Orange County HOA Guide
La Habra HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
La Habra has an estimated 60,908 residents, and the Census Bureau puts its owner-occupied housing rate at 58.3%. The city contracts with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire and emergency medical service, and its permanent water-use rules are written into the municipal code.
This guide collects the city rules a La Habra 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 La Habra’s website and City Council records, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, the Orange County Fire Authority and the State Water Resources Control Board on November 3, 2026. The city’s online municipal code would not open for us, so this page does not give construction hours, noise limits or water shortage levels, and we could not confirm fire hazard zone maps or any special tax districts for La Habra. It 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
HOAs in La Habra at a glance
The city pages we checked do not list homeowners associations or say how many there are. Here is what shapes life in a La Habra association:
No public agency we checked gives a count of La Habra’s HOAs or a typical dues figure, so we do not quote one.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.
Local rules
Rules that apply in La Habra
Three layers of rules apply to a La Habra 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 rentalsRentals of 30 days or less are not allowed in any zone.
On August 16, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1836, which added “short-term residential rentals” to the zoning code as a use that is not allowed in any zone. Section 18.04.030 defines one as a home rented by its owner for a continuous period of 30 days or less, whether the owner is paid in cash or in another way, such as a trade or a home swap.
Your association can also prohibit short rentals in its own documents. California Civil Code section 4741 limits how far an association can restrict leasing, but it does not stop an association from prohibiting rentals of 30 days or less. Questions about the city rule go to Community Development at (562) 383-4100.
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 street parkingCars may not stay on city streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. without a permit.
Parking on lawns is prohibited (section 18.10.050). A permit does not protect a car that sits on a street for 72 hours or more, has five or more unpaid parking tickets, has no plates or has registration expired six months or more, and those vehicles can be towed. Drivers with a disabled placard or plate can get a permit at no charge.
The city’s page covers public streets. We could not confirm whether the city enforces parking on private HOA streets, so ask the Police Department before you plan around it. On association streets and lots, your own parking rules and state towing law do the work.
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.
Permanent water rulesNo sprinkler watering from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and fines run $100 to $500 per violation.
La Habra’s permanent water restrictions are in Municipal Code section 13.40.070. The city lists them for both residential and commercial properties:
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Time of day | No watering of lawns, landscapes or turf from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hand watering with a can, a bucket or a hose with a self-closing nozzle is allowed, and so are brief irrigation repairs. |
| Rain | No outdoor irrigation during measurable rain or within 48 hours after |
| Runoff | No watering that sends more than incidental runoff onto sidewalks, driveways, streets, alleys or gutters |
| Paved areas | No hosing down paved surfaces except for safety or sanitary hazards. Use a bucket, a pressure washer or a hose with a self-closing nozzle. |
| Fountains | Decorative fountains and ponds must recirculate their water |
| Leaks | Plumbing and irrigation leaks must be repaired promptly |
Violations cost $100 to $500 each, and the city may install a flow restrictor or shut off service for repeat offenders. The city’s page does not list watering days. Questions go to the city at (562) 383-4000.
What to do about it: write the watering hours into your landscape contract with Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA. For who maintains what under California law, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities.
The 2029 turf deadline and rebatesHOA common areas must stop watering nonfunctional turf with drinking water by January 1, 2029.
Under AB 1572, the 2023 state law on nonfunctional turf, HOA and common interest development common areas must stop watering nonfunctional turf with drinking water by January 1, 2029. The State Water Board says functional turf is mowed grass in a recreation area or community space, such as a sports field or an area for community events, and grass in street rights-of-way and parking lots is not. Owners’ own residential yards are not covered. Associations with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated common area must self-certify compliance by June 30, 2031.
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) lists a commercial turf replacement rebate of $2 per square foot, plus $100 per tree for up to five trees. Artificial turf is not eligible. MWDOC says rebate amounts may vary by participating agency, and its page does not say how HOA common areas are treated, so call its turf program at (714) 593-5036 before you plan a conversion.
