San Bernardino County HOA Guide
Apple Valley HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
The Town of Apple Valley is a High Desert town of about 75,000 residents. The Town does not run the water system, and a fire protection district handles weed abatement.
This guide collects the Town rules an Apple Valley board runs into most often, and points you to the How2HOA guide that explains what to do about each one.
Local rules on this page were checked against the Town of Apple Valley’s website, the Apple Valley Fire Protection District, Liberty Utilities, Golden State Water and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on October 27, 2026. The Town Code on Municode would not open for us, so this page covers only what we could confirm on official pages. Short-term rentals, parking, noise hours and leaf blower rules could not be confirmed and are left out. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Apple Valley at a glance
We found no official statement about HOAs in Apple Valley, so we quote no count and no typical dues. What the official sources do tell us:
Local rules
Rules that apply in Apple Valley
Three layers of rules apply to an Apple Valley association. State law comes first, mainly the Davis-Stirling Act. Town ordinances apply to every property, whether or not it is in an HOA. Your governing documents can then be stricter than the local rules in most areas, and state law limits them in a few. The Town does not enforce your CC&Rs, and your CC&Rs do not excuse anyone from a local rule.
Who supplies your waterLiberty serves much of the Town, and the Town’s effort to acquire the system is still in court.
The Town does not currently run the water system. Apple Valley Ranchos Water, part of privately owned Liberty Utilities, serves much of the Town. The Town has been pursuing acquisition by eminent domain. According to the Town’s news page, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion on August 24, 2026 that sent the case back to the Court of Appeal. The opinion neither authorizes nor blocks the acquisition.
The case is still open, so the supplier can change. Check the Town’s news page for updates. Golden State Water also serves some Apple Valley-area systems (Desert View and Lucerne, plus North and South Apple Valley). Its page does not mention Apple Valley Ranchos, and we could not confirm which parts of the Town it serves. Find your supplier on your water bill before you read any watering schedule.
What to do about it: Planning Your HOA Budget helps you build in water cost changes.
Watering schedules and rebatesThe Liberty watering page we found is dated 2022, so confirm it is current.
Liberty’s Apple Valley Ranchos watering page, a post dated August 17, 2022 for Stage 2, lists these rules:
That page may be out of date. Confirm the current stage and schedule with Liberty customer care at (800) 481-9190. Golden State Water’s Apple Valley page lists a different schedule: three days a week, even addresses Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, odd addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. recommended. Its number is (800) 999-4033. Do not mix the two up.
Liberty’s commercial conservation page lists a $75 hot water recirculating pump rebate, a free water survey at (760) 247-6484 and free devices. We found no HOA, multifamily or turf rebate there. State law (AB 1572, 2023) also limits the use of drinking water on nonfunctional turf. Confirm with the water provider whether and how it applies to your common areas.
What to do about it: Compare landscape bids with the Vendor Comparison Worksheet and budget the work with the Annual HOA Budget Checklist. For the California rules behind these projects, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
Joshua treesThe Town’s 2021 policy may be out of date. State law decides.
The Town’s Interim Local Policy and Procedures on the western Joshua tree was published July 21, 2021. It says development plans must show Joshua trees on site or within 40 feet of disturbance, that the Town cannot issue local permits to remove or trim them, and that CDFW issues permits. Dead or fallen trees threatening structures can be handled through a CDFW no-mitigation permit.
The policy was written while the tree was a candidate species. The Act was enacted in 2023 and amended in September 2026, according to CDFW, so use the Town’s policy as background only. Confirm the current rule with CDFW, and with Town Planning at (760) 240-7000, ext. 7200 or Planning@applevalley.org.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association covers what to require of a landscaper before work starts.
Weed abatement and defensible spaceThe fire protection district inspects more than 25,000 parcels a year.
The Apple Valley Fire Protection District runs hazard abatement. Owners with hazards get a notice, usually with 30 days to correct, and a second inspection follows after the deadline. The district may abate the hazard and bill the owner. Unpaid costs plus administrative charges can become a special assessment lien. A burn permit is needed to burn weeds. The page posts no fixed calendar deadline.
The district grants extensions of 15 calendar days for $20 each, requested by the owner or agent. Its defensible space page gives these figures:
The page does not mention Zone 0. The hazard line is (760) 247-3585 or hazard@avfpd.org, and the district office is at 22400 Headquarters Drive.
What to do about it: How to Minimize Homeowners Association Liability, and for coverage questions, Rising HOA Insurance Costs in California and the FAIR Plan. For what the association’s insurance has to cover, see California HOA insurance requirements.
Citations and late feesUnpaid Town fines incur a 50% late fee after 30 days.
