Los Angeles County HOA Guide
Walnut HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Walnut has about 27,300 residents, and the Census Bureau puts its owner-occupied rate at 83.8%. The city bans short-term rentals and overnight street parking without a permit, and it runs a landscape district that covers about 280 acres of slopes and open space.
This guide collects the city rules a Walnut 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 the City of Walnut website, ordinances and council records the city posts, the Walnut Valley Water District, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the State Water Resources Control Board and U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts on November 2, 2026. The online Walnut Municipal Code would not open for us, so we could not read the current text of the city’s noise, construction-hour, recreational vehicle or oak and walnut tree rules, and this page leaves construction hours out. In May 2025 the City Council introduced new ordinances on recreational vehicle parking and the state fire hazard map. We could not confirm their final adoption or what they say. We found no city page about HOAs and no assessment amounts for the landscape district. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Walnut at a glance
We did not find a city page that explains or lists homeowners associations. A few facts still shape how a Walnut board works:
Because the city has no HOA office, your CC&Rs and state law are your main guides. City ordinances apply on top of them.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Walnut
Three layers of rules apply to a Walnut 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 rentalsBanned citywide since 2023, including renting part of a home and advertising it.
Ordinance 23-06, adopted October 11, 2023, bans short-term rentals in Walnut. It took effect 30 days after adoption. A short-term rental is a home, or any part of one, rented for 30 consecutive days or less (Walnut Municipal Code section 3.36.030). Under section 3.36.060(F) no one may:
- Offer or rent a home, or part of one, for 30 consecutive days or less.
- Stay in a home under that kind of rental arrangement.
- Keep up an ad for that kind of rental, including on a hosting platform.
The ordinance defines home-sharing, where the owner stays in the home during the guest’s stay, but it does not make an exception for it. A violation is a public nuisance. Fines are up to $1,500 for a first violation, up to $3,000 for a second within a year and up to $5,000 for each one after that within a year (section 1.12.010(D)).
The ordinance does not mention HOAs. Your association can still set its own leasing rules, such as a longer minimum lease term, in its governing documents.
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.
Overnight parkingNo parking on city streets from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. without a permit.
The city says overnight parking is prohibited in Walnut. Parking on a street without a permit between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. can bring a citation, and signs are posted at the major city entrances.
The city’s page does not say whether the ban reaches private streets in gated communities, so ask the city before you rely on it either way. On May 28, 2025 the City Council introduced Ordinance 25-02 on recreation vehicle parking on public streets and set it for adoption on June 11, 2025. We could not confirm the final text, so check with the city before you write an RV rule around it.
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.
The Lighting and Open Space Maintenance DistrictAbout 280 acres of city-maintained landscape in 12 zones.
Walnut’s Lighting and Open Space Maintenance District (LOSMD) is made up of about 280 acres of landscape areas across the city, divided into 12 zones. The Community Services Department oversees the district’s landscape maintenance, rodent control and weed abatement contractors.
The city’s page does not explain how the district’s assessments work or what they cost, and we could not confirm either. For questions, call Community Services at (909) 598-5605. For emergencies in the district, such as a broken irrigation pipe, a missing sprinkler head or a fallen tree, the city lists a 24-hour line at (909) 595-2264 and says it is only for emergencies.
Good practice: many Walnut slopes sit next to private yards and HOA common areas. Keep a map of which slopes, walls and irrigation lines belong to the association and which belong to the district, so your landscaper does not work on city land and you call the right number when something breaks.
What to do about it: Mello-Roos vs. HOA Dues: What Each One Pays For explains how district charges differ from assessments, and Who Pays for Repairs in an HOA? helps you sort out who maintains what.
Water and AB 1572Walnut Valley Water District is in a Stage 2 shortage with a 3-day watering limit.
The Walnut Valley Water District serves Diamond Bar and portions of Walnut, Industry, Pomona and West Covina, plus the eastern part of Rowland Heights. Check your water bill to see which agency serves your community. The district’s board has declared a Stage 2 Water Shortage, which calls for a 20% cut in water use. Its page does not give the date of the declaration.
A 2023 state law, AB 1572, bars using drinking water on nonfunctional turf. The State Water Board’s guidance says HOA common areas must stop by January 1, 2029. If your irrigated common area is over 5,000 square feet, the association must also certify compliance by June 30, 2031, and every three years after that. The district’s page also lists the 2029 date for HOA common areas.
The district points customers to a $2 per square foot turf removal rebate through the Metropolitan Water District, and says projects need approval before work starts. Confirm what your association can claim before you plan a project around it.
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.
