Simi Valley, CA

To keep chickens or other farm animals in Simi Valley, the parcel must be inside the City's Animal (A) Overlay Zone (or the more restrictive Limited (L) Overlay Zone), or must be at…

Under Simi Valley Development Code § 9-44.060 (Animal Keeping), a maximum of four (4) domestic dogs, cats, and/or Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs (in any combination) may be kept on a…

Simi Valley expressly deleted the Ventura County spay/neuter mandate it otherwise adopted by reference. Section 6-1.201 removes former Section 4421 in its entirety, so the City has no…

Simi Valley prohibits intentionally feeding crows or ravens anywhere in the City. Property owners cannot allow feeding of these birds on their land or the adjoining right-of-way, and…

Wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Simi Valley need a City Conditional Use Permit and can only operate on residential lots in the Limited Farm Animal overlay zone of at least 20,000…

Simi Valley allows beekeeping in the RMod, RM, RL, RVL, RE, and OS zones, with a Zoning Clearance required on lots between 10,000 square feet and three acres outside an animal overlay…

Simi Valley allows small-scale cat breeding, up to four adult cats with two litters a year, in every residential zone with just a Home Occupation Permit for sales. Breeding five or…

Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals need a Conditional Use Permit in most Simi Valley commercial zones and are permitted by right only in the Planned Development Commercial (CPD)…

Pet grooming shops are a permitted use by right in Simi Valley's Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial, and Planned Development Commercial zones under Table 2-5 of the Development Code…

Exotic and wild animal ownership in Simi Valley is regulated by both state law and the municipal code. California Fish and Game Code restricts many species, and Simi Valley may impose…

Simi Valley does not have a breed-specific ban. California Food & Agricultural Code § 31683 prohibits any local dog-control program from being specific as to breed (except for…

Pet stores in unincorporated Ventura County may sell only dogs, cats, or rabbits sourced from a shelter, humane society, or registered nonprofit rescue.

In unincorporated Ventura County's Coastal Zone, the county will not issue the Zoning Clearance that authorizes construction until a bird nesting survey is completed, if the project…

Dogs in unincorporated Ventura County must stay on a leash held by a capable handler on any public street, park, or common area, and off private property without permission.

Simi Valley does not impose a blanket overnight on-street parking ban for ordinary cars, but vehicles must be moved within 72 hours (CVC 22651(k)) and RVs or oversized vehicles cannot…

Simi Valley enforces abandoned vehicle regulations on both public streets and private property. Vehicles that appear inoperable, unregistered, or have been stationary for extended…

Vehicles parked on Simi Valley city streets must be moved every 72 hours or the Police Department may cite or tow them under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k) as authorized by…

Simi Valley fast-tracks electric vehicle charging stations under SVMC Title 8, Chapter 25: a complete permit application gets a decision within seven business days, and installations…

Every new or altered commercial, industrial and restaurant use in Simi Valley must maintain permanent off-street loading spaces sized to Table 3-6. Loading doors cannot face public…

Simi Valley bars parking or storing any vehicle, camper, or vessel on an unpaved surface within a yard or setback area that's visible from the street, alley, or an adjoining property…

Simi Valley marks no-parking and fire-lane zones with red curb paint under SVMC § 4-9.503(j) and (m), and reserves blue curb for disabled placard holders under § 4-9.506(d)…

Simi Valley restricts parking of RVs, boats, and other oversized vehicles or detached trailers on every city street under SVMC Section 4-9.402, with a 48-hour visitor/loading allowance…

Under SVMC 4-9.402, commercial and oversized vehicles longer than 23 feet, wider than 7 feet, or taller than 8 feet may not park on any Simi Valley city street, and commercial vehicles…

California doesn't ban private-property towing, but Vehicle Code Section 22658 controls how it happens. A posted sign at least 17 by 22 inches must warn drivers before a tow company…

California state law permits small family daycare homes (up to 8 children) in residential zones as a matter of right. Simi Valley cannot prohibit small family daycare homes but may…

Every home business in Simi Valley needs a Home Occupation Permit issued by the Director, confined to one room capped at 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area, with no employees…

Simi Valley home businesses cannot see more than one client on-site at a time and cannot generate any vehicular or foot traffic beyond what is normal for the surrounding residential…

Simi Valley bans all signage advertising a home occupation. Under Municipal Code Section 9-44.090(B)(2), a home-based business operating under a Home Occupation Permit may display no…

