City Ordinances Guide & Info

This is where you’ll find info on local city ordinances and general info that might be helpful to local residents…info about a variety of topics and how to contact the city on these topics.

Animals

Farm animals such as rabbits, ducks, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, and horses are NOT permitted in residentially zoned districts. Call 621-8400.

Animal neglect or loose dog complaintss should be referred to the SPCA at 233-7722. Animal bite complaints should be referred to the County of Fresno at 445-3385.

Regarding barking dogs, please see the section on noise.

Block Parties

The City encourages people to organize block parties because they are a good way to get to know your neighbors. If you’re interested, please call the City Council Office at 621-8000 for more information. You can get official permission to temporarily close the street in front of your home and arrange for a avist from the Police Dept. and Fire Dept staff.

Business

You may NOT operate a business out of your home for the repair, manufacture, process, sale, display, or trade of goods, materials, or objects. There are strict rules regulating running a business out of your home. Very few professions comply with the provisions of the home occupation code. Call the Planning and Development Department at 621-8277 if you are interested in more information.

Fences

There are rules for building a fence. Backyard and side yard fences cannot be over 6 feet in height. A front yard fence cannot be over 3 feet in height. For more information, call the Planning and Development Department at 621-8277.

Pool Fences: Fencing is required around swimming, wading and bathing pools that have a depth of 18inches or more. Please call Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400.

Graffiti

For assistance in graffiti removal, to volunteer for a graffiti removal program, or to provide “tagger” information to the Police Dept, please call GET MAGIC (GT MAGIC or 486-2442).

Housing Programs

The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno and the Fresno Housing Authority have formed a partnership to provide property owners with a grant of up to $6,500 to enhance the exterior of their single family residence. For more information call the Community Housing Partnership Program at 445-8905.

• Housing Assistance
  The Fresno Housing Authority offers a number of housing assistance programs, e.g., Section 8, Public Housing, MRR. For more information, or to find out if applications are being accepted, please call the Housing Authority at 443-8400.
  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program: For information on the MCC, please call the Fresno Housing Authority at 443-8400
  • New Home Buyers: The Home Buyer Assistance Program (HBAP) is designed to assist low-income, first-time home buyers with the cash requirements of a home purchase. There are no monthly payments, however, the loans are typically due when the property is sold. Loans of up to $40,000 are available. For more information call 621-8500.

• Housing Problems
  • Renters: Assistance is available in the following areas: tenant/landlord disputes, evictions, advice on substandard housing complaints. Please call Fresno County RentSense at 488-3500, the Better Business Bureau-Dispute Settlement Center at 222-8111, Central California Legal Services at 441-1611, or Centro La Familia at 237-2961. Minimum standards for dwellings are required by the Uniform Housing Code and the California State Health and Safety Code. These standards include such items as requiring adequate heat, plumbing, and electrical systems. If repairs are needed, tenants are encouraged to first work with their landlords to have repairs made. However, if assistance is needed, please call the Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400.
  • Public Nuisance: Any abandoned buildings which may attract malicious mischief activity or trespassing should be reported by calling 621-8400.
  • Health Hazards: Lead-based paint poisoning is especially dangerous to children under the age of seven. If you suspect your child or another member of your household has ingested lead-based paint, paint chips, or dust particles containing lead, contact the Fresno County Health Department at 445-3330.

Noise

Excessive noise can detract from the quality of life in a neighborhood. It is important that neighbors work together, privately, to solve minor problems, like barking dogs. The City of Fresno does not get involved in these disputes and, if courteous communication is not successful, you should contact a private attorney. For other more serious or persistent problems:

Loud parties-call the Fresno Police Department at 498-1414.

Construction noise-call the Fresno Building and Safety Division at 621-8104.

Industrial or commercial noise/activities-call 621-8400.

Police Department

• District Policing Offices:
  Central — 621-6200
  Northeast — 621-6400
  Northwest — 621-6500
  Southeast — 621-6300
  Southwest — 621-6100

• Neighborhood Watch
  Enhance your area’s positive sense of community by forming and maintaining a Neighborhood Watch Program and cooperatively working out general neighborhood problems. Call the Crime Prevention Community Service Officer at your District Policing Office (numbers listed above).
• Problem Oriented Policing (POP)
  The Fresno Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Program is one of the main components of the community-based policing. It was established to “decriminalize” a specific target area. This program utilizes assistance from other city departments, public and private sector providers, community organizations, business, schools, property owners, and residents to remove the criminal element and stabilize the area. The program identifies target areas based on the number of calls for service or evidence that criminal activity is occurring. For more information, call your District Policing Office at the number listed above.
• Care Fresno
  Care Fresno is an extension of Problem Oriented Policing (POP). It is the intent of the Care Fresno Program to prevent criminal elements from returning to neighborhoods. Care Fresno builds partnerships with local schools, churches and businesses for the purpose of training volunteers and developing resources to promote programs that will help restore and maintain safe neighborhoods.

