Pop. 62,956 · Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §10.40.120 prohibits parking any oversized vehicle on a public street, alley, or city parking lot between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless a city manager permit allows it.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.241 sets EV charging station requirements for new development, supplementing California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) EV-ready and EV-installed mandates.
Santa Cruz §10.40.080 bars commercial vehicle washing on driveways, sidewalks, or streets; §10.40.070 prohibits vehicle repairs on public streets; and Title 6 §6.28 treats inoperable vehicles in yards as a public nuisance.
Santa Cruz §10.40.115 prohibits parking any commercial vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more in any residential district.
Santa Cruz §10.40.050(a) prohibits parking any vehicle on a city street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours.
SCCC Chapter 9.57 prohibits abandoning a vehicle on a public street or highway. A vehicle left 72+ hours without moving 1,000 feet is deemed abandoned; the Sheriff issues a 10-day abatement notice before towing. Inoperable, stripped vehicles can be removed immediately, and recovery requires a $50 minimum administrative fee plus costs.
SCCC 9.70.610(C) bars parking a vehicle more than six feet tall, including loaded sideboards or trailer contents, within 100 feet of any County-maintained road intersection. Streets can also be posted to ban RVs and 10,000-lb-plus commercial vehicles via the SCCC 9.70.600 petition process.
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, SCCC 9.36.010 sets curb-color loading rules: yellow curbs are commercial loading zones limited to 30 minutes, white curbs are passenger loading limited to five minutes. Commercial development must also provide off-street loading berths under County Code Chapter 13.16.
SCCC 9.36.010 defines the curb colors used in unincorporated Santa Cruz County: red means no stopping/standing/parking, green a 20-minute limit, yellow a 30-minute commercial loading zone, white five-minute passenger loading, and blue disabled parking. Only authorized county markings have legal effect.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no blanket overnight ban on ordinary cars on residential streets, but SCCC 9.70.620 bans overnight RV/mobile-home street parking, SCCC 9.36.080 bans overnight parking in county lots, and several beach areas (SCCC 9.36.050) close to parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.1770(3) caps vehicles at one per one-bedroom unit, two per two- or three-bedroom unit, plus one additional vehicle per bedroom over three.
Overnight occupancy at a Santa Cruz short-term rental is capped at two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons. Only one rental agreement may be in effect at a time, vehicles are limited by bedroom count, and special events such as weddings and parties are prohibited.
Every short-term rental in the City of Santa Cruz must hold a short-term rental permit and a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate. New permits are limited to owner-occupied 'hosted' rentals, with a citywide cap of 250 hosted permits; no new non-hosted (non-owner-occupied) permits are issued.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.1770 applies the §9.36 noise standards to short-term rentals and bans weddings, parties, and other large engagements. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. including all amplified noise.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 3.28 imposes the Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax on accommodations rented for 30 consecutive days or less, including STRs, hotels, motels, and B&Bs.
Registration is a two-part process: a land-use permit from the Planning Department plus transient occupancy tax registration with the Tax Collector (or proof of registry with a verified platform). Vacation rental permits run for a five-year term and must be renewed; the rental must operate at least three of any five consecutive years to keep the permit valid.
Santa Cruz County does not require a vacation rental to be the owner's primary residence; a Non-Hosted Rental under SCCC 13.10.694 is explicitly a whole home the owner does not occupy. Instead, the County controls non-owner-occupied rentals through countywide caps, designated-area caps, a 20% per-block density limit, and a one-permit-per-owner rule.
Whether a host must be present depends on the permit type. A Hosted Rental under SCCC 13.10.690 requires the owner or a long-term resident to occupy one legal bedroom on site during the stay. A Non-Hosted (Vacation) Rental under SCCC 13.10.694 has no on-site host, but requires a local property manager who must respond to calls within 60 minutes.
Santa Cruz County does not impose an annual maximum number of nights a permitted vacation rental may operate. Instead it caps the total number of permits. Designated-area caps are LODA 262 non-hosted plus 18 hosted, SALSDA 147 non-hosted plus 45 hosted, DASDA 3 plus 4, with a countywide 270 non-hosted and 185 hosted outside those areas.