Cottage food operations in unincorporated Ventura County are regulated by the County Environmental Health Division under California's Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code Sec…

California lets home cooks sell meals from their own kitchen under a microenterprise home kitchen operation (MEHKO) permit, capped at 30 meals a day, 90 a week, and $100,000 in annual…

Simi Valley runs an annual Weed Abatement Program through the Fire Marshal and Code Enforcement that requires property owners to remove weeds, grasses, shrubs, and dead trees from…

Simi Valley supports residential composting consistent with California SB 1383 organic waste diversion requirements. Backyard composting is allowed on residential properties with…

Single-family front yards can be covered up to 100 percent in artificial turf with a Zoning Clearance, provided the turf meets the material standards in the Development Code glossary…

Under Simi Valley Municipal Code Chapter 9-38 (Mature Tree Preservation Ordinance), all mature native oak trees and all historic trees are protected citywide, and all other mature…

Simi Valley's Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 imposes year-round permanent water conservation standards under Ordinance WWD-08 (2009), including watering only before 9:00 a.m…

Ventura County encourages native and pollinator-friendly plants. The 2021 Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance landscaping update promotes native plants supporting bees, butterflies, and…

In the unincorporated coastal zone, no one may remove, alter, or transplant a protected tree without a tree permit. Ventura County Ordinance Code Section 8178-7 applies to every…

Rainwater harvesting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Ventura County. Collecting rooftop rainwater for landscape irrigation needs no state water-right permit under…

Significant portions of Simi Valley are designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by CAL FIRE. Properties in these zones face enhanced building standards, defensible space…

Simi Valley requires property owners to maintain defensible space and clear brush within prescribed distances from structures. The Ventura County Fire Protection District enforces…

Fire pits, fire rings and barbecue grills are allowed only in County-designated areas of Ventura County parks; open ground fires anywhere else in a park are illegal.

Discarding lit tobacco, embers or any burning material anywhere in a Ventura County park except a designated disposal area is banned under the county park safety ordinance.

In unincorporated Ventura County, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are required under the Ventura County Building Code, which adopts California Residential Code §R314 and §R315. When…

California uniformly prohibits possession, sale, and use of dangerous fireworks statewide, while permitting cities to further restrict or ban Safe and Sane fireworks locally.

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.

Simi Valley does not allow chain-link residential fences pursuant to SVMC Section 9-30.030.A.6.e. Other materials (wood, vinyl, masonry block, wrought iron, stucco) are reviewed by the…

Simi Valley lets homeowners build a retaining wall up to four feet tall, measured footing to top, without a building permit under Section 8-5.03(a)(5), unless it holds back a surcharge…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 9-30.050 limits residential fences to roughly 42 inches in the front yard and 6 feet in side and rear yards, measured from the highest adjacent…

Simi Valley requires a Zoning Clearance from the Planning Division before installing, altering, or replacing a property line wall or fence. A Building Permit is generally not required…

California's Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code 841) applies in Simi Valley, requiring adjacent property owners to share equally in the cost of maintaining boundary fences. The city…

When a Simi Valley building permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa, California's Swimming Pool Safety Act requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention safety…

A new pool or spa in Simi Valley requires a Zoning Clearance from the Planning Division to confirm setbacks, followed by a building permit from the Building & Safety Division; both are…

The Simi Valley short-term rental ordinance approved on first reading May 11, 2026 caps overnight occupancy at two adults per bedroom (children are not counted), bans all events and…

On May 11, 2026 the Simi Valley City Council voted 5-0 to give initial approval to a new short-term rental ordinance that requires every operator to obtain an annual city permit…

Unincorporated Ventura County will not issue a homeshare or short-term rental permit unless the owner carries a commercial general liability policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence…

In unincorporated Ventura County, a homeshare rental requires the owner to be physically present; a short-term rental permit is for when the owner is not present.

A short-term rental permit in unincorporated Ventura County lasts one year and can be revoked outright for any violation or noncompliance.

Short-term rental and homeshare owners in unincorporated Ventura County must hold a County business license, pay business taxes, and register for and pay transient occupancy tax.

Short-term rentals and homeshares in unincorporated Ventura County must observe quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. with no outdoor amplified sound.

