Ripon HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners

The city assesses parcels for landscaping in its 10 landscape districts and for street lighting throughout the city. The 2026-27 budget proposed per-parcel assessments of about $276 in Carolina’s, $137 in Cornerstone and $306 in Alexandra. The budget memo says six districts were created without annual inflation adjustments and that several receive transfers from street and road funds to cover deficits.

The $42 lighting tax has not changed since 2005, and the budget memo says assessments will need to rise within three years or another funding source must be found. A district that runs short can mean less service. Before the association takes on any public landscaping, ask the city what your district maintains and compare it with your recorded maps.

The traffic chapters the city posts contain no designation of private roads for Vehicle Code enforcement, so parking and speeding on association-owned streets are generally the association’s to manage. Ask the police department before relying on city enforcement.

Ripon’s RV chapter covers travel and fifth-wheel trailers, campers, motorhomes, boats, jet skis, ATVs and utility trailers (chapter 10.56). The rules depend on when the lot was created:

No one may park a vehicle, trailer or boat on a street for more than 72 hours (section 10.40.060). Heavy-duty commercial vehicles may park on residential streets for no more than three hours except to load or work (section 10.40.230), and vehicles over 5 tons may not park in driveways or front setbacks off truck routes (section 10.40.370). Living in an RV is prohibited outside parks and campgrounds, except with a visitor permit. Parking on lawns, dirt or other unsurfaced areas is a public nuisance (section 8.16.040). Check your final map date before assuming the city’s rules match your CC&Rs.

Each interior or cul-de-sac lot needs at least one 15-gallon front-yard tree, and corner lots need one in the front yard and one in the street-side yard. Required planting areas must be permanently maintained (chapter 16.148). We found no heritage or protected tree ordinance in the code index.

The city’s occupancy tax is 10% of rent for stays of 30 days or less (chapter 3.16), and ADUs and junior ADUs may not be rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days (section 16.86.060). We found no short-term rental ordinance and no rent stabilization or rental inspection program in the code index. Ask Planning at (209) 599-2108 before relying on a city rule. California Civil Code section 4741 limits how far an association can restrict rentals generally, but it does not stop an association from prohibiting rentals of 30 days or less.

From March through October, even-numbered addresses water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and odd-numbered addresses on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. From November through February, even addresses water Saturday only and odd addresses Sunday only. Nobody waters on Monday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or during or within 48 hours after measurable rain.

Existing landscapes of one acre or more, including greenbelts, common areas and multifamily housing, need an irrigation audit at least every five years (section 13.06.050). Where the city requires non-potable water for greenbelts and parks, potable water may not be used, with fines of up to $1,000 a day (chapter 13.05). The city’s smart controller rebate pays up to $50 and goes to residential property owners only.

A state law passed in 2023 (AB 1572) will bar the use of drinking water on nonfunctional turf in HOA common areas starting January 1, 2029. A board with decorative lawn can use a rebate, where one is offered, to pay for part of a conversion it will have to make anyway.

On owners’ lots, Civil Code section 4735 prevents an association from banning low-water plants or artificial turf as a replacement for lawn.

A lawn is overgrown when half or more of it is over six inches tall, and neglected landscaping and inoperable vehicles visible from public areas are nuisances. The city sends a notice of violation, then an administrative citation, and civil penalties can reach $1,000 per violation per day, up to $100,000 for a related series (chapter 8.16).

Garbage cans may go to the curb no sooner than the evening before pickup and must be removed by the evening of pickup day (chapter 8.12). The city’s free brush and leaf pickup runs from October 15 to January 7.

Owners next to a sidewalk must repair and maintain it, are liable to pedestrians hurt by its condition, and must start repairs within 14 days of notice. Unpaid city repair costs become a lien (chapter 12.16). Where the association owns street frontage, that duty is the association’s.

Under the city’s performance standards, normal household appliances and equipment used between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. are exempt from the noise limits (section 16.156.090). We could not confirm the city’s construction hours, so ask the Building Division at (209) 599-2613 and put working hours in your contracts.