Fire maps and brush clearanceLos Angeles County Fire runs the defensible space program in Walnut.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department lists Walnut among the cities it serves in its annual defensible space program. Its 2026 notice goes to owners of parcels the county has declared, and it sets these basic rules:
- Remove listed combustible plants, such as acacia, eucalyptus and pampas grass, within 30 feet of a structure, or 50 feet in extra hazard areas.
- Thin remaining vegetation from 30 to 100 feet around structures, and up to 200 feet in extra hazard areas.
- Keep cured annual grass no taller than three inches, clear 10 feet on each side of fire access roads and keep 3 feet clear around fire hydrants.
- Inspections begin April 1, May 1 or June 1 depending on the area. After an Official Inspection Report, owners have 30 days to comply.
The 2026 notice lists a $151 inspection fee for every declared parcel, billed on the 2027 property tax bill. It also lists a $500 fine if the parcel is still not compliant 30 days after the report. Questions go to the Defensible Space Unit at (626) 969-2375.
On May 28, 2025 the City Council introduced Ordinance 25-03 to adopt the state’s Local Responsibility Area fire hazard severity zone map. At that meeting a County Fire representative said there are no additional fees for residents. We could not confirm final adoption or which Walnut parcels are in a zone, so ask the city about your parcels.
What to do about it: Wildfire Defensible Space for Foothill HOAs covers who clears what in common areas, and Rising HOA Insurance Costs in California and the FAIR Plan covers coverage. For what the association’s insurance has to cover, see California HOA insurance requirements.
City trees, oaks and walnutsCity trees need a city form before anyone removes or disturbs them.
Walnut’s Public Tree Preservation Ordinance (Ordinance 13-03) covers City trees, including street trees and trees in the LOSMD, medians, easements and parks. No one may remove or otherwise disturb a City tree without first getting a request form from Community Services. Owners of property with a City street easement must water City trees there, report hazards and keep the trunk area clear of grass, weeds and debris. The ordinance allows a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per tree. The copy the city posts shows a blank adoption date, so confirm the current version.
The city’s tree policy manual says the municipal code also has an Oak and Walnut Tree Preservation Ordinance. We could not open its text, so we cannot tell you which trees it protects or when a permit is needed. Ask the city before removing an oak or walnut tree from common area.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association covers what to require of a tree service before work starts. Budget recurring tree work with Planning Your HOA Budget.
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 Walnut 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 Walnut board members ask
Are short-term rentals legal in Walnut?
No. Ordinance 23-06 bans rentals of 30 consecutive days or less, including renting part of a home and advertising it. See How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Can a guest park on the street overnight?
Only with a permit. Parking on a street from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. without one can bring a citation. Residents can get one free temporary permit a month, good for 1 to 5 days, at City Hall or the Walnut Sheriff’s Station.
Who maintains the slope behind our homes?
It depends. About 280 acres of landscape is in the city’s LOSMD, maintained through Community Services at (909) 598-5605. Check your plans and governing documents for the rest.
Which days can we water common areas?
If the Walnut Valley Water District serves you, up to 3 days a week, not between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and no more than 15 minutes per station. If another agency serves you, follow its rules.
When must we stop using drinking water on common-area turf?
January 1, 2029 for HOA common areas under AB 1572, according to the State Water Board. Plan the cost with the Annual HOA Budget Checklist.
Can an owner park an RV on the street?
We could not confirm the current rule. The City Council introduced an RV parking ordinance in May 2025, so ask the city before setting or enforcing an RV rule.
Calendar
A Walnut board’s year
The overnight permit year and the 2029 turf date come from the city, the water district and the state. 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
Walnut contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City Clerk and Finance | (909) 595-7543 | Overnight parking permits and new ordinances |
| Community Services | (909) 598-5605 | LOSMD questions and City trees |
| LOSMD emergency line | (909) 595-2264 | Broken irrigation, missing sprinkler heads or fallen trees in the district |
| Citation processing | 1-800-989-2058 | Paying parking citations by phone |
| LA County Fire Defensible Space Unit | (626) 969-2375 | Brush clearance notices and inspections |
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Walnut: Ordinance 23-06, short-term rentals; Parking; City Council actions, May 28, 2025; Lighting and Open Space Maintenance District; City trees; Public Tree Preservation Ordinance; Tree policy manual; Municipal Code.
Other agencies: Walnut Valley Water District, drought resources; Walnut Valley Water District, district overview; Los Angeles County Fire Department, 2026 defensible space notice; State Water Resources Control Board, nonfunctional turf FAQ; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Walnut.
California law: 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. 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.