Homeshares and short-term rentals in unincorporated Ventura County must provide one to three on-site parking spaces based on bedroom count, and any permitted garage or driveway on the…

In unincorporated Ventura County, a rental qualifies as a homeshare only if the dwelling is the primary residence of an owner holding at least a 20 percent interest in the parcel, the…

Simi Valley bars short-term rental of accessory dwelling units. SVMC Section 9-44.160(A)(10) requires that renting an ADU, a Junior ADU, or the primary home (when the owner lives in…

A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit in Simi Valley comes with a recorded owner-occupancy deed restriction. SVMC Section 9-44.160(D)(2) requires the property owner to record a deed…

Simi Valley ministerially allows an attached or detached garage to be converted to an ADU under SVMC 9-44.160(E)(1): no additional setbacks are required when keeping the existing…

Simi Valley permits one ADU plus one JADU per single-family lot ministerially under SVMC 9-44.160, conforming the city to state law (Gov't Code 65852.2 and 65852.22) with 4-ft…

Detached freestanding sheds and similar nonresidential accessory structures must sit at least 20 ft from the front, 3 ft from side and rear lot lines per SVMC 9-30.080 Table 3-2, may…

Simi Valley treats a barking dog that disturbs neighbors between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday, as a public nuisance under…

A business planning permanent amplified music or dancing in Simi Valley needs a Conditional Use Permit if the site sits within 250 feet of a church, hospital, school, or park, or…

Simi Valley's noise curfew runs 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Under Municipal Code § 5-16.02(b), playing a radio…

Simi Valley bars noisy construction, demolition, or building repair work outside 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. under Municipal Code § 5-16.02(i). Work outside those hours is a public nuisance…

Simi Valley makes it a public nuisance to race an engine or bring a vehicle to a sudden, tire-screeching stop that produces unreasonably loud noise, at any hour of the day, under…

Development within Simi Valley's Mixed-Use (MU) Overlay District must meet numeric noise standards under SVMC Section 9-44.105(D)(12): 63 dB Ldn outdoors and 45 dB Ldn indoors…

In unincorporated Ventura County residential zones, running a leaf blower or other loud yard tool that can be heard 50 feet from the property line between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. violates…

Private helicopter pads are banned across the Santa Monica Mountains overlay zone in unincorporated Ventura County, with an exception only for emergency-service agencies.

Closing a Simi Valley street for a block party is a "public assembly" under Municipal Code Chapter 17, and it is unlawful to hold one without a permit approved by the Chief of Police…

Any street fair, carnival, or festival that uses a Simi Valley street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way needs an event permit from the Chief of Police under Municipal Code…

Simi Valley lets restaurants add roofed or unroofed outdoor dining under Section 9-44.115, requiring the area to sit immediately adjacent to the restaurant, keep a 4-foot accessible…

Simi Valley requires a police-issued permit before anyone conducts a parade, athletic event, or public assembly that uses a city street, sidewalk, or parking facility and obstructs…

Simi Valley bars sidewalk vending within 300 feet of any City-permitted special event, and that buffer explicitly reaches filming: the code lists filming alongside farmers' markets…

A parade, run, or other organized event in an unincorporated Ventura County right-of-way needs a permit from the Road Commissioner, notice to nearby owners five business days ahead…

Table 2-3 sets Simi Valley's residential setbacks by zoning district: 50-foot fronts in OS down to 20 feet in RE through RVH, with 6 to 15-foot sides depending on stories and density…

Simi Valley's development code prescribes how the height of structures is measured against the height limits set for each zoning district, and defines the exceptions that may extend…

Simi Valley limits how much of a required yard accessory structures can occupy. SVMC Section 9-44.220(A)(4) caps accessory residential structures at no more than 40 percent cumulative…

California Proposition 64 allows adults 21 and older to cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants per household for personal use. Simi Valley requires cultivation to be indoors and out of…

Simi Valley prohibits commercial cannabis businesses including dispensaries, cultivation facilities, manufacturing, and distribution operations within city limits. The city opted out…

Unincorporated Ventura County keeps commercial cannabis premises at least 1,200 feet from schools, day care centers, youth centers, drug rehabilitation centers, parks, and residential…

Simi Valley regulates any holiday display carrying wording, a logo, or other message as a non-commercial temporary sign under Municipal Code Section 9-37.070. No permit or fee applies…

Simi Valley permits political signs on private property consistent with First Amendment protections and California Elections Code. Political signs may be displayed without a permit but…

