CLEAN CALIFORNIA Community Designation

Do you take pride in your community – and want to make it even better? Would you like your community to be recognized as a beautiful and clean place to live? Help the place you love become a Clean California Community! Caltrans has launched a new statewide designation to reward communities for their hard work in staying clean and beautiful.

Criteria

Find out what it takes to be designated a Clean California Community.

Incentives

Learn how your community benefits from the official designation.

Four Simple Steps to Becoming a Clean California Community

1

Photo with question marks.

Review the requirements.

2

Hand with a pen signing documents.

Take the pledge.

3

Community partnership and engagement.

Engage your community.

4

Image of a checklist.

Complete 10 of the 15 criteria within one year.

Benefits

Learn the advantages your community will enjoy from the official designation.

  • Personalized signage to be posted on-site with the Clean California Community designation seal.
  • Recognition on state websites and social media posts, and state-partnered media outreach.
  • Right to officially promote your community as a Clean California Community committed to the Zero Litter goal.
  • Priority access to national grant opportunities, educational materials, and volunteer cleanup kits (while supplies last) from Keep America Beautiful, a Clean California partner.
  • Automatic membership with state organization, Keep California Beautiful.

Criteria

What is required to become a

Clean CA Community?

The designation process itself is FREE. Your community must commit to meet 10 or more of the 15 criteria listed in the checklist below and be able to provide records that they were completed. Many of these criteria your community may already be doing!

Download the Criteria

We, the leaders and residents of this community, share a deep sense of pride and a vision for a cleaner, greener community. We aim to elevate our community to greater heights.

Our goal is to be recognized as a model of excellence, known for our dedication to cleanliness and environmental stewardship.
The State of California has established the Clean California Community designation to honor communities that embody these values.

We pledge to upload the principles of the Clean California Community program. We dedicate ourselves to creating a community characterized by cleanliness, sustainability, and civic pride.

This pledge signifies our community’s commitment to the Clean California Community Program. Through our combined efforts, we promise to maintain a clean, green, and vibrant community for the well-being of all residents.

By e-signing below, I confirm that I am authorized to make this pledge on behalf of my community and to commit to meeting the criteria for becoming a designated Clean California Community within the next year.

Designated Leader and Point of Contact for the Community(Required)
Community(Required)
Address(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY

Download the pledge certificate to proudly display your commitment to making your community and California a cleaner state.

Download
Group photo of volunteers with litter grabbers and trash bags during a community cleanup event.

Resources & Information

Download the Clean California Community Designation Program Summary (PDF) to learn how your community can achieve recognition for its commitment to cleanliness and beauty.

Want to introduce this program to your community or community leaders? Contact us at designation@cleanca.com to request additional resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Any community within California is eligible to apply.

The designation can be pursued by various entities, including cities, towns, counties, municipal districts, military bases, neighborhood groups, school districts, houses of worship areas, community group service areas, business improvement districts, watershed groups, and other unincorporated entities. Typically, an organized entity with a leadership structure is a good starting point. If you’re unsure about your community’s eligibility, feel free to reach out to designation@cleanca.com and ask!

Engage your community and work towards meeting 10 of the 15 criteria within a year of signing. If you have already achieved these requirements, or have questions about meeting the criteria, please get in touch with us at designation@cleanca.com for the next steps.

Yes! Guidance resources will be available for communities. Please reach out to us at designation@cleanca.com if you’d like to request support or have questions.