  Programs include reading/tutoring centers, recreational activities, job training, ESL classes and parenting classes. For more information about this program contact the Care Fresno office at 244-0105.

Signs

Signs play a vital role in identifying businesses. However, signs which are abandoned, illegal, or block publick rights-of-way, have a blighting influence on the City. If you want more information regarding our existing sign ordinance, please call 621-8400.

Street Flooding

Heavy rain brings much needed water to our beautiful valley. Sometimes it fills our streets and roadways so that passage is difficult. Regarding urban drainage problems call the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District at 456-3292. To report illegal dumping into the storm drainage system call 456-3292.

Streetlights

Is the streetlight burning brightly? Or is it flickering? Is it burned out? Did you know that it actually saves money to replace a flickering streetlight before the bulb burns out? Report flickering and burned out streetlights, as well as malfunctioning traffic signals by calling the Traffic Signals and Streetlights Section at 621-1492.

Street Sweeping

For questions regarding street sweeping, please call Community Sanitation Division at 621-1447. For rubbish or trash in the street, please call the Street Maintenance Division at 621-1492.

Tires

It is unlawful to store or dump tires on residential or vacant lots. City of Fresno residents wishing to dispose of tires at the City operated tire disposal facility may call the Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400 to arrange for an appointment. A disposal fee is charged. To help solve this problem please remember to leave your old tires with you dealer!

Trash & Debris

• “Operation: CLEAN-UP” is designed to assist residents within the City limits in the removal of excess debris, trash, and rubbish (please no pool acid), not normally removed through solid waste disposal service. This service is provided twice a year.

  It is important that residents not place their discards out more than seven days in advance of their scheduled pickup. Please call the Community Sanitation Division at 621-1447 for the scheduled time in your area.

• Solid Waste Management Division: For questions regarding your weekly garbage pickup or trash around the container, please call 621-1452.

  The accumulation of garbage, trash, appliances, car parts, old furniture, scrap materials, and overgrown vegetation is considered a public nuisance. To file a complaint call the Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400

Trees

Are the branches from trees along the street blocking your view? Has a branch from a tree fallen into the street? For questions regarding trees which are located in City parks or in medians call the Parks and Recreation Division at 621-2903. For questions regarding trees located along streets call the Public Works Dept at 621-1492.

Vehicle Parking

Vehicles parked on private residential property must be parked on driveways, in a garage, or a carport. Vehicles CANNOT be parked on dirt, lawn, or landscape areas. Call the Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400.

Inoperable vehicles cannot be parked on the street or stored on private property unless fully enclosed within a legal structure, i.e., garage. Car covers are not acceptable. For inoperable vehicles on private property, call the Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400 and for inoperable vehicles on the street, call your District Policing Office at the number listed under the Police Dept. section.

Recreational vehicles may be parked or stored on private property as long as: 1) they are enclosed within a legal structure; 2) they are within a side or rear yard enclosed by a solid wall or fence between 5 feet and 6 feet in height; and 3) they are not used for human habitation. The parking of recreational vehicles is regulated by the Code Enforcement Division if on private property, call 621-8400. If the recreational vehicle is parked on the street, call your District Policing Office at the number listed under the Police Dept. section.

Vehicle Repairing

Open repair of vehicles is prohibited in residentially zoned districts. You may add fluids, change a flat tire, jump start, and repair your own personal vehicle inside your garage. Call 621-8400.

Vehicle Theft

The Fresno Police Dept. and the California Highway Patrol have formed an auto theft task force, “Fresno H.E.A.T.” (Help Eliminate Auto Theft). If you feel you have active auto thieves operating in your neighborhood or possibly have a chop shop operating nearby, please call Fresno H.E.A.T. at 253-7045. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Watering Schedule

• Summertime (Mar 2-Nov 30)–ODD numbered addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. EVEN numbered addresses may water Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
  Trees, shrubs, flowers, gardens may be watered anytime during the scheduled watering day.
  No watering permitted on Mondays, or any day during the hours of 6-8am or 11am-7pm.

• Wintertime (Dec 1-Mar 1)–ODD numbered addresses may water anytime on Saturdays, EVEN numbered addresses may water anytime on Sundays.
  For more information on the watering schedule or to report water abuse call 621-5480.

Weeds

The accumulation of tall, dry grass on vacant lots is prohibited. Property owners are required to maintain their lots year around. During the weed abatement season, generally April through October, property owners are required to ensure all weeds that constitute fire hazard are cleared or the land is turned with a disc. For further questions or to file a complaint, please call the Code Enforcement Division at 621-8400.

Yard Sales

You may have two yard sales at your residence in any calendar year. They must conform to the following conditions: 1) each sale is limited to no longer than 72hours; 2) no items may be displayed on the public right-of-way; 3) all items sold must have been used and no longer needed by the occupants of the residence; and 4) no signs are to be posted on public property. Call 621-8400.