South Dos Palos, CA

In unincorporated Merced County, Section 10.60.040 of the County Code bars operating construction, drilling, earthmoving, excavating, or demolition equipment between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, and at any time on weekends and legal holidays, when the noise crosses a residential property line.

Unincorporated Merced County regulates nighttime noise through Chapter 10.60 of the County Code. The nighttime period runs from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., when sound that exceeds the background level by more than 5 dBA across a residential property line is prohibited and several activities, including loud devices and construction, are restricted.

Merced County Code Section 10.60.040 makes it unlawful to own, possess, or harbor any animal or bird that, frequently or for a continued duration, generates sounds that create a noise disturbance across a residential property line in unincorporated areas. There is no fixed time limit, but persistent barking can be cited.

Unincorporated Merced County does not ban leaf blowers, but Section 10.60.030 of the County Code limits domestic power tools, lawn mowers, and similar equipment to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, provided they stay under 85 dBA at the residential property line.

Merced County Code Section 10.60.040 prohibits operating any stereo, radio, television, phonograph, or similar device that amplifies sound so as to create a noise disturbance for anyone other than the operator. Loudspeakers and PA systems are separately barred from disturbing residences between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Merced County Code Section 10.60.040 prohibits operating off-highway vehicles on private property when the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential property line. On public roads, vehicle muffler and exhaust noise is controlled by the California Vehicle Code, which the County Sheriff and CHP enforce.

Merced County Code Section 10.60.030 sets exterior noise standards measured at the receiving property line: residential properties are limited to 65 dBA Ldn and 75 dBA Lmax, and nonresidential properties to 70 dBA Ldn and 80 dBA Lmax. Sound exceeding the background level by 10 dBA (day) or 5 dBA (night) is also a violation.

Outdoor music in unincorporated Merced County is limited by Section 10.60.040, which bars loudspeakers and PA systems from disturbing residences between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and prohibits amplified devices from disturbing others at any hour. School, park, and county-approved events are exempt under Section 10.60.050.

Industrial and commercial noise in unincorporated Merced County is limited by Section 10.60.030 to 70 dBA Ldn and 80 dBA Lmax at nonresidential property lines, and 65 dBA Ldn / 75 dBA Lmax where adjacent to residential uses. New projects must meet these performance standards under the County's land use review.

Aircraft noise in unincorporated Merced County comes mainly from five public airports, including Castle Airport (the former Castle Air Force Base) near Atwater. Flight-noise itself is regulated by the FAA, while the County manages compatibility through Airport Land Use planning rather than the general noise ordinance.

In unincorporated Merced County, a short-term rental is a listed land use that requires approval of an Administrative Permit (Chapter 18.114). STRs are allowed in agricultural, residential, and commercial zones, subject to the standards in Zoning Code Section 18.60.270.

Operators must register with Merced County for a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate within 30 days of starting business, in addition to obtaining the zoning Administrative Permit. The certificate must be posted on the premises.

Merced County's short-term rental standards (Section 18.60.270) cap a short-term rental at no more than five guest bedrooms used for transient occupancy at any one time, which functionally limits the number of overnight guests.

Short-term rentals must provide adequate off-street guest parking. Merced County's short-term rental standards require off-street parking, and the County's off-street parking design standards (Chapter 18.38) govern the number and layout of required spaces.

Short-term rentals must comply with the County's performance standards for noise in Zoning Code Section 18.40.050, and a 24-hour local contact must be available to respond to guest noise and nuisance complaints.

Merced County requires a designated local contact person available 24 hours a day to respond to problems and emergencies at a short-term rental. In residential zones the rental must be the owner's primary residence, reinforcing host accountability.

In residential zones, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence. In commercial zones, an STR is allowed only on a lot already developed with an existing single-family dwelling. The County does not permit conversion of pure investment properties without these conditions.

Merced County's published short-term rental standards do not impose an annual night cap or a fixed maximum number of rented nights per year. Each rental period must be 30 days or less to qualify as a short-term rental, and stays over 30 days fall outside the short-term/TOT framework.

Merced County's published short-term rental standards do not state a specific liability-insurance dollar requirement. Hosts are subject to general permit conditions and TOT obligations; the County may add insurance-related conditions through the Administrative Permit on a case-by-case basis.

Unincorporated Merced County imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10% of the rent on stays of 30 days or less. Operators collect it from guests and remit quarterly. An Administrative Permit application fee also applies.

