102 local rules on file · Pop. 5,965 · Stanislaus County
Showing ordinances that apply to West Modesto, CA
West Modesto is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 5,965 in Stanislaus County, California. Because West Modesto is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Stanislaus County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Stanislaus County may have different rules.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County's Noise Control Ordinance (Chapter 10.46) sets a nighttime period of 10:00 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. when exterior noise standards tighten. In residential zones the permitted maximum drops from 50 dB(A) during the day to 45 dB(A) at night, measured at the receiving property.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, Section 10.46.060 of the Noise Control Ordinance bars construction equipment from producing an average sound level above 75 decibels at the property line of any parcel with a dwelling between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Daytime construction (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) is effectively the permitted window.
Stanislaus County's Noise Control Ordinance (Chapter 10.46) does not apply decibel limits to barking dogs. Instead, animal noise complaints in the unincorporated county are referred to Stanislaus County Animal Services at (209) 558-7387, which encourages neighbor resolution and logs before a formal complaint.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County does not ban leaf blowers. Section 10.46.080 of the Noise Control Ordinance specifically exempts routine residential maintenance noise - including lawnmowers and leaf blowers - from the chapter's noise limits, provided the work occurs between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, Section 10.46.060 of the Noise Control Ordinance bars sound-amplifying equipment and live music from being audible to the human ear more than 200 feet away. Music and speech also trigger a 5 dB(A) reduction in the general exterior limits under Section 10.46.050.
Section 10.46.060 of unincorporated Stanislaus County's Noise Control Ordinance bars car sound systems from being audible inside any dwelling from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., or audible more than 50 feet away at other times, and requires vehicle alarms to shut off within 15 minutes. State Vehicle Code rules also apply.
Section 10.46.050 of unincorporated Stanislaus County's Noise Control Ordinance sets exterior A-weighted decibel limits by zone: noise-sensitive 45/45, residential 50/45, commercial 60/55, and industrial 75/75 dB(A) for daytime (7 a.m.-9:59 p.m.) and nighttime (10 p.m.-6:59 a.m.).
Outdoor live music and sound systems in unincorporated Stanislaus County must not be audible more than 200 feet away under Section 10.46.060, and music noise reduces the general exterior limits by 5 dB(A) under Section 10.46.050. Permitted special events are exempt if they meet all permit conditions.
Industrial-zoned parcels in unincorporated Stanislaus County face a 75 dB(A) exterior limit day and night under Section 10.46.050, but noise received at a neighboring residential or noise-sensitive property is held to that property's stricter limit. Section 10.46.070 also prohibits perceptible vibration beyond the property line.
Aircraft are expressly exempt from unincorporated Stanislaus County's Noise Control Ordinance under Section 10.46.080. Aircraft and airport noise are controlled by federal law (the FAA), with California setting a 65 dB CNEL airport-compatibility standard - the county cannot impose its own aircraft noise limits.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance. STRs are governed by the general Title 21 Zoning Ordinance plus a Transient Occupancy Tax under Ordinance Code Chapter 4.04. Hosting paid guests from the home is treated as a home occupation requiring a Home Occupation business license (Chapter 21.94).
There is no STR registry in unincorporated Stanislaus County. A host instead obtains a business license for a home occupation from the Treasurer-Tax Collector (for locations outside city limits) and registers for the Transient Occupancy Tax, receiving a TOT Certificate number used on the quarterly tax return required by Ordinance Code Chapter 4.04.
There is no short-term rental occupancy cap in unincorporated Stanislaus County, because the County has no STR ordinance. Occupancy is bounded instead by the dwelling's permitted residential use under Title 21 and by building and health and safety codes, not by a guest-count rule written for vacation rentals.
