but all fences must comply with the city's zoning height limits and setback requirements. Masonry, concrete block, and brick walls over 4 feet in height require a building permit with engineered structural drawings. Any fence or wall exceeding 6 feet in height requires both a building permit and may require a zoning variance. Front yard fences require Planning Division review to confirm compliance with the 42-inch height limit.

Boundary fences between adjacent Santa Ana properties are governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Law. Adjoining landowners are presumed to share equal responsibility for the reasonable costs of constructing, maintaining, and replacing a shared boundary fence. A landowner planning fence work must provide the neighbor with at least 30 days' written notice before starting work. Santa Ana's zoning code additionally requires compliance with local height limits and prohibited materials regardless of any private neighbor agreement.

Santa Ana requires all dogs to be on a leash and under the control of a responsible person when off the owner's property. Dogs must be restrained by a leash no longer than 6 feet when on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public areas. Orange County Animal Care provides animal control services for Santa Ana and enforces leash law violations. There are currently no designated off-leash dog parks within the City of Santa Ana, making leash compliance particularly important across the city's heavily used public spaces.

Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 5 and the city's zoning code strictly regulate the keeping of chickens, roosters, and livestock on residential properties. As the county seat of Orange County with approximately 310,000 residents and one of the most densely populated cities in California, Santa Ana limits poultry keeping to hens only on qualifying residential lots that meet minimum area and setback requirements. Roosters are prohibited throughout the city. Large livestock including horses, goats, pigs, sheep, and cattle are prohibited on standard residential lots and are permitted only on parcels with appropriate agricultural or equestrian zoning, which is extremely limited within city boundaries.

Santa Ana does not impose breed-specific restrictions on dog ownership. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 expressly preempts cities and counties from enacting breed-specific bans or restrictions, meaning no municipality in California — including Santa Ana — may prohibit or restrict ownership of dogs based solely on breed. All dog owners in Santa Ana must comply with general licensing, vaccination, leash, and nuisance requirements regardless of breed. Dogs deemed dangerous or vicious are regulated individually based on documented behavior, not breed classification.

Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 33 regulates the trimming, removal, and protection of trees within the city. The city maintains an active urban forestry program through its Public Works Agency, managing approximately 80,000 street trees across the city. Property owners are responsible for maintaining trees on their private property in a safe and healthy condition, including trimming branches that overhang public sidewalks or obstruct traffic sight lines. Street trees located in the public right-of-way are city property and may not be trimmed, removed, or damaged without prior written authorization from the Public Works Agency.

Santa Ana's property maintenance standards require that all residential and commercial properties maintain lawns, landscaping, and vegetation in a neat, trimmed, and healthy condition. Grass and weeds that are allowed to grow excessively, typically above 8 to 12 inches, constitute a public nuisance subject to abatement. Santa Ana's Code Enforcement Division actively enforces vegetation maintenance standards through both proactive neighborhood sweeps and response to resident complaints. Given the city's high population density and ongoing neighborhood improvement initiatives, enforcement is consistent and vigorous.

Santa Ana enforces weed abatement through both its municipal property maintenance code and the Orange County Fire Authority's (OCFA) annual weed abatement program. Property owners are required to remove all weeds, dead vegetation, and combustible plant material from their properties to prevent fire hazards, rodent harborage, and neighborhood blight. OCFA issues annual weed abatement notices to properties identified as having excessive vegetation growth, and properties that are not cleared by the deadline are abated by OCFA contractors with costs assessed against the property as a special tax lien.

Santa Ana's zoning code permits home-based businesses in residential zones as accessory uses, provided they comply with home occupation performance standards designed to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods. Home occupations must remain clearly secondary to the primary residential use of the dwelling, be conducted entirely indoors, and must not generate visible evidence of commercial activity from the street. A valid City of Santa Ana business license is required for all home occupations. The business must be operated by a resident of the dwelling, and the number of non-resident employees permitted on site is limited.

Santa Ana prohibits all exterior signage for home-based businesses operating under the city's home occupation standards. No business signs, banners, flags, window displays, or other visible commercial indicators may be placed on or around a residential property operating a home occupation. This prohibition extends to illuminated signs, temporary signs, A-frame sidewalk signs, and magnetic or adhesive vehicle signs on cars parked in driveways or on the street in front of the home. The restriction is designed to preserve the residential character of Santa Ana's neighborhoods and prevent visual commercial encroachment in densely developed residential areas.

Santa Ana's home occupation standards strictly limit customer and client traffic to residential properties operating home-based businesses. The regulations are designed to prevent home businesses from generating foot traffic, vehicle traffic, and parking demand inconsistent with a residential neighborhood. Businesses that require regular visits by customers, clients, or patients are generally incompatible with Santa Ana's home occupation standards. Only very limited, incidental, appointment-based visits by individual clients are tolerated, and the overall pattern of activity must not disrupt the residential character of the street or create parking impacts in Santa Ana's already parking-constrained neighborhoods.