City of Sonoma HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners

The Sonoma Valley Fire District serves both the City of Sonoma and unincorporated Sonoma Valley. Most other things change at the line:

The City of Sonoma says regulations that took effect in early 2018 prohibit new vacation rentals. They were already prohibited in residential zones and are no longer conditionally permitted in Mixed Use and Commercial zones. New applications are limited to the adaptive re-use of a historic structure.

Under Municipal Code section 19.50.110, a vacation rental that held a business license and was registered to pay transient occupancy tax as of November 3, 1999 may continue if it meets the operating standards, which include:

• Stays of no more than 29 consecutive days, in no more than two units.
• No outdoor amplified sound.
• A property manager available 24 hours a day.
• A business license, and the license or tax certificate number in online listings.

A city license does not override your CC&Rs. How far an association can restrict rentals is a state law question for your attorney.

The City of Sonoma’s rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs are in Municipal Code Chapter 19.45. Section 19.45.030, adopted by Ordinance 04-2023, sets the general requirements:

• An ADU or junior ADU may not be rented for less than 30 days.
• It may not be sold separately from the main home, and a deed restriction is recorded before the building permit is issued.
• For a junior ADU, an owner must live on the property, in the main home or the junior ADU.

One caution. The city’s ADU web page still cites section 19.50.090, which the code shows as repealed by Ordinance 04-2023. Rely on Chapter 19.45 and confirm details with Planning at (707) 938-3681. Whether an association can restrict an ADU is a state law question, so ask your attorney before the board denies one.

The City of Sonoma’s traffic rules are in Title 10 of the Municipal Code:

Section 10.56.051 does not apply to recreational vehicles or other vehicles kept for purely personal use. For an RV, boat or trailer stored on a private lot, confirm with Planning whether any city rule applies. The 72-hour rule is written for streets and alleys. If your association owns its streets, ask the Sonoma Police Department what it will enforce there. The non-emergency line is (707) 996-3601.

The City of Sonoma runs its own water system. It buys 90 percent of its water from Sonoma Water, whose supply comes from the Russian River system, and pumps the rest from city wells. The city says it is not currently in a drought emergency, but these limits apply now:

• No hosing down sidewalks, driveways or other hard surfaces, except for spills and safety hazards.
• No irrigation that causes excessive runoff.
• Leaks must be fixed. The city treats 72 hours as a reasonable time.
• The city’s FAQ suggests watering between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., and not within 48 hours of measurable rain.

In a shortage, the City Council can declare one of six stages under section 13.10.070. Stage 2 limits irrigation to three days a week, Stage 3 to two and Stage 4 to one. From Stage 5, drinking water may not be used for irrigation.

Two points matter for the budget. First, the city offers cash rebates for removing turf. Confirm the amount, and whether HOA common area qualifies, with Public Works at (707) 938-3332 before any lawn comes out. Second, the State Water Board says a 2023 state law (AB 1572) bars drinking water on nonfunctional turf in HOA common areas starting January 1, 2029. The ban does not apply to residential lots.

The City of Sonoma’s Tree Ordinance is Municipal Code Chapter 12.08. It deals with three kinds of trees:

Applications go to the Public Works Director. The tree committee (the parks, recreation and open space commission) decides within 30 days, and replacement trees are normally required. The code does not say how it treats HOA common area such as a greenbelt or clubhouse site, so confirm with Public Works at (707) 938-3332 before removing any large tree.

The City of Sonoma announced in March 2025 that the State Fire Marshal’s updated maps expand the Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the city. The City Council was scheduled to consider an ordinance adopting the map on May 7, 2025. According to the city:

• Very High zone properties must meet stricter home hardening and defensible space standards, including 100 feet of defensible space.
• New construction and major renovations in High and Very High zones must meet wildland-urban interface building codes.
• Fire hazard zone status must be disclosed in real estate sales.

The Sonoma Valley Fire District handles vegetation rules. It applies Public Resources Code section 4291 to Very High zone properties in the city and the city’s municipal code to the rest. The district sends weed abatement notices in the spring and says the rules are enforceable year round. Report a fire hazard at (707) 996-2102.

The Board of Forestry’s page describes the state’s ember-resistant zone for the first 5 feet around a building (Zone 0) as a rulemaking. Confirm its status with the fire district before you budget for it.

Municipal Code section 9.56.050 sets construction hours in the City of Sonoma. The same hours apply to residential power equipment such as mowers:

Leaf blowers have their own chapter, 9.60:

• Gas-powered leaf blowers are banned everywhere in the city.
• Electric leaf blowers are allowed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and not on Sundays or holidays.
• Commercial landscape companies must show the company name and phone number on their work vehicles.
• A first violation brings a written warning. The city lists a $250 penalty for the second and $500 for later ones.