Legal Definitions - view ordinance

View ordinance refers to laws that protect a property's view from being obstructed. These laws can cover various aspects of a property, but they usually focus on trees and vegetation. They can also protect other features, such as sunlight or views of cities.

For example, if a property owner plants a tree that blocks their neighbor's view of the ocean, the neighbor can use the view ordinance to demand that the tree be removed or seek monetary damages for the loss of their view.

View ordinances are different from zoning ordinances, which regulate how property is used in specific geographic zones. Other city-planning ordinances, such as those that limit fence or building height, can also serve the same purpose as view ordinances.

View ordinances are considered a valid exercise of a municipality's policing power. California courts have recognized that these laws are tied to legitimate interests in public welfare and aesthetic considerations.