Common Code Violations

Overview

Common Violations

Inoperable Vehicles

An inoperable vehicle is one that is not equipped with all parts required to legally and safely operate on public street and/or cannot be driven under its own power. In addition, vehicle parts are prohibited to be stored within public view.

NOTE: Code Enforcement does not respond to illegally parked, inoperable, abandoned, and/or non-moving vehicles parked on the street. Please contact the Rocklin Police Department for vehicle issues on the street.

RMC Section 8.08.030 and Section 8.04.020(E)

Open Storage and Junk, Trash & Debris

Open storage is prohibited. Generally, any appliances, equipment, materials, furnishings, canopies, and shipping containers shall not be stored in public view.

Junk, trash, and debris are prohibited from being left within public view and must be disposed of properly. This includes, but is not limited to, junk, packing boxes, cardboard boxes, lumber, rubbish, refuse, barrels, drums, and salvage material.

RMC Section 8.04.020(A) and (D)

Overgrown Vegetation

Overgrown vegetation pertains to untended lawn and weeds in excess of twelve inches (12”) in height. In addition, bushes, tree limbs, and plants are prohibited from obstructing or encroaching upon city sidewalk and streets. Trees are required to be trimmed up to a minimum height of eight feet (8’) above the surface of the sidewalk and fourteen (14’) above the surface of the street. Vegetation next to the driveway should be kept below thirty inches (30”) in height to reduce sight distance obstructions when exiting a driveway.

An illustration of a tree, car, and house, and a block of text reading, "The required vertical clearance is 8 feet over sidewalks for bicycle and pedestrian clearance and 14 feet over roadways for vehicle clearance.  Also, any vegetation that encroaches in to the path of a public right-of-way is prohibited.  Please clear vegetation to meet these requirements from the sidewalks and roadway on your property."

RMC Section 8.04.020(B)

Dead Vegetation

Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds, or other vegetation constituting unsightly appearance, or dangerous to public safety and welfare and visible from public view shall be removed from the property. Hazardous weeds shall be maintained below a maximum height of four (4”) inches at all times to prevent intense flame heights if the dead weeds happen to ignite due to an ignition source.

  • Contact the Fire Department for overgrown dead vegetation on unimproved parcels, improved parcels greater than a ½ acre in size, and private open-space at the beginning of fire season until the conclusion of fire season.

  • Contact Public Works Department for all overgrown and dead vegetation concerns within the City open-space or city landscape areas.

RMC Section 8.04.020(D)

Building Maintenance

All building exteriors wood, siding, shingles, roof coverings, railings, walls, ceilings, porches, doors, windows and any other exterior parts of residential structures must be weather-tight, rodent proof, an in-sound condition and good repair.

CA. H&SC 17920.3(G)(1-4) and RMC Section 8.04.020(G)(H)(I)(J)

Fences & Walls

Fences must be constructed of approved materials and must be kept in good repair. Use of materials such as chain link, barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fencing are prohibited within residentially zoned areas. Fencing in residentially zoned areas shall be limited to a maximum height of six feet (6’) within the side yard and rear yard and thirty inches (30”) in the front yard. Please email planneroftheday@rocklin.ca.us or call (916) 625-5166 for any questions you may have before beginning fencing and wall projects.

RMC Section 17.76

Parking and Storage of Accessory Vehicles

The City of Rocklin proactively regulates recreational vehicle parking and storage violations. RVs, trailers, boats and campers must be stored in a garage, a commercial storage facility, or on a solid surface (on private residential property, outside of the front and street side yard setbacks). For information on setback locations for your property, please email planneroftheday@rocklin.ca.us or call (916) 625-5166.

RMC Section 17.08.130

What is an accessory vehicle?

“Accessory vehicle” means and includes campers, recreational vehicles, and utility trailers. (RMC 17.8.130.B.1)

How is storage of an accessory vehicle defined?

“Store” or “stored” means parking in a location on three consecutive days or nine intermittent days within a thirty-day period at any point in time. (RMC 17.08.130.B.5)

Where can I store my accessory vehicle?

An accessory vehicle can be stored in the interior side yard, rear yard or garage of a residential property, or in a commercial storage facility.

Where can’t I store my accessory vehicle?