Temporary window signs in Simi Valley cannot cover more than 40 percent of the glass surface they are attached to, and no permit is required to post them. Neon window signs are held to…

Electronic changeable copy signs in Simi Valley cannot flash, animate, or change message faster than once every 30 seconds. Signs near residential zones must go dark between 10 p.m…

Garage sales are exempt from a Temporary Use Permit if held no more than once per 180 days for up to three days, but any sign advertising the sale must still follow the Development…

Unincorporated Ventura County bars freestanding off-site advertising billboards inside designated Scenic Corridors or anywhere visible from a Scenic Highway, expressly protecting ocean…

Simi Valley enforces property maintenance standards to prevent blight and maintain neighborhood quality. Properties must be kept free of junk, debris, inoperable vehicles, and…

Simi Valley requires vacant improved properties to be maintained to the same standards as occupied properties, and requires repair, reconstruction, or demolition of damaged buildings…

Simi Valley requires itinerant hawkers, peddlers, solicitors, and merchants to obtain a permit by written application to the Chief of Police, signed under penalty of perjury, before…

Simi Valley bars permitted solicitors and canvassers from knocking between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., and separately makes it unlawful to solicit at any address posting a sign that says no…

Simi Valley prohibits dumping discards, solid waste, or recyclables on the ground, in water, or in any place where they may be exposed to flies, mosquitoes, or rodents, except at an…

Simi Valley requires single-family households to sort yard waste into the green organics container under the City's three-container collection system (SVMC 6-3.14(c)). Sweeping…

Simi Valley bars recyclables collectors from charging owners for picking up recyclable materials and makes it a crime to take recyclables already set out for collection. Only the…

Every single-family household and commercial generator in Simi Valley must participate in the City's three-container system, sorting recyclables into the blue container, organic waste…

Businesses in Simi Valley cannot drop a bin or roll-off box on public property without an encroachment permit, and every business owner must keep an accessible, clean storage area for…

Simi Valley requires every single-family household to sort waste into three carts: green for food scraps and yard waste, blue for recyclables, and gray for trash, under Municipal Code…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 6-3.13 requires households and businesses to prepare discards for pickup exactly as the city directs, kept free of all liquids, and a collector may…

Simi Valley bars residents from putting trash carts at the curb early or leaving them out late: containers may go out no earlier than 4:30 p.m. the day before collection and must come…

Every Simi Valley property owner must arrange discards collection through a city-franchised hauler, not an outside company, under Municipal Code Section 6-3.14(a)-(b). Solid waste must…

Under the County's residential collection agreements, unincorporated Ventura County single-family customers receive free bulky-item pickups each year (the agreements provide up to…

California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) applies to qualifying rental properties in Simi Valley, requiring landlords to have a just cause for eviction and providing relocation…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 5-36.104 sets minimum upkeep standards that apply to anyone owning, renting, or occupying single-family residential property, covering landscaping…

Ventura County's Mobile Home Park Rent Control Ordinance (Division 8, Chapter 10) protects mobile home owners in unincorporated areas from unreasonable rent increases. Annual increases…

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 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…

Simi Valley protects all historic trees, all mature native oak trees, and mature trees tied to development or vacant parcels. Native oaks are limited to Quercus agrifolia…

Simi Valley lets the City Council designate individual trees as "historic" by resolution for their tie to a historic event or person, or for outstanding size, condition, or beauty…

Planting a tree or shrub in a Simi Valley parkway or public place requires a permit from the Director of Public Works, species matched to the official tree list, and compliance with…

Simi Valley's City Council alone designates Cultural Heritage Sites under SVMC Section 2-3.508, acting on recommendations from the Cultural Heritage Board. Once the Council declares a…

Simi Valley bans camping in any public park, street, or public place unless the area is specifically designated or permitted, and restricts camping on private property within 2,000…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 5-44.02 bars leaving any unattended item, including bedding, carts, or belongings, in a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way for more than 10…

Simi Valley requires an encroachment permit from the Director of Public Services before anyone builds, places, or moves anything in a public right-of-way, from curbs and driveways to…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 7-1.106 defines an "encroachment" as any obstruction, pole, fence, structure or object placed on, over, or across a City street or right-of-way, and…

Owners of unincorporated county lots that front or underlie a sidewalk must repair and maintain it themselves and cover all repair costs.

