Sonoma County HOA Guide
Santa Rosa HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Santa Rosa has about 179,000 residents, and about 57% of its occupied homes are owner-occupied, according to the Census Bureau. The city runs its own water utility, and its code has detailed rules on short-term rentals, protected trees and wildfire fuel that reach into most associations.
This guide collects the city rules a Santa Rosa 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 on October 10, 2026 against the Santa Rosa City Code, the city’s short-term rental and water FAQs and meeting calendar, Sonoma Water, the State Water Board, the Board of Forestry and the Census Bureau. Cities amend their codes often, so confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Santa Rosa at a glance
No public agency publishes a count of Santa Rosa’s HOAs or a typical dues figure, so we do not quote one. Two parts of the city have their own How2HOA guides:
One thing is easy to confuse with HOA dues. City Code Chapter 4-24 lets the city charge nearby property for landscaping and public lighting through a landscape maintenance district. That is a public charge, not an association assessment, so check your property tax bill for extra line items.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Santa Rosa
Three layers of rules apply to a Santa Rosa 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 rentalsSanta Rosa regulates short-term rentals in City Code Chapter 20-48 and caps the non-hosted kind.
Santa Rosa regulates rentals of less than 30 consecutive days in City Code Chapter 20-48. A city permit is required and lasts no more than one year. The code splits rentals into two kinds:
- No more than two renters per bedroom and never more than 10 in total.
- One off-street parking space for each bedroom rented.
- Quiet hours from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and no outdoor amplified sound at any time.
- A local contact who can reach the property within 45 minutes of a complaint.
- ADUs and junior ADUs cannot get a new permit.
Operating without a permit carries a $1,500 fine for a first violation. A city permit does not override your CC&Rs, and the city’s permit FAQ says it is the applicant’s responsibility to check whether the HOA prohibits short-term rentals. Civil Code section 4741 limits how far an association can restrict rentals generally, but it lets governing documents prohibit rentals of 30 days or less.
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.
Accessory dwelling unitsThe city’s ADU standards are in section 20-42.130, and state law limits what CC&Rs can block.
The city’s ADU standards are in City Code section 20-42.130. Confirm the current size, height and setback limits with Planning before your committee reviews an application.
Civil Code section 4751 makes a governing document provision void if it effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts an ADU on a single-family lot in a planned development. Reasonable restrictions are still allowed, so an architectural committee can review design. It cannot refuse ADUs as a category.
What to do about it: line your review process up with How to Propose Changes to Your Property in a Homeowners Association, and update outdated language with How to Rewrite HOA Governing Documents. For how architectural review works under California law, see California HOA architectural review and owner rights.
Parking, RVs and commercial vehiclesThe city’s street parking rules are in Chapters 11-20 and 11-28.
The city’s parking rules are in Title 11 of the City Code:
Chapter 11-20 has no separate RV section, so on a public street the 72-hour rule is the one to know. If your association owns its streets, parking is governed mainly by your own rules and by state towing law, so confirm with Santa Rosa Police what the city will enforce inside your community.
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.
Water and landscapingSanta Rosa Water is the city’s utility, and it fines repeat water waste.
Santa Rosa Water is the city’s own utility, and the city is one of nine water contractors that buy Russian River water from Sonoma Water. Chapter 14-21 prohibits water waste, meaning irrigation runoff or a leak left unrepaired. Penalties climb within a 12-month period:
| Violation | What happens |
|---|---|
| First | Written warning |
| Second | $100 penalty, removable if repairs start within 72 hours |
| Third | $200 penalty |
| Fourth and later | $500 penalty |
Two points matter for the budget. First, a 2023 state law (AB 1572) bars the use of drinking water on nonfunctional turf in HOA common areas starting January 1, 2029. The State Water Board says it does not apply to residential lots. Second, the regional Saving Water Partnership lists a Santa Rosa Cash for Grass rebate for residential and commercial customers. The listing shows no amounts and does not say whether an HOA account qualifies, so call Water Use Efficiency at (707) 543-3985 before you plan around it.