No STR-specific parking standard exists in unincorporated Stanislaus County. If the rental is run as a home occupation, Chapter 21.94 limits the use to no more than two additional vehicles at any one time and bars traffic beyond what is normal for a residential district. Otherwise the zone's general parking rules apply.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no STR-specific noise rule. When a rental is a home occupation, Chapter 21.94 prohibits noise detectable at the property line and caps it at 65 dBA. General County nuisance and the County General Plan Noise Element standards otherwise govern noise from a vacation rental.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County does not impose a primary-residence requirement on short-term rentals, because it has no STR ordinance. The home-occupation framework, however, presumes the operator lives at the property: Chapter 21.94 requires the business to be incidental and subordinate to residential use and conducted by occupants of the dwelling.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County imposes no short-term rental insurance or minimum-liability-coverage requirement, because it has no STR ordinance. Insurance is left to the host's own judgment and to any conditions a platform or lender imposes, with no County-mandated coverage amount.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no host-presence or on-site-manager requirement for short-term rentals, because there is no STR ordinance. The home-occupation framework instead requires that occupants of the dwelling conduct the use, which implies a resident host rather than an absentee operator.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County sets no annual night cap or maximum-rental-days limit on short-term rentals, because it has no STR ordinance. The only night-related threshold in County rules is the tax definition: occupancy of 30 days or less is a taxable transient stay under Ordinance Code Chapter 4.04.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax of 8% on rent for stays of 30 days or less, under Ordinance Code Chapter 4.04. The tax is reported quarterly. Late payment carries a 10% penalty (or 20% if more than 30 days late) plus interest of 1/2% per month.
Stanislaus County has adopted the 2022 California Fire Code (County Code Chapter 16.55). Under it, recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces are allowed but must be attended, kept away from structures, and have extinguishing equipment on hand. Burning yard debris in a fire pit is separately barred by valley air rules.
Outdoor burning of household trash and yard/landscape debris is strictly prohibited on the valley floor by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Agricultural burning requires an SJVAPCD permit and a daily burn-day declaration, and CAL FIRE separately controls burning in the eastern foothill State Responsibility Area.
Properties in the eastern foothill State Responsibility Area of Stanislaus County must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California Public Resources Code 4291, enforced by CAL FIRE. Most of the Central Valley floor is lower hazard, but weed and vegetation abatement can still be required by the county fire authority.
Backyard recreational fires for cooking or warmth are allowed under the county's adopted 2022 California Fire Code, but must stay 25 feet from anything combustible, be attended, and have extinguishing equipment ready. Burning trash or yard waste in the backyard is banned by valley air-quality rules.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements in unincorporated Stanislaus County come from California state law and the adopted 2022 California Residential Code, not a unique county ordinance. Alarms are required in all dwellings, and at least one CO alarm must be installed at point of sale of residential property.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Stanislaus County follows the 2022 California Fire Code (County Code Chapter 16.55), Chapter 61. At a residence, stored LP-gas generally may not exceed 200 pounds without additional safeguards, and containers cannot be stored in basements, pits or on roofs.
CAL FIRE maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones for Stanislaus County. The eastern foothills lie in the State Responsibility Area and carry Moderate, High or Very High wildfire-hazard designations; the Central Valley floor is largely lower hazard. SRA properties must meet defensible-space and building requirements.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County allows State Fire Marshal-approved "Safe and Sane" fireworks, but only from noon June 28 through 11:59 p.m. July 6. All other fireworks, including anything that flies or explodes, are prohibited year-round and treated as dangerous fireworks under state law.
Stanislaus County Code prohibits parking a commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more on any street in a residential district, except for temporary pickups, deliveries, or building-material drops (Code Sec. 11.08.090). Truck parking (GVWR over 10,101 lbs) is also banned on numerous signed county streets (Code Sec. 11.08.120).
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no countywide overnight on-street parking ban. The binding limit is the 72-hour rule (Code Sec. 11.28.030(B)). Some specific road segments are signed as no parking during overnight hours, for example one a.m. to five a.m. or ten p.m. to six a.m. (Code Sec. 11.08.070), but these apply only where posted.
Stanislaus County Code Chapter 11.28 defines abandoned and public-nuisance vehicles and lets the county abate them. Abandoning a vehicle, or leaving one 72 hours or more on a highway, is an infraction (Code Sec. 11.28.030). On private or public property off the highway, the county issues a 10-day notice of intention to abate before removal (Code Sec. 11.28.120).
Stanislaus County's Zoning Ordinance requires two off-street parking spaces for a single-family dwelling (Code Sec. 21.76.040) and bars required parking from sitting in a building setback or required yard (Code Sec. 21.76.230). Off-street parking must meet Public Works standards (Code Sec. 21.76.220). There is no county ordinance prohibiting parking on a residential lawn.
Stanislaus County restricts oversized vehicles through weight rules rather than a generic size cap. Trucks over 10,101 lbs GVWR are barred from parking on signed county streets (Code Sec. 11.08.120), commercial vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more cannot park on residential streets (Code Sec. 11.08.090), and vehicles over 14,000 lbs are kept off certain county through-highways (Code Sec. 11.16.090).