Merced County does not publish a separate smoke-alarm ordinance for unincorporated areas; the requirement comes from California law. Health & Safety Code Section 13113.7 requires State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms in every dwelling unit, and carbon monoxide alarms are required in homes with fossil-fuel appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.

Open outdoor burning in unincorporated Merced County requires a permit from the county fire chief (Merced County Code Section 9.24.160) and a permit from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Agricultural burning is regulated under Chapter 9.20. Residential trash burning on the valley floor is effectively prohibited; burning is allowed only on declared 'burn days.'

Merced County Code Chapter 9.25 (Fire Hazard Abatement) makes every property owner in the unincorporated county responsible for removing dry grass, brush, weeds, and combustible debris that create a fire hazard. The county fire chief's designee enforces it, and uncorrected hazards bring escalating daily fines.

Recreational backyard fires at a home are allowed in unincorporated Merced County under the 'dooryard premises' exemption in Merced County Code Section 9.24.160-no burn permit needed. Open burning of brush or trash does require a permit. Fires must be attended by an adult and fully extinguished (Section 9.24.200).

Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Merced County is governed by the 2022 California Fire Code, adopted in Merced County Code Section 9.24.010, rather than a separate county ordinance. The Fire Code sets container limits, clearances, and permit thresholds for larger installations; small residential cylinders for grills are generally exempt.

Most of unincorporated Merced County is valley-floor agricultural land with limited wildfire exposure, but grassland in the eastern foothills toward the Mariposa line carries higher risk. CAL FIRE maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones; parcels in a State Responsibility Area must keep 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources Code 4291.

Merced County Code Section 9.24.160 prohibits building or maintaining outdoor fires without a permit from the county fire chief, but exempts heating and cooking appliances at dwellings ('dooryard premises') and established campsites. Recreational fire pits at homes are generally allowed; any outdoor fire must be attended and fully extinguished.

Unincorporated Merced County permits state-approved 'safe and sane' fireworks. Merced County Code Chapter 9.26 allows their sale and discharge only during a defined window around the Fourth of July. 'Dangerous' fireworks (rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, aerial shells) are illegal. Retail sales require a temporary-stand permit on commercial or industrial property.

Unincorporated Merced County has no general countywide overnight on-street parking ban. Overnight parking is restricted only where the Road Commissioner has posted signs. California has no statewide overnight ban, but vehicles left on a highway for 72 or more hours may be cited and removed under Vehicle Code Section 22651(k).

Merced County Code Section 11.12.040 prohibits parking or leaving standing any commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more on a street in a residential district. Pickups, deliveries, and permitted-construction material delivery are exempt. The rule is adopted under California Vehicle Code Section 22507.5.

Merced County Code Chapter 9.14 regulates abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles. A vehicle in that condition for more than 10 days is a public nuisance subject to abatement and removal. The Sheriff conducts hearings, and the County may recover removal and administrative costs, under authority of California Vehicle Code Section 22660.

Merced County's Unified Development Ordinance sets driveway and parking-surface standards. Under Section 18.38.140, required parking, maneuvering areas, and driveways in urban areas must be paved with asphalt or concrete, while agricultural-area surfaces are matched to vehicle, soil, and surrounding-use conditions. Drainage must also be provided on site.

Merced County's Unified Development Ordinance requires electric and alternative-fuel vehicle parking in new development. Under Section 18.38.150 and Table 3-11, the number of EV spaces scales with total parking provided, from one space at 10-25 spaces up to at least eight percent of spaces in lots over 200. EV areas must be well located and lit.

Merced County does not have a single weight- or length-based oversized-vehicle street ordinance. Heavy commercial vehicles of 10,000 pounds GVWR or more are barred from residential-district streets under Section 11.12.040, recreational vehicles are governed by zoning Section 18.38.120, and other oversized parking issues fall under posted signs and the California Vehicle Code.

Merced County's Unified Development Ordinance requires off-street loading for commercial, mixed-use, and industrial uses. Under Section 18.38.210, such facilities must provide sufficient on-site maneuvering and loading areas per Table 3-14. Where a parcel abuts an alley, loading spaces must adjoin or be accessed directly from the alley.

Merced County does not have its own curb-color ordinance; painted curbs in the unincorporated county follow California Vehicle Code Section 21458. Red means no stopping or parking, yellow is for loading freight or passengers, white is brief passenger loading, green is time-limited parking, and blue is reserved for disabled-person vehicles. Only authorized agencies may paint curbs.

