Frequently Asked Questions

The maximum number of dogs permitted over six months of age cannot exceed four and a conditional use permit is required to operate as a dog fancier. In order to apply for a dog fancier’s permit you must live on land that is zoned open space or single-family residential 1 dwelling units per acre (DUA) and 2 DUA and any other residential land use district where the applicant’s lot is at least 20,000 square feet in area.

The parcel of land on which livestock are kept shall not be less than 40,000 square feet in single fee ownership. No more than one head of livestock is maintained per twenty thousand square feet of area. In the residential land use districts a conditional use permit is required to keep livestock.

Small farm animals defined as “small un-hooved animals, including, but not limited to, chickens, doves, pigeons, quail, game birds, rabbits and honey bees” may be kept on parcels within the 1-DUA, 2-DUA, 3-DUA, 6-DUA, Study, Institutional, MOSO or non-MOSO open space zoning districts as accessory to an existing permitted single-family residence, duplex, triplex or fourplex. The number of small farm animals (excepting bees) permitted on a given lot is based on gross lot area as follows: 

Small farm animals (excepting bees) must be fenced at all times and have access to a coup cage or similar structure, which:

• Provides protection from the elements
• Is located in the rear or side yard
• Meets the minimum front, side and rear setbacks required for the primary residence. 

The keeping of honey bee colonies is also permitted at the following densities, based on gross lot area:

One nucleus colony may be kept for each honey bee colony permitted on a parcel.

To review all of the small farm animal keeping regulations, please refer to Moraga Municipal Code Section 8.92 “Animal Keeping”.

Leaf blowers can be operated during daylight hours (from dusk to dawn) - MMC Section 7.12.080.

The Moraga Municipal Code 7.12 restricts noise levels in residential areas. If you are disturbed by a loud noise in your neighborhood, please call the Moraga Planning Department at 925-888-7040, (8 am to 5 pm weekdays) or the Moraga Police Department at 925-376-2515925-376-2515 (weekends, holidays, and 5 pm to 8 am weekdays).

Dogs that bark constantly and disturb neighbors should be reported Contra Costa County Animal Control Services at 925-335-8300. This agency is responsible for enforcing the County’s Barking Dog Ordinance and the Town contracts with the County for this service.

Construction hours are from 8 am to 5 pm (MMC Section 7.12.090). If construction occurs outside of these hours you may call the Police department and report the incident to them. They can be reached through dispatch at 925-284-5010.

Please report abandoned homes/buildings to the Planning Department or the Police Department.

Nuisance abatement is regulated under MMC Chapter 7.16. The process is lengthy because the property owner has to be given every opportunity to act on their own before the Town gains the legal authority to go onto the private property, to abate the nuisance and, to place a special assessment on the property to recover the cost of the abatement. After the Town Council declares the nuisance on the property, certain steps must be followed before the Town can take direct action to abate the nuisance.

Most problems with neighbors are over trees or joint fences. The Town cannot get involved in private disputes, but there is a free agency called Conflict Resolution which is effective in helping people resolve problems. Their number is 925-687-8844, ext. 301.

Every dwelling unit is required to have two covered off-street parking spaces. The required garage or carport shall not be located in the front or side yard setbacks. Each space must measure a minimum of 9 feet by 19 feet.

Public streets are for operational vehicles, which may park a maximum of 72 hour along the side of a road, provided that the center of the road remains unobstructed for a minimum width of 20 feet on a two-lane road.

Recreational-type vehicles must be stored where they are substantially screened from a street or other property by a closed garage, fence or landscaping so that the vehicle is not visible or is barely visible. For vehicles over 6 feet high, at least 70% of the height shall be screened. A recreational-type vehicle includes a boat, bus, camper, any type of vehicle equipped as a dwelling unit and any type of trailer.

Storage is defined as parking for 96 consecutive hours (4 days) or more, or parking for two or more consecutive periods totaling 96 hours when the interval between periods is less than 72 hours. Over-sized or commercial vehicles may not be parked at any time on residential street without a permit.

Overgrown vegetation may attract rodents and may also block street visibility. Please report any such conditions on Mobile Moraga.  Staff will inform the property owner they are in violation of Town codes so they can address the concern..