Apple Valley · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Apple Valley

Apple Valley sets fence heights by yard and fence type, with lower limits for solid fences in front yards and at corners. The city ties accessory structure height and size to the main structure and lists businesses not allowed at home.

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Key points

Fence height: Apple Valley limits solid fences to 48 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet elsewhere; open decorative fencing in front, 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Apple Valley limits one-story accessory structures in residential districts to the main structure's height or 16 feet, whichever is lesser.
Home business: Apple Valley does not allow home businesses such as animal hospitals, vehicle repair, barber and beauty shops, massage parlors, junk yards, or welding.

Each rule below is marked Apple Valley code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Apple Valley code What Apple Valley's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing man-made can be taller than 30 inches above the nearest street level. Applies: Inside the Clear Sight Triangle on corner lots. § 9.28.120 · code text On corner lots, no man-made visual obstructions may be erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow within the Clear Sight Triangle to a height in excess of thirty (30) inches above the nearest street elevation. The Clear Sight Triangle reaches 30 feet from the intersection, or 10 feet at driveways. Applies: Corner lots. § 9.28.120 · code text The Clear Sight Triangle is defined as the area within the triangle formed by connecting the points thirty (30) feet (ten feet at driveways) from the intersection of the two right-of-way lines (or directions of travel). Trees must be trimmed to the trunk up to at least 6 feet above the nearest street level. Applies: Trees inside the Clear Sight Triangle on corner lots. § 9.28.120 · code text Trees within the Clear Sight Triangle shall be trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least six (6) feet above the nearest street elevation.
Height anywhere on the lot	Solid walls or fences can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Not in the required front yard, or within 12 feet of the right-of-way in the street side setback; corner lots: outside the Clear Sight Triangle. § 9.28.120 · code text On all other lots, and corner lots outside of the Clear Sight Triangle, a maximum six (6)-foot high solid wall or fence may be located anywhere except in the required front yard No more than 8 feet tall, measured from the lowest finished grade at the wall. Applies: Combined retaining and garden or privacy walls in side or rear yards with a ground-level difference, unless the Planning Commission approves otherwise. § 9.28.120 · code text the height of such combination wall shall not exceed eight (8) feet as measured from the lowest finished grade at the wall unless otherwise reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission
Front yard height	Solid walls and fences can be no more than 48 inches tall, or the height the CC&Rs allow, if any. Applies: In the required front yard, where walls and fences are allowed. § 9.28.120 · code text Within the required front yard where permitted and closer than twelve (12) feet to the right-of-way in the street side yard setback, solid walls and fences shall be limited to forty-eight (48) inches in height Open decorative fencing can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Wrought-iron or other open fencing with decorative features in the front or street side setback; chain link does not count as decorative. § 9.28.120 · code text Wrought-iron or other open fencing incorporating decorative features such as pilasters and spires or other embellishments, may obtain a height of six (6) feet within the front yard or street side yard setback
Side and rear yard height	Solid walls and fences can be no more than 48 inches tall, or the height the CC&Rs allow, if any. Applies: Within 12 feet of the right-of-way in the street side yard setback. § 9.28.120 · code text solid walls and fences shall be limited to forty-eight (48) inches in height or the height permitted by the CC&Rs, if any Open decorative fencing can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Wrought-iron or other open fencing with decorative features in the street side yard setback. § 9.28.120 · code text may obtain a height of six (6) feet within the front yard or street side yard setback
Permit	Planning Division review is required for all walls over 3 feet tall, including retaining and perimeter walls. § 9.28.120 · code text All walls, including retaining walls as well as perimeter walls, over three (3) feet in height are subject to Planning Division review.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Apple Valley code What Apple Valley's code adds
Maximum height	No taller than the main building or 16 feet, whichever is less. Applies: One-story accessory structures in single family, equestrian and multi-family residential districts. § 9.29.020 · code text Accessory structures in the single family residential, equestrian residential, and multi-family residential districts shall not exceed one-hundred percent (100%) of the height of the main structure on site, or sixteen (16) feet, whichever is lesser, if a one story structure No more than 75% of the main building's height. Applies: In single family, equestrian and multi-family residential districts, when the main building has 2 or more stories. § 9.29.020 · code text nor seventy-five (75) percent of the height of the main structure, if that main structure is two or more stories in height.
Size or lot coverage	Each accessory structure can be no more than 75% of the main building's total roofed area. Applies: Residential lots smaller than 2½ acres. § 9.29.020 · code text On residential lots less than two and one-half (2½) acres in size, any single accessory structure shall not exceed seventy-five (75) percent of the total area under roof of the primary structure. All accessory structures together can be no more than 100% of the main building's total roofed area. Applies: Residential lots smaller than 2½ acres. § 9.29.020 · code text The total of all accessory structures on a site shall not exceed 100 percent of the total area under roof of the primary structure.
Side and rear setback	Can be as close as 5 feet to a side or rear property line. Applies: Non-living structures up to 120 square feet and 10 feet tall; not in the required front or street side setback or an easement. § 9.29.020 · code text Nonhabitable accessory structures not exceeding one hundred twenty (120) square feet and not taller than ten (10) feet may be located to within five (5) feet of a side or rear property line At least 10 feet from a rear property line. Applies: Accessory structures larger than 120 square feet or taller than 10 feet. § 9.29.020 · code text The minimum distance from an accessory structure larger than one hundred twenty (120) square feet or taller than ten (10) feet in height to a side property line shall be equal to the required setbacks in Table 9.28.040-A, of this Code, Site Development Standards, and Table 9.28.040-B, Site Development Standards for the Mountain Vista neighborhood, and a minimum of ten (10) feet from a rear property line. At least 25 feet from any property line. Applies: Roofed animal enclosures. § 9.29.020 · code text Roofed animal enclosures shall not be located within twenty-five (25) feet of any property line in accordance with subsection 9.29.030.F, Setback Requirements, of this Chapter. Can be as close as 5 feet to a side or rear property line. Applies: Open animal enclosures with no roof, only if at least 70 feet from any off-site home or other living structure. § 9.29.020 · code text Open, unroofed animal enclosures may be located within five (5) feet of a side or rear property line or easement line (if any) At least 5 feet from a side or rear property line. Applies: Carports and shelters with a rigid frame and roof, not plastic or PVC; not in front or street side setbacks or easements; building permit required. § 9.29.022 · code text may be located no closer than five (5) feet from either a side or rear property line At least 5 feet from a side or rear property line. Applies: Permanent or semi-permanent shelters for RVs or other large vehicles. § 9.29.022 · code text Permanent or semi-permanent recreational vehicle (RV) or other large vehicle enclosure or shelters may be located no closer than five (5) feet of a side or rear property line