What to do about it: put the turf conversion 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 reserves.
Fire serviceThe Los Angeles County Fire Department serves La Habra under contract with the city.
La Habra contracts with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire suppression and emergency medical services. The department also does the city’s annual business fire inspections as part of the business license process. Four stations serve the city:
| Station | Address |
|---|---|
| Station 191 | 850 West La Habra Boulevard |
| Station 192 | 520 South Harbor Boulevard |
| Station 193 | 1000 West Risner Way |
| Station 194 | 13540 Beach Boulevard |
Through its Ready! Set! Go! program, the department offers a Personal Wildfire Action Plan for homes that could be threatened by wildfire. Ask any La Habra station for a copy, or call the department’s Public Information Office at (323) 881-2411.
We did not find a city page that shows whether any La Habra neighborhoods are in a fire hazard severity zone. If a home is in a High or Very High zone, Civil Code section 1102.19 requires the seller to provide defensible space documentation when it is sold. OCFA’s disclosure page sends La Habra owners to the Los Angeles County Fire Department at (626) 969-2375 for these inspections.
What to do about it: Wildfire Defensible Space for Foothill HOAs and How to Minimize Homeowners Association Liability. For what the association’s insurance has to cover, see California HOA insurance requirements.
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 La Habra 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 La Habra board members ask
Are short-term rentals legal in La Habra?
No. Since 2021, rentals of 30 days or less have not been an allowed use in any zone. Your association can also 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 from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. without a permit, and permits go only to homes without enough room to park on the property. Free temporary parking is available by calling (562) 383-4362.
Can an owner get an overnight permit for an RV or boat?
No. The city does not issue overnight permits for motor homes, boats, trailers, commercial vehicles or vehicles over 6,000 pounds.
When can we run our sprinklers?
Not between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., not during rain and not for 48 hours after measurable rain. Violations cost $100 to $500 each.
Who do we call about fire service?
In an emergency, 911. For other questions, the Los Angeles County Fire Department stations in La Habra are listed below.
When does the turf law apply to our HOA?
January 1, 2029, for nonfunctional turf in common areas. Grass used for recreation or community events counts as functional and is exempt.
Calendar
A La Habra board’s year
The watering rules come from Municipal Code section 13.40.070, the parking hours from section 10.20.180 and the 2029 and 2031 dates from AB 1572 as the State Water Board explains it. 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
La Habra contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City of La Habra main line | (562) 383-4000 | General questions and water rules |
| Community Development | (562) 383-4100 | Zoning and short-term rental questions |
| Temporary overnight parking | (562) 383-4362 | Free temporary overnight parking |
| Citation Processing Center | (800) 989-2058 | Contesting a parking citation |
| LA County Fire Station 191 | (562) 691-4692 | 850 West La Habra Boulevard |
| LA County Fire Station 192 | (562) 694-3265 | 520 South Harbor Boulevard |
| LA County Fire Station 193 | (714) 525-9947 | 1000 West Risner Way |
| LA County Fire Station 194 | (562) 697-4320 | 13540 Beach Boulevard |
| LA County Fire Public Information Office | (323) 881-2411 | Personal Wildfire Action Plan |
| LA County Fire (for La Habra) | (626) 969-2375 | Defensible space inspections for home sales |
| MWDOC turf program | (714) 593-5036 | Turf replacement rebates |
We did not find a code enforcement or police non-emergency number on the pages we reviewed. 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 La Habra: Ordinance No. 1836, short-term rentals (August 2021); overnight parking permits; permanent water restrictions; fire department; Ready! Set! Go! wildland readiness program; fire inspection and permit program.
Other agencies: MWDOC commercial rebates; OCFA defensible space disclosure; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, La Habra.
California law: Civil Code section 4741; section 1102.19; AB 1572 (2023); 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.