It is not allowed to store an accessory vehicle in any zoning district at the following locations below: 

  1. In any front yard or street side yard setback in any zone including driveways; 
  2. On a public street in any zone; or 
  3. In any required off-street parking area in any commercial or industrial zone. 

The diagram below highlights a typical residential front yard setback and street side yard setback.

If my accessory vehicle doesn’t fit into my rear yard or interior side yard, where can I store it?

Accessory vehicles that do not fit into the rear yard or interior side yard must be parked inside a garage or in a commercial storage facility. 

Can I temporarily park my accessory vehicle in my driveway to clean, load and unload, or do general maintenance on it?

Yes, an accessory vehicle can be temporarily parked on the driveway (within the front yard setback) and street for up to 2 consecutive days to perform any of the tasks listed above. It’s important to understand that two consecutive days within the ordinance does not mean 48 hours. At any point in time that the accessory vehicle is at your home it counts as a day.

Example: The accessory vehicle comes home on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and parks within the front yard setback that is day 1, then you take your accessory vehicle back to storage on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. that is considered day 2.

Can I park my accessory vehicle on unpaved or an unimproved surface?

No, an accessory vehicle or any other vehicle may not be parked on a pervious surface.

If I can park in my driveway for up to 2 consecutive days on the street, why can’t I just move my vehicle from the driveway to the street and back again every few days? 

The purpose of the accessory vehicle ordinance is to limit temporary parking and prohibit the storage of an accessory vehicle to improve the appearance and aesthetics of the City and to eliminate potential traffic hazards. Therefore, the City gives accessory vehicle owners the opportunity to perform various tasks on their vehicles during a 2 consecutive day period.  

What is an example of illegal storage for an accessory vehicle? 

For example, if a motor home is parked in a driveway for 2 consecutive days, then it moves onto the street in front of a house for one more day, and then back into the driveway or down the street for another day, this would be a violation of the ordinance and subject to a fine. (RMC 17.08.130.D and RMC 17.08.130.E) 

Can people live or stay in an accessory vehicle on my property, even if it is just for a few days? 

No, people cannot use accessory vehicles for living or sleeping purposes, even for short periods. (RMC 17.08.130.C) 

If I regularly drive a pick-up truck with a camper on the back, can I park it in my driveway? 

Yes a pick-up truck, with a camper attached to it that is normally used for everyday transportation, can be parked in the driveway if the camper is attached to a one-ton or less pick-up truck and is not more than 9 feet in height as measured from the surface of the street. (RMC 17.08.130.E.4)

Yard or Garage Sales

Garage sales have limitations within the City. 

  • No more than three (3) garage sales may be held on any residential property in any one calendar year;
  • No garage sale shall be allowed within sixty (60) days of another such garage sale on the property;
  • Garage sales are prohibited Mondays through Thursdays;
  • No single sale shall be conducted longer than three (3) days;
  • Items on display shall only be sold on the property the sale is being held;
  • Items of display for sale shall not be stored or placed on the public right-of-way, nor shall the displays encroach onto another property without the permission from the property owner.

Garage Sale Signs are exempt from a sign permit; however, they shall be placed on private property only. Signs placed within the public right-of-way or affixed to utility poles or traffic signs will be immediately removed by City Officials and an administrative citation will be issued and responsible parties will incur the costs of removal and disposal.

Temporary Signs

Temporary signs relevant to retail business, restaurants, and offices are considered “Special Advertising Devices” and are require approval of a Sign Permit before they can be installed. Temporary signs that comply with all applicable standards can usually be issued over the counter. We recommend that you first obtain a sign permit before you purchase or install a sign to make sure that the proposed sign complies with applicable standards.

Note: Temporary signs placed off-site or on public property are prohibited and will be immediately removed by City Officials and stored for 30 days. If you are missing a sign, please contact Code Enforcement Division to check if your sign was removed by a City Official.

Swimming Pools

All swimming pools shall be maintained in a clean sanitary condition. Private residential pools shall have an enclosure that complies with the Swimming Pool Safety Act.

Green pools: Please contact the Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District if you have a green pool in your neighborhood.

RMC Section 8.04.020(D) and CA. H&SC 115923

Building Address

The building address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of ½ inch.

CA. Fire Code 505.1