Pop. 178,127 · Sonoma County
Home businesses in Santa Rosa must limit customer visits to avoid excessive traffic in residential neighborhoods. Client visits should be infrequent and not disrupt neighbors.
Under Santa Rosa Zoning Code Section 20-42.070, a home occupation is allowed in any residential zone only when it is clearly secondary to the primary residential use and will not…
Santa Rosa requires a Home Occupation review for any business operated from a residence under Zoning Code Section 20-42.070, with a Zoning Clearance for low-impact (exempt) home…
Per Santa Rosa Zoning Code Section 20-42.070, a home occupation must have no exterior signs except limited name identification allowed by Code. Citywide Chapter 20-38 (Signs) caps…
California's Homemade Food Act (HSC 113758) lets residents make approved non-perishable foods at home. In Sonoma County, Class A operations self-register and Class B operations get an…
California law (HSC 1597.45-1597.46, as amended by SB 234) makes small and large family daycare homes a residential use by right. Sonoma County cannot require a use permit or impose a…
Santa Rosa limits construction noise to daytime hours. Residential construction is generally permitted from 7 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 6 PM on weekends. Work outside these…
Santa Rosa regulates noise under City Code Chapter 17-16. Unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace of residential neighborhoods is prohibited, with stricter enforcement during…
Santa Rosa addresses barking dogs under its animal control and nuisance provisions. Persistent barking that disturbs neighbors is considered a public nuisance. Sonoma County Animal…
Sonoma County has no ordinance specifically restricting or banning leaf blowers in the unincorporated area. Leaf-blower noise is treated like other property-maintenance noise…
Vehicle noise in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by California state law, not a County ordinance. Vehicle Code 27150 requires an adequate muffler at all times, and 27151 bans…
Sonoma County has no enforceable countywide decibel ordinance for everyday noise. The General Plan Noise Element Table NE-2 sets exterior performance standards for stationary sources…
Outdoor music, concerts and special events in unincorporated Sonoma County are regulated through the use-permit and special-event review process rather than a fixed noise ordinance…
Industrial and commercial (stationary-source) noise in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by the General Plan Noise Element's Table NE-2 performance standards, applied through…
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no dedicated amplified-music ordinance, but the General Plan Noise Element treats amplified sound as especially intrusive: stationary-source standards…
This is the one true Sonoma County noise ordinance: Code Chapter 3, Article III limits aircraft noise at the County-owned Sonoma County Airport. Section 3-41 caps takeoff noise at 83.2…
Santa Rosa requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet when in public places. Off-leash dogs are only permitted in designated dog parks.
Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-42.040 limits any residential lot to a total of five animals (domestic or exotic), of which no more than three may be dogs and no more than one may be a…
California Health & Safety Code Section 122331 preempts breed-specific dangerous-dog declarations and bans, but expressly allows local mandatory spay/neuter rules. Santa Rosa City Code…
Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-42.040 allows hens (no roosters) on any residential lot, with a sliding-scale limit of 3 to 30 hens depending on lot size, plus rear-yard coop setbacks…
Santa Rosa allows beekeeping in residential areas under Zoning Code Section 20-42.040. Hives must be set back from property lines and maintained to prevent nuisance conditions.