Santa Cruz County's vacation rental ordinance (SCCC 13.10.694) does not impose a specific liability-insurance mandate or minimum coverage amount on short-term rental operators. The enforceable requirements center on the land-use permit, transient occupancy tax registration, occupancy and parking standards, noise compliance, and a responsive local property manager.
A conditional fence permit is required whenever a fence exceeds the standard height limits - over three feet six inches in the front or exterior side yard, or over six feet behind the setback lines. The zoning administrator may approve modest cases without a hearing; larger ones require a public hearing and specific findings.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.160(1)(f) limits fences and hedges in clear corner triangles and clear vision areas to 3 ft 6 in. State Civil Code §841 also governs shared boundary-fence costs.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.160(1)(b),(d) restricts fence materials that create fire hazards, interfere with fire access, or use barbed wire (electrified or otherwise) without a Conditional Fence Permit.
Santa Cruz prohibits barbed-wire fences, electrified or not, without a conditional fence permit, and bars any fence that creates a fire or traffic hazard. California Civil Code 841.4 separately declares a malicious fence over ten feet a private nuisance.
Santa Cruz limits fences to three feet six inches within the front and exterior side yard setbacks, six feet in the exterior side yard when set back at least three feet, and eight feet elsewhere (the portion above six feet must be at least 50 percent open lattice). Anything taller requires a conditional fence permit.
Retaining walls in unincorporated Santa Cruz County fall under the same yard height rules as fences (SCCC 13.10.525) and are measured the same way. A building permit is required when a wall retains more than 3 feet of material, or retains a surcharge or impounds liquids, per the County Building FAQ and the California Building Code.
Beyond height, fences in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must preserve sight distance at driveways and intersections, keep corner sight clearance triangles clear to 3 feet, and obtain a coastal development permit in the Coastal Zone unless exempt. Walkway archways/trellises/pergolas up to 8 feet are allowed but may not exceed 25% of fence length.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act in Health and Safety Code Section 115920 mandates statewide drowning prevention barriers around residential pools, with cities prohibited from adopting weaker standards.
Sound amplifying equipment may not be used between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and in designated commercial zones amplified sound on public property that can be heard 125 or more feet away is presumed unreasonably loud.
Construction noise falls under the 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. curfew, so work generally must occur between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.; limited public-works and emergency exceptions allow a 7 a.m. start or night work only with written city authorization.
Santa Cruz Code §6.110.030 prohibits property owners from authorizing the operation of any gas-powered leaf blower at any time for any purpose, citywide.
Vehicle noise in Santa Cruz is regulated by California Vehicle Code §27150–27151 (muffler and modification rules) plus local §10.40.270, which limits engine idling on city streets to 90 consecutive seconds.
No Santa Cruz-specific ordinance directly regulates aircraft noise in flight; such regulation is federally preempted by the FAA, and California PUC 21669 sets airport noise standards administered by Caltrans.
Santa Cruz's noise ordinance expressly names barking or howling dogs as 'offensive noise,' which is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and may be unreasonably disturbing at any hour.
Santa Cruz prohibits any offensive noise between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. that is made within 100 feet of a building used for sleeping or that disturbs anyone within hearing distance.
Santa Cruz County uses two decibel frameworks. County Code Chapter 8.30 makes noise automatically offensive above 75 dB at the property line by day (8 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 60 dB at night (10 p.m.-8 a.m.). For stationary sources, General Plan Table 9-3 caps daytime at 50 dB Leq / 70 dB max and nighttime at 45 dB Leq / 65 dB max.
Outdoor music at events in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is allowed under County Code 13.15.040(C) for reasonable noncommercial gatherings and community events only when held 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and within Chapter 8.30 offensive-noise limits. Larger events require permits, and decision-makers may cap noise level, hours, duration, and location.
New commercial and industrial development in unincorporated Santa Cruz County must meet General Plan Table 9-3 stationary-source limits (50 dB Leq / 70 dB max by day; 45 dB Leq / 65 dB max at night) at the receiving property line. Quarry and mining noise is capped at 60 dB for 15 minutes per hour under Chapter 16.54.
Santa Cruz adopts the California Fire Code Wildland-Urban Interface chapter under §19.05.270 plus a local Wildfire Risk Areas chapter (Title 19 §19.05.310 / Fire Code Ch. 90).
