Los Angeles County HOA Guide
Claremont HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Claremont has about 36,000 residents, and the Census Bureau puts its owner-occupied housing rate at 63.2%. The city allows only hosted short-term rentals, limits overnight street parking and leaves water service to a private utility.
This guide collects the city and agency rules a Claremont 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 Claremont website, Golden State Water Company and Los Angeles County Fire on October 26, 2026. Two pages of the city’s online municipal code on QCode would not open for us, and we found no city page about homeowners associations, so this page covers only what we could confirm on official pages. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
Claremont at a glance
Claremont is an incorporated city in Los Angeles County, so city ordinances apply on top of state law. The city’s municipal code is published on QCode.
We found no city page about homeowners associations and no city list of them. We also could not confirm any special tax or assessment districts, so check your tax bill for charges beyond the general levy.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Claremont
Three layers of rules apply to a Claremont 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 rentalsOnly hosted rentals are allowed, under a permit with a citywide cap.
Claremont allows hosted short-term rentals only. Vacation rentals with no host on site are prohibited. The rules are in Chapter 16.110 of the municipal code and run as a one-year pilot program. The City Council’s first reading was April 22, 2025, so ask the city whether the program has been extended or made permanent.
As the city describes the program:
- The owner must live on site during the entire guest stay, and the home must be the owner’s primary residence, lived in at least nine months a year.
- The permit covers a room in the main home or a permitted accessory structure, not both. Each owner or household gets one permit.
- Permits last one year and do not transfer with the property.
- The cap is 100 permits citywide, 20 in each of five zones. As of February 10, 2026, 16 had been issued. Full zones keep a waiting list.
- The application fee is $606.85, annual renewal is $451.85 and a re-inspection is $98.75.
- Transient Occupancy Tax is 10% of guest rent, reported monthly. Airbnb began collecting and remitting it for Claremont hosts on June 1, 2026.
- Guests must follow the city’s noise ordinance.
The city does not require HOA approval, but it does require notice to the HOA for condo and townhome properties, as well as to neighborhood associations and nearby neighbors. A city permit does not override your CC&Rs, so an association can still prohibit rentals in its own documents. To report a suspected unpermitted rental, use the contact page on the city’s website or call City Hall at (909) 399-5460. The city’s page lists a neighbor hotline number, but we could not verify it, so we have left it out.
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.
Overnight parking and RVsNo street parking for more than an hour from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. without an exemption.
Municipal Code section 10.32.210 prohibits parking on city streets for more than one hour between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Overnight parking exemptions are available:
- Three nights per vehicle per month for each household.
- Trailers need their own exemption.
- Apply online or in the Claremont Overnight Parking App, up to 60 days ahead. Online requests are accepted until 3:30 a.m. that morning, and you cancel before 2 a.m. on the date.
- Extended exemptions, such as for driveway construction, must be requested in person at the police department.
- The city does not ticket from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and the day after, and New Year’s Eve and Day and the day after.
On private property, the city says RVs, meaning boats, campers, trailers and motor homes, must be in a garage or in an interior side or rear yard behind a solid fence or wall at least 5 feet high. Temporary RV permits run up to 14 days per calendar year and are also needed for maintenance and trip preparation at home. Vehicles visible from the street must be on paved driveways or approved surfaces, not sidewalks or lawns. Unlicensed, unregistered or inoperable vehicles must not be visible from the street or from neighbors.
The city also has a Residential Permit Parking program, which we did not read. We could not confirm a 72-hour rule or how the city handles private streets, so ask the Community Improvement Division at (909) 399-5499.
What to do about it: How to Set Up a Towing Service in Your Homeowners Association and How to Enforce HOA Rules in Your Homeowners Association. For the state rules on enforcement, fines and hearings, see California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes.
TreesHeritage trees and city trees have rules. We could not confirm a general permit rule.
The city’s 2025 Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual covers heritage trees, which are protected under Municipal Code sections 12.26.010 and 12.26.090. A heritage tree on private property can be nominated if it is visible from a publicly accessible location. The Community and Human Services Commission reviews nominations first.
If a city tree stands on your property, section 12.26.040 sets duties for the owner. No hardscape may go within 3 feet of the base of a city tree. The city recommends hiring ISA Certified Arborists.
The city’s residential regulations page says it does not address trees. We could not confirm any permit rule for ordinary private trees or for trees on HOA common areas and slopes. Call the Community Services Department at (909) 399-5431 before major pruning or removal.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association and Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA.
Water and landscapingGolden State Water Company serves Claremont. The city does not run water service.
Golden State Water Company, a private utility regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, provides water. The city says it does not own, operate or manage water service or groundwater. Its wholesale supplier is Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and the Six Basins Watermaster oversees groundwater pumping. Customer service is 1-800-999-4033.
