Ventura County HOA Guide
Camarillo HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Camarillo has an estimated 68,652 residents, and the Census Bureau puts its owner-occupied housing rate at 64.6%. Nearly a quarter of residents, 23.0%, are 65 or older. This guide covers the rules the city, the county fire department and the local water agencies publish, and what your board should do about each one.
This guide collects the city rules a Camarillo 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 City of Camarillo website and Municipal Code, the Ventura County Fire Department, the Calleguas Municipal Water District, the Camrosa Water District, the Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) and U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts on October 29, 2026. We found no city chapter on trees on private property and no city short-term rental program in the code. Sewer and landscape district details come from LAFCo’s 2018 review of the city, the most recent one it lists, and that review does not name the city’s ten landscape zones. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Camarillo at a glance
None of the public agencies we checked lists Camarillo’s homeowners associations. What they do show is that services are split among several providers, so two associations a mile apart can have a different water supplier, sewer provider and landscape district.
No public agency we checked gives a count of Camarillo’s HOAs or a typical dues figure, so we do not quote one. Owners and tenants should read their own governing documents to learn what their association covers.
Read next: What Is a Homeowners Association? How HOAs Work and, for age-restricted communities, 55+ Community HOA Rules in California: A Board’s Guide.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Camarillo
Three layers of rules apply to a Camarillo association. State law comes first, mainly the Davis-Stirling Act. City ordinances apply to every property, whether or not it is in an HOA. Your governing documents can then be stricter than the city in most areas, and state law limits them in a few. The city does not enforce your CC&Rs, and your CC&Rs do not excuse anyone from a city rule.
Short-term rentalsWe found no city short-term rental program in the code.
A search of the Municipal Code for short-term and vacation rentals found no short-term rental permit chapter. The only rule we found is narrow: sections 19.14.170 and 19.14.180 say units built under the state’s urban lot split and two-unit rules (SB 9) may not be rented for less than 30 days.
Not finding a chapter does not tell you whether the city allows short-term rentals, so ask Planning at (805) 388-5360 before you rely on the code either way. Your CC&Rs can still limit rentals, whatever the city allows.
What to do about it: How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community walks through writing and enforcing a rental rule. For longer leases, see Renting Out Your Home in a Homeowners Association. For the California rules, see our guide to buying, selling and renting in a California HOA.
Parking and oversized vehiclesRVs and oversized vehicles cannot park on a public street without a city permit.
Section 11.20.220 was most recently amended by Ordinance 2040 on July 8, 2026, and the fine is set by City Council resolution. A permit can be denied for safety reasons, such as a street that is too narrow, on streets that ban all parking, for false information or for unpaid citations.
Private streets are a different question. Chapter 11.36 lets the city enforce parking on some private roads and lots, but it lists shopping centers and similar commercial sites, not residential streets. We found no code provision that brings city parking enforcement onto private HOA streets, so your own towing rules do that work. Ask the Police Department at (805) 388-5150 before you plan around city help.
Inoperable or junk vehicles on private property go to Code Compliance at (805) 383-5660. Reports go through the city’s Camarillo Connect form. Anonymous complaints are not accepted, but the city keeps the complainant’s name confidential. Unfixed violations can bring penalties of $100 to $750 per violation per day.
What to do about it: How to Set Up a Towing Service in Your Homeowners Association and HOA Rules and Enforcing Violations. For the state rules on enforcement, fines and hearings, see California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes.
TreesCity street trees need a Public Works permit, and historic trees need Planning Commission approval.
Chapter 13.12 of the Municipal Code covers trees in city streets and public areas:
- Planting a tree in a city street or public area needs a written permit from the Public Works director.
- Only city crews or city contractors may trim, top, prune or cut a city tree. Anyone else needs a permit, and so does removing one.
- Historic and specimen trees, designated by Planning Commission resolution, cannot be removed without Planning Commission approval.
We did not find a tree permit chapter for trees on private property in our code search. Before your landscaper removes a large common-area tree, call Planning at (805) 388-5360 to make sure it is not a designated historic or specimen tree. City tree trimming goes to Public Works at (805) 388-5340.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association covers what to require of a tree service before work starts. Budget recurring tree work with Planning and Managing Your HOA Budget.
Water, watering days and the state turf lawFour suppliers serve Camarillo, and HOA common-area turf rules start in 2029.