Portable outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are allowed in Santa Cruz but must follow the manufacturer's instructions and be kept at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible material (with an exception for use at one- and two-family dwellings), and must be constantly attended. Open fires are prohibited on all City beaches.
Santa Cruz adopts the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone map under §19.20.010, triggering wildland-urban interface (WUI) building and defensible-space requirements citywide for designated zones.
Open burning in Santa Cruz requires a Fire Department burn permit ($50), is limited to parcels of one-half acre or larger, and is generally allowed only during the December 1 - April 30 burn season on declared burn days. Burning is prohibited on parcels under half an acre (except where yard-waste pickup is unavailable) and within 100 feet of a neighbor's structure.
All fireworks - including 'safe and sane' - are prohibited to possess, manufacture, store, sell, handle, or use anywhere in the City of Santa Cruz. The City deletes the state Fire Code's fireworks chapter and replaces it with an outright ban, and fines triple during the July Fourth safety enhancement zone period.
The City of Santa Cruz allows backyard recreational and warming fires daily unless wildfire danger is high. The fire must be no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, kept at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, constantly attended with extinguishing equipment on hand, and may be ordered out by the Fire Department if deemed unsafe.
There is no separate Santa Cruz County smoke-alarm ordinance - statewide California law controls. Health & Safety Code 13113.7 requires State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms in dwellings, and HSC 17926 requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.
Residential propane is regulated by the California Fire Code (Chapter 61), adopted through County Code Chapter 7.92. No permit is needed for one cooking appliance plus one spare 20-lb cylinder at a home. For fire safety, county fire guidance directs that LPG tanks be at least 30 feet from structures.
Santa Cruz §8.14.320 makes it unlawful for any dog owner to permit a dog to be off the owner's premises unless securely restrained by a leash. Dogs at large violate §8.14.310.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.650 regulates beekeeping (apiaries) in residential and other zoning districts, setting standards for hive setbacks, water access, and number of colonies.
California restricts exotic pets through the Fish & Game Code and CDFW regulations — ferrets and hedgehogs are illegal statewide, and many wild/exotic species are prohibited. These restrictions apply in the City of Santa Cruz.
Under Santa Cruz zoning code 24.12.630, family farm animals (including poultry) may be kept only on a residential lot of at least 20,000 square feet - up to two large and ten small farm animals - and never run at large. Enclosures must sit at least 40 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and 20 feet from the owner's property line, and 7+ small animals require an administrative use permit.
Santa Cruz zoning code (SCMC 24.12.620) allows a maximum of six domestic animals on any residential lot, of which no more than three may be dogs and no more than one may be an unspayed female dog. SCMC 8.14.130 separately bars keeping more than one unspayed female dog per residence.
No Santa Cruz-specific ordinance restricts dogs by breed; California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 preempts breed-specific bans and provides that 'no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed.' Santa Cruz instead regulates dangerous behavior - any 'vicious animal' (defined by conduct, not breed, in SCMC 8.04.010(s)) must be confined and may be ordered muzzled and leashed.
Livestock keeping in the unincorporated county is governed by zoning (Ch. 13.10) and depends on parcel size. The County Animal Shelter states a maximum of about two horses per acre is allowed (a discretionary permit applies in some residential zones), and farm animals other than horses are generally limited to rural and agricultural zones by acreage.
Cats over six months in the unincorporated county must be spayed or neutered under County Code 6.10.030 unless the owner holds an unaltered-animal certification. Feeding a feral/community cat colony requires registering with Animal Services and following trapping, sterilization, testing, and vaccination conditions (Code 6.10.040). Pet limits allow up to 2 cats in most residential zones.
Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 contains no general ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife such as deer in the unincorporated county. The only feeding-with-conditions rule is for feral cat colonies (Code 6.10.040). California law separately makes it unlawful to feed big-game mammals like deer (Cal. Code of Regs. Title 14, 251.3).
Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 has no statute titled 'hoarding,' but it controls excessive-animal situations through zoning pet limits (5+ dogs/cats is a kennel), care-and-housing standards, and a cruelty provision. Code 6.24.030 authorizes Animal Services to stop cruelty as defined in California Penal Code 599b; California Penal Code 597 and 597.1 also reach neglect.
