West Covina, CA

The City of West Covina's home occupation provisions strictly limit customer and client traffic to residential properties used for home-based businesses. The Zoning Ordinance requires that home occupations must not generate vehicular or pedestrian traffic in excess of what is normal for a residential neighborhood. Businesses that depend on regular customer visits to the residence — including retail sales, personal services, tutoring with walk-in students, or consultation practices with scheduled appointments — are generally not permitted as home occupations. The intent is to prevent increased parking demand, noise, and activity that would be incompatible with the residential character of West Covina's suburban neighborhoods.

The City of West Covina prohibits all exterior signage associated with home-based businesses operating as home occupations in residential zones. The Zoning Ordinance requires that home occupations produce no exterior evidence of a commercial activity, and any form of business signage — including wall signs, window signs, freestanding signs, banners, A-frame signs, or illuminated signs — is not permitted at a residential property used for a home occupation. The prohibition extends to commercial vehicle signage that exceeds the city's residential parking standards. The strict no-signage requirement is intended to preserve the residential character and visual uniformity of West Covina's suburban neighborhoods.

The City of West Covina permits home-based businesses in residential zones through its home occupation provisions in the Zoning Ordinance. Home occupations must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the property, conducted entirely within the dwelling unit, and must not change the residential character of the home or neighborhood. A City of West Covina business license is required for all home-based businesses. The home occupation must comply with conditions including restrictions on employees, storage of materials, exterior signage, noise, and traffic generation. Businesses that involve regular customer visits, retail sales from the premises, or any activity that generates noise, odor, or traffic beyond what is typical for a residential neighborhood are generally not permitted as home occupations.

West Covina is located in Los Angeles County and falls under the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). SCAQMD Rule 445 prohibits wood-burning in fireplaces, wood stoves, and fire pits on mandatory No-Burn days when PM2.5 levels are forecast to exceed federal health standards. Open burning of trash, vegetation, and debris is prohibited year-round within West Covina city limits. Gas fireplaces and EPA-certified pellet stoves are generally exempt from No-Burn restrictions.

West Covina regulates backyard fires through the California Fire Code (adopted with local amendments) and SCAQMD air quality rules. Recreational fires for cooking, warmth, or ceremonial purposes are permitted when confined to an approved fire pit or fireplace with a maximum fuel area of 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. All backyard fires must maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance from structures and combustible materials. Wood-burning fires are prohibited on SCAQMD no-burn days. Open burning of yard waste, trash, or debris is prohibited at all times.

West Covina permits both gas and wood-burning fire pits on residential properties subject to California Fire Code requirements and SCAQMD air quality regulations. Gas and propane fire pits are generally allowed and are exempt from SCAQMD no-burn day restrictions. Wood-burning fire pits must comply with SCAQMD Rule 445 and are prohibited during mandatory no-burn advisories. All fire pits must maintain at least 10 feet of clearance from structures and have a means of extinguishment immediately available.

West Covina enforces a 72-hour street parking limit on all public roadways, consistent with the California Vehicle Code. No vehicle may remain parked in the same location on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours without being moved. Certain streets have posted time-limit signs restricting parking to shorter periods during daytime hours. Street sweeping schedules require vehicles to be moved on designated days, and parking is prohibited within 15 feet of fire hydrants and at red-painted curbs.

West Covina restricts the parking and storage of recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, and other oversized vehicles in residential areas. RVs and boats may not be parked on public streets in residential zones for extended periods and are subject to the 72-hour maximum parking rule. On private residential property, RVs and boats must be stored behind the front setback line and screened from public view. Living in or using an RV as a dwelling on any property within city limits is prohibited.

West Covina regulates vehicle parking on residential private property to maintain neighborhood aesthetics and ensure safety. All vehicles parked on residential property must be on approved paved surfaces such as concrete or asphalt — parking on grass, dirt, or landscaped areas is prohibited. Vehicles on driveways must not block sidewalks or extend into the public right-of-way. Inoperable, unregistered, or dismantled vehicles may not be stored in open view anywhere on residential property.

West Covina prohibits parking large commercial vehicles on residential streets and limits commercial vehicle storage on residential property. Vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or 22 feet in length may not be parked on residential streets. Short-term loading and unloading by commercial vehicles making active deliveries is permitted, but overnight parking of large commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods is not allowed. Smaller commercial vehicles such as pickup trucks and standard vans are generally permitted.

West Covina's zoning code establishes maximum fence and wall heights based on the location of the fence on the property. In residential zones, fences in the front yard setback area are limited to 3 feet in height for solid fences and 4 feet for open or semi-open designs (e.g., wrought iron or picket). Side and rear yard fences may be up to 6 feet tall. Retaining walls combined with fences have specific combined height rules, and corner lots face additional sight-line requirements at intersections.

West Covina requires building permits for most new fences and walls, particularly those exceeding certain heights or using masonry construction. Fences and walls over 6 feet in height always require a building permit. Block walls and masonry fences of any height require a permit because they are structural elements that must meet seismic and engineering standards. Simple wood or vinyl fences up to 6 feet in the side or rear yard may qualify for a simplified over-the-counter permit process.

West Covina neighbor fence disputes are governed primarily by California Civil Code Section 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013. Under this state law, adjoining property owners are presumed to share equally in the responsibility for maintaining and replacing boundary line fences that benefit both properties. West Covina does not have a separate municipal ordinance overriding the state framework. Before commencing boundary fence work, property owners must provide 30 days written notice to the adjoining owner describing the proposed work and estimated costs.