Stanislaus County has no special parking ordinance dedicated to EV charging, but as a California jurisdiction it must offer an expedited, streamlined permit process for electric vehicle charging stations under state law AB 1236 (Government Code 65850.7). Charging-station permits are approved ministerially unless the county makes findings of a specific adverse health or safety impact.
Stanislaus County Code Chapter 11.12 establishes loading zones by curb color. Yellow curbs allow stopping only to load or unload passengers or freight for the time specified (Code Sec. 11.12.010), and white curbs are for loading and unloading passengers (Code Sec. 11.12.030), both under Vehicle Code 21458. Violations of Chapter 11.12 are infractions under Vehicle Code 42001.
Stanislaus County uses standard California curb colors. Red means no stopping, standing, or parking (Code Sec. 11.08.010); green means time-limit parking (Code Sec. 11.08.030); blue is reserved for disabled-placard vehicles (Code Sec. 11.08.100); yellow and white are loading zones (Chapter 11.12). All trace authority to Vehicle Code 21458, and only the county may paint regulatory curbs.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County there is no recreational-vehicle-specific parking ordinance. RVs, boats, and trailers on county streets fall under the general 72-hour limit, and Code Enforcement confirms the county has no ordinance barring vehicles parked on a lawn. It is, however, a violation to occupy a travel trailer or RV for living outside a designated campground.
On unincorporated county streets, parking is broadly allowed but a vehicle may not sit in one location for 72 hours or more (Code Sec. 11.28.030(B)). The county designates one- and two-hour time-limit zones and certain no-parking-by-hour stretches on specific roads (Code Secs. 11.08.050-070). Violations of Chapter 11.08 are infractions punishable under Vehicle Code 42001.
Stanislaus County's Title 21 zoning ordinance sets fence heights but contains no separate retaining-wall height section, so retaining walls are governed mainly by the California Building Code. A building permit is generally required once a retaining wall exceeds the state exemption height or supports a surcharge.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, fences in required side and rear yards may reach eight feet, but fences in a required front yard (or the street-side yard of a corner lot) are limited to three feet so visibility is preserved. Fences over seven feet need a building permit.
Beyond height limits, Stanislaus County's Title 21 requires fences in front and corner-side yards to preserve street visibility. Heights are measured from the ultimate (planned) property line, and corner lots get extra setbacks at vehicle openings. The County also requires screening fences/walls in certain non-residential situations.
Stanislaus County's Title 21 zoning ordinance regulates fences by height and visibility, not by a list of approved or prohibited materials for ordinary residential fences. Masonry and concrete fence walls, and any fence over seven feet, are subject to structural review and building permits.
Stanislaus County does not require a building permit for ordinary residential fences up to seven feet. The Planning FAQ states fences over seven feet require a building permit plus engineering, and the fence must still meet the Title 21 yard height limits regardless of whether a permit is needed.
Stanislaus County allows broad choice of fence materials for residential properties. Title 21 controls fence height and visibility rather than material type, so wood, vinyl, chain link, and masonry are all generally permitted, with masonry walls and fences over seven feet requiring a building permit and engineering.
Stanislaus County's Title 21 governs fence height and placement, but cost-sharing for a boundary fence between neighbors is set by California's statewide Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code §841), which presumes adjoining owners share equally in reasonable construction and maintenance costs after 30 days' written notice.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, dogs (and other animals except cats) must be on a leash no longer than eight feet when off the owner's property. Dogs may be off-leash on the owner's own premises or on private property with the owner's consent.
No fetched Stanislaus County ordinance bans or restricts any specific dog breed. California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683 bars local governments from declaring any breed dangerous or vicious. The County instead regulates individual animals that behave dangerously under Chapter 7.28.
County Code Chapter 7.28 requires a license before possessing any animal not commonly kept as a domesticated animal that may be dangerous to people. The Zoning Ordinance also requires a use permit to keep zoo-type animals, exotic birds, or wildlife regulated by California Fish & Wildlife.
In the R-A Rural Residential district, livestock is allowed on parcels of one acre or more. Up to two horses or cows (large animals) or four sheep or goats (small animals) per acre may be kept, with density caps. Buildings for livestock must meet 50- and 40-foot setbacks.
