Arvin · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Arvin

Arvin sets fence heights by yard in its residential and E zones and limits detached accessory building height. Home businesses need a city business license and a home occupation permit, and some uses are not allowed.

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Key points

Fence height: In residential and E zones, Arvin limits fences to 4 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
Accessory buildings: Arvin limits detached accessory buildings in residential and E zones to 2 stories or 35 feet.
Home business: Arvin home businesses may use at most 400 square feet of the residence; retail sales, beauty parlors, barber shops and schools are not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 4 feet high within 25 feet of the rear line of a reversed corner lot. Applies: Reversed corner lots in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 to E-5 zones, between the street and the key lot's setback line. § 17.50.090 · code text In the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, and E-5 zones, no fence, wall or hedge located within twenty-five (25) feet of the rear line of a reversed corner lot between the street and the established setback line on the key lot, to the rear, shall exceed a height of four (4) feet.
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in the required front yard in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 to E-5 zones. § 17.50.090 · code text In R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, R-S,. E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, and E-5 zones, no fences, wall or hedge located in the required front yard shall exceed a height of four (4) feet.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in rear or side yards in the R1, R2, R3, R4, R-S, E and E-1 to E-5 zones. § 17.50.090 · code text In the R1, R2, R3, R4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, and E-5 zones, no fence, wall or hedge located in the rear or side yards shall exceed a height of six (6) feet.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 2 stories or 35 feet high. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 to E-5 zones. § 17.50.050 · code text No detached accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, or E-5 zones may exceed two (2) stories, or thirty-five (35) feet in height;
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any interior property line. Applies: Two-story accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 to E-5 zones. § 17.50.050 · code text No accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4 or E-5 zones if two (2) stories in height, shall be located nearer than five (5) feet to any interior property line; At least 5 feet from the side or front line of the lot. Applies: A private garage in the required front yard of an interior lot, where the front half slopes more than 1 foot in 4 feet. § 17.50.050 · code text provided, however, that no portion of any such building shall be less than five (5) feet from the side or front line of the lot; At least 10 feet from the alley. Applies: Garages or accessory buildings with doors that open onto an alley. § 17.50.050 · code text there shall be a ten (10) foot setback from such alley for all such buildings.

Running a business from home

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
Space used	No more than 400 square feet in any case. Applies: Floor area used for the business inside the residence. § 17.50.160 · code text The floor area used for such occupation or profession shall not exceed four hundred (400) square feet in any case - within the residence.
Permit	A city business license and a home occupation permit are required. § 17.50.160 · code text A home occupation, home base business, shall require a city business license and a home occupation permit.
Businesses not allowed	Retail sales; commercial photograph studios; beauty parlors; barber shops; music schools; dancing schools; business schools; other schools of any kind with organized classes; retail motor vehicle sales or repair; or similar activities § 17.50.160 · code text A home occupation-quasi-home occupation permit shall not be issued for the following uses: Retail sales, commercial photograph studios, beauty parlors, barber shops, music schools, dancing schools, business schools, or other schools of any kind with organized classes, retail motor vehicle sales or repair, or any similar activities are prohibited.

Lot splits under SB 9

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Two parcels of about equal area; the smaller must be at least 40% of the original lot area. § 16.06.040 · code text The two (2) resulting parcels shall be of approximately equal lot area and the smaller of the two (2) shall be at least forty (40) percent of the lot area of the original parcel.
Minimum new lot size	At least 1,200 square feet for each new parcel. § 16.06.040 · code text Both newly created parcels shall be no smaller than one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.
Standards	At least 50 feet of road frontage. Applies: Applies to both parcels. § 16.06.040 · code text Both parcels shall have a minimum road frontage of fifty (50) feet. One lot becomes a flag lot with an access lane at least 15 feet wide from the road. Applies: Applies when 50 feet of road frontage is not available; the lane is part of the rear lot, next to an interior property line. § 16.06.040 · code text If that much frontage is not available, one (1) lot shall be configured as a flag lot with a minimum 15-foot-wide access lane from the road. A flag lot layout is allowed. Applies: Applies if the new parcels would have a depth-to-width ratio over 3-to-1, regardless of road frontage. § 16.06.040 · code text If the resulting parcels would have a depth-to-width ratio greater than 3-to-1, a flag lot orientation is allowed regardless of available road frontage.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
EV charger permit	A building permit and any other required plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits. Applies: Applies to installing electric vehicle charging stations and equipment. § 15.46.060 · code text All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the city relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the system.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day. Applies: Applies to over-the-counter applications for small rooftop home solar, when complete and meeting the approved checklist and city standard plan. § 15.42.060 · code text The Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within three (3) business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and city standard plan. The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to electronic applications for small rooftop home solar, when complete and meeting the approved checklist and city standard plan. § 15.42.060 · code text The Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within three (3) business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and city standard plan.

Pets, chickens and bees

Arvin code What Arvin's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs. Applies: Applies to any residence other than a licensed veterinarian. § 6.04.060 · code text It is unlawful for any residence other than a duly licensed veterinarian to keep, harbor or maintain in the city more than four (4) dogs subject to license under this chapter.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Arvin?

In residential and E zones, Arvin limits fences to 4 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in rear or side yards.

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

Arvin limits detached accessory buildings in residential and E zones to 2 stories or 35 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Arvin?

Arvin home businesses may use at most 400 square feet of the residence; retail sales, beauty parlors, barber shops and schools are not allowed.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Arvin?

Arvin's code: Two parcels of about equal area; the smaller must be at least 40% of the original lot area. (§ 16.06.040); At least 1,200 square feet for each new parcel. (§ 16.06.040).

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

Arvin's code: A building permit and any other required plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits. (Applies to installing electric vehicle charging stations and equipment.) (§ 15.46.060); The permit is issued the same day. (Applies to over-the-counter applications for small rooftop home solar, when complete and meeting the approved checklist and city standard plan.) (§ 15.42.060).

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

Arvin's code: No more than 4 dogs. (Applies to any residence other than a licensed veterinarian.) (§ 6.04.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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