On owners’ lots, Civil Code section 4735 prevents an association from banning low-water plants or artificial turf.
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 maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
Heritage and street treesChapter 17-24 protects native trees by species and size, and the single-family exemption is narrow.
City Code Chapter 17-24 requires a permit to alter, remove or relocate a tree. Heritage trees get extra protection. A heritage tree is one the Planning Commission has designated, or a listed native species at or above a set trunk diameter:
| Species | Trunk diameter |
|---|---|
| Valley oak, blue oak, buckeye | 6 inches |
| Madrone | 12 inches |
| Live oak, black oak, Oregon oak, canyon oak, interior live oak, red alder, white alder | 18 inches |
| Redwood, bay, Douglas fir, big leaf maple | 24 inches |
Section 17-24.030 exempts ordinary trees on a developed single-family lot in the R-1 and planned residential zones. The exemption does not cover a heritage tree or a protected tree (one a city development approval required to be preserved). The code defines developed property as a lot improved with a single-family dwelling. Common area is not that, so assume a common-area removal needs a permit until Planning tells you otherwise in writing.
A permit is valid for 60 days unless it states a longer period. Removing or altering a street tree needs a permit from the Director of Recreation and Parks.
What to do about it: put tree work in the reserve plan with Understanding HOA Reserve Studies, and choose an arborist with How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association.
Wildfire, weeds and vegetationChapter 9-32 sets fuel rules for the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area, and the Fire Chief enforces them.
Chapter 9-32, adopted in December 2023, applies to parcels in the city’s Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area and other areas affected by wildfires, and the Fire Chief enforces it. The main requirements for common area:
- Defensible space around structures in the interface area, following Public Resources Code section 4291.
- Vacant land maintained for 30 feet along the property line, with dead plants, grass and weeds removed.
- Mature trees limbed up to 10 feet above the ground.
- No fibrous, stringy mulch within 30 feet of a structure.
The code refers to two maps. Chapter 9-32 cites an interface map dated January 28, 2009. The city’s Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Chapter 18-46, amended in June 2026) cites a map dated March 19, 2026 and ties the area to the state’s Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Ask the Fire Department which map governs your parcels. Chapter 18-46 also requires a fence attached to a home to be noncombustible for its first five feet, which belongs in your architectural standards.
Citywide, Chapter 9-08 lets the City Council declare weeds a public nuisance. After notice and a hearing, the Fire Chief can clear a lot and the cost becomes a lien. The state’s ember-resistant zone rule (Zone 0, the first five feet around a structure) was still in final review at the Board of Forestry when we checked, so do not rewrite your landscape rules around a draft.
What to do about it: budget fuel work as a recurring line with Planning Your HOA Budget, manage the contractor with Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA, and review coverage with What HOA insurance covers.
Noise and work hoursChapter 17-16 uses decibel limits by zone, with fixed hours for gas leaf blowers.
Chapter 17-16 has no single quiet-hours rule. It sets a base noise level by zone and time. In R1 and R2 zones that is 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., 50 dBA from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 55 dBA during the day. Section 17-16.120 makes it unlawful to run machinery, pumps, fans or air conditioning so that noise at the property line is more than five decibels over that level.
Section 17-16.125 bars gas-powered leaf blowers in residential districts between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekdays and between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For construction hours on a permitted project, confirm with Planning.
Creek setbacks and fire rebuildsBuilding near a creek has a 50-foot setback, and rebuild rules for fire-damaged parcels have end dates.
Creeks. Section 20-30.040 sets a setback of 50 feet from the top of the highest bank of a natural or modified natural waterway. It is 30 feet for property developed under the rules in effect before September 3, 2004. Check it before planning a path, wall or building near a creek.