In unincorporated Merced County, recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers may be stored only on property where the owner resides. Storage is allowed on a paved, graveled, or approved-surface driveway, with the front setback used only when no rear or side setback access exists, and units kept at least three feet from property lines.

Parking on county-maintained roads in unincorporated Merced County is governed by Chapter 11.12 of the County Code. It is unlawful to park where the Road Commissioner has posted NO PARKING signs, and angle parking is allowed only in marked stalls. Most general parking rules otherwise follow the California Vehicle Code.

In unincorporated Merced County, residential fences and walls may reach 7 feet at 15 feet or more from the property line, but are capped at 4 feet within the first 15 feet of a front setback. Sight-distance areas at intersections and driveways are limited to 2 feet 6 inches.

Merced County's Title 18 Zoning Code regulates fence height and placement but does not assign cost-sharing for boundary fences. Cost and maintenance of a shared fence between neighbors are governed by California's Good Neighbor Fence Act, Civil Code Section 841.

Merced County's zoning code exempts retaining walls less than 3 feet above finished grade from setback requirements. Separately, the California Building Code requires a building permit for any retaining wall over 4 feet high measured from the bottom of the footing, or any wall supporting a surcharge.

Beyond height, Merced County's Chapter 18.34 sets sight-distance, corner-lot, and design requirements. Fences over 7 feet need a building permit, sight-triangle obstructions are capped at 2 feet 6 inches, and walls must blend with the site's architecture and landscaping.

Merced County restricts hazardous fence materials by zone. Barbed wire, electric fence, and razor wire are allowed only in agricultural and industrial zones; barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones, and electrified fencing and razor wire are prohibited in urban and commercial zones.

Unincorporated Merced County requires a building permit for any fence or wall higher than 7 feet under Chapter 18.34. Fences within the 7-foot height limit are exempt from setback requirements but must still meet sight-distance and corner-lot rules.

Merced County's Chapter 18.34 lists approved fence materials - wood, chain link, PVC, wire mesh, steel mesh, stake, and louvered glass - and requires walls to be solid materials like concrete, concrete block, or wood. Walls and fences must blend with the site's architecture.

In unincorporated Merced County, keeping chickens and other fowl is governed by zoning (Title 18 Unified Development Ordinance) and County Code Chapter 7.08. In rural residential (R-R) zones up to five birds other than household pets are allowed per parcel; fowl keeping is not permitted as an accessory residential use in the R-1 and R-1-5000 zones.

Keeping wild or exotic animals in unincorporated Merced County is tightly restricted. Under Chapter 7.04 of the County Code, a wild animal generally cannot be kept without proper zoning, any required Conditional Use Permit, and an annual administrative permit from the animal control manager. California state law separately bans many 'restricted species' without a state permit.

Merced County is a major agricultural county (dairy, poultry, livestock). Livestock keeping is broadly allowed in the agricultural zones (A-1, A-1-40, A-2). In residential zones, the Unified Development Ordinance limits farm-animal keeping to two large animals or five birds per parcel, and prohibits it as a residential accessory use in R-1 and R-1-5000.

In unincorporated Merced County, a household may keep up to four (4) dogs or cats over the age of four months; five or more requires a special permit. The zoning code treats a kennel of 5 dogs or fewer as an Administrative Permit use and 6 or more dogs as a Conditional Use Permit, referencing County Code Chapter 7.

Merced County does not impose a leash requirement on cats, but cats are covered by the County's rabies-vaccination and pet-limit rules. In unincorporated Merced County, owned cats over three months of age must be vaccinated for rabies, and the four-pet-per-household limit counts cats along with dogs.

No Merced County ordinance fetched for this summary specifically bans feeding wildlife in unincorporated areas. California state law, however, makes it unlawful to intentionally feed big game such as deer, bears, and other large wild mammals (Title 14, California Code of Regulations Section 251.3).

Merced County does not use a dedicated 'hoarding' ordinance; excessive accumulation of animals is addressed through the pet-limit and permit rules (four dogs/cats per household, permit at five-plus) and through state animal-cruelty and neglect law (California Penal Code Section 597). Merced County Animal Services enforces these in unincorporated areas.

Merced County requires that dogs off their owner's property be on a leash or otherwise physically restrained, enforced by Merced County Animal Services under Chapter 7.04 of the County Code (Dogs, Cats, and Other Domesticated Animals). The rule applies throughout the unincorporated county.

