Big Bear Lake · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake sets rear setbacks for sheds and similar accessory structures by their height. Home businesses need a city permit and business license and are limited in visitors, employees and uses.

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Key points

Shed setbacks: In residential zones, Big Bear Lake sets sheds under 10 feet tall 10 feet from the rear lot line, and taller ones 15 feet.
Home business: Big Bear Lake home businesses need a permit and a current business license, and may have 1 employee who is not a resident.

Each rule below is marked Big Bear Lake 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

Big Bear Lake code What Big Bear Lake's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from the rear lot line, including eaves. Applies: All residential zones: portable sheds, children's playhouses and similar non-habitable structures less than 10 feet high. § 17.25.060 · code text Portable storage sheds, children's playhouses, and other similar non-habitable accessory structures that are less than ten (10) feet in height shall not be located closer (including eaves) than ten (10) feet to the rear lot line. At least 15 feet from the rear property line. Applies: All residential zones: sheds, playhouses, patio covers, gazebos and similar non-habitable structures over 10 feet high. Front and side setbacks match the main structure. § 17.25.060 · code text Storage sheds, children's playhouses, attached or detached patio covers, gazebos, and other similar non-habitable structures that are over ten (10) feet in height shall not be located closer than fifteen (15) feet from the rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main home on the same lot. Applies: R-L and R-1 zones: detached accessory structures other than a garage, carport or guest house. § 17.25.060 · code text A minimum distance of six feet is required between any other detached accessory structure and a primary residential structure established on the same lot or parcel of land.

Running a business from home

Big Bear Lake code What Big Bear Lake's code adds
Customer visits	No more visitors than a home without a business would typically get. § 17.03.270 · code text There shall be no greater number of customers, clients, or visitors coming to the residence for purposes of the home occupation than the number of visitors typically expected to visit a residence in which a home occupation is not being conducted.
Employees	No more than 1 employee who does not live in the home. Applies: A personal attendant of a disabled resident owner or employee does not count. § 17.03.270 · code text No more than one employee other than a resident of the dwelling shall be employed on the premises of a home occupation, other than the personal attendant of a disabled resident business owner or employee.
Permit	A home occupation permit and a current city business license are required. § 17.03.270 · code text The operator of a home occupation shall obtain and maintain a current business license from the city.
Businesses not allowed	auto repair, auto body or engine work Applies: mobile businesses operating under a home occupation permit § 17.03.270 · code text no mobile business operating under a home occupation permit shall be permitted to conduct auto repair, auto body or engine work. sale or storage of fire arms, ordnance, ammunition or other weapons regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Applies: at the site of the home occupation § 17.03.270 · code text No home occupation shall include the sale or storage of fire arms, ordnance, ammunition or other weapons which are regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, at the site of the home occupation. warehousing of goods, wares or merchandise § 17.03.270 · code text Warehousing of goods, wares or merchandise shall be prohibited.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Big Bear Lake code What Big Bear Lake's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review limited to health and safety; the permit is issued when the application meets every checklist requirement. Applies: Electric vehicle charging station applications. § 15.44.060 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the building and safety division as a nondiscretionary permit. Electronic submittal is allowed. Applies: Electric vehicle charging station applications. § 15.44.040 · code text The city shall allow the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary building permit; only one inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application meeting the approval checklist and standard plans. § 15.43.060 · code text The building and safety division shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day if possible for over the counter applications or within three days for electronic applications upon receipt of completed application that meets the requirements of the approval checklist and standard plans. The building official administratively approves the application and issues all required permits when it is complete and meets the checklist. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; complete application meeting the checklist; connecting to the grid needs separate utility approval. § 15.43.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
Review time	Same day if possible over the counter; within 3 days for electronic applications. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar with a complete application that meets the checklist and standard plans. § 15.43.060 · code text The building and safety division shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day if possible for over the counter applications or within three days for electronic applications upon receipt of completed application that meets the requirements of the approval checklist and standard plans.