The County Code does not set a simple household dog or cat cap, but a kennel license is required to keep, conduct, or operate a dog or cat kennel under Chapter 7.24. Each dog four months or older must be individually licensed under Chapter 7.20.
Cats are exempt from the County's leash rule, and cat licensing is voluntary. Under Chapter 7.54 a cat owner may choose to license a cat, and licensed-cat owners can become eligible for spay/neuter vouchers. Breeding a cat requires a litter permit.
No specific Stanislaus County ordinance prohibiting wildlife feeding was found. California regulations control it instead: Title 14 Section 251.3 bans feeding big game mammals such as deer, elk, and bears, and predator-feeding rules discourage feeding coyotes and similar wildlife.
Stanislaus County addresses hoarding-type situations through its kennel-license requirement (Chapter 7.24), public-nuisance and noise provisions (Chapter 7.16), and dangerous-animal authority (Chapter 7.28). California Penal Code 597 also makes animal neglect a crime statewide.
Under the County Zoning Ordinance, keeping more than twelve hens, turkeys, similar fowl, rabbits, or similar animals, or more than four beehives, or any roosters or geese, is 'small livestock farming' and is restricted to agricultural and rural-residential zones. Smaller numbers are permitted in any district.
The County Zoning Ordinance treats keeping up to four permanent standard beehives as allowed in any district. Keeping more than four hives is 'small livestock farming' under Section 21.12.530 and is limited to agricultural and rural-residential zones.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no specific ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting. Rooftop rain capture is governed by California's Rainwater Capture Act (AB 1750, Water Code Part 2.4): no water-right permit is needed for rooftop collection, and rain barrels or cisterns under 360 gallons need no plumbing permit for non-potable outdoor use.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no tree ordinance and does not regulate or oversee pruning of trees on private property. The Planning Department states street trees on private property are the owner's responsibility. The only trimming rule is a vision-clearance standard: street trees at corners must be pruned at least eight feet above the curb.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County regulates weeds under County Code Chapter 9.20 (Weed Control). Dirt, rubbish, weeds and rank growths that are a fire menace or health/safety hazard are a public nuisance. The fire chief notifies owners to abate within seven days; written objections go to the Board of Supervisors. A-2 ag parcels of 10+ acres are exempt.
New and redeveloped landscaping in unincorporated Stanislaus County must follow the County's Landscape and Irrigation Standards (Zoning Ordinance Ch. 21.102, Ord. CS 509). Irrigation controllers may not run between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., at least 90% of non-turf plants must be drought-tolerant, and the County requires a MWELO statement. Statewide SWRCB drought rules also apply.
For required landscaping, unincorporated Stanislaus County mandates water-conserving, climate-appropriate plants under Zoning Ordinance Ch. 21.102 (Ord. CS 509). At least 90% of plants in non-turf areas must be drought-tolerant and well-suited to the region. There is no rule forcing native plants in private home gardens, which remain the owner's choice.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or approving artificial/synthetic turf. The Zoning Ordinance defines 'turf' as single-bladed grass or sod for its living-landscape water standards; synthetic turf is not addressed. Front-yard and setback landscaping standards still apply to required landscaping, and HOA rules may govern.
Backyard composting is allowed in unincorporated Stanislaus County; the County's only composting land-use rule covers commercial/municipal composting of off-site material as a regulated use, not home compost piles. California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste recycling statewide, so residents must keep food and yard waste out of the landfill via curbside organics service or home composting.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no tree-removal ordinance and no heritage or protected-tree permit for trees on private property. The Planning Department confirms the County has no tree ordinance. Removing a tree on your own land in the unincorporated County generally needs no County permit, though discretionary projects can still condition tree retention.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no general turf-grass height limit for residential lawns. Instead, dirt, rubbish, weeds and rank growths that create a fire menace or health/safety hazard are a public nuisance under County Code Chapter 9.20 (Weed Control) and must be cut. State PRC 4291 also requires annual grasses near homes in fire areas be kept low.
Building a pool or spa in unincorporated Stanislaus County requires a building permit from the Planning and Community Development Building Permit Division. Plans must show pool location, setbacks, equipment and barriers, and the project is inspected at multiple stages before use.
Beyond barriers, Stanislaus County pools must meet anti-entrapment and consumer-notice rules. Remodels must upgrade suction outlets with anti-entrapment grates, contractors must give buyers notice of the safety law, and the County Zoning Ordinance ties pool safety to the California Health and Safety Code.
