Arcadia · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Arcadia

Arcadia limits the height and size of accessory structures in its residential zones and has a city section on fences. Home businesses need a city business license, have set visit hours, and many uses are not allowed.

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Key points

Fences: Arcadia has a city section on fences, walls and gates (Sec. 9103.05).
Accessory structures: In R-M, R-0 and R-1 zones, Arcadia limits accessory structures to one story, 16 feet, and 50% of the main building's ground floor.
Home business: Arcadia home businesses may use one room or 600 square feet, whichever is greater; only permanent residents of the home may conduct them.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Arcadia code What Arcadia's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 16 feet tall, and no taller than the house's maximum height. Applies: One-story accessory structures in the R-M, R-0 and R-1 zones. § 9102.01.060 · code text 16 ft and cannot exceed the maximum height of dwelling
Size or lot coverage	No more than 50% of the ground floor area of the house. Applies: R-M, R-0 and R-1 zones; the area counts toward the zone's total allowed floor area. § 9102.01.060 · code text \| Maximum Floor Area \| 50% of the ground floor area of the main building \| 50% of the ground floor area of the main building \| 50% of the ground floor area of the main building \|
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from the side lot line. Applies: R-M zone, side setback. § 9102.01.060 · code text \| Side \| 10 ft \| Same as dwelling requirement \| Same as dwelling requirement \| At least 10 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Rear setback in the R-M, R-0 and R-1 zones; some corner and reverse corner lots have exceptions. § 9102.01.060 · code text \| Rear \| 10 ft \| 10 ft \| 10 ft \| For exceptions refer to Subsection 9102.01.040.C (Exceptions to Rear Setbacks on Corner and Reverse Corner Lots in R-0 and R-1 Zones-Attached Single-Story Garage) \| At least 20 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: R-M zone, street side of a reverse corner lot. § 9102.01.060 · code text \| Reverse Corner (street side) \| 20 ft \| Same as dwelling requirement \| Same as dwelling requirement \|
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet between structures. Applies: R-M, R-0 and R-1 zones. § 9102.01.060 · code text \| Minimum Distance Between Structures \| 6 ft \| 6 ft \| 6 ft \|

Running a business from home

Arcadia code What Arcadia's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room or 600 square feet, whichever is greater. § 9104.02.170 · code text Not more than one room or a maximum of 600 square feet, whichever is greater, shall be used for the home occupation, except for large family and small family day care uses
Customer visits	No more visitors than is normal for the surrounding neighborhood. Applies: Foot and vehicle traffic the home business brings. § 9104.02.170 · code text A home occupation may not generate the number of visitors (e.g., pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic) beyond that considered normal within the surrounding residential neighborhood. Only 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends. Applies: Visits and deliveries for the home business. § 9104.02.170 · code text Visitation and deliveries incidental to the home occupation shall be limited to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Employees	Only the permanent residents of the home can work in the business there. § 9104.02.170 · code text Only the permanent resident(s) of the subject dwelling shall be employed on the premises in the conduct of a home occupation.
Permit	A City Business License is required. § 9104.02.170 · code text The operator of the home occupation shall procure a City Business License issued in compliance with Municipal Code Article VI (Businesses, Professions, Trades, and Occupations). A new Home Occupation Permit and Business License are required. Applies: When the original permit holder changes the type of home business activity. § 9107.13.140 · code text A change in the type of home occupation activity (e.g., a change from one allowed activity to another allowed activity) conducted by the original resident/permittee shall also require a new Home Occupation Permit and Business License before conducting an allowed home occupation.
Businesses not allowed	Adult businesses; alcohol sales; ammunition, explosives, or fireworks sales, use, or manufacturing; barber and beauty shops; commercial breeding, boarding, grooming, harboring, kenneling, raising, and/or training of dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises; on-site carpentry and cabinet making; fortune telling; lawn mower and/or small engine repair; on-site massage establishments; medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini storage; plant nursery; retail or wholesale sales of products stored at the residence; storage and/or sales of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades; tattoo parlors; television, radio, or appliance repair; vehicle repair, upholstery, automobile detailing, and painting; vehicle sales; welding and machining; other similar uses determined by the Director not to be incidental to or compatible with residential activities § 9107.13.050 · code text The following uses are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities and are prohibited as home occupations:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Arcadia code What Arcadia's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	At most 6 feet tall. Applies: Applies to ground-mounted or freestanding solar structures. § 9103.01.100 · code text All ground-mounted or freestanding solar structures shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet. Follow accessory-structure setbacks in single-family zones and main-building setbacks in multifamily zones; keep out of the front yard. Applies: Applies to ground-mounted systems and freestanding solar structures. § 9103.01.100 · code text Ground-mounted systems and freestanding solar structures shall conform to the setback requirements for any accessory structure in single-family residential zones and the same as the main structure in multifamily residential zones and shall be located outside of the front yard area and to minimize their visibility from any public right-of-way.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day over the counter, or within 1-3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 8956 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within 1-3 business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review by Community Development; no Site Plan and Design Review; only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 9103.01.110 · code text Review of the application to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system shall be limited to an expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review by the Community Development Department.

