Pop. 10,739 · Sonoma County
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.56 defines daytime as 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu and 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fri-Sat; nighttime is quiet hours with stricter dBA limits enforced at the…
Sonoma Municipal Code 9.56.050 allows residential power equipment (including construction tools) Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Sunday/holidays…
Continuous and unprovoked barking is regulated under SMC 9.56.030 (loud/unusual noise prohibited) and enforced by Sonoma Police, who refer animal-related complaints to Sonoma County…
Gas-powered leaf blowers have been banned within Sonoma city limits since December 22, 2016. Electric and battery leaf blowers are permitted only Monday-Saturday (excluding holidays)…
Amplified sound directed toward a public right-of-way from a business is prohibited under SMC Chapter 9.56; outdoor amplified music at events requires a zoning/special-event permit…
The City of Sonoma does not regulate aircraft noise. Aircraft operations and noise emissions are exclusively governed by federal law under FAA jurisdiction, and the nearest airport…
Sonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.040 sets dBA limits measured at the receiving property line, distinguishing constant from intermittent noise. Commercial property limits are 65 dBA…
On-road motor vehicle noise is regulated by the California Vehicle Code, not Sonoma Municipal Code. CVC § 27150 requires an adequate muffler at all times and § 27151 prohibits exhaust…
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.56 prohibits aiming amplified, transmitted, or recorded sound at the public right-of-way from a business and subjects all outdoor music to the dBA…
Sonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.040 caps noise on commercial property at 65 dBA intermittent and 55 dBA constant, measured at the property line, unless a use permit authorizes a higher…
Sonoma's 2017 vacation-rental ordinance limits overnight occupancy to a maximum of two persons per sleeping room plus two additional persons per unit, with no exceptions for children.
Under Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110 (adopted by Ordinance 12-2017 on Dec. 4, 2017), new vacation rentals are not allowed in any residential, mixed-use, or commercial zone of the…
Even grandfathered Sonoma vacation rentals must hold a current City business license (SMC § 19.50.110(A)(7)) and a Transient Occupancy Tax registration under SMC 3.16.060. Every online…
Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110(A)(5) does NOT require the host to be physically present at the property during a guest stay. Instead, every grandfathered vacation rental must have a…
Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110 does not impose a primary-residence requirement on the grandfathered pool of vacation rentals because new applications are flatly prohibited. The…
The City of Sonoma did NOT adopt a hosted-rental or 'home share' carve-out when it passed Ordinance 12-2017. Any rental of 29 consecutive days or less falls within the definition of a…
Vacation rental operators inside Sonoma city limits collect a 13% Transient Occupancy Tax (Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 3.16) plus a 2% Sonoma Valley Tourism Improvement District…
The City of Sonoma's vacation-rental ordinance (SMC §19.50.140) does not require operators to carry a minimum liability-insurance policy; California state law similarly does not impose…
Sonoma's vacation-rental ordinance does not impose an annual rental-night cap, but the City has prohibited issuance of new vacation-rental permits since December 4, 2017, effectively…
Permitted Sonoma vacation rentals are subject to a flat prohibition on outdoor amplified sound and must designate a property manager with City-on-file contact information who responds…
Sonoma vacation rentals must accommodate guest parking on-site under the conditions of their original use permit and the City's underlying off-street parking standards (SMC Ch. 19.48)…
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…
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 10.73 declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on public or private property a public nuisance and authorizes removal after notice…
California Vehicle Code §22507.5 lets Sonoma restrict commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR from parking in residential districts; Sonoma enforces a citywide 72-hour on-street limit…
Sonoma does not impose a blanket overnight on-street parking ban, but SMC 10.48.050 prohibits using city streets to store vehicles, and CVC 22651(k) authorizes removal of any vehicle…
Sonoma Municipal Code 10.48.040 caps any on-street parking at 72 consecutive hours, and SMC 19.40.110 bars front and street-side setbacks from being used to store inoperable vehicles…
Sonoma requires all driveways and parking pads to be hard-surfaced and set back from the street, and prohibits parking within the minimum required width of any driveway or private road…
On-street parking in Sonoma is governed by SMC Chapter 10.48 (Stopping, Standing and Parking), which prohibits use of city streets as long-term vehicle storage and authorizes posted…
Sonoma adopted an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations under SMC Chapter 14.29, with most residential EVCS permits issued in 1–3 business…
