Since its inception in 1971, the Hollister Ranch Owners’ Association (HROA) has supported access to shoreline areas and other common areas within the Hollister Ranch for scientific research and environmental education. Individual Ranch landowners have similarly supported these endeavors by allowing discretionary access to their parcels. The Hollister Ranch Conservancy (HRC) was formed by the HROA for the protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural resources and environment of Hollister Ranch. A primary responsibility of the HRC is to administer the scientific and educational access programs for Hollister Ranch. HRC members arrange access to the Ranch for scientific research or resource inventory studies.

Hollister Ranch Owners Association Operating Documents

There are 3 operating documents for Hollister Ranch owners:

• Declaration of Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions
• Hollister Ranch Rules
• Design Committee Rules

These documents encourage conscientious stewardship practices for the biological resources on the owner's land and on Hollister Ranch common areas. All 3 documents affirm that one of the primary objectives for the respective rules is the preservation of, variously stated, the natural vegetation, ecological values, natural beauty, and pristine condition of Hollister Ranch in perpetuity for the enjoyment of current and future owners. Each is considered briefly as it pertains to the owner's responsibility for the continued conservation and stewardship of natural resources.

The CC&R declaration establishes that the Hollister Ranch has been beautifully preserved in a relatively natural and unspoiled state since 1866. Its stated purpose is to foster beneficial land use that retains and preserves the unique beauty and natural character into the future and it presents the best management practices to achieve this goal for each individual parcel. The CC&Rs include provisions against removing vegetation, for replacing damaged vegetation and types of uses allowed in the areas around the boundaries of each parcel. This document recognizes that areas of special ecological interest need preservation, with periodic monitoring and specific management plans.

Their are numerous ranch rules governing guests, vehicles, hunting, livestock, fires and group use policies.  These rules are designed to reflect the philosophy of the Ranch, to protect the environment and to minimize annoyance to others using the Ranch.

Design Committee Rule

The Design Committee administers the environmental controls stated in the CC&Rs. Recognizing that it is to the owners common good to preserve the natural attributes of Hollister Ranch, one goal of the Committee's rules is to provide for the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the natural environment. Within each of the three characteristic types of terrain on the Hollister Ranch (coastal grasslands, coastal hills, and coastal mountain ranges) the primary design concerns are to consider ecological impacts and to protect and enhance native vegetation.