Simi Valley requires a Stormwater Pollution Control Plan for any construction site before a grading, building, or demolition permit issues. Sites of one acre or more must submit a…

Simi Valley bans discharging anything but stormwater into the City's storm drain system, with a narrow list of exempt flows like firefighting water and dechlorinated pool discharge…

New homes in Simi Valley's mapped flood hazard zones must have their lowest floor built at least one foot above the base flood elevation shown on FEMA's flood maps, with different…

Portions of Simi Valley fall within FEMA-designated flood zones, primarily along the Arroyo Simi and its tributaries. Properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas must meet floodplain…

Building or extending any float, bulkhead, seawall, or other structure, or doing any dredging or excavating, in Channel Islands Harbor or the Outer Harbor requires submitted plans and…

Unincorporated Ventura County areas within the California Coastal Zone require Coastal Development Permits under the California Coastal Act. The county administers a Local Coastal…

Simi Valley bans urinating or defecating on any street, sidewalk, parking lot, park or other public area, or anywhere exposed to public view. The only exception is a restroom, portable…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 5-39.03 makes it unlawful to solicit money, goods, or services in an "aggressive manner," inside any bus or at a bus stop, within 15 feet of a bank…

Drinking or holding an open container of any beverage over 0.5% alcohol on a Simi Valley street, sidewalk, alley, or in any public place is unlawful under SVMC § 5-3.01, and the ban…

Riders under 18 must wear a fitted, fastened safety helmet meeting Consumer Product Safety Commission bicycle-helmet standards while skateboarding, rollerblading, rollerskating or…

Simi Valley bans loud parties with bands, radios or amplified sound after 11 p.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. on weeknights under Municipal Code Section 5-33.02, and Section 5-33.06 makes…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 5-41.05 makes it unlawful to smoke, vaporize, or ingest cannabis or medicinal cannabis in any public place inside the city. The ordinance is…

Smoking and vaping are banned in unincorporated Ventura County's parks, dining patios, entryways, service areas and other public places under the county's Comprehensive Smoke-Free…

Minors under 18 may not loiter in public places between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in unincorporated Ventura County unless with a parent or adult spouse.

Simi Valley expressly forbids running an auto repair, reconditioning, or engine-servicing business from a residence. SVMC Section 9-44.090(C)(1) lists motor vehicle and engine repair…

Sexually oriented businesses may only operate inside Simi Valley's Sexually Oriented Business Overlay Zone, and even there must sit at least 500 feet from any other such business and…

Pawnbrokers in Simi Valley must hold a Chief of Police-issued license before loaning against or buying personal property, and must file a daily report of every transaction by 2 p.m…

Secondhand dealers need a Chief of Police license before buying or reselling used goods in Simi Valley, must post a visible sign naming the business as a secondhand dealer, and file…

Every massage practitioner working in Simi Valley must hold a current CAMTC certificate, and massage establishments need a City permit good for two years. Massage may not be performed…

Tattoo and body-art operators in unincorporated Ventura County must hold a permit or registration from the county's Environmental Health Division before working.

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…

No one may vend from a sidewalk cart anywhere in Simi Valley without a Police Department-issued sidewalk vending permit. The permit sets cart size, hours, placement distances from…

Mobile food vending in Simi Valley is limited to specific commercial and industrial zoning districts under Municipal Code Section 9-52.080(I)(9)(b): CPD, CN, CO, CR, AI, LI, GI, CI…

Operating a food truck on private property in Simi Valley requires a Temporary Use Permit good for up to 12 months under Municipal Code Section 9-52.080(I)(9). Vendors also need a…

Simi Valley's Building Security Code requires every non-residential elevator car to carry a mirror or reflective material when the interior isn't fully visible from outside, an…

Simi Valley enforces the 2022 California Green Building Standards Code, Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, as its Green Building Code without any local…

Simi Valley's Security Standards for Buildings require every dwelling's exterior door to carry a single-cylinder deadbolt with a one-inch bolt projection and five-pin cylinder…

Simi Valley enforces the 2022 California Plumbing Code as its primary plumbing code, requiring a permit for plumbing work except narrow repair categories like clearing a stoppage or…

A child day care center, as opposed to a small family day care home, needs a Conditional Use Permit in Simi Valley's RM, RMod, and RH residential zones under Table 2-2 of the…

Simi Valley requires a separate permit from the Building Official before erecting, altering, moving, or demolishing any building, structure, or building service equipment, but exempts…

