Avalon · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Avalon

Avalon sets fence heights by yard in every zone, with lower limits in front yards and near street side lot lines. Its accessory rule covers buildings with wide openings facing an alley.

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Key points

Fence height: Avalon limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in required interior side and rear yards.
Alley openings: Avalon sets a rule for accessory buildings whose opening facing an alley is more than 6 feet wide.

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

Fences and walls

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Fences and walls in the required front yard in any zone. § 9-7.801 · code text Except as otherwise permitted in this title, fences and walls 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 high. Applies: Required side or rear yards of an interior lot, or the interior side yard of a corner or reversed corner lot. § 9-7.801 · code text Fences and walls erected within required side or rear yards of an interior lot or parcel of land, or the side yard along the interior side lot line of a corner or reversed corner lot or parcel of land shall not exceed a height limit of six feet except where required by this title, statute or law. No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Required rear or side yard on the street side of a corner or reversed corner lot, within 5 feet of the side lot line. § 9-7.801 · code text Fences and walls erected within a required rear or side yard on the street side of a corner or reversed corner lot or parcel of land, shall not exceed a height of 42 inches within five feet of the side lot line or a height of six feet when located within a required rear or side yard, and more than five feet from the side lot line. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Required rear or side yard on the street side of a corner or reversed corner lot, more than 5 feet from the side lot line. § 9-7.801 · code text Fences and walls erected within a required rear or side yard on the street side of a corner or reversed corner lot or parcel of land, shall not exceed a height of 42 inches within five feet of the side lot line or a height of six feet when located within a required rear or side yard, and more than five feet from the side lot line.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 6 feet from the alley property line. Applies: Accessory buildings with an opening more than 6 feet wide that faces an existing or proposed alley. § 9-7.403 · code text any accessory building having an opening more than six feet wide facing an existing or proposed alley shall be located not less than six feet from the property line of said alley.

RV and boat parking

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours in a row. Applies: Applies to any vehicle on a public street or alley. § 4-4.1004 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours. Trailers may not park on a street or alley except while loading or unloading, or with a City permit. Applies: Applies to trailers on any street or alley. § 4-4.1004 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of a trailer shall park such trailer upon any street or alley except while loading or unloading property thereto or therefrom or pursuant to a permit issued under § 4-9.101 et seq.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic applications and signatures are accepted; the charger may not be used until approval and all permits are granted. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 4-4.2005 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Solar permit process	City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit when a complete application meets the checklist, standard plan and chapter. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar, unless the Official decides a use permit is warranted. § 8-6.06 · code text Unless the Official determines a use permit is warranted, City staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter.

Other Avalon rules on this

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

SB 9 urban lot splits (§ 9-2.10)
SB 9 two-unit projects (§ 9-5.701)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Avalon?

Avalon limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in required interior side and rear yards.

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

Avalon sets a rule for accessory buildings whose opening facing an alley is more than 6 feet wide.

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

Avalon's code: No more than 72 hours in a row. (Applies to any vehicle on a public street or alley.) (§ 4-4.1004); Trailers may not park on a street or alley except while loading or unloading, or with a City permit. (Applies to trailers on any street or alley.) (§ 4-4.1004).

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

Avalon's code: Electronic applications and signatures are accepted; the charger may not be used until approval and all permits are granted. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 4-4.2005); City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit when a complete application meets the checklist, standard plan and chapter. (Applies to small rooftop home solar, unless the Official decides a use permit is warranted.) (§ 8-6.06).

General information, not legal advice.

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Avalon Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Avalon

Avalon overview