Tree removal

Arcadia code What Arcadia's code adds
Exemptions	No arborist report if the Director finds the tree dead or hazardous; a tree permit is still required. Applies: Applies to dead or hazardous protected trees. § 9110.01.070 · code text If the Director or designee determines that the tree is dead or hazardous, a tree report is not required and removal may be authorized. Not regulated: non-oak, non-sycamore trees outside required yard setbacks, and listed species anywhere, such as fruit trees, palms and eucalyptus. § 9110.01.040 · code text Unprotected trees are not subject to the regulations stated in this chapter.
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree permit is required. Applies: Applies to all protected trees. § 9110.01.070 · code text A tree permit is required for all protected trees, as defined by this Chapter. Yes; a Certified Arborist report, mailed notice to owners within 300 feet, and a Director decision within 30 days. Applies: Applies to removing a healthy protected tree; the 30 days start from a complete application. § 9110.01.070 · code text Upon the receipt of a complete application to remove a healthy protected tree, the Director or designee shall have thirty (30) days to take action on the application
Protected trees	Engelmann or Coast Live Oak over 4 inches in trunk diameter, or 2+ trunks of 3+ inches each. Applies: Trunk diameter measured 4½ feet above the root crown. § 9110.01.030 · code text Engelmann Oak (Quercus Engelmannii) or Coast Live Oak (Quercus Agrifolia) with a trunk diameter larger than four (4) inches measured at a point four and one-half (4½) feet above the root crown Any other living oak over 12 inches in trunk diameter, or 2+ trunks of 10+ inches each. Applies: Trunk diameter measured 4½ feet above the root crown. § 9110.01.030 · code text Any other living California native or non-California native Oak tree with a trunk diameter larger than twelve (12) inches measured at a point four and one-half (4½) feet above the root crown California (western) Sycamore over 6 inches in trunk diameter, or 2+ trunks of 4+ inches each. Applies: Trunk diameter measured 4½ feet above the root crown. § 9110.01.030 · code text California, or western, Sycamore (Platanus Racemose) with a trunk diameter larger than six (6) inches measured at a point four and one-half (4½) feet above the root crown Trees not on the Unprotected Trees list, over 12 inches in trunk diameter or 2+ trunks of 10+ inches each. Applies: Only mature trees in a required front, side, street-side or rear yard setback. Diameter measured 4½ feet above the root crown. § 9110.01.030 · code text Any tree, with the exception of the trees listed as Unprotected Trees, that have a trunk diameter larger than twelve (12) inches measured at a point four and one-half (4½) feet above the root crown, or two (2) or more trunks measuring ten (10) inches each or greater in diameter, measured at a point of four and one-half (4½) feet above the root crown and the tree is located within a required front, side, street-side, or rear yard setback.

Swimming pools

Arcadia code The gap between the ground and the bottom of the barrier is at most 2 inches. The gap between the top of the pool and the bottom of the barrier is at most 2 inches.

All 20 Arcadia rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Arcadia code What Arcadia's code adds
Chickens	Yes; no more than 10 fowl or birds in total, not counting homing pigeons. Applies: Applies to any premises in the city; no more than 5 small animals in total. § 4136 · code text After January 1, 1961, no person shall keep or maintain upon any premises in the City chickens, rabbits, poultry or fowl, other than homing pigeons, in excess of ten (10) fowl or birds

Other Arcadia rules on this

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

Fences, walls and gates (Sec. 9103.05)
Urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 9102.01.150) — single-family zones only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Arcadia?

Arcadia has a city section on fences, walls and gates (Sec. 9103.05). Arcadia also has a related rule: Fences, walls and gates (Sec. 9103.05).

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Arcadia?

In R-M, R-0 and R-1 zones, Arcadia limits accessory structures to one story, 16 feet, and 50% of the main building's ground floor.

Can I run a business from my home in Arcadia?

Arcadia home businesses may use one room or 600 square feet, whichever is greater; only permanent residents of the home may conduct them.

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

Arcadia's code: At most 6 feet tall. (Applies to ground-mounted or freestanding solar structures.) (§ 9103.01.100); Follow accessory-structure setbacks in single-family zones and main-building setbacks in multifamily zones; keep out of the front yard. (Applies to ground-mounted systems and freestanding solar structures.) (§ 9103.01.100).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Arcadia?

Arcadia's code: No arborist report if the Director finds the tree dead or hazardous; a tree permit is still required. (Applies to dead or hazardous protected trees.) (§ 9110.01.070); Not regulated: non-oak, non-sycamore trees outside required yard setbacks, and listed species anywhere, such as fruit trees, palms and eucalyptus. (§ 9110.01.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Arcadia?

Arcadia's code: Yes; no more than 10 fowl or birds in total, not counting homing pigeons. (Applies to any premises in the city; no more than 5 small animals in total.) (§ 4136).

General information, not legal advice.

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