West Covina requires all dogs to be on a leash or under the direct physical control of a responsible person when off the owner's property. Dogs running at large are subject to impoundment by the city's animal control officers. All dogs four months of age and older must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies as required by LA County ordinance. West Covina does not operate a dedicated off-leash dog park within city limits, though nearby regional parks may offer designated off-leash areas.

The City of West Covina restricts the keeping of livestock, poultry, and farm animals on residential properties through its Zoning Ordinance. In most standard residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3), chickens, roosters, goats, pigs, horses, and other farm animals are prohibited unless the property is located within a zone that specifically permits agricultural or equestrian uses. West Covina is a densely developed suburban city in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, and the vast majority of residential parcels do not have the zoning designation needed to legally keep livestock or poultry. Roosters are prohibited in all residential zones due to noise concerns. Residents who wish to keep any farm animal must verify their property's zoning designation with the Planning Division before acquiring animals.

The City of West Covina has no breed-specific legislation restricting or banning any particular dog breed. California state law expressly preempts local breed-specific bans: Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits any city or county from declaring a specific dog breed to be inherently dangerous or vicious. Animal control services in West Covina are provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, and all regulations are entirely behavior-based, applying equally to every breed. Individual dogs that have demonstrated dangerous behavior may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious regardless of breed, and their owners become subject to additional confinement, insurance, and spay/neuter requirements.

West Covina designates quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM to 8 AM on weekends and holidays. During these hours, any noise that is plainly audible at 50 feet from its source within a residential zone is considered a disturbance. The ordinance targets amplified music, loud gatherings, barking dogs, mechanical equipment, and other noise sources that interfere with the quiet enjoyment of neighboring properties. The West Covina Police Department and Code Enforcement handle quiet-hours complaints.

West Covina restricts construction activity in or near residential zones to the hours of 7 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and city-recognized holidays. These limits apply to all construction, demolition, grading, and renovation work, including both professional contractors and homeowner do-it-yourself projects. Emergency repairs and public utility work are exempt from the hour restrictions.

West Covina establishes exterior noise standards by zoning district. Residential zones have an ambient noise baseline of 55 dBA during daytime hours (7 AM to 10 PM) and 50 dBA during nighttime hours (10 PM to 7 AM). Commercial zones are set at 65 dBA and industrial zones at 70 dBA at all hours. No person shall operate or cause the operation of any source of sound that exceeds the applicable baseline by more than 5 dBA at the property line of the receiving property.

West Covina regulates outdoor amplified music through its general noise ordinance rather than a standalone amplified sound code. Amplified music, loudspeakers, and sound-reproducing devices that are plainly audible at 50 feet from the source in a residential zone during quiet hours (10 PM to 7 AM weekdays, 10 PM to 8 AM weekends) are prohibited. During daytime hours, amplified sound must comply with the exterior decibel standards. Special events requiring amplified outdoor sound on public property need a city permit.

West Covina does not issue short-term rental permits for residential properties. The city's zoning code does not list short-term rentals (stays under 30 consecutive days) as a permitted or conditionally permitted use in any residential zone. Without an authorizing ordinance, there is no permit pathway for platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. The minimum rental period for residential properties in West Covina is 30 consecutive days. Only licensed hotels and motels in commercially zoned areas may offer short-term lodging.

West Covina has no short-term rental registration, licensing, or certification program for residential properties. Because STRs are prohibited in all residential zones, the city has not created any registration framework. There is no online portal, no application form, no annual renewal process, and no Transient Occupancy Tax registration for residential hosts. Code Enforcement treats all residential STR listings on booking platforms as zoning violations subject to immediate enforcement action.

West Covina does not operate a night-cap or partial-allowance short-term rental program. Because short-term rentals are entirely prohibited in all residential zones, there is no annual night limit, seasonal allowance, hosted-only exception, or special-event carve-out. Unlike the City of Los Angeles (120 nights per year) or Pasadena (which has a home-sharing permit), West Covina's position is a complete ban with zero nights of short-term rental activity permitted.

The City of West Covina regulates tree trimming and removal through its Municipal Code and Public Works Department. City-owned street trees located within the public right-of-way are maintained by the city, and residents may not trim, prune, or remove these trees without prior written authorization from the Public Works Department. Trees on private residential property may generally be trimmed or removed by the property owner without a city permit, unless the tree is a protected species or is subject to conditions of approval from a prior development permit. West Covina does not have a broad heritage or landmark tree preservation ordinance, but specific project conditions and environmental review may impose tree retention requirements on individual properties.

The City of West Covina requires property owners and occupants to maintain all landscaped areas, including lawns and grass, in a neat, orderly, and well-maintained condition. The Municipal Code's property maintenance and nuisance abatement provisions prohibit allowing grass, weeds, or other vegetation to grow to excessive heights that create a nuisance, fire hazard, or harbor vermin. While the code does not specify an exact maximum grass height in inches, the general standard enforced by the Code Enforcement Division treats grass or weeds exceeding approximately 8 to 12 inches as a violation. Properties must be maintained to a standard consistent with the surrounding neighborhood, and neglected lawns that are dead, brown, or overgrown may trigger code enforcement action.

The City of West Covina requires all property owners to maintain their properties free of excessive weed growth, dry brush, and combustible vegetation that could create fire hazards, harbor vermin, or constitute a public nuisance. The city's weed abatement program operates in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department's annual brush clearance requirements. Property owners must remove weeds, dead vegetation, and accumulated plant debris from their properties and maintain a defensible space where applicable. The Code Enforcement Division enforces weed and vegetation standards year-round, with heightened enforcement during the spring and summer fire season months when dry conditions increase wildfire risk in the San Gabriel Valley foothills.