The Town’s municipal code page says unpaid fines incur a 50% late fee after 30 days. For citation extensions, email code@applevalley.org or call Code Enforcement at (760) 240-7560. Citation payments are taken at (800) 969-6158.
If your association gets a citation, calendar the 30-day mark. Town Hall is open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and it is closed every other Friday.
Short-term rentals and parking: not confirmedWe could not confirm short-term rental, 72-hour or RV rules.
We found nothing on an official Apple Valley page about short-term rentals. The Town Code has a chapter on off-street parking and loading (9.72), but we could read only its title. We could not confirm a 72-hour street rule, RV limits or how the Town treats private streets. We left these out rather than guess.
Call the Town at (760) 240-7000 before you tell an owner what is allowed. Your CC&Rs may be stricter than the Town either way.
What to do about it: How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community and How to Set Up a Towing Service in Your Homeowners Association. For the California rules, see our guide to buying, selling and renting in a California HOA. For the state rules on enforcement, fines and hearings, see California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes.
Noise, leaf blowers and special taxes: not confirmedWe could not confirm noise hours, leaf blower rules or special tax districts.
The Town Code has a noise control chapter (9.73), but the text did not open for us. We could not confirm construction hours or leaf blower rules, and we found no information on Mello-Roos or assessment districts, fire hazard severity zones, HOA rebates or police parking contacts.
Ask Town Hall at (760) 240-7000 before you write any of these into a landscape or vendor contract.
What to do about it: Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA.
Is this a lot for a volunteer board to track?
City rules, state law and your own documents all change, and someone has to keep up. If your Apple Valley board is deciding between managing itself and hiring help, start with Self-Managed vs. Professional HOA Management, or tell us about your community and we will send you options from affiliated management companies.
Compare HOA management optionsQuick answers
Questions Apple Valley board members ask
Who supplies water in Apple Valley?
Apple Valley Ranchos Water, part of Liberty Utilities, serves much of the Town. Golden State Water serves other Apple Valley-area systems. Check your water bill. The Town’s effort to acquire the Ranchos system is still in court.
What are the watering days?
It depends on your supplier and the current stage. The Liberty page we found is from 2022, so call Liberty at (800) 481-9190 to confirm. Golden State Water is at (800) 999-4033.
Can we remove or trim a Joshua tree?
Not without state permission from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Town’s 2021 policy may be out of date, so confirm with CDFW and Town Planning.
How long do we have to fix a weed notice?
The Apple Valley Fire Protection District usually gives about 30 days. A 15-day extension costs $20. Call (760) 247-3585.
What happens if we ignore a weed notice?
The district may clear the lot and bill the owner. Unpaid costs plus administrative charges can become a special assessment lien.
Are short-term rentals legal in Apple Valley?
We could not confirm. We found nothing on an official Town page. Call the Town at (760) 240-7000. Your association can also restrict rentals in its own documents. More in How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Who provides fire and police service?
The Apple Valley Fire Protection District provides fire service. The Town contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which staffs the Apple Valley Police Department.
Calendar
An Apple Valley board’s year
The weed abatement timing comes from the fire district, which posts no fixed calendar deadline. The other items are general good practice, not legal requirements.
Keep the year on track: use the Board Meeting Checklist and the Annual HOA Budget Checklist.
Who to call
Apple Valley contacts for HOA boards
Town Hall is at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway.
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Town Hall | (760) 240-7000 | General questions and Code Enforcement |
| Town Planning | (760) 240-7000, ext. 7200 | Planning and Joshua tree questions |
| Code Enforcement citations | (760) 240-7560 | Citation extensions |
| Citation payments | (800) 969-6158 | Paying a citation |
| Apple Valley Fire Protection District | (760) 247-7618 | Fire district |
| Hazard abatement | (760) 247-3585 | Weed notices |
| Liberty (Apple Valley Ranchos Water) | (800) 481-9190 | Water service |
| Liberty water survey | (760) 247-6484 | Free water survey |
| Golden State Water | (800) 999-4033 | Water service in its systems |
Code Enforcement can also be reached by email at code@applevalley.org.
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
Town of Apple Valley: municipal code and Town Hall; General Plan police and fire element; Town Code on Municode; Joshua tree interim policy; water case news.
Apple Valley Fire Protection District: hazard abatement; abatement extensions; defensible space; contact.
Other agencies: Liberty watering schedule; Liberty commercial conservation; Golden State Water, Apple Valley; CDFW Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Apple Valley.
California law: AB 1572 (2023).
Professional management
Thinking about management help?
Tell us about your community and we will send you options from affiliated management companies.
Compare HOA management optionsBrowse all HOA topicsThis page is general educational information, not legal, financial or insurance advice. Town ordinances and state law change, and your association’s governing documents control many of these questions, so check the current code and talk with your association’s attorney or another qualified professional about your situation.