City Code - Property

Parking on Private Property

• Vehicles may not be parked or kept on the front lawn or unimproved surfaces.
• Vehicles may only be parked in the driveway of your home on "improved, surfaces" such as concrete, asphalt, brick, or fitted stone.
• Vehicles without tires, hoods, or with broken windows that are on blocks, jacks or other support are not considered to be in working order. They may be towed away regardless of whether they are on public or private property
• Dismantled or wrecked vehicles and vehicles undergoing active repairs may be parked in the driveway of a home for up to 10 days. (Please note: "vehicles" include motor vehicles, boats, RVs, campers, trailers, and any of their parts.)
• A vehicle that doesn't work may be parked in the driveway of a home on private property IF:
  1. It looks as if it could be safely driven on public street,
     AND
  2. The driveway is made of an impervious surface, such as concrete, asphalt, brick, etc.

Overgrown Weeds or Accumulations in Yards

• Overgrown weeds and accumulations of rubbish and personal articles are not permitted on any real property within the City. Weeds can be a potential fire hazard. Please be sure to remove weeds and rubbish.

Public Access

Items such as basketball hoops and skate ramps are okay while in use. When not in use, they are a public nuisance if they block public property. Please keep basketball hoops off City streets and sidewalks.

Vacant Properties

• Changes to the Public Nuisance Ordinance became effective on August 22, 2008, that require property owners, property managers, lenders, or anyone having charge or possession of the property to:

• Secure the structure.
• Maintain the landscaping and the exterior of the structure.
• If, a property has a swimming pool or spa:
  • Secure access gates and maintain the pool barrier.
  • Keep the water clean, clear, and free of debris (or drain it and keep it dry).
• Remove exterior trash and debris.
• Remove exterior abandoned or discarded personal property.
• Regularly remove newspapers, circulars, and flyers (except those required by law).
• Notify Code Compliance, in writing of the person in charge of the property and their phone number (if the property is vacant or anticipated to be vacant 30 days or longer).
• Hire a local property management company to perform weekly inspections of the property (if the owner, is outside the local area).
• Any owner of a foreclosed or vacant building shall register the property in the City of Vacaville’s monitoring program within thirty (30) days of the building becoming vacant in accordance with Vacaville Municipal Code (VMC) section 8.10.030. If you are an owner of a vacant property, please fill out and submit our Vacant Property Form.

Landscaping

• Branches and limbs of trees and shrubs must be no lower than:
  - 7 feet over sidewalks; and 
  - 14 feet over city streets.
   
• Construction and landscaping materials may be stored in front yards for up to 30 days.

Obstruction of the Public Right-of-Way

• The Vacaville Municipal Code also requires a clear path on public sidewalks of at least 36 inches.
• An Encroachment Permit is required to do work in the public right-of-way.

Portable Storage Units

• Portable storage units such as "PODs" may not be placed on public streets or sidewalks.  They may be placed in the front yard on an improved surface for up to 30 days, if they are placed on an improved surface.