Placer County HOA Guide
Lincoln HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Lincoln has about 57,000 residents, and nearly 84% of its homes are owner-occupied. About 27% of residents are 65 or older.
Most of the city’s housing was built in planned communities such as Sun City Lincoln Hills, Lincoln Crossing and Twelve Bridges, so a large share of Lincoln homeowners belong to an association. This guide collects the Lincoln rules a 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 City of Lincoln sources and the Lincoln Municipal Code on October 9, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the current one before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Lincoln at a glance
No public agency publishes a count of Lincoln’s HOAs or a typical dues figure, so we do not quote one. Here is what the public record shows about some of the larger communities:
Most newer Lincoln subdivisions also sit in a zone of the city’s Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. 1. The district has more than 30 zones and pays for city parks, open-space preserves and trails, parkway and median landscaping, and street lights. For 2025-26 the charge in zones with single-family homes ranged from about $320 to about $939 per home, depending on the zone. It appears on the property tax bill and is separate from association dues, which is why city crews and HOA landscapers often work on opposite sides of the same sidewalk.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Lincoln
Three layers of rules apply to a Lincoln association. State law comes first, mainly the Davis-Stirling Act. City ordinances apply to every property, in an HOA or not. Your governing documents can then be stricter than the city in most areas, and state law limits them in a few.
Golf carts and neighborhood electric vehiclesLincoln treats golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) as part of its transportation system, with a city master plan updated in 2024 and a code…
Lincoln treats golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) as part of its transportation system, with a city master plan updated in 2024 and a code chapter on golf carts (Chapter 10.80). The two are not the same thing:
| NEV | Golf cart | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it can go | Any city road posted 35 mph or less, and NEV lanes | Private gated communities, and public roads only inside the city’s golf cart plan area (Sun City Lincoln Hills and Twelve Bridges) |
| Paperwork | DMV registration and plates | A city permit, with inspection by Lincoln Police. City documents list different permit fees, so confirm the current fee. |
| Both need | A licensed driver, insurance and seat belts | |
Golf carts are limited to two people. The code limits them to streets of 25 mph or less unless a street is a designated golf cart route. For a board, the practical points are these: your rules for carts on private streets and paths should match what the city allows on the public streets they connect to, and your insurance agent should know if carts cross association property.
What to do about it: The Ins and Outs of HOA Insurance and How to Minimize Homeowners Association Liability.
Parking, RVs and commercial vehiclesLincoln Police handle vehicles on public streets.
Lincoln Police handle vehicles on public streets. Code Enforcement handles storage on private lots. On streets your association owns, your own rules and state towing law govern.
What to do about it: How to Set Up a Towing Service in Your Homeowners Association and HOA Rules and Enforcing Violations.
Short-term rentalsWe found no short-term rental permit program in Lincoln’s municipal code or on the city’s website when we checked.
We found no short-term rental permit program in Lincoln’s municipal code or on the city’s website when we checked. That is different from Roseville and Rocklin, which both require a permit. Two city rules still apply: an ADU or junior ADU may not be rented for less than 31 days (section 18.37.030), and the city’s 10% lodging tax (Chapter 3.21) is written broadly enough that it appears to cover home stays of 30 days or less. Ask the Planning Division at (916) 434-3370 how the city treats a specific property.
With no city permit system that we could find, your CC&Rs are the main control. California Civil Code section 4741 does not stop an association from prohibiting rentals of 30 days or less.
What to do about it: How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community and Renting Out Your Home in a Homeowners Association.
Accessory dwelling unitsLincoln rewrote its ADU chapter (Chapter 18.37) in September 2025.
Lincoln rewrote its ADU chapter (Chapter 18.37) in September 2025. An ADU can be up to 1,000 square feet, or up to 1,200 if that is less than half the size of the main home. Junior ADUs are capped at 500 square feet. Detached units are generally limited to 16 feet in height with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and no extra parking is required. The city also offers pre-approved ADU plans.
Civil Code section 4751 voids CC&R provisions that prohibit or unreasonably restrict an ADU or junior ADU on a lot zoned for single-family use. An association can still apply reasonable restrictions through architectural review.
What to do about it: see how architectural requests work and How to Rewrite HOA Governing Documents.
Water and landscapingThe City of Lincoln is the water provider and also runs sewer and garbage service.
The City of Lincoln is the water provider and also runs sewer and garbage service. The city does not currently post a day-of-week watering schedule. Its permanent rules (Chapter 13.04) require leak-free plumbing and a nozzle on hoses, and prohibit letting water run off in unreasonable amounts. After two warnings in a year, fines start at up to $51 and rise to up to $500.
The city’s water shortage plan, adopted in 2021, has six stages. At Stage 2, irrigation is barred between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and lawns are limited to three days a week, so make sure your landscape contract lets you change the schedule quickly. A state law passed in 2023 (AB 1572) will also bar the use of drinking water on nonfunctional turf in HOA common areas starting January 1, 2029. Lincoln’s website lists toilet and washer rebates and a smart controller discount but no turf replacement rebate, so plan to fund a conversion from the budget or reserves. The city’s Water-Wise House Call, at (916) 434-2450, includes an irrigation review. Ask whether HOA accounts qualify.