The city lists these permanent prohibitions: hosing off hardscape, washing cars with hoses that lack a shut-off nozzle, decorative water features that do not recirculate, and watering that causes runoff or happens within 48 hours after measurable rain.
The watering schedule posted by the city and by Golden State Water (a May 2023 update) allows up to three days a week. Even-numbered addresses water on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, and odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Irrigation is allowed from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Golden State’s page does not name a current water stage, so confirm the schedule before you set timers.
Golden State Water’s Claremont rebate sheet lists regional rebates through SoCalWaterSmart for turf removal, smart controllers, nozzles and rain barrels or cisterns. It also lists a program for customized commercial and institutional projects and a free Large Landscape Survey for sites over one acre. No dollar amounts, caps or HOA-specific program are stated, and the sheet says funding is limited. SoCalWaterSmart is at 1-888-376-3314.
What to do about it: Planning Your HOA Budget and Understanding HOA Reserve Studies help you plan for landscape changes. For the California rules behind these projects, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
Brush clearance and hillside fire rulesLos Angeles County Fire inspects private property. The city does not.
The city says the Los Angeles County Fire Department does brush clearance inspection and enforcement on private property, and the city does not inspect or clear it. Owners in high fire severity zones get an annual notice, sent in February. Inspections of private property begin May 1 in inland communities. An Official Inspection Report gives the clearing instructions and a deadline.
The city’s page says portions of northern Claremont are in a High zone in the Local Responsibility Area, and tells owners to check CAL FIRE’s map. It lists an inspection fee of $151, a 2024 figure billed on the 2025 tax bill, which applies to declared hazardous properties whether or not they were cleared. Confirm the current amount.
We could not confirm whether Claremont is on Los Angeles County Fire’s 2026 city list, or the zone class for any address, so we have left out clearance distances. Ask the Brush Clearance Unit at (626) 969-2375. The municipal code has a section 15.20.020 titled “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone,” but we could not open it.
The city contracts annual brush clearance in Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.
What to do about it: Homeowners Insurance and California HOA Insurance Costs and the FAIR Plan cover what fire risk means for your policy. Add clearance to your maintenance plan. For what the association’s insurance has to cover, see California HOA insurance requirements.
Noise and work hoursConstruction noise is allowed 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The city’s residential regulations page gives these limits:
- Moderate noise is allowed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with stricter standards from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Property maintenance noise is allowed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
- Construction noise is allowed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday is not listed, so ask the city before scheduling Sunday work.
The page does not address leaf blowers and does not give a code section. The city’s short-term rental page cites the Noise Ordinance as section 16.154.020. The page also treats overgrown front or rear yard vegetation and weeds as a visual nuisance and fire hazard. Questions go to the Community Improvement Division at (909) 399-5499.
What to do about it: HOA Rules and Enforcing Violations. If your association wants stricter hours, see How to Rewrite HOA Governing Documents.
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 Claremont 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 Claremont board members ask
Are short-term rentals legal in Claremont?
Only hosted ones, where the owner lives on site during the stay, and only with a city permit. Rentals with no host are prohibited. Your association can still prohibit them in its own documents. More in How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Can residents park on the street overnight?
Not for more than an hour between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. without an exemption. Each household gets three exempt nights per vehicle per month, requested online or in the city’s app.
Where can I store an RV?
In a garage, or in an interior side or rear yard behind a solid fence or wall at least 5 feet high. Temporary permits cover up to 14 days a year.
Who provides water in Claremont?
Golden State Water Company, a private utility. Call 1-800-999-4033 for service and ask about rebates before you plan a landscape project.
Who inspects brush clearance?
Los Angeles County Fire, not the city. Call its Brush Clearance Unit at (626) 969-2375.
Does the city keep a list of HOAs?
We did not find one. Your association’s documents and your title or tax records are the best place to start.
Calendar
A Claremont board’s year
The fire dates come from the city’s Fire Prevention page. 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
Claremont contacts for HOA boards
City Hall is at 207 Harvard Avenue.
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City Hall | (909) 399-5460 | General questions, rental complaints |
| Community Improvement Division | (909) 399-5499 | Code enforcement and residential rules |
| Short-term rental program | (909) 399-5323 | Permits and the pilot program |
| Community Services Department | (909) 399-5431 | Trees |
| LA County Fire Brush Clearance Unit | (626) 969-2375 | Brush clearance |
| LA County Fire non-emergency | (323) 881-2411 | Fire department |
| Golden State Water Company | 1-800-999-4033 | Water service and rebates |
We did not find a city page on special tax or assessment districts, so check your tax bill.
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Claremont: short-term rentals; overnight parking; residential regulations; Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual (2025); water; fire prevention; fire; municipal code on QCode.
Other agencies: Census QuickFacts, Claremont; Golden State Water, Claremont; Golden State Water rebate sheet; Golden State Water conservation.
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.