Beekeeping is well-established in agricultural Merced County. Under the Unified Development Ordinance, a Commercial Apiary (bees) is an allowed use in agricultural zones with an Administrative Permit. All beekeepers in California must register their apiaries annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner under Food & Agricultural Code Section 29040.

Merced County does not impose breed-specific bans. Instead, dangerous and vicious dogs are regulated by behavior under Chapter 7.04 of the County Code (Sections 7.04.290 and 7.04.292). California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683 also prohibits local breed-specific legislation that declares a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on breed.

Merced County Code Chapter 9.25 requires owners in unincorporated areas to abate fire-hazardous weeds, grass, rubbish, debris, tires and abandoned vehicles. Owners must maintain a 30-foot disced or 50-foot mowed firebreak around structures and property lines. The Fire Department inspects annually; non-compliance brings daily fines and County cost recovery.

Rainwater harvesting in unincorporated Merced County is governed by California law, not a special County ordinance. The Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code §10574) lets residents collect rooftop rainwater for outdoor non-potable use without a water-right permit. Larger cisterns or potable/indoor reuse trigger building and health requirements.

Merced County's UDO actively favors native and drought-tolerant landscaping. Section 18.36.050 requires that at least 90 percent of plant material be drought-resistant and well-suited to the local climate or naturally occurring, with turf capped at 30 percent. Street trees must use drought-resistant, indigenous species, reinforcing the County's water-conservation goals.

Merced County's UDO landscaping chapter (18.36) does not specifically prohibit or expressly authorize synthetic/artificial turf; it sets standards around real planting, drought-tolerant material and a 30 percent turf cap. Artificial turf can help meet water-efficiency goals, but it does not count as required living landscaping or drainage-friendly planting. Confirm specifics with Planning.

Under California SB 1383, Merced County now requires residents and businesses in unincorporated areas to separate organic waste (food scraps, yard trimmings) into green carts, with collection rolling out beginning July 1, 2025. Low-density rural areas under 75 people per square mile may qualify for waivers; Merced County Code Chapter 9.06 governs the program.

Unincorporated Merced County does not have a general urban tree-removal permit ordinance for trees on private residential property. The main constraint is the UDO's street-tree replacement rule: a removed street tree must be replaced. Larger projects affecting oak woodlands or native habitat can trigger CEQA review under the County General Plan.

Merced County's landscape water rules flow from California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), adopted by reference in UDO Section 18.36.030. Statewide, the State Water Board's permanent prohibitions ban hosing pavement, irrigation runoff, and watering within 48 hours of measurable rain. New landscapes face turf and irrigation efficiency limits.

Merced County's Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 18.36, Landscaping) governs trees in approved developments, requiring street-tree planting in certain residential subdivisions and replacement of any removed street tree. Sight-distance trimming near intersections and driveways is required under County Code Chapter 13.24. There is no general homeowner pruning permit.

Merced County has no decorative lawn-height limit, but Chapter 9.25 requires owners in unincorporated areas to abate fire-hazardous weeds, grass and dry vegetation. The County mandates a 30-foot disced or 50-foot mowed firebreak around all structures and property lines, enforced annually each spring by the Fire Department.

Building a swimming pool or in-ground spa in unincorporated Merced County requires a building permit from the County Building & Safety Division. Submittals include a site plan and engineered construction plans. Prefabricated pools and spas entirely above grade and not exceeding 5,000 gallons are exempt, though plumbing and electrical permits may still apply.

Under California's Pool Safety Act, applied by Merced County, a new or remodeled private pool or spa must be equipped with at least two of seven drowning-prevention safety features. The County building official inspects these features before granting final approval. Safety glazing is required for glass within 5 feet of the water.

Merced County treats hot tubs and spas the same as pools under California's Pool Safety Act, which defines a swimming pool to include hot tubs, spas, and portable spas holding water over 18 inches deep. Prefabricated spas entirely above grade and under 5,000 gallons are exempt from a building permit, but State barrier and safety-feature rules still apply.

Private single-family pools and spas in unincorporated Merced County follow California's Pool Safety Act, which can require an isolating enclosure at least 60 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Public and commercial pools follow the County Environmental Health barrier standards (CBC Chapter 31B), which require a fence of at least 5 feet.

In unincorporated Merced County, a prefabricated above-ground pool or spa accessory to a home is exempt from a building permit when entirely above grade and not exceeding 5,000 gallons. Plumbing and electrical permits may still apply, and the State-mandated pool barrier and safety-feature requirements still apply.

