Barstow · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Barstow

Barstow sets fence heights by yard, with lower limits in front yards and street side yards. Home businesses need a permit and a business license, may bring no business traffic, and only the resident family may work in them.

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Key points

Fence height: Barstow limits fences to 3½ feet in required front and street side yards (open chain link, 4 feet) and 6 feet in rear yards.
Corner-lot garages: Barstow sets a 24-foot rule for garages on corner or reverse corner lots that face a side street property line.
Home business: Barstow home businesses need a permit and a business license; they may bring no business traffic, and only the resident family may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Fences, hedges and walls in rear yards, on side property lines of interior lots, and on or behind front yard setback lines. § 19.06.030 · code text Fences, hedges, and walls not to exceed six feet in height shall be permitted except as may be required by this title, on or within all rear yards and side property lines on interior lots and on or to the rear of all front yard setback lines.
Front yard height	No more than 3½ feet high. Applies: Any required front yard, or side yard next to a street. Open chain link fences may be up to 4 feet. § 19.06.030 · code text No fence, wall or hedge over 3½ feet shall be permitted in any required front yard or side yard adjacent to a street excepting that an open chain link fence to a height of not more than four feet may be permitted. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Open chain link fences in any required front yard, or side yard next to a street. § 19.06.030 · code text No fence, wall or hedge over 3½ feet shall be permitted in any required front yard or side yard adjacent to a street excepting that an open chain link fence to a height of not more than four feet may be permitted.
Side and rear yard height	Up to 6 feet high. Applies: Side yard next to a street on corner lots, only if at least 40 feet from the front property line. § 19.06.030 · code text A six-foot-high fence, hedge, or wall may be located in the side yard adjacent to a street on corner lots provided that the fence, hedge, or wall is at least 40 feet from the front property line.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 24 feet from the side street property line. Applies: Garages on corner or reverse corner lots that face a side street property line. § 19.24.060 · code text Garages shall not be permitted closer than 24 feet to side street property line for corner or reverse corner lots when the garage faces a side street property line.

Running a business from home

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Customer visits	No vehicle or pedestrian traffic is allowed. Applies: Traffic related to the home business. § 19.10.080 · code text No vehicular or pedestrian traffic related to this home occupation shall be allowed.
Employees	Only members of the resident family may be employed. § 19.10.080 · code text No employment of help other than members of the resident family.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 19.10.080 · code text No person shall use any dwelling or structure in a residential district for home occupation without filing an application with the economic development and planning manager, and obtaining a permit to allow such use. A revocable business license, approved by code enforcement and planning, is required. Applies: Any home business site. § 19.10.080 · code text A home occupation shall not be conducted on any site unless the issuance of a revocable business license has been approved by the code enforcement department and planning department. A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Home businesses that do not meet the standard home occupation criteria. § 19.10.080 · code text Home occupations which do not meet the criteria set forth in subsections (a) through (h) of this section may be permitted subject to the approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to chapter 19.30.
Businesses not allowed	animal hospitals; barbershops; beauty parlors; clinics or hospitals; dancing schools; mortuary; nurseries or day care centers; private clubs; rental of trailers or any other equipment requiring outdoor storage; repair shops or service establishments, except repair of small electrical appliances, typewriters, cameras, or other similar items; restaurants; sale and/or repair of firearms; stables or kennels § 19.10.080 · code text The following uses, because of their nature, shall be listed as not being provided for in any event:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Solar permit process	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the permit fee; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 15.10.030 · code text An applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building department in person, by mail, or by electronic submittal along with the permit fee, as adopted in the city's Master Fee Schedule.
Review time	Plan check within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to complete applications; incomplete ones get a written correction notice within the same time. § 15.10.040 · code text Applications received either in person or electronic submittal will be plan checked within three business days.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Barstow?

Barstow limits fences to 3½ feet in required front and street side yards (open chain link, 4 feet) and 6 feet in rear yards.

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

Barstow sets a 24-foot rule for garages on corner or reverse corner lots that face a side street property line.

Can I run a business from my home in Barstow?

Barstow home businesses need a permit and a business license; they may bring no business traffic, and only the resident family may work there.

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

Barstow's code: Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the permit fee; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small home solar systems eligible for fast review.) (§ 15.10.030); Plan check within 3 business days. (Applies to complete applications; incomplete ones get a written correction notice within the same time.) (§ 15.10.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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