Stanislaus County defines hot tubs and spas as “swimming pools” when they hold water over 18 inches deep, so the Pool Safety Act barrier rules apply. However, hot tubs or spas fitted with an ASTM F1346 locking safety cover are specifically excepted from the multi-feature barrier requirement.
Stanislaus County treats above-ground pools the same as in-ground pools. Any structure holding water over 18 inches deep, including above-ground pools, hot tubs and spas, is a “swimming pool” subject to the barrier requirements and the Zoning Ordinance's three-foot side and rear setback.
Stanislaus County enforces the California Swimming Pool Safety Act. New or remodeled pools and spas must have at least two of seven drowning-prevention features. The County's fence detail requires a minimum barrier height of 5 feet with limited openings and self-latching gates.
Home occupations in unincorporated Stanislaus County are administered by the Department of Planning and Community Development under Zoning Ordinance Chapter 21.94. The use must meet all Chapter 21.94 criteria, and certain listed uses (such as contractor offices and limited trucking) carry extra conditions.
Home occupations are allowed in residential and agricultural zones of unincorporated Stanislaus County under Zoning Ordinance Chapter 21.94, provided they stay clearly incidental to residential use. The business may use no more than 20% of the dwelling's habitable floor area and must be undetectable from normal residential activity.
Home occupation signage in unincorporated Stanislaus County is tightly limited. Zoning Ordinance Section 21.94.020 allows no change in the building's outside appearance and only one sign not to exceed two square feet, and prohibits advertising that depicts the location's address.
Stanislaus County's Department of Environmental Resources administers cottage food operations under the California Homemade Food Act. Class A operations obtain an annual registration for direct sales; Class B operations obtain an annual permit (with home-kitchen inspection) for direct and indirect sales. A food handler course is required.
Family daycare homes are treated as a residential use in unincorporated Stanislaus County. The Zoning Ordinance permits small (8 or fewer) and large (7–14) family daycare homes, and California law (Health & Safety Code 1597.46, as amended by SB 234) requires both to be treated as a use by right on single-family lots.
Home occupations in unincorporated Stanislaus County must not generate traffic, parking demand or deliveries beyond what is normal for a residence; significant customer visits can disqualify the use.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, a detached one-story tool/storage shed of 120 sq ft or less is exempt from a building permit, but still must meet zoning setbacks. Larger sheds need a building permit. The Planning Department sets coverage and setback limits.
Stanislaus County's Zoning Ordinance defines a carport as a covered parking space at least 9 by 19 feet, open on at least two sides (Section 21.12.145). As a detached accessory structure it must be incidental to the main building and meet the zoning district's setbacks; the roof edge marks the setback point.
Stanislaus County has no separate 'tiny home' ordinance. A permanent tiny house on a foundation is regulated as an accessory dwelling unit under Chapter 21.74 (up to 1,200 sq ft). Living in a recreational vehicle is prohibited in every zoning district (Section 21.12.505), so a tiny home on wheels cannot be a residence.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County permits ADUs and JADUs ministerially in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-A, A-2 and residential P-D zones under Zoning Ordinance Chapter 21.74. A detached/attached ADU may be up to 1,200 sq ft; a junior ADU up to 500 sq ft. State law (Gov. Code 66310+) sets the floor.
Stanislaus County's Zoning Ordinance Chapter 21.74 lets a legally established garage be converted into an accessory dwelling unit with no added setbacks and no replacement parking required. The ADU still needs a building permit and a recorded covenant. A garage is defined as covered parking at least 9 by 19 feet.
Propane and charcoal grilling is allowed at single-family homes in unincorporated Stanislaus County. Under the adopted 2022 California Fire Code, open-flame grills cannot be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction at multifamily buildings, with limited exceptions.
Backyard smokers are allowed at homes in unincorporated Stanislaus County under the adopted 2022 California Fire Code. They must be operated safely away from structures and combustibles; at multifamily buildings, charcoal and wood smokers cannot be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.
Setbacks in unincorporated Stanislaus County are set by zoning district in Title 21. In the R-1 district, front yards are measured from the street centerline (e.g., 70 feet on a major street) or the planned street line, and interior side and rear yards are five feet (§21.28.070).
