How to be a Good Neighbor

In a community of over 60,000 residents, we all must do our part to be a good neighbor and preserve the City. The following are a few tips for maintaining safe and attractive neighborhoods:

Vehicle Parking

The City encourages the use of the garage for parking and vehicle storage purposes. When parking outside of the garage, vehicles must be parked on a paved surface. In this case, paved means a concrete, asphalt, or other impervious material. Residents are not permitted to block the sidewalk with their vehicle as this impedes pedestrian traffic.

Inoperable Vehicles

Inoperative vehicles are not permitted to be parked on a property within the public view. A vehicle left unattended on jacks constitutes a potential safety hazard and must be repaired or relocated immediately. A vehicle is considered inoperable if it has any of the following:

  • There are flat or missing tires, the vehicle is dismantled or wrecked
  • Junk is piled in, around, or under the vehicle
  • The vehicle has no license plate, the vehicle has expired registration
  • There are cobwebs or an accumulation of dirt or dust indicating non-use
Car in Driveway

Commercial Vehicle & Commercial Equipment

Commercial vehicles in excess of 6,000 pounds are prohibited on private property. Any commercial tractor or trailer is prohibited. Commercial equipment not ordinary to residential use is prohibited. However, commercial vehicles or equipment, on private property, actively performing a service at the property are permitted.

Cars For Sale

A maximum of 30 days per year may be used for the display of a vehicle advertised for sale. There is a limit of 2 vehicles permitted for sale within the year, 1 at a time, and the vehicles must be registered to the resident of the property.

Recreational Vehicles (RV's)

RV's may be parked temporarily, not exceeding 72 consecutive hours, in the driveway for the purpose of serving the RV or for guest parking. No electrical or water hook-ups are permitted. An RV may not be used for living purposes unless parked within a licensed mobile home or RV park.

Mowing Lawn

Parkway Landscaping

The parkway is generally the area 10 feet back from the curb. Depending on your neighborhood, it can be the landscaped area between the sidewalk and the curb or the first 10 feet back from the curb when there is no sidewalk. The parkway trees belong to the City and only City crews may trim or remove a parkway tree.

Landscaping

Landscaping is an important element of any property and has the potential to positively or negatively impact property values. All property owners are required to provide landscaping and a continuing program of maintenance. Drought tolerant landscaping schemes are encouraged, as well as water conservation maintenance methods. All drought tolerant landscaping must be first approved by the Planning Department. For your convenience, an approved plant and tree list (PDF) is now available to assist homeowners in selecting alternate planting materials within the front yard.You may speak to a Planner at 562-383-4100 for more information. Additionally, barren areas, dead vegetation, or weeds do not constitute acceptable landscaping. All Front-yard landscaping must be trimmed regularly so as not to encroach into public right-of-way.

Alleys

Residences adjacent to alleys are responsible for removing any accumulated litter, debris, discards and weeds at the rear of their property. Landscaping that overhangs or grows out from the property and impedes the public right-of way must be trimmed back even with the property line.

Trash and Debris

Discards, trash, debris, and junk accumulations must be promptly removed from the exterior of the property. Such items are not only unsightly but they also attract rodents and become a fire hazard. Broken, unusable or abandoned items, appliances and furniture are considered discards.

Trash Containers

Trash receptacles and green waste containers may be placed at the curb for removal by Waste Management between 4 p.m. on the day preceding collection and 10 p.m. on the day of collection. Otherwise, trash receptacles and green waste containers must be stored out of public view. All trash receptacles, including dumpsters, must have lids, and all trash bags must be secured. When there is alley trash pick up, the site must be kept clear of any spilled debris, and the containers must also be placed out of public view and as far out of the right-of-way as possible.

Property Maintenance

Maintaining the exterior of all structures on your property is important for protecting property values. A lack of maintenance in the following areas are detrimental to the community:

  • Deteriorated fences, gates, and garage doors
  • Broken or missing windows, damaged window screens
  • Crumbling driveways
  • Weathered or damaged roofs
  • Deteriorated stucco, peeling or cracked paint

Home Occupations

Residential businesses cannot generate traffic to or from the premises, employees may only be members of the resident family, no outside employees may come to the property, signs are prohibited, and there may not be sales of any products or services from the residence. Additionally, only the main structure – not the garage – may be used for business purposes.

Swimming Pool Maintenance & Rodent Issues

Both of these potential health hazards can be controlled with regular property maintenance. Rodents, in particular, can be controlled by maintaining clean surroundings. Call Orange County Vector Control at 714-971-2421 for assistance.

Yard Sale Regulations

Yard sales may only be conducted on the second full weekend of every month with a maximum of 4 yard sales per calendar year per residential zoned parcel. The sale may run for a maximum of 3 consecutive weekend days.

Signs

No signs of any kind may be placed on sidewalks or in the public right-of-way, including City parkways, streets and medians, or on public utility poles. For additional information/guidelines please contact the Planning Division at 562-383-4100.

Graffiti

Remove all graffiti from private property promptly. Graffiti is unsightly and is an invitation for unwelcome activity. The City of La Habra's Graffiti Hotline is 562-383-4220.