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…
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…
Backyard beekeeping is permitted in the City of Sonoma. A typical single-family home may maintain up to 2 hives, with up to 4 hives allowed on larger parcels, subject to screening…
California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts breed-specific bans, but Sonoma County requires mandatory spay/neuter of all pit bulls over four months old under Chapter 5, Article…
The City of Sonoma has no city-specific wildlife-feeding ordinance, but state law applies: under 14 CCR §251.1, feeding wild birds and mammals can constitute illegal 'harassment' of…
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 8.06 prohibits dogs from being at large on any public street or place; dogs must be restrained by a leash no longer than six feet, with exceptions for…
The City of Sonoma regulates keeping of livestock, fowl and other animals under Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 8.08. Chickens and small fowl are allowed in residential zones subject to…
Keeping exotic or wild animals in the City of Sonoma is prohibited without proof of proper state approvals under Sonoma Municipal Code §8.06.120. The municipal code adopts the…
The City of Sonoma does not impose a numeric cap on the number of pets per household, but animal hoarding is prosecuted under California Penal Code §597 (cruelty) and §597.1 (neglect)…
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…
In unincorporated Sonoma County, no permit is required to keep up to four dogs and/or four cats on a property. Keeping five or more typically requires a license or use permit. Five to…
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…
Recreational fires and fire pits are allowed inside the City of Sonoma under the California Fire Code as adopted by the Sonoma Valley Fire District, but only natural gas/propane fire…
The City of Sonoma prohibits the sale, possession, use, or discharge of any fireworks – including 'Safe and Sane' fireworks and sparklers – inside city limits. Cloverdale is the only…
Open burning of yard waste, brush, leaves, or trash is prohibited inside the City of Sonoma. The city is a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) where Bay Area Air Quality Management…
Property owners in the City of Sonoma must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures per California Public Resources Code §4291 (in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones)…
The City of Sonoma adopted CAL FIRE's updated Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map on May 7, 2025, designating portions of the city as Moderate, High, and…
Residential propane (LP-gas) storage in Sonoma is governed by Chapter 61 of the California Fire Code (2022) and NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code). Containers up to 125 gallons…
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…
Backyard burning of vegetation in unincorporated Sonoma County is allowed only with a valid Permit Sonoma burn permit on a permissive burn day, with piles capped at 4 feet, a 10-foot…
Per SMC 19.46.030, fences in front and street-side setbacks are limited to 3.5 feet; rear and interior side yards generally allow up to 7 feet (8 feet with the top foot at least 40%…
Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 19.46 regulates fence materials, including special wall and fencing guidelines (SMC 19.46.070) and material restrictions (SMC 19.46.080). Solid wood, masonry…
California's Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civ. Code §841) presumes adjoining owners share equally in the reasonable cost of a boundary fence and requires 30 days' written notice before…
Per SMC 19.46.040, retaining walls in Sonoma may not exceed 6 feet measured from finished grade at the base of the wall. Walls over 4 feet of unbalanced fill (measured from bottom of…
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929) controls pool barriers in Sonoma. Enclosures must be at least 60 inches tall with…
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…
Under the 2025 objective standards, residential and K-district fences in unincorporated Sonoma County must use allowed materials such as wood, naturalistic composite wood…
Many fences in unincorporated Sonoma County need no permit, but a building permit is required for solid wood/concrete/metal/masonry fences over 7 feet and for any fence over 10 feet…
Sonoma requires a building permit for any new in-ground or above-ground pool, spa, or hot tub holding water deeper than 18 inches, with plans reviewed by Permit Sonoma against the…
New and remodeled pools/spas at Sonoma single-family homes must have at least two of seven independent drowning-prevention features under California HSC §115922, plus dual…
Hot tubs and spas in Sonoma are treated as swimming pools when their water depth exceeds 18 inches, but a locking safety cover meeting ASTM ES 13-89 can exempt a spa from the full HSC…
Pool enclosures in Sonoma must be at least 60 inches high with self-closing/self-latching gates opening away from the pool, no more than a 2-inch ground gap and no openings that pass a…
Above-ground pools holding water over 18 inches deep are regulated identically to in-ground pools in Sonoma - building permit, 5-foot side/rear setback under SMC 19.40.110, and the HSC…
Within the Sonoma Valley Fire District jurisdiction (which includes the City of Sonoma), annual grasses must be cut to a maximum of 4 inches and maintained as defensible space out to…