Title 21 caps building height by district. In the R-1 district, dwellings may be up to 35 feet and detached accessory buildings up to 20 feet (§21.28.040). The Rural Residential (R-A) district limits all buildings to 35 feet (§21.24.040). Certain features may exceed limits with a use permit.
Title 21 limits how much of a lot can be covered by buildings, set per district. In the R-1 district, aggregate building coverage may not exceed 40 percent of lot area (§21.28.060). The Rural Residential (R-A) district applies the same 40 percent maximum (§21.24.070).
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, property blight such as accumulated junk, debris, and nuisance conditions is enforced by Environmental Resources Code Enforcement. The County seeks voluntary compliance first, then uses administrative citations, forced cleanup, and cost recovery liens against the property.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, garbage carts are supplied by the franchised hauler and must be removed from the curb or alley by 6:00 p.m. on collection day and screened from public view. Carts remain the property of the garbage company, and customers must keep enough carts to avoid overfilling.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, vacant lots used for illegal dumping and vacant structures with uncontrolled access are abated by Code Enforcement. Per County Code, vacant structures must be secured against unauthorized entry. There is currently no vacant-home registration requirement.
Under Stanislaus County Code Chapter 9.20 (Weed Control), dirt, rubbish, weeds, and rank growth that create a fire menace or other health/safety menace are declared a public nuisance. In the unincorporated county, the fire chief notifies owners to abate within seven days; uncorrected nuisances are abated at the owner's cost.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, no permit is required for a yard or garage sale, but you may hold no more than two per calendar year and each may run no more than three consecutive days. Up to two signs are allowed, each no larger than three square feet, posted on private property with the owner's consent.
Each unincorporated Stanislaus County residence subscribed to weekly garbage service is eligible for bulky-item pickup twice a year, covering large appliances, water heaters, mattresses, carpet, and furniture. Residents may also self-haul to the County's Fink Road Landfill for a fee. Illegal dumping is prohibited and enforced.
In the mandatory-collection areas of unincorporated Stanislaus County, owners and occupants must subscribe to weekly garbage service from the assigned franchised hauler. Three companies serve designated areas: Bertolotti Disposal (Area 1), Gilton Solid Waste (Area 2), and Turlock Scavenger (Areas 3 & 4). Collection slides one day after major holidays.
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, carts must be placed in the alley or immediately adjacent to the nearest county- or state-maintained road accessible to the hauler. Set them out the night before or by 5:00 a.m. on service day, then remove them by 6:00 p.m. and screen them from public view.
Subscribed unincorporated Stanislaus County residents receive curbside recycling. Under Bertolotti and Turlock Scavenger, a blue cart collects recyclables every other week; Gilton mixes recyclables with garbage. Businesses must comply with California's mandatory commercial recycling (AB 341) and SB 1383 inorganic recycling in affected census tracts.
California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste recycling statewide, and Stanislaus County (population ~553,000) is too large for a rural waiver. Subscribed unincorporated residents receive a green cart for food and yard waste, collected weekly. Businesses in affected census tracts must subscribe to organics service. Effective Jan 1, 2022 (Mar 1, 2022 for Turlock).
Stanislaus County's Zoning Ordinance contains no specific political/campaign sign provision for unincorporated areas, so temporary political signs on private property are governed mainly by California's Outdoor Advertising Act. State law (Bus. & Prof. Code 5405.3) caps temporary political signs at 32 sq ft, allows posting 90 days before an election, and requires removal within 10 days after.
Under Stanislaus County Zoning Ordinance Section 21.12.260, a garage sale may use no more than two unlighted signs not exceeding three square feet each. Signs may be displayed only on private property with the owner's consent and only while the sale is actually being conducted. Sales are limited to 3 consecutive days, twice a year.
Unincorporated Stanislaus County has no comprehensive dark-sky lighting ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance instead requires that on-site lighting in certain uses be shielded and reflected away from adjacent properties, and that industrial and business-park districts produce no glare visible at the property line (e.g. Sections 21.61.110, 21.62.110).
Stanislaus County has no dedicated residential light-trespass ordinance, but the Zoning Ordinance prohibits direct or sky-reflected glare from being visible or felt at the property line in industrial and business-park districts (e.g. 21.61.110, 21.62.110) and bars any off-site nuisance under Section 21.08.100. Certain uses must shield lights away from neighbors.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Stanislaus County ordinances.