Home-based businesses in Merced County's residential zones are limited to a small nameplate-style sign. Zoning Code Table 3-13 allows one name-plate wall sign per single-family use, with a maximum area of 2 square feet. Home occupation rules also bar advertising that calls attention to the home as a business.

Merced County requires review and approval of a Zoning Clearance for a home occupation under Zoning Code Section 18.60.080. Low-impact, invisible businesses run entirely by phone, computer, and internet are exempt from the home-occupation requirement but still need a County business license.

Merced County allows cottage food operations in residential zones under Zoning Code Section 18.60.060. Operators need approval of a Zoning Clearance from the Planning Department, must comply with Merced County Environmental Health requirements, and may have one full-time employee not counting family or household members, consistent with California's cottage food law.

Small family day care homes (eight or fewer children) are permitted by right in Merced County's residential zones, consistent with California law. Large family day care homes (nine to 14 children) are allowed with Director approval (Administrative Permit) under Zoning Code Section 18.60.150, subject to outdoor-space, setback, and fire-safety standards.

Home occupations in unincorporated Merced County must not generate traffic, parking demand or deliveries beyond what is normal for a residence; significant customer visits can disqualify the use.

Home occupations are allowed by right in all of Merced County's residential zones (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, M-H), subject to approval of a Zoning Clearance under Zoning Code Section 18.60.080. The business must stay incidental to the home and not change the residential character of the neighborhood.

A carport in unincorporated Merced County is a roofed, not-fully-enclosed parking structure (Zoning Code Article 8). As an accessory structure it follows Chapter 18.32 setbacks; in the R-1-5000 zone, carports and garages facing the front parcel line must be 20 feet from the right-of-way.

Unincorporated Merced County expressly addresses tiny homes: under Zoning Code Sections 18.10.040 and 18.12.040, tiny homes are considered single-family dwellings and must be placed on a permanent foundation system. A movable tiny home not on a permanent foundation is not recognized as a permanent dwelling.

In unincorporated Merced County, accessory dwelling units are governed by Zoning Code Chapter 18.62. Detached ADUs are capped at 1,200 sf, only one ADU is allowed per parcel, and an owner-occupancy affidavit must be recorded. The chapter implements California ADU law (now Gov. Code §§66310-66342).

Detached sheds in unincorporated Merced County are accessory structures under Zoning Code Chapter 18.32. In residential zones, no accessory structure may exceed 600 sf on a parcel under one-quarter acre, height is capped at 15 feet, accessory structures may not occupy more than 15 percent of the rear yard, and no more than two are allowed per parcel.

Converting an existing garage to an ADU is expressly allowed in unincorporated Merced County under Zoning Code Section 18.62.030. When a garage is converted to an ADU, no setback is required, and California Gov. Code §66314 bars the county from requiring replacement of displaced covered parking.

Backyard barbecuing with propane or charcoal is allowed at homes in unincorporated Merced County. The 'dooryard premises' cooking exemption in Merced County Code Section 9.24.160 covers it, and small propane cylinders for grills are exempt from Fire Code permits. Fires must be attended and fully extinguished.

Using a backyard smoker (propane, charcoal, wood pellet, or stick burner) is allowed at homes in unincorporated Merced County under the cooking/'dooryard premises' exemption in Merced County Code Section 9.24.160. No burn permit is needed, but the fire must be attended and fully extinguished, and only clean cooking fuel may be used.

Building setbacks in unincorporated Merced County vary by zone. In the R-1 zone the minimums are 20 feet front, 5 feet interior side, and 15 feet rear; agricultural zones require 20 feet front, 15 feet side, and 25 feet rear. Setbacks are measured per Section 18.30.040.

Maximum building height in unincorporated Merced County is set by zone. R-1 residential caps main structures at 30 feet, R-R at 35 feet, R-3 at 45 feet, and R-2 at 60 feet; accessory structures in most residential zones are limited to 15 feet. Height is measured to the highest point of the structure.

Maximum structure (lot) coverage in unincorporated Merced County varies by zone. R-1, R-1-5000, and R-R (with public sewer/water) allow up to 60 percent coverage; R-2/R-3/R-4 up to 70 percent; M-H up to 80 percent; and R-R (no sewer/water) 40 percent. Industrial zones allow up to 80 percent.