Santa Rosa follows California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for exotic animals. Many exotic species require state permits, and some are completely prohibited. Local…
Livestock in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by the Zoning Code's animal-density standards administered by Permit Sonoma, with allowances based on zoning district and parcel…
Under Sonoma County's Animal Regulation Ordinance (County Code Chapter 5, Article VI), cats four months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies. Cat registration with Animal…
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not have a stand-alone ordinance banning the feeding of wildlife generally, but California regulations control. Title 14 Section 251.3 of the…
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not set a specific numeric hoarding threshold; California Penal Code Section 597 governs animal cruelty and neglect. Keeping so many animals that…
Santa Rosa Chapter 20-48 does not set a specific minimum liability dollar figure for short-term rentals. The City's STR application packet asks operators to maintain liability coverage…
Santa Rosa caps overnight occupancy at two short-term renters per bedroom, not to exceed 10 people total. Daytime guests are limited to one-half the overnight occupancy between 8 a.m…
Santa Rosa requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit for every property rented for less than 30 consecutive days. The City is no longer accepting new Non-Hosted applications; only…
Santa Rosa imposes strict noise rules on short-term rentals. Quiet hours are 9 PM to 8 AM, and outdoor amplified sound is prohibited at all times. Violations can lead to permit…
Santa Rosa requires short-term rental operators to collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) at a rate set by city ordinance. All operators must register with the Finance…
Santa Rosa requires short-term rental properties to provide adequate off-street parking for guests. On-street parking by guests must not block driveways or violate local parking…
Sonoma County does NOT require vacation rentals to be a primary residence. Sec. 26-88-120 applies precisely to whole-house rentals where there is no primary owner in residence…
Sec. 26-88-120 does not set an annual cap on the number of nights a permitted vacation rental may operate; a vacation rental is simply any rental of 30 days or less. Instead, the…
Whole-house vacation rentals do not require an on-site host, but Sec. 26-88-120(f)(8) requires a certified 24-hour property manager available 24/7 during rentals and located within 30…
Beyond the zoning permit, operators must obtain a separate vacation rental license under County Code Chapter 4, Article VIII, register for a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate, and…
Repeat vacation rental violations in unincorporated Sonoma County trigger an escalating enforcement ladder, from a warning letter to suspensions of one to six months and license…
Santa Rosa Zoning Code Section 20-42.030 caps carports at 16 feet tall and requires the carport face to sit at least 19 feet back from the property line, curb, or sidewalk on…
Santa Rosa allows one ADU plus one JADU on single-family lots under Zoning Code Section 20-42.130, adopted by urgency Ordinance on March 3, 2020 to align with California Government…
Santa Rosa permits garage-to-ADU conversions ministerially under Zoning Code Section 20-42.130 with no replacement parking required and no setback required for existing legally…
Santa Rosa requires a building permit for any accessory structure over 120 square feet of floor area, per the city's Accessory Structure Requirements Policy (Policy No. 2.5.3…
A permanently sited tiny home on a foundation is typically permitted in unincorporated Sonoma County as an ADU under County Code Sec. 26-88-060 (max generally 1,200 sq ft), processed…
Santa Rosa's Hazardous Vegetation and Fuels Management Ordinance (ORD-2023-016, City Code Ch. 9-32) requires defensible space on every property in the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire…
Possession, sale, gift, storage, or discharge of any fireworks — including 'Safe and Sane' — is illegal year-round in Santa Rosa under City Code 18-44.5608.2. Citations carry fines up…
Burning trash, leaves, or debris in a backyard burn barrel, pit, or residential fireplace is prohibited in Santa Rosa. Recreational fires must follow the California Fire Code Chapter 3…
Open burning of trash, debris, garbage, or hazardous waste is unlawful in Santa Rosa. Vegetative debris pile burning is permitted only for WUI parcels of 5+ acres under a Fire…
Gas-fueled (LPG or natural gas) fire pits are allowed in Santa Rosa with a 10-foot setback from combustible vegetation and overhanging tree limbs. Wood-fueled fire pits are treated as…
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements in unincorporated Sonoma County follow the California Residential Code as adopted through the County's building and fire codes, plus…
Much of unincorporated Sonoma County lies within Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including State Responsibility Area and Very High zones, reflecting catastrophic fires like Tubbs (2017)…
Propane (LP-gas) and petroleum storage in unincorporated Sonoma County is regulated through the California Fire Code adopted in County Code Chapter 13 and Permit Sonoma's…
Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-30.060.G prohibits barbed wire fencing in residential, commercial, and other non-agricultural areas, allowing it only in agricultural, open space, or…
Santa Rosa zoning permits standard residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, masonry, ornamental metal, chain link). Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fencing are generally…
Santa Rosa Zoning Code Section 20-30.060 caps residential fences at 36 inches within the front-yard or exterior-side setback, and 6 feet within an interior-side or rear-yard setback. A…
Santa Rosa requires a Building Permit for any fence exceeding 7 feet in height. A 6-foot fence with 2 feet of lattice (8 feet total) is allowed by right without a zoning permit in…
Santa Rosa follows California Civil Code for boundary fences. Costs for boundary fences are shared equally between neighbors. Disputes may be resolved through mediation.