Rebuilding after a fire. Chapter 20-35 lets a conforming structure destroyed in a declared disaster be rebuilt as originally permitted, under current building and fire codes. For the 2017 Tubbs and Nuns fires it applied until December 31, 2025. For the 2020 Glass fire it runs until October 28, 2026. A city approval to rebuild does not replace your association’s architectural review.
What to do about it: How to Propose Changes to Your Property in a Homeowners Association and Who Pays for Repairs in an HOA?. 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 Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa board members ask
Can our HOA ban short-term rentals in Santa Rosa?
Yes, if your governing documents say so. Civil Code section 4741 lets an association prohibit rentals of 30 days or less. The city’s permit system applies separately and does not override your CC&Rs. More in How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Can an owner still get a non-hosted short-term rental permit?
Not a new one, according to the city. Section 20-48.040 caps non-hosted permits at 182, and the city’s FAQ says it is not accepting new applications.
Do we need a permit to remove an oak in the common area?
Assume yes until Planning tells you otherwise. Valley and blue oaks are heritage trees at 6 inches in diameter, and the single-family exemption is written for lots improved with a house.
Is our community in the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area?
Ask the Fire Department to confirm for your parcels. The City Code refers to two interface maps with different dates.
Does the 72-hour parking rule apply on our private streets?
Section 11-20.100 is written for streets and alleys. Inside a private-street community, expect to rely on your own parking rules and state towing law.
Do we have to remove the lawn in our common area?
No. Starting January 1, 2029, state law bars watering nonfunctional turf in HOA common areas with drinking water, but the State Water Board says it does not require removing grass.
Calendar
A Santa Rosa board’s year
The dates below come from the City Code and state law. The maintenance items are general good practice, not legal requirements, and the seasonal timing is ours, not the city’s.
Keep the year on track: use the Board Meeting Checklist and the Annual HOA Budget Checklist.
Who to call
Santa Rosa contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Contact | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Planning and Economic Development | Planning@srcity.org, City Hall Room 3 | Tree permits, ADUs, creek setbacks, short-term rentals |
| Water Use Efficiency | (707) 543-3985 | Rebates and water waste |
| Santa Rosa Water billing | (707) 543-3150 | Water accounts |
| Business tax | (707) 606-0046 | Certificates for short-term rental operators |
| City Clerk | (707) 543-3015 | Agendas and public records |
| Fire Department | See the city directory | Interface maps, vegetation rules, weed notices |
| Recreation and Parks | See the city directory | Street tree permits |
| Sonoma Water | (707) 547-1900 | Regional water supply |
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue. The city’s calendar shows most fall 2026 meetings on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m.
Read next: nearby guides for Rohnert Park, Windsor and Sebastopol, or the full local guides index.
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
Santa Rosa City Code: Chapter 20-48, short-term rentals; Chapter 20-42, including section 20-42.130 on ADUs; Chapter 11-20, stopping, standing and parking; Chapter 11-28, commercial vehicles; Chapter 14-21, water waste; Chapter 17-24, trees; Chapter 9-32, hazardous vegetation and fuels management; Chapter 9-08, weeds and rubbish; Chapter 18-46, Wildland-Urban Interface Code; Chapter 17-16, noise; Chapter 20-30, including creekside development; Chapter 20-35, Resilient City Standards; Chapter 4-24, landscape maintenance districts.
City of Santa Rosa: short-term rental permit FAQ; Santa Rosa Water FAQ (phone numbers); meeting calendar; City Council agenda, September 29, 2026; Zoning Administrator agenda, October 8, 2026.
Water agencies: Sonoma Water, water contractors; Sonoma Water, contact; Saving Water Partnership, rebates; Saving Water Partnership, find your provider; State Water Board, nonfunctional turf FAQ (AB 1572).
Wildfire: Board of Forestry, defensible space zones 0, 1 and 2; State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
California law: Civil Code section 4741; Civil Code section 4751; Civil Code section 4735.
Community and census: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Santa Rosa; Oakmont Village Association; Fountaingrove II Open Space Maintenance Association.
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.