San Bernardino County HOA Guide
Chino HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Chino has about 97,000 residents, and the Census Bureau puts its owner-occupied housing rate at 64.0%. The Preserve, a large master-planned area, and College Park both come up in the city’s own pages about HOAs.
This guide collects the city rules a Chino 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 Chino’s website, its Code Enforcement procedures and the Chino Valley Independent Fire District on October 27, 2026. The city’s online municipal code on Municode and the Preserve Specific Plan would not open for us, so this page covers only what we could confirm on official pages and says so where we could not. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Chino at a glance
We do not quote a count of Chino HOAs or a typical dues figure, because we found no official figure. The city’s pages do name two communities where associations take on work the city would otherwise do:
Local rules
Rules that apply in Chino
Three layers of rules apply to a Chino 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. Your CC&Rs do not excuse anyone from a city rule.
Short-term rentalsThe city’s Code Enforcement procedures say short-term rentals are not permitted.
The city’s Code Enforcement procedures document states that short-term rentals are not permitted in the City of Chino. It cites Municipal Code section 20.24.020, which defines a short-term rental. The document is undated, and the Code Compliance page does not address rentals, so confirm the current code on Municode or with Community Preservation at (909) 334-3319.
We did not find the minimum stay or the penalty on an official page, so we do not quote them.
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 vehicle storageBoats, RVs and inoperable vehicles in a driveway are limited to 72 hours.
The city’s Code Compliance page sets these limits:
We could not confirm the 72-hour public street rule, any overnight permit program or how the city handles private streets. Write those answers into your own parking rules and towing agreement.
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.
The PreserveA master-planned area of about 5,435 acres.
The Preserve Master Plan, also called Chino Sphere of Influence Subarea 2, is described in the city’s environmental review summary. It covers about 5,435 acres, bounded by SR-71, SR-91, SR-60 and I-15, with up to 9,779 homes concentrated in the northern part above the Prado Basin inundation line. The plan sets aside:
- About 1,236 acres for residential use.
- About 626 acres for business use.
- About 586 acres for public facilities and rights-of-way.
- About 2,987 acres of open space.
The same documents say the City of Chino is responsible for water supply to the plan area, and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency provides wastewater treatment and recycled water.
For an HOA board the practical points are narrower. The city’s tree page lists The Preserve HOA at (909) 606-7446 as the contact for trees the association maintains, and College Park at (909) 606-7374. The city’s Mello-Roos page shows a map titled “CFD Preserve 2016,” but it does not say what that district funds.
We could not confirm The Preserve’s master association name, its villages, any gates or private streets, its fire hazard zone or any fuel modification duties. The specific plan PDF returned unreadable data. Use your own governing documents for these.
What to do about it: Governing Documents Explained and Exclusive Use Common Area.
TreesThe city maintains street trees, and some HOAs maintain their own.
Public Works maintains city trees in the right-of-way and in maintenance districts on a schedule. The tree page describes no permit process and does not cover private property, so we could not confirm any permit rule for trees on HOA land. Report city tree problems to Public Works at (909) 334-3266. For trees in The Preserve or College Park, the page says to contact the association.
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 Your HOA Budget.
Water and watering rulesThe City of Chino is the water supplier and sets watering days.
The City of Chino runs water, sewer and storm drain service through its Utility Billing Services Division. Customer service is at (909) 334-3264, and the after-hours water and sewer emergency line is Chino Police dispatch at (909) 628-1234. The city’s watering schedule page does not state a stage:
- Irrigate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only.
- Automated irrigation runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for 15 minutes per station (drip is exempt). It is not allowed from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- No irrigation on rainy days.
- Hand-held hoses with shutoff nozzles, drip and buckets are allowed any time.
Because the page names no stage, call Water Conservation at (909) 334-3282 to confirm the current rules. The page also notes that the state’s permanent “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” rules start for urban water suppliers on January 1, 2027. The Code Enforcement procedures cite Municipal Code chapter 13.05 for water conservation.
The city lists its RISE program (for first-time homeowner participants, with an audit and upgrades up to $1,000 and limited funding), a turf replacement program for homeowners, and SoCal Water$mart and Inland Empire Utilities Agency rebates. We found no HOA-specific city program. The Chino Basin Water Conservation District offers a landscape irrigation evaluation for commercial, industrial and institutional owners.
A state law passed in 2023 (AB 1572) will bar the use of drinking water on nonfunctional turf in HOA common areas. We state no start date here. Confirm the start date, and how it applies to your common areas, with the City of Chino water division.