The Calleguas Municipal Water District sells imported water to local suppliers. It lists four that serve Camarillo:
- City of Camarillo: the city’s own water system, serving the central and western parts of the city.
- Camrosa Water District: a public district serving eastern Camarillo and the Santa Rosa Valley.
- California American Water: an investor-owned utility that serves the Las Posas Estates area.
- Pleasant Valley Mutual Water Company: a mutual company serving homes in the Camarillo Heights area.
LAFCo’s 2018 review said the city supplied drinking water to about 75% of the area inside city limits. The quickest way to know your supplier is the name on your common-area water bill. Each supplier sets its own rates, conservation rules and rebate terms.
Watering days for city water customers. The city depends on local groundwater wells and imported State Water Project water. The City Council declared a Stage 1 water shortage on June 28, 2023, and the restrictions remain in place: landscape watering up to four days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. and for no more than 15 minutes. These rules apply to city water customers. If another supplier serves you, ask it for its rules. Report water waste to the city at (805) 388-5373 or water@cityofcamarillo.org.
Rebates. The city offers rebates to its customers for water-efficient appliances, irrigation controllers and sprinkler nozzles. Camrosa says it does not run rebate programs itself; its customers apply through SoCal Water$mart, and the turf replacement program requires approval before the project starts. Remove grass first and you may lose the rebate. Neither page lists a dollar amount for HOA common areas, so ask your supplier before you plan. Camrosa is at (805) 388-0226.
The state turf law. AB 1572 is the 2023 state law on watering nonfunctional turf with drinking water. Calleguas describes the first phase for commercial, industrial and institutional properties starting in 2027. For associations, the State Water Resources Control Board says common areas of HOAs and other common interest developments may not use drinking water on nonfunctional turf starting January 1, 2029. Ask your supplier how it will apply the law to your common areas.
What to do about it: put the turf conversion in your numbers with Planning and Managing Your HOA Budget and Understanding HOA Reserve Studies, then compare landscape bids with the Vendor Comparison Worksheet.
Fire and brush clearanceVCFD mails clearance notices on April 20, and the work is due June 1.
Camarillo does not run its own fire department. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) serves all of Ventura County except the cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Fillmore, so it covers Camarillo. Its Fire Hazard Reduction Program sends owners of parcels in the program an annual Notice to Abate Fire Hazard.
When the HOA does the clearance. VCFD lists parcels with a Fuel Modification Zone, such as open space or HOA landscape areas, among the reasons a parcel is in the program. State law still requires VCFD to send the notice to the property owner, not to whoever has agreed to do the work. If the association finishes the work by the deadline, the owner needs to do nothing more. Tell owners this before April so they are not surprised. Ornamental landscaping near open space counts too: keep it irrigated and free of dead material.
Local stations normally start inspections in the last week of May and continue into June, and approval status is posted online and updated each morning. Since March 1, 2025, VCFD requires a full 5-foot noncombustible Zone 0 for new buildings and additions. Check each common-area address in the department’s 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone map viewer. Five Fire Safe Councils in the county offer free home wildfire and hardening assessments in wildfire-prone areas, and VCFD is launching Firewise USA communities. Call the Fire Hazard Reduction Program at (805) 389-9759 or email fhrp@venturacounty.gov.
What to do about it: Wildfire Defensible Space for Foothill HOAs, 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.
Landscape and lighting districts and sewerA citywide district, ten zoned landscape districts and two main sewer providers.
LAFCo’s 2018 review describes these charges, which are separate from association dues:
- A Citywide Lighting and Landscape Maintenance District, funded through property taxes. The city’s General Fund partly covers its costs.
- Ten zoned landscape maintenance districts, paid by special assessments. Owners in those zones pay for landscape upkeep through their property tax bill.
The review does not name the ten zones or say which neighborhoods they cover. Check a property tax bill for an assessment line before you assume the association maintains a slope or parkway.
Sewer. The same 2018 review describes two main sewer providers. The Camarillo Sanitary District, a special district governed by the City Council, serves the area west of Calleguas Creek. The Camrosa Water District serves the parts of the city east of the creek. A few areas have another provider. Your governing documents decide whether the association or the owner pays for a sewer line between a home and the main, so read them before a backup happens.