Commercial and industrial structures in Simi Valley that exceed 48 feet or three stories in the CO, CPD, GI, LI, or CI zones must install a Fire Department communication system and an…

Simi Valley requires permitted construction to stay exposed for inspection at each stage, from foundation and framing through final approval, and the Building Official can charge a…

Simi Valley enforces the 2022 California Electrical Code as its primary electrical code and requires a permit for most wiring work, exempting only narrow categories like plug-in…

A sidewalk food vendor applying for a City permit must submit proof of a completed food handler course certificate along with a valid Ventura County Health Department permit before the…

Unincorporated Ventura County property owners may not store or maintain solid waste in a way that harbors or breeds rats and other rodents.

Simi Valley's drought conservation rules exempt recycled water from almost every restriction they impose on potable water. Municipal Code Section 6-11.103(c) frees recycled-water users…

Simi Valley's Development Code applies to all land uses regardless of any private HOA restriction, but the city will not enforce a homeowners association's CC&Rs, regulations, or…

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's Davis-Stirling Act gives every HOA member the right to inspect and copy association records under Civil Code § 5205. Boards must produce current-year records within 10…

California voids any HOA governing-document clause that effectively bans or unreasonably restricts a clothesline or drying rack in an owner's exclusive-use backyard. Civil Code Section…

Civil Code section 4735 voids any HOA rule that bans low-water plants, turf replacement, or artificial turf, and bars fines for cutting back watering during a declared drought…

Civil Code § 4745 voids any HOA covenant or governing-document rule that prohibits or unreasonably restricts installing an EV charging station in an owner's unit or designated parking…

Civil Code § 4705 bars every California homeowners association from limiting a member's display of the United States flag on their own lot or within their exclusive-use common area…

California law caps homeowners association fines at $100 per violation or the amount listed in the association's published penalty schedule, whichever is less. Civil Code section 5850…

A California homeowners association cannot foreclose on a member’s home over unpaid dues until the delinquent assessments alone reach $1,800, or until the assessments secured by the…

Civil Code § 4741 bars every California homeowners association from adopting or enforcing a rule that prohibits, or unreasonably restricts, renting out a separate interest, and sets a…

Shooting a commercial motion picture, TV production, or still photography on public or private property in Simi Valley requires a location filming permit under Municipal Code §…

Simi Valley requires a location filming permit from the City Manager's office for any motion picture, television, or commercial still photography on public or private property, but…

A Ventura County film permit is denied if the shoot's noise exceeds what's normal for the area, unless the noise source, like gunfire or aircraft, sits over 2,000 feet from the nearest…

A Ventura County film shoot can't block a public or private road for more than three minutes under a standard ministerial permit: longer closures need neighbor waivers or a…

Every business operating in Simi Valley pays an annual business tax under SVMC § 3-1.201, either the flat rate the City Council sets by resolution or, if eligible, by electing to have…

Minors under 18 may not be in any public place or business establishment in Simi Valley between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Parents who knowingly allow it face a misdemeanor and can be…

Simi Valley Recreation and Park District facilities close to loitering and overnight vehicles between 10:00 p.m. and dawn under the city's park conduct ordinance. School grounds carry…

Simi Valley charges a 10 percent transient occupancy tax on rent for any hotel stay of 30 consecutive days or less under SVMC § 3-5.303, and the code's broad 'hotel' definition in §…

Simi Valley requires cyclists to ride within a marked bicycle lane on any roadway that has one, and bars riding a roadway paralleled by a bike path within 75 feet, under SVMC § 4-3.17…

A low-speed vehicle in California may not be driven on any roadway with a speed limit above 35 miles per hour. Vehicle Code section 21260 permits it to cross a faster road only where…

Every light fixture in Simi Valley, residential or commercial, must be aimed away from neighboring property under Development Code Section 9-30.040(A), with no glare crossing onto…

Simi Valley requires cutoff, shielded fixtures for any outdoor lighting plan tied to new parking or building construction. Development Code Section 9-30.040(C) caps fixture height at…

Simi Valley treats loud amplified sound and live music near homes as a public nuisance. Venues near residential neighbors must stop amplified music by 11:00 p.m. on weekends and 10:00…

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 5-16.02(d) bars running a portable generator, motor or engine outdoors between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weeknights…