Santa Cruz Fire Code §304.1.3 (per §19.05.100) requires removal of weeds, grass, vines, brush, or other vegetation that constitutes a fire or safety hazard, especially in wildfire risk areas.
Santa Cruz §9.56.060 requires permits for any significant work that affects designated Heritage Trees or Heritage Shrubs. §9.56.090 requires a state tree-care license for work on protected trees.
Santa Cruz Fire Code §304.1.3 (per §19.05.100) requires removal of weeds, grass, vines, or other growth capable of being ignited and endangering property, especially in Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §16.02.040 bans irrigating turf, gardens, and ornamental landscape between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except by drip or hand-held shutoff nozzle, and prohibits runoff and other wasteful uses.
The City of Santa Cruz has a Heritage Tree ordinance requiring a permit to remove heritage or significant trees, even on private property, with replacement required. Street-tree removal requires city approval.
Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. The County WELO actively promotes rain barrels, captured rainwater, and graywater, and exempts landscapes watered entirely by harvested rainwater, graywater, or recycled water from water-efficiency limits. Simple rain barrels are generally permit-free; larger systems and graywater follow state plumbing/building codes.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County encourages native and climate-adapted planting but does not mandate native plants for ordinary yards. The County WELO exempts native and other low-water plant landscapes from water limits, asks owners to remove invasive species, and warns against planting native cultivars that could hybridize with rare endemic manzanita and ceanothus.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County permits artificial turf and even suggests it as a recreation surface in its WELO guidance. There is no county ban on synthetic lawns. The County asks owners to choose low-petroleum, biodegradable products and to design sites so runoff from the artificial surface is filtered or captured rather than sent straight to storm drains.
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Separately, California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste recycling: residents in the mandatory-collection area of the unincorporated County must subscribe to organics (Green Cart) service for food scraps and yard trimmings, which are composted at the Buena Vista Landfill. SB 1383 is a state mandate the County implements.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §18.32.030 requires every outdoor swimming pool to be enclosed by a fence or wall at least 5 feet high with openings no greater than a 4-inch sphere can pass and a maximum 2-inch gap below.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §18.32.040 requires enclosure of swimming pool equipment (pumps, filters, heaters) to protect public safety and meet plan-review standards.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §18.32.020 requires permit application to the chief building official with detailed plans (in duplicate, including plot plan) showing construction method, location, and wastewater disposal.
Above-ground pools holding more than 18 inches of water in the City of Santa Cruz require a building permit and the same 60-inch barrier protection as in-ground pools; ladders must be removable or secured when unattended.
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, a spa or hot tub holding water over 18 inches deep is defined as a swimming pool requiring a building permit. A separate spa or hot tub not inside a compliant pool enclosure must have a lockable, fully functioning safety cover under the County's Swimming Pool Enclosure Ordinance.
Santa Cruz IZO home-occupation standards limit customer foot/vehicle traffic so the business remains incidental to residential use and does not generate parking demand exceeding the residence.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Section 24.10.160(3)(f) flatly prohibits the placement of any sign advertising a home occupation. A home business may not display an exterior business sign, keeping the residential appearance of the property intact.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Section 24.10.160 allows a home occupation only as a use clearly incidental and secondary to the dwelling, operated by a resident, employing no more than one nonresident, occupying no more than 400 square feet, and generating no more than eight vehicle round trips per day.
California Government Code Section 51035 prohibits Santa Cruz from banning a cottage food operation in a residential dwelling. The city must treat it as a permitted residential use or grant a nondiscretionary permit; Santa Cruz processes these through a home occupation zoning clearance (about $142).
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Section 24.10.160(4) requires both a zoning clearance and a city business license before operating a home occupation. The zoning clearance is a one-time approval (about $164; $142 for a cottage food operation) confirming the business meets the zoning standards for that location.
Both small and large family day care homes are a permitted residential use in all residences in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, consistent with California state law. Under Health & Safety Code 1597.40 and 1597.46 (as amended by SB 234), local zoning cannot require a use permit or prohibit family day care homes on residentially zoned lots.
The City of Santa Cruz allows accessory dwelling units on lots of any size in any zone that permits residential use, processed ministerially under Santa Cruz Municipal Code (SCMC) Chapter 24.16 Part 2, with statewide-exemption detached ADUs capped at 800 sq ft of livable space, 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and 16-18 ft height.
