Los Angeles County HOA Guide
Rolling Hills HOA Guide: A Gated City and Its Community Association
Rolling Hills is a residential-only city of about 3 square miles with no public roads. The Rolling Hills Community Association runs the gates and maintains the roads, so most questions here involve two bodies: the city and the RHCA.
This guide collects the city and association rules a Rolling Hills board or owner runs into most often, and points you to the How2HOA guide that explains what to do about each one.
Rules on this page were checked against the City of Rolling Hills website and the Rolling Hills Community Association website on November 2, 2026. The city’s municipal code on Municode would not open, so we could not confirm construction hours or the text of the view preservation chapter. Census QuickFacts did not return a page for Rolling Hills, so we give no population figure. We could not confirm whether the city has adopted the state’s 2025 fire hazard map, and some city FAQ answers we cite may be older than the page they sit on. The RHCA’s deed restrictions were not reviewed for this page. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Rolling Hills at a glance
In Rolling Hills the community association and the city sit side by side, with offices next to each other on Portuguese Bend Road. The city says the community was planned in 1936 with deed restrictions governed by the RHCA, and the city incorporated on January 24, 1957. A few facts shape how it works:
Because the RHCA’s deed restrictions and the city’s municipal code both apply, check both before any project, rule change or enforcement step.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Rolling Hills
Three layers of rules apply here. State law comes first, mainly the Davis-Stirling Act. City ordinances apply to every property. The RHCA’s deed restrictions and other governing documents then add their own rules. An RHCA approval does not excuse anyone from a city rule, and a city permit does not replace RHCA review.
Who does what: the city and the RHCAThe RHCA runs the gates, roads and architectural review. The city runs planning, permits and public safety.
The RHCA’s own “RHCA vs. The City” page splits the work like this:
| RHCA (Board of Directors, deed restrictions) | City of Rolling Hills (City Council, Municipal Code) |
|---|---|
| Architectural review and building permits | Planning and zoning, building and grading permits |
| Easements, road and roadside maintenance | Storm water management |
| Gate house staff and operations, house signs | Public safety, animal control and solid waste |
| Common areas: bridle trails, riding rings and tennis courts | View impairment |
| View impairment in some areas |
The city’s FAQ adds that the RHCA is responsible for the community’s privacy and oversees roads, gate houses, open space, trails and architectural approval for homes, and that the city handles site plan review, building permits, code enforcement, traffic safety and view preservation. The city’s development FAQ says homes must be single-story, with height regulated by the RHCA.
What to do about it: for any project, talk to both offices early and keep both approvals in your file. How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association covers what to require of contractors, and California HOA Board Basics covers the board’s role.
Private roads, easements and trailsOwners maintain roadside easements, and the RHCA can do the work and bill them.
The city’s About page says there are no public roads and that CC&Rs govern easements for roadways, property perimeters and trails. The RHCA’s fire safety page sets out what owners must do:
- Easements are the owner’s job: if an owner does not clear them, the RHCA can step in and bill the owner.
- Roadside clearance: apart from mature trees, keep a 10-foot strip on each side of the road clear, with 16 feet of overhead clearance.
- Chips: no deeper than 6 inches, or 2 inches along roadsides. Never dump branches or debris in the canyons.
- Trails: motorized vehicles are banned from the bridle trails except for emergencies and trail work.
The RHCA operates three gate houses: Main Gate, Crest Gate and Eastfield Gate.
What to do about it: HOA Rules and Enforcing Violations and California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes cover notice and hearing steps before billing an owner. For who pays for what, see Who Pays for Repairs in an HOA?
Land movementUtilities were cut to dozens of homes in 2024, and the city did not qualify for a FEMA buyout grant.
The city’s 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan says a portion of the city known as the Flying Triangle was found to be in a landslide area in 1948, and that the city has potentially active landslide activity there. The city’s community updates describe what happened in 2024 and after:
We could not confirm current service status for each affected home, so ask the utilities directly.
What to do about it: review what the association owns in or near the affected area with Who Pays for Repairs in an HOA?, and check coverage with California HOA insurance requirements. Build road and drainage risk into your reserve study.
Fire and brush clearanceLA County Fire inspects every year starting June 1, and some plants may not be newly planted.