In Simi Valley's Mixed-Use Overlay District, SVMC Section 9-44.105(I)(2)(l) requires all roof-mounted equipment to be screened and calls for special attention to noise-generating units…

Simi Valley grants a density bonus to any Housing Development that sets aside affordable units, starting at a 20% unit increase for a 5% very low-income or 10% low-income set-aside, up…

Simi Valley must administratively approve a small residential rooftop solar system, up to 10 kW AC or 30 kW thermal on a single or duplex home, once the Building Official confirms the…

California's Solar Rights Act (Civil Code 714) protects homeowners in Ventura County from HOA restrictions that effectively prohibit solar panel installation. HOAs cannot increase…

California's Solar Rights Act and the SolarAPP+ mandate (SB 379) require expedited permit review of small residential solar systems, preempting restrictive local processes.

Card rooms are flatly illegal in Simi Valley. Municipal Code Section 5-6.02 makes it unlawful to keep, conduct, or maintain any card room, or to knowingly let a building or room you…

California Penal Code § 326.5 lets only tax-exempt nonprofits, mobilehome park associations, senior groups, and school-affiliated charities run bingo, and only under a local city or…

California law exempts private home card games from gambling regulation entirely. Penal Code § 337j(e)(2)(D) excludes any card game played in a private home or residence from the…

California has no legal sports betting, in stores or online. Penal Code section 337a criminalizes bookmaking, pool-selling, and placing or accepting any bet on the result of a sporting…

Simi Valley exempts holiday yard decorations from the Temporary Use Permit process under Municipal Code Section 9-52.080(C)(4), so lawn ornaments, inflatables, and seasonal displays…

Simi Valley allows a garage or yard sale without a Temporary Use Permit only if it runs no more than three days and does not repeat more than once every 180 days. SVMC Section…

Ventura County caps stationary-source noise at a noise-sensitive use at 55 dBA Leq daytime, 50 dBA evening, and 45 dBA at night, or ambient plus 3 dBA if higher. Data-center cooling…

Ventura County has no data-center-specific ordinance. A data center belongs in the industrial zones, M-1 Industrial Park, M-2 Limited Industrial, or M-3 General Industrial, and needs a…

Under Ventura County Ordinance Code § 6834, no person or flavored vaping products retailer, including their agents and employees, may sell, exchange, offer for sale or exchange, or…

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…

County code shields properly run commercial farms in unincorporated Ventura County from nuisance lawsuits over normal farming activity.

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…

In the county's Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors overlay zone, intentionally planting invasive plant species is prohibited unless the plants are a commercial agricultural…

Ventura County's Coastal Zoning Ordinance bars new plantings of invasive trees, including tree-of-heaven, anywhere in the unincorporated coastal zone, per Appendix T1's tree list and…

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 6307-9 makes it illegal to operate any model aircraft or drone in any County Park, with an exception only for County Parks operated by a lessee. The…

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…

Sobriety checkpoints are lawful in California and stopping at one is a statutory obligation, not a courtesy. Vehicle Code § 2814.2(a) requires a driver to stop and submit to a sobriety…

California is one of the few states that answers this by statute rather than by case law alone. Penal Code § 148(g) says that photographing or making an audio or video recording of a…

California has no general stop-and-identify statute. The old Penal Code § 647(e), which required a person lawfully detained to give "credible and reliable" identification, was held…

California has no statute that requires you to consent to a search of your car, and none that requires an officer to warn you that you may refuse. What the Legislature and the voters…

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 works from a closed list: Vehicle Code section 24003 says no vehicle may carry any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted by the code, so an accessory light…

California measures dash cam placement in square inches. Vehicle Code section 26708(b)(13) lets a video event recorder occupy a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield…

Lane splitting is lawful in California. Vehicle Code section 21658.1, added by AB 51 in 2016, defines it as driving a motorcycle with two wheels in contact with the ground between rows…

California does not let you put a cover over your license plate. Vehicle Code section 5201(c) allows exactly two things: a full car cover on a lawfully parked vehicle, and a license…

No section of the California Vehicle Code makes it an offense for a private motorist to own, carry or use a radar detector. The prohibition in Vehicle Code section 28150 reaches only…

California permits metal studded tires only between November 1 and April 30, and only where the studs are tungsten carbide or another suitable material and the metal touching the road…

California never publishes a "legal VLT" for front side windows because it does not permit aftermarket darkening there at all. Vehicle Code section 26708(d) allows only clear…