A one-story detached shed under 120 sq ft needs no building permit under California Residential Code R105.2, and under Santa Cruz Municipal Code 24.12.140 a shed under 120 sq ft and 15 ft tall is also exempt from design-permit review; however, no accessory building may sit in a front or exterior side yard, and zoning rules still apply even when a building permit is not required.
The City of Santa Cruz allows converting a garage into an accessory dwelling unit under Santa Cruz Municipal Code 24.16.125 and 24.16.130; a conversion ADU may use the existing structure (plus up to 150 sq ft of expansion), and the city cannot require notice or a placard to demolish a detached garage being replaced by an ADU.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County treats carports as accessory structures under the zoning code. County Code 13.10.323 provides setback exceptions: on qualifying sloped residential lots an unenclosed carport may have a reduced 5-foot front setback, and detached structures in the rear yard can sit 3 feet from side and rear lines.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County is one of few California counties with a dedicated Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) permit program. Under County Code 13.10.680 (Ordinance 5413), a THOW is capped at 400 sq ft, limited to one per parcel, must meet ANSI A119.5, and the County permit is renewed every five years with annual DMV registration.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §5.40.030 requires a business license for peddling or soliciting; §5.40.050 limits door-to-door solicitation to 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. §5.40.040 bars entry on premises posted with a no-solicitation sign.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §9.10.020 makes solicitation between sunset and sunrise an infraction. §9.10.030 lists prohibited solicitation locations including ATMs (50 ft), banks (50 ft), and bus stops.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.1320(5) allows cannabis retail sales in Community Commercial (C-C), Thoroughfare Commercial (C-T), General Industrial (I-G), and IG/PER-2 Districts with an administrative use permit and city license under Ch. 6.91.
California Health & Safety Code §11362.2 allows adults 21+ to cultivate up to 6 living cannabis plants per private residence. Santa Cruz allows personal cultivation consistent with state law, indoors or in a fully enclosed and secure structure.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §9.56.060 requires a permit before removing or significantly working on any Heritage Tree or Heritage Shrub. Permits are issued by the Parks & Recreation Director.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §9.56.040 establishes the Heritage Tree and Heritage Shrub designation process. Designation criteria include species, size, age, historic association, cultural value, and visual significance.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §9.56.100 requires mitigation for approved and unapproved removals of heritage trees or heritage shrubs. Replacement is typically based on appraised value or species-and-size formulas.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.14 Part 4 (Floodplain Management) and §24.10 Part 21 (F-P Floodplain District) regulate construction in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) along the San Lorenzo River and coastal flood zones.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §16.19.030 prohibits illicit discharges to the storm drain system and §16.19.130 mandates best management practices (BMPs) for runoff pollution control.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.08 Part 3 requires Coastal Development Permits for development in the Coastal Zone consistent with the City's certified Local Coastal Program and California Coastal Act (Pub. Res. Code §30000 et seq.).
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §16.19.140 mandates best management practices for construction activity to prevent erosion and sediment runoff into the storm drain system.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 6.110 (Prohibition of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers) bans gas-powered leaf blowers citywide as a climate-action measure. Adopted by Ord. 2024-10.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 6.100 prohibits natural gas infrastructure in newly constructed buildings as a climate measure tied to local sea-level-rise and wildfire vulnerability.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §6.12 implements California SB 1383 organic waste recycling, requiring single-family, multifamily, and commercial generators to separate organics from trash.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §6.49 bans single-use plastic carry-out bags and imposes a paper bag charge. §6.48 prohibits polystyrene/plastic-foam food service ware and requires biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable alternatives.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County requires every developed property to subscribe to trash, recycling, and organics service through GreenWaste Recovery, or register as a self-hauler, under the County's Universal Service ordinance (Ch. 7.20). GreenWaste collects weekly; materials must be ready by 5 AM.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County limits curbside cart placement to no more than 24 hours before pickup, with removal within 24 hours after collection (County Code Ch. 7.20). GreenWaste asks that gray, blue, and green carts be at the curb and ready by 5 AM on collection day.