What to do about it: Planning Your HOA Budget, Understanding HOA Reserve Studies and the Vendor Comparison Worksheet.
Trash and green wasteThe city itself collects trash.
The city itself collects trash. Lincoln uses a one-bin system: recyclables and food scraps go in the garbage cart and are sorted at a recovery facility, and green waste is collected every other week. Carts may not be out more than 24 hours before or after collection (section 8.04.060), which gives boards a city rule to point to when carts are left at the curb.
Trees, fences and open spaceLincoln’s oak tree chapter (Chapter 18.69) works through the city’s development review: projects are approved with conditions protecting oaks, and removing one…
Lincoln’s oak tree chapter (Chapter 18.69) works through the city’s development review: projects are approved with conditions protecting oaks, and removing one in violation of those conditions can require replacement trees or a fee. The chapter sets no trunk-size threshold for a homeowner permit, so call Planning before removing a mature oak in a common area. Fences are limited to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards (section 18.36.040).
The city posted the State Fire Marshal’s updated fire hazard severity zone map for Lincoln for review in March 2025 and offers an online map. Lincoln Fire’s wildfire readiness guide advises keeping annual grass to 4 inches within 100 feet of structures and mowing before 10 a.m. The Fire Department’s fee schedule also lists a grazing permit, so ask Fire before bringing goats or sheep onto open space.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association and our HOA maintenance and vendors section.
Flood map changesFEMA is updating flood maps for western Placer County, including Markham Ravine in Lincoln.
FEMA is updating flood maps for western Placer County, including Markham Ravine in Lincoln. City workshop materials from January 2025 said about 88 structures would be newly added to the high-risk area and gave winter 2026 as a preliminary estimate for when the new maps take effect. If your community borders a creek or ravine, request a flood determination through the city’s flood zone page or the Engineering Division at (916) 434-3233, ask whether the new maps are in effect yet, and send the result to your insurance agent.
What to do about it: What Does Homeowners Association Insurance Cover?
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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln board members ask
Can residents drive golf carts on Lincoln streets?
Only inside the city’s golf cart plan area, which covers Sun City Lincoln Hills and Twelve Bridges, and only with a city permit. Elsewhere, a street-legal NEV is allowed on roads posted 35 mph or less.
Can our HOA ban short-term rentals in Lincoln?
Yes, if your governing documents say so. Civil Code section 4741 does not stop an association from prohibiting rentals of 30 days or less, though owners who bought before a restriction was adopted may have protected rights. Ask your attorney. More in How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Can an owner store an RV or boat beside the house?
Under the city code, only in a side or rear yard behind a six-foot screen, and not in the front or street-side yard (section 18.36.030). Your rules can be stricter. See How to Enforce HOA Rules in Your Homeowners Association.
Is the landscaping district charge the same as HOA dues?
No. It is a city assessment on the property tax bill that pays for city parks, corridors and street lights. HOA dues pay for what the association owns and maintains.
Who picks up trash in a Lincoln HOA?
The City of Lincoln, through Public Works at (916) 434-2450. There is no separate recycling cart.
Are there set watering days in Lincoln?
None are posted now. Day limits begin at Stage 2 of the city’s water shortage plan.
Calendar
A Lincoln board’s year
The maintenance items below 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
Lincoln contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City Hall | (916) 434-2400 | General questions, 600 6th Street |
| Code Enforcement | (916) 434-2477 | City code violations on private property |
| Planning | (916) 434-3370 | ADUs, trees, zoning |
| Building | (916) 434-2470 | Building permits |
| Engineering | (916) 434-3233 | Flood determinations, encroachment permits |
| Police and Fire non-emergency | (916) 645-4040 | Street parking, golf cart permits, fire prevention |
| Public Works | (916) 434-2450 | Water, sewer, garbage, Water-Wise House Call |
| Utility Billing | (916) 434-2430 | City utility accounts |
| Water waste line | (916) 434-2455 | Reporting water waste |
| CAI California North Chapter | (279) 800-5356 | Board education |
The City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 600 6th Street.
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Lincoln: Lincoln Municipal Code; golf cart and NEV information; golf cart permit; Code Enforcement; pre-approved ADU plans; water; water shortage contingency plan; garbage, recycling and yard waste; One & Done collection guide; fire hazard severity zone map; Lincoln Fire Ready, Set, Go guide; Fire fee schedule; flood zone information; Landscaping and Lighting District 2025-26 report; specific plans; City Council; contacts directory.
Other: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Lincoln; Sun City Lincoln Hills; Sun City Lincoln Hills community facts; Lincoln Crossing Community Association; Catta Verdera Home Owners Association; Catta Verdera, about the community; California Civil Code section 4741 and section 4751; 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. How2HOA is not affiliated with the associations named here. City ordinances and state law change, and your association’s governing documents control many of these questions, so check the current rule and talk with your association’s attorney or another qualified professional about your situation.