Artesia · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Artesia

Artesia sets fence heights by yard on single-family lots and requires city approval before any fence or wall is built. Its accessory-structure rules cover satellite antennas and roof-mounted equipment.

Ask about building on your lot in Artesia See coverage

Key points

Fence height: On single-family lots, Artesia limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in interior side and rear yards.
Satellite antennas: In the A-1, R-1 and M-R zones, Artesia limits satellite antennas over 1 meter across to 10 feet, with 10-foot rear and side setbacks.

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

Fences and walls

Artesia code What Artesia's code adds
Front yard height	Fences and walls can be no more than 42 inches tall. Applies: In the required front yard of a lot with, or planned for, a single-family home, in any zone. § 9-2.1401 · code text fences and walls erected on a lot developed or proposed to be developed with a single-family dwelling shall not exceed a height of 42 inches within the required front yard in any zone.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet tall, unless this chapter or another law requires otherwise. Applies: Required side or rear yard of an interior single-family lot, or the interior side yard of a corner or reversed corner lot. § 9-2.1401 · code text shall not exceed a height limit of six feet, except where required by the provisions of this chapter or any statute or law. No more than 42 inches tall. Applies: Single-family lots: street-side rear or side yard of a corner or reversed corner lot, within 5 feet of the side lot line. § 9-2.1401 · code text shall not exceed a height of 42 inches where located within five feet of the side lot from the side lot line. A block wall must be 9 feet tall, measured from the grade at the property line. Applies: Walls built after September 9, 2021, where a rear or side yard is next to the Metro rail right-of-way; other fence types not allowed. § 9-2.1401 · code text a block wall constructed after September 9, 2021, shall have a height of nine feet from the grade of the subject property as found at the property line.
Permit	A permit from the City Planning Department is required before building any fence or wall in any yard. § 9-2.1401 · code text Before any person constructs a fence or wall in any front, side or rear yard, a permit therefor must be obtained for the City Planning Department.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Artesia code What Artesia's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 10 feet tall in total, mounted on the ground, not on a roof. Applies: Satellite antennas larger than 1 meter (about 39 inches) across in the A-1, R-1 or M-R Zone. § 9-2.903 · code text For a satellite antenna that is greater than one meter (approximately 39 inches) in diameter, it shall be ground mounted, not be located on the roof of the principal structure or accessory residential structure, and shall not exceed a total height of 10 feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 12 feet across. Applies: Satellite antennas and roof-mounted air conditioning, heating, cooling or similar equipment, in all zones. § 9-2.903 · code text The maximum diameter of the structure or equipment shall be 12 feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Satellite antennas in the A-1, R-1 or M-R Zone. § 9-2.903 · code text (A) Minimum rear yard setback shall be 10 feet; At least 10 feet from the interior side lot line. Applies: Satellite antennas in the A-1, R-1 or M-R Zone. § 9-2.903 · code text (B) Minimum interior side yard setback shall be 10 feet;

RV and boat parking

Artesia code What Artesia's code adds
Parking on the street	Emergency parking for up to 24 consecutive hours. Applies: Oversized vehicle, including RVs, left on a city street after a breakdown or driver or owner incapacity. Otherwise no street parking for oversized vehicles. § 4-4.801 · code text Emergency parking may be allowed for 24 consecutive hours where an oversized vehicle is left parked on a City street because of mechanical breakdown or because of physical incapacity of the driver or owner. Up to 72 consecutive hours with a city permit, for loading and unloading. Applies: Residents only, no more than 12 permits per calendar year, on a public residential street within 1/10 of a mile of the registered address. § 4-4.801 · code text Parking with a permit is allowed on public residential streets for up to 72 consecutive hours for loading and unloading. The vehicle must then leave public streets for at least 72 consecutive hours. Applies: Applies to an oversized vehicle after 72 consecutive hours of permit parking. § 4-4.801 · code text After an oversized vehicle has been parked for 72 consecutive hours, the oversized vehicle must vacate the public right-of-way and may not park on any public street in the City for at least 72 consecutive hours. Up to 144 consecutive hours on a public residential street. Applies: A resident may combine 2 oversized vehicle permits for this only once per calendar year. § 4-4.801 · code text Notwithstanding Subsections (e)(3)(ii) and (e)(3)(iii) above, residents may combine two permits, which shall allow an oversized vehicle to park on a public residential street for up to 144 consecutive hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Artesia code What Artesia's code adds
Solar permit process	Expedited permitting under the Los Angeles County expedited rooftop solar rules, adopted by reference. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems. § 8-12.01 · code text Except as hereinafter provided in this chapter, Chapter 68 (Expedited Permitting for Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems) of Title 26 of the Los Angeles County Code, as in effect on September 17, 2015, is hereby adopted by reference

Tree removal

Artesia code What Artesia's code adds
Penalty	A fine of up to $5,000 per tree or each tree's replacement value, whichever is greater. Applies: Applies when work does not follow the tree protection plan during construction. § 7-4.13 · code text may issue a fine in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per tree or the replacement value of each tree as determined by the Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant Appraisal, 10th Edition or newer, whichever amount is greater.
Permit to remove	Yes. Approval is required to remove or prune a street tree or heritage tree. Applies: Applies to removal or pruning of a street tree or heritage tree. § 7-4.11 · code text When removal or pruning of a street tree or heritage tree is proposed as part of or in conjunction with new development, the application shall also include:
Replacement trees	2 replacement trees per removal. At least 1 on site; the other may go elsewhere if the City Manager allows. Applies: Removal approved for health, safety, nearness to structures, walkways or traffic, or a plant, insect or disease endangering nearby healthy trees, when only removal works. § 7-4.11 · code text shall require replacement at a ratio of two replacement trees for each removal with a trees of similar stature and species on the approved species list. At least one replacement tree shall be planted on site and the other may be planted elsewhere at the discretion of the City Manager or designee. Pay the City the value of the removed trees or the cost of replacement trees, into the Tree Fund. Applies: An alternative to planting on site. § 7-4.11 · code text As an alternative to on-site planting, an applicant may request to submit payment to the City of Artesia of costs equivalent to the value of the removed tree(s) or the cost of the numbers of replacement tree(s)

Other Artesia rules on this

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

Urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 9-1.1401)
Two homes on a single-family lot (SB 9) (§ 9-2.1650)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Artesia?

On single-family lots, Artesia limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in interior side and rear yards.

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

In the A-1, R-1 and M-R zones, Artesia limits satellite antennas over 1 meter across to 10 feet, with 10-foot rear and side setbacks.

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

Artesia's code: Emergency parking for up to 24 consecutive hours. (Oversized vehicle, including RVs, left on a city street after a breakdown or driver or owner incapacity. Otherwise no street parking for oversized vehicles.) (§ 4-4.801); Up to 72 consecutive hours with a city permit, for loading and unloading. (Residents only, no more than 12 permits per calendar year, on a public residential street within 1/10 of a mile of the registered address.) (§ 4-4.801).

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

Artesia's code: Expedited permitting under the Los Angeles County expedited rooftop solar rules, adopted by reference. (Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 8-12.01).

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

Artesia's code: A fine of up to $5,000 per tree or each tree's replacement value, whichever is greater. (Applies when work does not follow the tree protection plan during construction.) (§ 7-4.13); Yes. Approval is required to remove or prune a street tree or heritage tree. (Applies to removal or pruning of a street tree or heritage tree.) (§ 7-4.11).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Artesia property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Artesia

Artesia Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Artesia

Buying & selling in Artesia

Artesia overview