GreenWaste gives unincorporated Santa Cruz County residents up to three free bulky-item reuse collections per year (covering reusable items, e-waste, and appliances). Larger loads go to the County's Buena Vista Landfill or Ben Lomond Transfer Station; debris-box rentals are available for big jobs.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §6.12 governs solid waste collection. STR-related §24.12.1770(8) bars storing trash and recycling within public view except in proper containers between 5 p.m. the day before and 8 p.m. on collection day.
Santa Cruz Code §6.28 declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private property a public nuisance. Ch. 4.04 (General Municipal Code Enforcement) provides citywide abatement and citation authority.
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, garage and yard sales are allowed as a temporary residential use under the zoning code (Ch. 13.10) without a special permit, provided they don't exceed four weekends per year at a site with a legal residential use.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no separate numeric 'vacant-lot' ordinance; vacant and unimproved parcels are kept up through the County's nuisance-abatement code (Ch. 1.14) and, in the State Responsibility Area, California defensible-space law (PRC 4291), which requires hazardous vegetation clearance around improved buildings.
Most of unincorporated Santa Cruz County is in California's State Responsibility Area, where state law (PRC 4291) requires 100 feet of defensible space around buildings, including cutting annual grass to 4 inches. Overgrown weeds can also be abated as a nuisance under County Code Chapter 1.14.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §18.44.020 adopts the 1970 Uniform Building Code §2314 by reference for seismic standards. Modern construction follows the California Building Code (adopted under §18.04).
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 18.44 (Earthquake Hazard Reduction) adopts the 1987 Uniform Code for Building Conservation Appendix Chapter A1 for seismic retrofit of unreinforced masonry (URM) bearing wall buildings.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 5.82 requires a sidewalk vending permit before any person may engage in sidewalk vending. The chapter implements SB 946 with locally tailored objective health, safety, and welfare rules.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §5.82.090 sets specific restrictions on vending in city beaches and parks. §5.82.080 lists no-vending and limited-vending zones.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §9.04.030 makes it unlawful for a child under 16 to tarry or remain in any public place between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
County parks in unincorporated Santa Cruz County operate on hours designated and posted by the Parks Director under County Code 10.04.060. Violating park rules is generally an infraction under County Code 1.12.040, and a person ordered to leave a park for a public offense cannot return before 8:00 a.m. the next day.
California Civil Code §1946.2 (AB 1482) provides just-cause eviction protection for covered tenants after 12 months of occupancy. Santa Cruz Code §21.07.010 extends those protections to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holders.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 21.02 (Security Deposits for Residential Rental Property) sets local rules supplementing California Civil Code §1950.5 governing residential security deposits.
Santa Cruz has no local rent control. Measure M, a 2018 ballot initiative to enact local rent control and just-cause eviction, was defeated by 65.5% of voters. California state law (AB 1482) provides the only applicable rent caps.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 21.06 (Residential Rental Dwelling Unit Inspection and Maintenance Program) requires landlords to register rental units with the City and submit to periodic habitability inspections.
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 holidays), and lease violations require a 3-day notice to cure or quit. No-fault terminations of covered tenancies require 30, 60, or 90 days. Self-help lockouts are illegal.
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, water, electricity, and sanitation. If repairs fail after notice, a tenant may repair and deduct up to one month's rent under § 1942 or withhold rent.
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 notice (24 hours is presumed reasonable) and may enter only during normal business hours, for specific permitted reasons such as repairs, inspections, or showings.
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 valid only if it reasonably estimates the landlord's actual loss from late payment; arbitrary penalty fees are unenforceable.
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, under Civ. Code § 1946.1. AB 1482 requires just cause after 12 months; military and DV tenants may exit early.
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% need 90 days' notice. AB 1482 separately caps yearly increases on covered units.
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 squatter or trespasser who has not paid taxes gains no ownership and can be removed by unlawful detainer, ejectment, or a police trespass action.
Santa Cruz processes residential rooftop solar permits under the AB 2188 streamlined SolarAPP+ process required of California cities, with electrical and structural review under §18.04 and §18.08.
California Civil Code §714 (Solar Rights Act) preempts HOA rules that unreasonably restrict solar energy systems. HOAs cannot impose restrictions that significantly raise cost (>$1,000 for solar water heating, >$1,000 for PV) or reduce efficiency by more than 10%.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.360 (Performance regulations — Lighting, movement, sound) regulates sign lighting and limits illumination that creates glare or distracts traffic.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance, but its design-review lighting standards (County Code Chapter 13.11) require site, building, security, and landscape lighting to be directed onto the site and away from adjacent properties, with light sources not visible off-site and parking-area light poles limited to 15 feet.