Unincorporated Merced County has no general tree-removal permit ordinance or heritage/oak permit program for private property. The binding obligations are the UDO street-tree replacement rule and CEQA review for development affecting oak woodland or sensitive habitat. Public right-of-way trees are managed by Public Works. Confirm large or habitat-area removals with Planning.

In unincorporated Merced County, property blight, junk, debris and outdoor storage are handled by the Sheriff's Code Enforcement Bureau, which enforces the County Zoning Ordinance and Building Code. Common violations include inoperative vehicles, campers, boats and trailers stored outdoors or within required setbacks.

Merced County's solid waste ordinance requires every premises to keep enough containers to hold all refuse without leakage or odor, and garbage containers must stay closed against flies, rodents and other animals. Day-to-day setout for the carts is governed by each franchised hauler's rules.

Vacant lots and open fields in unincorporated Merced County must comply with weed-abatement Ordinance 9.25. Owners must maintain a 30-foot disced or 50-foot mowed firebreak around all property lines and structures, even on undeveloped land, throughout the dry season (roughly April 1 to November 1).

Under Merced County Ordinance 9.25, weeds, grass, vines and other growth capable of igniting must be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant. Owners must keep a 30-foot disced or 50-foot mowed firebreak around all property lines and structures throughout the dry season, with discing repeated if growth returns.

In unincorporated Merced County, residential garage and yard sales of used household merchandise are allowed without a permit, limited to no more than two, two-day events every three-month period per property. These sales are exempt from the Temporary Use Permit requirement under the County's Unified Development Ordinance.

Unincorporated Merced County is divided into exclusive franchise areas served by Waste Management, Gilton Solid Waste or Mid Valley Disposal. Residential collection is generally weekly. As of July 1, 2025, SB 1383-compliant service requirements apply, though low-density census tracts with CalRecycle waivers may keep service optional.

Carts in unincorporated Merced County are set out per the franchised hauler's rules. Gilton customers face containers toward the street with wheels against the curb by the night before collection, keep at least 2 feet between carts and 5 feet from other objects, and ensure lids close fully with no material above the rim.

Bulky item disposal in unincorporated Merced County is handled by the franchised hauler. Gilton residential customers receive two bulky item pickups per year by appointment, plus free at-home electronic-waste collection. Residents can also self-haul large items to the Highway 59 or Billy Wright landfills.

Curbside recycling in unincorporated Merced County uses a blue cart for accepted recyclables, including CRV beverage containers. State law AB 341 separately requires businesses and multifamily complexes of 5+ units that generate over 4 cubic yards of waste weekly to arrange recycling service.

California's SB 1383 requires unincorporated Merced County residents and businesses to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste into a green organics cart. The County's program took effect with collection in 2024 and service requirements as of July 1, 2025; low-density tracts under 75 people/sq mi qualify for CalRecycle rural waivers.

In unincorporated Merced County, temporary off-site political signs are allowed in any zone under Zoning Code Section 18.44.090(D)(3), limited to 8 sf of sign area in residential zones and 32 sf in non-residential zones, and prohibited in the public right-of-way and on trees, fences, and utility poles.

Unincorporated Merced County has no separate garage-sale-sign exemption. Garage/yard sales are a temporary event under Zoning Code Section 18.60.290 (allowed once every three months), and the off-site signs that advertise them are temporary signs that generally require a Sign Permit under Chapter 18.44.

Unincorporated Merced County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but Zoning Code Section 18.40.070 (Outdoor Lighting) requires exterior lighting to be hooded and directed downward and away from adjoining properties, with glare and reflections contained within the parcel; blinking, flashing, and unusually high-intensity lights are prohibited.

Light trespass in unincorporated Merced County is controlled by Zoning Code Section 18.40.070, which requires glare and reflections to be contained within the parcel boundaries, and Section 18.40.080, which bars any use from creating glare based on typical human reaction beyond the parcel boundaries.

Merced County Code Chapter 10.28 (Conduct in Parks) sets park hours for unincorporated county parks. Most parks are open 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; at Lake Yosemite, Henderson, and Hagaman parks no one may remain more than one hour after sunset (Oct 1–Mar 31), with seasonal 11:30 p.m. closing.

Merced County Code Chapter 18.26 (Special Flood Hazard Areas) governs FEMA-mapped floodplain development. Adopts FEMA Flood Insurance Study (Aug 2, 1995 + subsequent amendments) and FIRMs. Floodplain Development Permits required for any construction or substantial improvement in SFHAs; engineer/architect certifications required for building pads and elevations.