Code Enforcement/Neighborhood Preservation

City of Petaluma, California
Introduction

The Code Enforcement Division is operated out of the Police Department with a focus on Neighborhood Preservation. The Code Enforcement Division is currently staffed by the Neighborhood Preservation Coordinator. Together, the Code Enforcement staff work with other City employees to enforce the City’s Municipal Code, Zoning Ordinance, and Adopted Building and Safety Codes. The codes enforced deal primarily with public nuisances, zoning and land use regulations, and health and safety violations.

Complaints can be submitted by mail, phone, email, our online complaint form, or in person at City Hall or the Police Department. Complaints are prioritized by their severity and overall threat to public health and safety. Please read below for the types of violations we do and do not enforce.

Violations Enforced by the Code Enforcement Division:

  • Fences and walls built without permit

  • Accessory structure locations

  • Illegal dwelling units

  • Garage conversions

  • Trash, debris, and rubbish accumulated on a property and visible from off-site view

  • Land use violations

  • Non-permitted home-based businesses

  • Property maintenance violations

  • Non-permitted signs

  • In-operative vehicles on private property and visible from off-site

  • Noise Violations

  • Substandard housing conditions

  • No weekly trash service

  • Non-permitted construction (Building Division)

  • Violations or obstructions of the Public Right of Way i.e. street, sidewalk, curb, gutter, easements (Public Works Department)

  • Inoperative/Abandoned vehicles on the street for more than 72 hours (Police Department)

  • Illicit discharge into the storm drain (Water Resources)

  • Over watering or wasting water (Water Resources)

  • Fire Hazards (Fire Prevention)

  • Hazardous Materials (Fire Prevention)

  • Barking dogs (Animal Services)

  • Dangerous animals and illegal animal keeping (Animal Services)

  • Businesses operating without a Business Tax Certificate/Business License (Administrative Services)

  • Non-permitted street tree removal (Public Works Department)

  • Mosquitoes (Marin Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District)

  • Asbestos removal (Bay Area Air Quality Management District)

 

Code Enforcement FAQs

There's a property in my neighborhood that has a lot of garbage and rubbish in the front yard. What can be done?
The City requires all garbage and rubbish to be placed in a clean, covered container (typically provided by GreenWaste Recovery).

There's a property in my neighborhood that has inoperative vehicles all over the property. What can be done?
In-operative vehicles are not allowed to be stored on private property when they are visible from offsite view. The Petaluma Police Department handles the abatement of in-operative vehicles.

I noticed a lot of people park their cars, boats, and recreational vehicles on their front lawn. Is this legal?
The City of Petaluma does not currently have any regulations on where cars, boats, and recreational vehicles should be parked. As long as the vehicles are operative, they can be parked anywhere on private property.

Someone keeps parking their cars on the street in front of my house for weeks at a time. How can I put an end to this?
Any vehicle with current registration can be parked on the street for up to 72 hours without being moved. This includes automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles. Recreational vehicles are not allowed to be hooked up to any utility (water, power, cable, etc.) at any time while parked on the street.

The house next door to me appears to have a lot of people living in it. This can't be legal, can it?
At this time, the City cannot regulate how many people live in a single residence. What we CAN regulate is where they are sleeping inside the home. Kitchens, hallways, bathrooms, and garages are the most common places where sleeping is NOT allowed. Any vehicles associated with this home will have to follow the regulations answered in prior questions.

My neighbor appears to be operating a business from his/her home. Is this permitted?
Yes, but there are a limited amount of uses that are permissible in a residential zone. Prior to operation, a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Division is required, as is a Business License from the Finance Department. The Home Occupation Permit regulates the type of business, hours of operation, types of activities, and number of employees.

My neighbors have converted their garage/shed into a living space. Is this legal?
In some instances, yes, but only after review and approval by the Planning and Building Divisions of the Community Development Department. The Planning Division inspects the structure to ascertain whether it has been converted to habitable space (no kitchen facilities), or a dwelling unit (with kitchen facilities). A dwelling unit requires specific Planning review prior to building permit approval; habitable space may only require building permit review.

There's a property in my neighborhood that has a lot of rubbish and inoperable vehicles in the front yard. What can be done?
Although the City does not have an ordinance that requires property owners to maintain their property, Code Enforcement Services enforces the Petaluma Municipal Code, which requires all garbage and rubbish to be placed in a clean, covered container (typically provided by Empire Waste Management). Inoperable and/or abandoned vehicles may be abated by the Police Department.

My neighbor has 8 dogs. Is this permitted?
No, the Zoning Ordinance limits the number of dogs in residentially zoned neighborhoods to three (3). Violations of the Ordinance are enforced by Animal Services.

Violations Not Enforced by the City of Petaluma:

The following items should be addressed with your own legal council.

  • Trees hanging over a property line
  • Property line disputes
  • Dead trees that do not pose an immediate threat to the Public Right of Way
  • Other civil matters among property owners

For more information please read our FAQ’s section. If your answer is not found there, please feel free to contact us via email at codeenforcement@ci.petaluma.ca.us, by phone at 707-778-4469, or in person at 969 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952

 

 

Contact Information

Police Chief,
Dan Fish

Location:
969 Petaluma Blvd. N.
Petaluma, CA 94952
phone:707.778.4370
fax:707.778.4502

Hours:
Admin. Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday
8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Emergencies 24/7

Phone Numbers:
Police Reception
707.778.4372
Department Fax
707.778.4476
Administrative Assistant
707.778.4370
Special Operations Lieutenant
707.776.3743
Records Supervisor
707.778.4462
Investigations Unit
707.778.4375
Street Crimes Unit
Not available
Traffic Safety Unit
707.778.4335
Traffic Complaints
707.776.3775
Code Enforcement
707.778.4469
Graffiti Hotline
707.776.3606

E-Mail:
Police Department
Police Administration
Traffic/STOP Enforcement