Santa Cruz §9.49 (Noncommercial Signs on Public Property) and §9.54 (Unlawful Restrictions on Political Signs) regulate noncommercial and political signage. State Elections Code §13.5 sets statewide political-sign protections.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County limits temporary signs (including garage-sale and real-estate signs) to small sizes and short display windows under County Code 13.10.580-587. Residential-zone temporary signs are capped at about 6 sq ft, signs must stay clear of the right-of-way, and they must come down within roughly 10 days after the event.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.110 sets generic front, side, and rear yard setback rules with adjustments for established neighborhoods and adjoining-lot patterns. Special street setbacks under §24.12.115 add additional baselines on designated streets.
Santa Cruz IZO sets height limits by zone district in §24.10 (Land Use Districts). Most single-family districts cap at 28–35 ft; multifamily and commercial districts vary. ADU heights are set by §24.16.141.
Santa Cruz IZO §24.12.100 sets minimum building-site standards; lot coverage limits are established in each zone district under §24.10. Lots within Floodplain (F-P) Districts or riparian corridors don't count toward net lot area for coverage purposes.
Drone operation in Santa Cruz must comply with FAA Part 107 (commercial) or Recreational Pilot rules. Local parks and beaches operate under §13 (Parks and Recreation) rules that can restrict overflight and takeoff/landing.
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, with local rules limited to ground-based regulation.
Recreational drone flight in California is governed primarily by FAA regulations under 14 CFR Part 107 and 49 USC 44809, with state-level rules added by Civil Code 1708.8 and Government Code 853 applying uniformly statewide.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 5.22 (Mobile Vendors) regulates food trucks and other mobile vending businesses. Mobile vending permits are required under §5.82.100 for motorized vendors.
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.
California Civil Code §4000 et seq. (Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act) governs HOA operations statewide. Civil Code §714 (solar), §1947.12 (AB 1482), and §4710 (political signs) override conflicting CC&Rs.
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 law (Civil Code sections 5650-5740) caps fees and interest and imposes strict notice steps and a delinquency threshold before any foreclosure may proceed.
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 mandate secret-ballot elections with independent inspectors, and sections 5200-5240 give members broad rights to inspect association records.
California HOAs may fine members for rule violations, but only under a published schedule of fines and after strict due-process steps. Civil Code section 5855 requires written notice and a hearing before any monetary penalty, and section 5725 bars fines from becoming a foreclosable lien on the home.
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.
Backyard grilling is governed by the California Fire Code adopted via County Code Chapter 7.92. Charcoal and other open-flame cooking devices generally may not be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings.
No special Santa Cruz County ordinance targets backyard smokers; they fall under the California Fire Code's open-flame cooking rules adopted via County Code Chapter 7.92. Wood, pellet, and charcoal smokers generally may not be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustibles, with a 1-2 family dwelling exception.
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, currently $16.50 per hour for all employers as of 2025. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher minimums; many cities exceed the state rate substantially.
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 or five days annually effective January 2024, applying universally.
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant standards, preempting local variations on issuance criteria and qualifications.
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However, local governments retain limited authority over discharge, sensitive places, and zoning of gun businesses.
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 applies uniformly across all California cities and counties without local variation.
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 the vehicle's locked trunk; long guns must be unloaded but need not be locked.
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Government Code 7285.1 and 7285.3. The restriction applies uniformly to every California city and county.
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 uniformly to every California agency and bars participation in most civil immigration enforcement.
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 for ten-year minimum terms in exchange for reduced property tax assessment based on farming income.
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 law applies statewide and limits both private and local government nuisance actions.
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 as Proposition 67 in 2016. Recycled paper or reusable bags require a 10-cent minimum charge.
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that polystyrene foodware achieve 25 percent recycling by 2025 or face statewide sales prohibition.
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. The on-request rule applies uniformly to dine-in restaurants statewide.
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 applies uniformly across all California jurisdictions.
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 November 2022. The ban applies uniformly to all California retailers.
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 establishes uniform retailer licensing, while local governments may adopt stricter rules.