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 14.32 implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) for new and rehabilitated landscapes, with most provisions triggered at…
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 (Tree Ordinance) regulates pruning, alteration, and removal of public and 'significant' trees in the City of Sonoma. Pruning of public trees and any…
Combustible weeds, brush, and dry vegetation are declared a public nuisance under the City's adoption of the California Fire Code via SMC § 14.10.045, enforced by the Sonoma Valley…
The City does not mandate native plants by species list, but SMC § 19.40.060 (Landscape standards) and SMC Ch. 14.32 require drought-tolerant plantings in conformance with the city's…
California law expressly permits residential rainwater harvesting from rooftops under the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Cal. Water Code § 10574), and no water-right permit is…
The City of Sonoma has no ordinance prohibiting residential artificial turf, and California Civil Code § 4735 forbids homeowners associations from banning synthetic grass on a member's…
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…
Unincorporated Sonoma County requires a permit to remove most protected native trees 6 inches in diameter or larger. A ministerial zoning permit covers smaller trees; a discretionary…
All ADUs and JADUs require a building permit from the City of Sonoma Planning and Community Services Department, processed ministerially under state law (Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2(b))…
JADUs require owner-occupancy of the parcel (either the main house or the JADU). New ADUs permitted on or after January 1, 2020 are exempt from owner-occupancy per Cal. Gov. Code…
Sonoma allows ADUs and JADUs in all residential zones (R-HS, R-R, R-L, R-S, R-M, R-H, R-O, R-P) under SMC Chapter 19.45, consistent with Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2. Detached ADUs are…
Sonoma prohibits renting any ADU or JADU for terms shorter than 30 days (no short-term/vacation rentals). Properties with an attached JADU are categorically ineligible for vacation…
Per Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2(f) and 66311.5, ADUs under 750 sq ft pay NO impact fees in Sonoma. ADUs 750 sq ft or larger pay impact fees proportionate to the ratio of ADU square footage…
Detached storage sheds 120 sq ft or smaller and not over 8 ft tall may sit at the side or rear property line without a building permit; anything larger triggers SMC 19.50.080 standards…
Carports are listed accessory uses under SMC 19.50.080; detached carports must follow the 15-ft height cap and are barred from front and street-side setbacks, while attached carports…
The City permits converting an existing garage into an ADU under SMC 19.45.040 with no replacement parking required; state law (Gov. Code §66323) and the City waive parking when the…
The City of Sonoma has not adopted the County's movable-tiny-home (THOW) program — within city limits a tiny home is only legal as a permanent-foundation ADU built to the California…
Sonoma Municipal Code §19.50.040 allows home occupations only with an Administrative Permit (or, for higher-impact uses, a Conditional Use Permit) plus a City business license, and…
California Health & Safety Code §1597.45 makes small (≤8 children) and large (≤14 children) family daycare homes a residential use by right in all residential zones and prohibits the…
Under SMC §19.50.040, a home occupation in the City of Sonoma may not display window signs, advertising signs, merchandise, products, or stock in trade visible from the exterior; the…
SMC §19.50.040 requires that home occupations not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic, deliveries, or parking demand substantially greater than normal residential uses, and…
California's Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, codified at Health & Safety Code §§113758, 114365) authorizes home production of non-potentially-hazardous foods; Sonoma County Department of…
Since Ordinance No. 6363 (2021), unincorporated Sonoma County no longer requires a zoning permit for a qualifying home occupation under Zoning Code Section 26-88-121. Operators must…
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 requires a written permit from the City before altering, removing, or relocating any 'significant tree' on private or public property.
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.09 designates 'heritage trees' — those with historical significance, mutual dependence, outstanding specimen status, or ≥50 inches diameter at 24…
When a significant tree is approved for removal, SMC §12.08.065 requires replacement; the City may accept an in-lieu payment of $100.00 per 15-gallon replacement tree, with funds…
Only the Public Works Director or an authorized representative may plant, prune, or trim trees in Sonoma's public rights-of-way without a written permit; residents must apply first…
Sonoma does not single out species by name; instead Chapter 12.08 protects all trees that meet the 'significant tree' definition in §12.08.020 — which captures many oaks, elms, maples…
Sonoma participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and regulates development in FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas through Chapter 14.25 of the Municipal Code.