Read next: Mello-Roos vs. HOA Dues: What Each One Pays For, Who Pays for Repairs in an HOA? and Buying a House in an HOA? Here’s What You Need to Know. For the California rules behind these projects, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
Noise and work hoursLoud construction near homes is barred from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Sundays and listed holidays.
Chapter 10.34 sets daytime as 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Standby generators are exempt during outages, maintenance or testing. Put the blower hours in your landscape contract. The city lists the Camarillo Police Department at (805) 654-9511 for public disturbances.
What to do about it: Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA and How to Deal With Barking Dogs in Your Homeowners Association.
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 Camarillo 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 Camarillo board members ask
Are short-term rentals legal in Camarillo?
We found no city short-term rental program in the Municipal Code. The only rule we found bars renting SB 9 units for less than 30 days. Ask Planning at (805) 388-5360, and read your CC&Rs, which can limit rentals either way. More in How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Can an owner park an RV on the street in front of their home?
Only while loading or unloading, or with a city permit. A permit lasts no more than five days in a row and no more than 10 days in any 90-day period.
Will the city enforce parking on our private streets?
We found no code provision that does. The city’s private-road chapter lists commercial sites, not residential streets. Call the Police Department at (805) 388-5150 and see How to Set Up a Towing Service in Your Homeowners Association.
Do we need a city permit to remove a common-area tree?
Trees in city streets and public areas need a Public Works permit, and historic or specimen trees need Planning Commission approval. We found no chapter for other trees on private property. Call Planning at (805) 388-5360 before a large tree comes down.
Our HOA clears the brush. Why did owners get the fire notice?
State law requires the Ventura County Fire Department to send the notice to the property owner. If the association finishes the work by June 1, the owner needs to do nothing more.
When does the state turf law reach our common areas?
The State Water Resources Control Board says HOA common areas may not use drinking water on nonfunctional turf starting January 1, 2029. Ask your water supplier how it will apply the law.
Is the landscape district charge part of my HOA dues?
No. Landscape and lighting district charges are paid through the property tax bill. Your association does not set or collect them.
Calendar
A Camarillo board’s year
The April 20 notice date, the June 1 deadline and the inspection window come from the Ventura County Fire Department, and the 2029 date from the State Water Resources Control Board. 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
Camarillo contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Code Compliance | (805) 383-5660 | Property maintenance, junk vehicles on private property, weeds |
| Planning | (805) 388-5360 | Short-term rental questions, historic and specimen trees, land use |
| Building & Safety | (805) 388-5395 | Building permits |
| Public Works | (805) 388-5340 | City tree trimming, grading, water |
| Public Works Streets | (805) 388-5338 | Road maintenance |
| Police Department, abandoned vehicles | (805) 388-5150 | Abandoned vehicles on public streets, parking questions |
| Police Department, public disturbances | (805) 654-9511 | Noise and disturbances |
| City water waste line | (805) 388-5373 | Reporting water waste (city water customers) |
| VCFD Fire Hazard Reduction Program | (805) 389-9759 | Brush clearance notices and inspections |
| Camrosa Water District | (805) 388-0226 | Water and sewer service in eastern Camarillo, rebate questions |
| Calleguas Municipal Water District | (805) 526-9323 | Regional water use efficiency programs |
Code complaints go through the city’s Camarillo Connect form. Barking and dangerous dogs go to Ventura County Animal Services at (805) 388-4341. California American Water and the Pleasant Valley Mutual Water Company list their numbers on their own websites. For emergencies, call 911.
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Camarillo: Camarillo Municipal Code (Chapters 10.34, 11.20, 11.36, 13.12 and 19.14); Code Compliance; water conservation.
Ventura County agencies: Ventura County Fire Department, Fire Hazard Reduction Program; Ventura County Fire Department, Guideline 411: FHRP frequently asked questions (April 20, 2026); Ventura LAFCo, City of Camarillo municipal service review (February 21, 2018); Ventura LAFCo, municipal service reviews.
Other agencies: Calleguas Municipal Water District, member purveyors; Calleguas Municipal Water District, water use efficiency; Camrosa Water District, about; Camrosa Water District, community resources and rebates; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Camarillo.
California law: State Water Resources Control Board, nonfunctional turf (AB 1572) FAQ.
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. City 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.