What to do about it: put turf and irrigation work in your numbers with Planning Your HOA Budget and Understanding HOA Reserve Studies, then compare landscape bids with the Vendor Comparison Worksheet. For the California rules behind these projects, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
Vegetation and weed abatementOwners must keep vegetation from becoming a fire hazard, parkways included.
The city’s Code Compliance page says property owners must keep vegetation from being overgrown or a fire or safety hazard, including the parkway. It cites Municipal Code sections 8.50.040, 12.16.150 and 12.16.160. Annual weed abatement is run by the city and the Chino Valley Independent Fire District under state law. The council declares weeds a public nuisance and owners are notified. We found no Chino dates for the program.
The Chino Valley Independent Fire District has published a weed abatement guide and a news release for neighboring Chino Hills, with spring and fall inspections and a 4-inch grass height on small parcels. We could not confirm on a Chino page that the same terms apply inside Chino, so ask the district at (909) 902-5260 before you use them. The district’s hazard zone map page does not list neighborhoods, so we could not confirm the zone status of The Preserve or any other community.
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.
Mello-Roos districtsThe city lists its community facilities districts on one page.
These charges appear on the property tax bill and are separate from association dues. The city’s annual report list for fiscal year 2025-26 names these districts, along with several improvement areas:
- CFD 99-1, 2000-1, 2001-1 and 2003-1
- CFD 2003-2, 2003-3, 2003-4 and 2005-1
- CFD 2005-2, 2006-1, 2006-2 and 2006-3
- CFD 2009-1, 2016-1, 2016-2 and 2019-1
- CFD 2020-1, 2021-1, 2022-1 and 2023-1
The page also has maps for South of Kimball-Commercial, North of Kimball-Commercial, Preserve 2016 and College Park 2016, and names four Public Financing Authorities. It does not say which district covers which community or what each one funds. Check the CFD number on your tax bill or sale disclosure, then call the city’s administrator, Webb and Associates, at (800) 439-6553.
Noise and work hoursSound complaints fall under the city’s sound ordinance, but we found no hours.
The Code Enforcement procedures say sound complaints fall under the city’s “Sound Ordinance” and that inspectors use a sound level meter. Landscape maintenance is a common source. The document cites no section, and we could not confirm construction hours or leaf blower rules, so ask Community Preservation at (909) 334-3319 before you set hours for a contractor.
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 Chino 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 Chino board members ask
Are short-term rentals legal in Chino?
The city’s Code Enforcement procedures say they are not permitted. The document is undated, so confirm the current code. More in How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Can an owner keep a boat or RV in the driveway?
Only temporarily, up to 72 hours, for loading or unloading, according to the city’s Code Compliance page. Your CC&Rs may be stricter.
Who maintains trees in The Preserve and College Park?
The city says some trees in both are maintained by the homeowners’ association, not the city. Call The Preserve at (909) 606-7446 or College Park at (909) 606-7374.
Which watering days apply to our common areas?
The city’s page lists Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and states no stage. Confirm with Water Conservation at (909) 334-3282.
When does the state turf ban start for our common areas?
Confirm the start date for AB 1572, and how it applies to your common areas, with the City of Chino water division.
Is the Mello-Roos charge part of my HOA dues?
No. Community facilities district charges appear on the property tax bill and are separate from dues.
Calendar
A Chino board’s year
The city publishes few dates for HOA-related work, and we list only the ones it does. 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
Chino contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City main line | (909) 334-3250 | General questions |
| Community Preservation (code compliance) | (909) 334-3319 | Property, parking and weed complaints |
| Chino Police | (909) 628-1234 | Abandoned vehicles and after-hours water emergencies |
| Utilities customer service | (909) 334-3264 | Water billing |
| Water conservation | (909) 334-3282 | Rebates and watering rules |
| Public Works | (909) 334-3266 | Reporting city trees |
| CFD administrator (Webb and Associates) | (800) 439-6553 | Mello-Roos questions |
| Chino Valley Fire District | (909) 902-5260 | Vegetation and fire administration |
| The Preserve HOA | (909) 606-7446 | Trees the association maintains |
| College Park HOA | (909) 606-7374 | Trees the association maintains |
We could not confirm planning and building phone numbers for the city, so we do not list them.
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Chino: municipal code; Code Compliance; Code Enforcement procedures; city trees; utilities; water conservation; Mello-Roos districts; The Preserve EIR summary; The Preserve EIR project description.
Other agencies: Chino Valley Independent Fire District, community risk reduction; CVFD fire hazard severity zone map; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Chino.
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. 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.