Tree removal

Big Bear Lake code What Big Bear Lake's code adds
Exemptions	No permit fee; written notice from the Fire Protection District or state forestry department serves as the tree removal permit. Applies: Fire Protection District or state Department of Forestry finds tree declining, diseased, infested, dead, structurally unsound, or threatening buildings, life, safety or property. § 17.10.060 · code text the fire protection district shall provide written notification to the planning division, which shall serve as a tree removal permit for the property owner, and no fee will be assessed for a tree removal permit in these cases. No permit fee; documentation of the finding, given to the city, serves as the tree removal permit. Applies: Registered professional forester, certified arborist or state Department of Forestry finds tree declining, diseased, infested, dead, structurally unsound, or threatening buildings, life, safety or property. § 17.10.060 · code text the property owner shall provide documentation of such determination to the City, which shall serve as a tree removal permit and no fee shall be assessed for a tree removal permit in these cases. No separate tree removal permit is required; the project approval serves as the tree removal approval. Applies: Discretionary or ministerial projects that include review of a tree conservation plan. § 17.10.060 · code text Approval of discretionary or ministerial projects, which include review of tree conservation plans, shall constitute the tree removal approval and no separate tree removal permit shall be required in these cases.
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree removal permit from the city is required. Applies: Removing one or more trees 12 inches or more in diameter at breast height, with no approved discretionary or ministerial project. § 17.10.060 · code text in cases where there is no approval of a discretionary project or a ministerial project, but where removal of one or more trees twelve (12) inches or greater DBH is proposed, the property owner or authorized representative shall be required to obtain a tree removal permit from the City of Big Bear Lake.
Protected trees	Trees 12 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH). Applies: Removal needs a permit unless it is part of an approved project. § 17.10.060 · code text where removal of one or more trees twelve (12) inches or greater DBH is proposed, the property owner or authorized representative shall be required to obtain a tree removal permit
Replacement trees	Plant 1 approved tree, 3 to 4 inches in diameter at 1 foot above natural grade, for each tree removed. Applies: Tree removal permit, where the reviewing authority finds it appropriate. § 17.10.060 · code text An approved tree having a diameter of three to four inches measured at a point one foot above natural grade will be planted on the site for each tree removed, where deemed appropriate by the reviewing authority. Replace within 6 months at a 1-to-1 ratio with an approved tree 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Applies: Trees required by the approved landscaping plan die within 48 months after land disturbance work is completed. § 17.10.045 · code text the owner of the property shall replace the trees within six months at a ratio of one-to-one with an approved tree having a diameter of three to four inches measured at a point one foot above natural grade.

Other Big Bear Lake rules on this

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

Where animals and fowl may be kept (§ 8.76.030)
Urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 16.07.060)
Two-unit projects (SB 9) (§ 17.25.130)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Big Bear Lake?

In residential zones, Big Bear Lake sets sheds under 10 feet tall 10 feet from the rear lot line, and taller ones 15 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Big Bear Lake?

Big Bear Lake home businesses need a permit and a current business license, and may have 1 employee who is not a resident.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Big Bear Lake?

Big Bear Lake's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review limited to health and safety; the permit is issued when the application meets every checklist requirement. (Electric vehicle charging station applications.) (§ 15.44.060); Electronic submittal is allowed. (Electric vehicle charging station applications.) (§ 15.44.040).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Big Bear Lake?

Big Bear Lake's code: No permit fee; written notice from the Fire Protection District or state forestry department serves as the tree removal permit. (Fire Protection District or state Department of Forestry finds tree declining, diseased, infested, dead, structurally unsound, or threatening buildings, life, safety or property.) (§ 17.10.060); No permit fee; documentation of the finding, given to the city, serves as the tree removal permit. (Registered professional forester, certified arborist or state Department of Forestry finds tree declining, diseased, infested, dead, structurally unsound, or threatening buildings, life, safety or property.) (§ 17.10.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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