Running a business from home

Apple Valley code What Apple Valley's code adds
Businesses not allowed	Animal hospitals; automotive and other vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, painting, or storage; barber and beauty shops; dancing schools or exercise studios; junk yards; massage parlors; medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini-storage; on-site retail sales, except sales of produce grown on the subject property; storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction trades; welding and machining § 9.19.070 · code text The following uses are not incidental to nor compatible with residential activities and therefore shall not be allowed as home occupations:

RV and boat parking

Apple Valley code What Apple Valley's code adds
Where it may be parked	At least 5 feet from side and rear lines; not in required front or street side setbacks or recorded easements. Applies: Applies to a carport, shelter or enclosure for storing cars, boats, RVs or trailers. A building permit is required. § 9.29.022 · code text may be located no closer than five (5) feet from either a side or rear property line, provided that no portion of said structure is located within a required front or street side yard building setback area or within or upon a recorded easement of any type.
Screening and surface	Solid, opaque siding, with no more than a 4-foot gap between the ground and the siding. Applies: Applies to a permanent or semi-permanent enclosure or shelter for an RV or other large vehicle. § 9.29.022 · code text Said shelter structure(s) must have solid and opaque siding materials over the supporting framework. This siding may extend to the ground and shall not include more than a four (4)-foot gap from the ground surface to the siding.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Apple Valley code What Apple Valley's code adds
Solar permit process	A building or nondiscretionary permit, issued within a reasonable time after a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems. § 8.38.040 · code text Staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable time following receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this Chapter.

Other Apple Valley rules on this

Apple Valley's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Animal limits by zone (§ 15.01.125)
Keeping animals in residential zones (§ 9.29.030)
SB 9 two-unit projects (§ 9.29.220)
SB 9 urban lot splits (§ 9.71.170)
Permit to remove a Joshua tree (§ 9.76.040) — Joshua trees only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Apple Valley?

Apple Valley limits solid fences to 48 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet elsewhere; open decorative fencing in front, 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Apple Valley?

Apple Valley limits one-story accessory structures in residential districts to the main structure's height or 16 feet, whichever is lesser.

Can I run a business from my home in Apple Valley?

Apple Valley does not allow home businesses such as animal hospitals, vehicle repair, barber and beauty shops, massage parlors, junk yards, or welding.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Apple Valley?

Apple Valley's code: At least 5 feet from side and rear lines; not in required front or street side setbacks or recorded easements. (Applies to a carport, shelter or enclosure for storing cars, boats, RVs or trailers. A building permit is required.) (§ 9.29.022); Solid, opaque siding, with no more than a 4-foot gap between the ground and the siding. (Applies to a permanent or semi-permanent enclosure or shelter for an RV or other large vehicle.) (§ 9.29.022).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Apple Valley?

Apple Valley's code: A building or nondiscretionary permit, issued within a reasonable time after a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan. (Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 8.38.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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