The RHCA’s fire page says Rolling Hills and the Palos Verdes Peninsula are designated by the state as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The fire strategies on that page were adopted in 2020, and we could not find a city page confirming whether the city has adopted the state’s 2025 map, so check your parcels.
- Inspections: the RHCA says the Los Angeles County Fire Department starts annual brush clearance inspections on June 1, and unresolved violations can bring a $500 fine plus costs.
- City ordinances: section 8.30.010 requires owners to remove dead trees, tumbleweeds, palm fronds and other hazardous vegetation. Section 8.30.015 bars new planting of pine, pampas grass, palm, juniper, acacia shrubs, eucalyptus, cedar, cypress and Italian cypress.
- Defensible space: the city’s page cites the state’s 100-foot defensible space law (Public Resources Code 4291) and describes Zone 0 (0 to 5 feet), Zone 1 (5 to 30 feet) and Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet).
- RHCA work: the city says the RHCA manages vegetation along road easements and trails and sponsors two chipping events a year.
Fire Station 56 is on Crest Road West. The city also offers a letter on city and RHCA wildfire work that residents can share with insurers.
What to do about it: Wildfire Defensible Space for Foothill HOAs and How to Minimize Homeowners Association Liability. For coverage, see Rising HOA Insurance Costs in California and the FAIR Plan.
Zoning, lot coverage and stablesOne-acre minimum lots, 20% structural coverage and room for a stable on every lot.
The city’s About page says lots are at least 1 acre, average 2.7 acres, and that 60% of a lot cannot be disturbed. Its development FAQ adds:
The city posts equestrian facility guidelines drafted in 2017 by a stable committee, which say the RHCA must approve a 9-foot stable plate height and that prefabricated stables must meet both city and RHCA standards. The city also has a Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Ordinance 361) for new or altered landscaping.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association and Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA.
View preservationNo limit on tree height, but the city has procedures for view obstructions.
The city’s FAQ says “The City has no restriction on the height of trees,” but that there are established procedures for protecting views from obstruction by landscaping, in Municipal Code chapter 17.26. Questions go to City Hall at 310-377-1521. The RHCA lists view impairment among its own duties in some areas, so check with both.
What to do about it: Planning Your HOA Budget helps you budget tree work along easements and trails, and California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes covers neighbor disputes.
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 Rolling Hills board is deciding how much help it needs, 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 Rolling Hills owners and board members ask
Are the roads in Rolling Hills public?
No. The city says it has no public roads, and the community association manages access and maintains the roads.
Do we need both RHCA and city approval to build?
Usually. The RHCA handles architectural review, and the city handles planning, zoning and building and grading permits. Check with both offices before you start.
Who clears brush along the road?
The RHCA says easement maintenance is the owner’s job, and the RHCA can do the work and bill an owner who does not.
When does LA County Fire inspect for brush clearance?
The RHCA says inspections start June 1 each year, so clear weeds and brush in spring.
Can an owner plant eucalyptus or palms?
Not as new plantings. Section 8.30.015 bars new planting of pine, pampas grass, palm, juniper, acacia shrubs, eucalyptus, cedar, cypress and Italian cypress.
Did Rolling Hills get a FEMA buyout for the land movement area?
No. City staff reported in September 2025 that the city does not qualify, because its benefit-cost score was below FEMA’s minimum.
Calendar
A Rolling Hills board’s year
The June 1 inspection start comes from the RHCA’s fire 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
Rolling Hills contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City Hall | 310-377-1521 | Planning, permits, view preservation and land movement updates |
| Rolling Hills Community Association | 310-544-6222 | Architectural review, roads, easements and trails |
| RHCA Main Gate | 310-377-4318 | Gate access and loose animals |
| LA County Fire Station 56 | (310) 377-1584 | Local fire station (call 911 in an emergency) |
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Rolling Hills: About Rolling Hills; General Information FAQ; Development and Planning FAQ; View Preservation FAQ; Animals FAQ; Planning and Community Services; Equestrian Facility Guidelines (2017); Land Movement Updates; Community Updates Archive; Hazard Mitigation Plan (2019); Defensible Space and Plant Selection; Fire Safety Insurance Letter; Los Angeles County Fire.
Rolling Hills Community Association: Home page; RHCA vs. The City; Fire Safety.
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.