Fences in unincorporated Sonoma County must meet zoning height limits by yard, sit at least 6 inches outside public rights-of-way and easements, and be measured from the lowest…
A fence built on top of a retaining wall in unincorporated Sonoma County cannot exceed the allowable fence height when the wall and fence are combined. Fence height is measured from…
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…
Santa Rosa has no city-wide ordinance banning overnight street parking on residential streets. The 72-hour limit and posted time-limited zones apply. The City operates a Safe Parking…
Santa Rosa City Code prohibits parking any vehicle on a public street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours. Vehicles must be in running condition and moved at least once every…
Santa Rosa prohibits storing campers, trailers, boats, RVs, and similar vehicles in driveways, lawns, required side yards, or within required front (15 ft), side (5 ft), or rear (20…
Santa Rosa requires driveways to meet zoning standards for width and materials. Vehicles must be parked on improved surfaces, not on front lawns or unpaved areas.
Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 11-28 prohibits parking any commercial vehicle, truck, or trailer over 10,000 pounds GVWR on any street within a residence or business district, except…
Sonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.10 prohibits parking any 'oversized vehicle' on a County road or right-of-way for more than six consecutive hours, after which it must relocate for at…
On County roads in unincorporated Sonoma County, loading and passenger-loading zones are established under Sonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.3 and marked by curb paint or signs. Stopping is…
Sonoma County Code Chapter 18, Article IV declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private or public property in the unincorporated area a public nuisance…
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no dedicated County ordinance governing parking in EV charging spaces. The controlling rules come from California Vehicle Code Sec. 22511, which lets…
On County roads in unincorporated Sonoma County, curb colors follow the statewide system in California Vehicle Code Sec. 21458 - red, yellow, white, green, and blue. Only the Public…
Any new pool or spa, remodel, or removal in Santa Rosa requires a Building Permit issued through the Building Division (100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room 3). Applications are filed through…
Santa Rosa enforces California Building Code Section 3109 and Health and Safety Code Section 115921-115922. Any pool enclosure used as a drowning-prevention feature must be at least 60…
Santa Rosa follows California Health and Safety Code requirements for residential pools. Pools must have anti-entrapment drain covers, and at least two of seven approved safety…
Above-ground pools in Santa Rosa must meet the same barrier and safety requirements as in-ground pools. Pools holding more than 18 inches of water require compliance with the…
Permit Sonoma treats spas and hot tubs holding water deeper than 18 inches as swimming pools under guideline CNI-044, so a permit and the California Pool Safety Act's two-feature…
Santa Rosa requires property owners to maintain trees so they do not obstruct sidewalks, streets, or sight lines. Branches must be trimmed to at least 8 feet over sidewalks and 14 feet…
Santa Rosa requires property owners to maintain vegetation and prevent overgrown conditions. Grass and weeds exceeding 12 inches are considered a nuisance subject to abatement.
Santa Rosa enforces water conservation regulations including restrictions on outdoor watering days and times. The city is served by Sonoma Water and follows state drought regulations.
Santa Rosa protects certain trees through its Tree Preservation Ordinance. Removing heritage trees or trees over a specified diameter requires a permit. Protected trees include native…
Sonoma County encourages rainwater capture. Simple rain barrels for outdoor irrigation generally need no permit, but systems that collect rainwater for potable (indoor) use require a…
Sonoma County does not mandate native plants for private yards. For projects subject to its Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Code Chapter 7D3), landscapes must meet a water budget…
Under California SB 1383 (effective Jan 1, 2022), all Sonoma County residents and businesses must keep organic waste - food scraps and yard trimmings - out of the landfill, typically…
Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A declares hazardous vegetation and combustible material on unincorporated parcels a public nuisance. Owners must abate it - including cutting dry grasses…
As of late 2025 there is no ban on artificial turf in unincorporated Sonoma County, but the County has raised environmental and health concerns and directed staff to develop a model…
Santa Rosa has FEMA-designated flood zones primarily along Santa Rosa Creek and its tributaries. Development in flood zones requires elevation certificates, flood insurance, and…
Sonoma County operates under two separate Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) NPDES permits - one issued by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for the Russian…
Sonoma County Code Chapters 11 and 11A require construction-grading permits and Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control plans for almost any ground-disturbing work. During the October…
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…
Gas, propane, and electric barbecues are generally allowed in unincorporated Sonoma County and are not subject to the wood-smoke burn bans that can apply on Winter Spare the Air days…
Wood- and charcoal-fired smokers used for cooking are generally allowed in unincorporated Sonoma County and are not regulated as the open burning of vegetation. However, in the BAAQMD…
Building setbacks in unincorporated Sonoma County are set by each zoning district in Chapter 26. In the R1 Low Density Residential district, the front yard must be at least 20 feet…
Maximum building height in unincorporated Sonoma County is set by each zoning district. In the R1 Low Density Residential district, the main building may be up to 35 feet and accessory…
Maximum lot coverage in unincorporated Sonoma County is set by zoning district. In the R1 Low Density Residential district, buildings may cover no more than 40% of the lot, with a…
Removing protected native trees in unincorporated Sonoma County requires a permit under the Tree Protection Ordinance (Code 26-88-010): a zoning permit for native species 6 inches DBH…
California provides statewide protections for native oak woodlands and heritage trees through CEQA review, Public Resources Code, and Forest Practice Rules that apply uniformly.