A grading permit is required for excavation, grading, and fill in Sonoma, with engineered plans, bonds, and inspections governed by Chapter 14.20 of the Municipal Code.
Sonoma operates under a State NPDES Phase II MS4 permit and bans non-stormwater discharges into the city's storm drains, which flow untreated to Nathanson, Sonoma, and Fryer Creeks.
Every grading permit application in Sonoma must include an erosion and sediment control plan, and engineered or sensitive-area projects require certification by a Certified Erosion…
No local coastal development ordinance — the City of Sonoma is inland in the Sonoma Valley and lies entirely outside the California Coastal Zone, so the Coastal Act does not apply.
Dumping waste on public or private property in Sonoma is prosecuted under California Penal Code §374.3 with mandatory fines starting at $250 and rising to $10,000 for…
SMC 7.08.060 governs the location of solid-waste and source-separated containers; carts should be at the curb the night before pickup and may not be stored in view of the public street…
Solid waste collection in the City of Sonoma is provided exclusively by the franchised hauler (Sonoma Garbage Collectors) under SMC Chapter 7.08; every occupied premises must subscribe…
Sonoma Garbage Collectors holds two free Spring/Fall cleanups (April and October) where SGC residential customers may set out one large item under 75 lbs plus up to ten bags; on-demand…
SMC Chapter 7.10 implements California SB 1383 (2016) and requires every residential and commercial generator in Sonoma to subscribe to recycling service and source-separate…
Sonoma supplies every residence with a 96-gallon green organics cart for grass, leaves, hedge clippings, branches, and untreated lumber; yard waste must go in the green cart under SMC…
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…
Sonoma Municipal Code §5.08.201.4 prohibits placing any garage, yard or patio sale sign, billboard, placard or other advertisement on any public property within the City, and also…
Political signs in the City of Sonoma are regulated under Sonoma Municipal Code (SMC) §18.12.090(L) and may not be posted on public property under SMC §18.28.036. California Penal Code…
The City of Sonoma does not impose a specific ordinance limiting residential holiday displays. Outdoor decorations are generally treated as accessory to a residence and not as…
Commercial drone operators in Sonoma must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, register each aircraft, and follow the city's July 2025 drone ordinance, which adds local…
The City of Sonoma adopted a new drone ordinance in July 2025 setting local time-place-manner rules for unmanned aircraft. Recreational operators must also register with the FAA, pass…
Drones are not allowed in Sonoma County Regional Parks (which manages Plaza Park and Depot Park in the City of Sonoma), and SMC Ch. 9.12 prohibits activities in city parks that…
Mobile food vendors in Sonoma may operate on private property with the owner's consent and in compliance with zoning, and on public sidewalks subject to the state Safe Sidewalk Vending…
Operating a food truck or mobile food facility in the City of Sonoma requires a Sonoma County Environmental Health Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit under the California Retail Food…
Sidewalk vending is legal statewide under the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946, Cal. Gov. Code §§51036–51039). California cities may not ban sidewalk vending outright; the City of…
Door-to-door commercial solicitors and peddlers in the City of Sonoma must hold a City business license under SMC Title 5 (§5.04). Non-commercial canvassing (political, religious…
The City of Sonoma does not operate a centralized 'no-knock' registry, but a clearly posted 'No Solicitors' or 'No Trespassing' sign at the entrance of private property creates a…
The City of Sonoma does not have a stand-alone juvenile curfew ordinance in its municipal code. Minors are still subject to California Education Code §48264 (daytime loitering /…
Public parks in the City of Sonoma have set operating hours under Sonoma Municipal Code §9.12.050. Plaza Park and Depot Park are operated by Sonoma County Regional Parks and follow…
The City of Sonoma has no cryptocurrency-mining ordinance. A commercial mining operation meets the same barrier a data center does: the city has no industrial zoning district, and uses…
Sonoma Municipal Code 9.56.040 caps constant noise - the kind data-center cooling makes - at 55 dBA on commercial property, and 50 dBA daytime and 40 dBA nighttime on residential…
The City of Sonoma has no industrial zoning district and no data-center use category. Its zones are residential, commercial, mixed use, agriculture, park, public facilities, and wine…
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…
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 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…
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…
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 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…