In unincorporated Sonoma County, Permit Sonoma's Code Enforcement Division responds to complaints about junk, debris, and substandard property. Violations are typically declared public…
Unincorporated Sonoma County residents receive three weekly-collected carts (gray garbage, blue recycling, green compost) from franchised hauler Recology Sonoma Marin. Carts come in…
Under Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A, hazardous vegetation and combustible material on unimproved (vacant) parcels in unincorporated areas is a declared public nuisance. Owners must…
Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A requires year-round defensible space in unincorporated areas. On improved parcels, owners must keep grass cut to 6 inches or less and maintain a 30-foot…
Sonoma County publishes no specific garage-sale permit ordinance for unincorporated areas, and operating a business in the unincorporated county does not require a county business…
Unincorporated Sonoma County uses franchised solid-waste collection, primarily by Recology Sonoma Marin. Garbage, recycling, and compost carts are collected weekly. Carts should be at…
Recology Sonoma Marin sets cart placement standards for unincorporated Sonoma County: carts no more than 2 feet from the curb, 3 feet from other carts or structures, 12 feet of…
Unincorporated Sonoma County residents served by Recology Sonoma Marin get appointment-based bulky item pickup at no cost. Mattresses, appliances, furniture, bagged or bundled excess…
Recycling in Sonoma County is driven by California law. AB 341 requires recycling by businesses and multifamily complexes of 5+ units generating 4+ cubic yards/week. Unincorporated…
California's SB 1383 makes it unlawful to throw food waste in the garbage. In unincorporated Sonoma County, residents must separate organics into the green cart serviced by Recology…
In unincorporated Sonoma County, campaign signs may be erected no earlier than 90 days before an election and must be removed within 20 days after the close of the campaign, per the…
Garage and yard sale signs in unincorporated Sonoma County are temporary signs governed by Article 84 (Sign Regulations) of the County Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 26 (Secs. 26-84…
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no single countywide dark-sky ordinance for all properties, but its Zoning Regulations (Chapter 26) require fully shielded, downward-cast lighting for…
Sonoma County's Zoning Regulations (Chapter 26) address light spillover onto neighboring properties through use-specific standards and design review rather than a single trespass…
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not have a stand-alone juvenile-curfew ordinance applicable countywide. A 1997 proposal by the Board of Supervisors to impose an 11:00 p.m. weeknight…
Sonoma County Regional Parks are open from 7 a.m. to sunset; parking lots and entry gates close when the parks close at sunset. Remaining in a park after closing is restricted under…
On September 17, 2024, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 6496, the Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance, which applies to rental units in unincorporated…
Unincorporated Sonoma County does NOT have a local rent control ordinance. The 2024 Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance (Ord. 6496) added eviction protections but did not adopt a…
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…
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 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…
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no dedicated data-center ordinance, and Permit Sonoma's official position is that AI data centers are not allowed in any zoning district.
Sonoma County caps new stationary-source noise at 50 dBA L50 daytime and 45 dBA L50 at night, measured at the property line of any noise-sensitive use. Data-center cooling and…
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…
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…
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 Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code 113700-114437) sets uniform mobile food facility permit, equipment, and food safety standards enforced by counties statewide.
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.
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…
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…
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…
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…
Civil Code section 714 voids HOA covenants and rules that prohibit or unreasonably restrict residential solar energy systems, preempting private and local restrictions.
California's Solar Rights Act and the SolarAPP+ mandate (SB 379) require expedited permit review of small residential solar systems, preempting restrictive local processes.
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…