Buena Park · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Buena Park

Buena Park sets fence heights by yard and zone, with lower limits in front yards and vision clearance areas. The city limits accessory structure size and keeps home businesses to one room with no business traffic.

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Key points

Fence height: Buena Park single-family zones: fence limits are 7 feet in side and rear yards; 6 feet in front yards if set back 20 feet.
Accessory structures: In single-family zones, Buena Park limits non-habitable accessory structures to 600 square feet or 50% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.
Home business: Buena Park home businesses may use at most one room, not a garage or accessory building; only occupants of the dwelling may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Buena Park code What Buena Park's code adds
Corner visibility	Between 2 and 7 feet high, the fence may block no more than 25% of the view. Applies: Required vision clearance areas next to driveways or alleys that meet public streets, in single-family residential zones. § 19.328.020 · code text Fences within required vision clearance areas adjacent to driveways or alleys intersecting with public streets must not obscure sight through more than 25 percent of the area in the vertical plane between 2 feet and 7 feet in height. Between 2 and 7 feet high, at least 4 inches of space between fence parts; must not block the view. Applies: Required vision clearance areas next to driveways or alleys that meet public streets, in multifamily residential zones. § 19.428.030 · code text The design of such fence shall provide a minimum of 4 inches of spacing between the vertical and horizontal elements between the height of 2 feet and 7 feet.
Height anywhere on the lot	At most 7 feet. Applies: Residential zones, unless a lower limit applies; higher only if an acoustic analysis requires it for noise. § 19.328.020 · code text Except as restricted above, the maximum height of any fence in residential zones shall be 7 feet, except where a greater height is required for noise reduction as determined by an acoustic analysis. At most 7 feet. Applies: RM zones, uses other than a single-family home; anywhere except a required yard next to a street; higher only if an acoustic analysis requires it. § 19.428.020 · code text With the exception of a required yard abutting a street, a maximum 7-foot-high fence may be permitted anywhere on a lot.
Front yard height	At most 6 feet. Applies: RM zones, non-single-family uses; required yard next to a street; open parts 3 feet, solid parts 5 feet from the street line. § 19.428.020 · code text Within a required yard abutting a street, a maximum 6-foot-high fence may be permitted At most 6 feet. Applies: Single-family home in an RM zone; in the required front yard, set back 15 feet from the front property line. § 19.428.020 · code text a 6-foot maximum height fence may be permitted within the minimum required front yard with a 15-foot setback from the front property line. At most 6 feet. Applies: Single-family residential zones; front yard, set back at least 20 feet from the front property line. § 19.328.020 · code text Front Yard - with a minimum setback of 20-feet from the front property line \| 6-feet
Side and rear yard height	At most 7 feet. Applies: Single-family residential zones; standard corner lot, side yard next to the street, within the 10-foot setback area. § 19.328.020 · code text Standard Corner Lot - Side Yard adjacent to the street within the 10-foot setback area \| 7 feet (3) At most 7 feet. Applies: Single-family residential zones; reversed corner lot, side yard next to a street, set back at least 10 feet from the property line. § 19.328.020 · code text Reversed Corner Lot - Side Yard adjacent to a street with a minimum setback of 10 feet from the property line \| 7 feet (3) At most 7 feet. Applies: Interior side yards and rear yards in single-family residential zones. § 19.328.020 · code text Interior Side Yard and Rear Yards \| 7 feet

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Buena Park code What Buena Park's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 1 story or 15 feet, whichever is less. Applies: Non-habitable accessory structures in multifamily residential zones. § 19.416.080 · code text Any non-habitable accessory structure shall not exceed 400 square feet in floor area and shall not exceed 1 story or 15 feet in height, whichever is less.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 50% of the main home's living floor area or 600 square feet, whichever is less. Applies: Single-family zones; total of all non-habitable accessory structures; larger needs a conditional use permit. § 19.316.080 · code text the floor area of all non-habitable accessory structures shall not exceed 50 percent of the habitable residential floor area of the primary dwelling or 600 square feet, whichever is less. No more than 400 square feet of floor area. Applies: Non-habitable accessory structures in multifamily residential zones. § 19.416.080 · code text Any non-habitable accessory structure shall not exceed 400 square feet in floor area and shall not exceed 1 story or 15 feet in height, whichever is less.

Running a business from home

Buena Park code What Buena Park's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home. Applies: Garages and accessory buildings may not be used. § 19.448.060 · code text The space occupied by home occupations shall be limited to no more than one room in a dwelling unit.
Customer visits	The business may bring no car or foot traffic. Applies: Except one-on-one tutoring or music lessons (not amplified, no percussion) for children 18 or younger. § 19.348.030 · code text No vehicular or pedestrian traffic shall be generated by the home occupation with the exception of one-on-one tutoring or musical instrument training (non-amplified, no percussion) for children 18-years of age or younger shall be permitted.
Employees	Only the people who live in the home. § 19.448.060 · code text Employment in a home occupation shall be limited to the occupants of the dwelling unit.
Permit	Exempt from the city business license fee after a written application to the city council. Applies: Home business with no employees, ad signs or regular paid ads, retail sales tax permit or trucks; not named in the license chapter. § 5.00.240 · code text shall be exempt from the payment of a license or fee under the provisions of this chapter
Businesses not allowed	sales at the home other than by mail, telephone, or internet § 19.448.060 · code text Any sales activity shall be conducted only by mail, telephone, or internet.

RV and boat parking

Buena Park code What Buena Park's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 2 days in a row. Applies: RV or unattached trailer in front of the owner's home to load or unload for travel; police temporary permit required. § 10.24.040 · code text For not more than two consecutive days while parked immediately in front of the residence of the owner or lessee of the recreational vehicle or unattached trailer for the purpose of loading, unloading or other related activity incidental to preparing the recreational vehicle or unattached trailer for travel or returning from travel No more than 7 days in a row. Applies: RV in front of a home the owner is visiting; police permit required; no more than 6 permits a year per address. § 10.24.040 · code text a person may park a recreational vehicle immediately in front of a residence being visited by the owner or lessee of the recreational vehicle for a period not to exceed seven consecutive days No more than 2 loading permits in any 30-day period, with at least 1 day between them. Applies: Temporary loading and unloading permits for RVs and trailers. § 10.24.040 · code text and there shall be at least one day between the expiration date of the first permit and the effective date of the second permit.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Buena Park code What Buena Park's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, ministerial review; the permit is issued when the application meets the EV charging permit checklist. § 15.71.060 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the building official, or their designee, as a ministerial permit. Electronic submittal is available. § 15.71.050 · code text The building official shall allow for the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application. A written plan check correction notice within 12 calendar days. Applies: The application is found incomplete. § 15.71.060 · code text If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within twelve calendar days, detailing all deficiencies in the application

Pets, chickens and bees

Buena Park code What Buena Park's code adds
Coop setback	At least 100 feet from the front property line and 30 feet from any other property line. Applies: Livestock houses, coops or runways. § 6.22.050 · code text No person shall keep or maintain any house, coop or runway within one-hundred feet from the front of any property line; and thirty feet from any other property line of the lot or parcel of land upon which it is situated. Cages, corrals, houses or pens at least 40 feet from any dwelling or place of business. Applies: Livestock. § 6.22.050 · code text No part of any such cage, corral, house, or pen shall be less than forty feet from any dwelling or place of business occupied by human beings for dwelling or business purposes.
Large animals	No more than 2 horses, mules, cows, goats, sheep or similar large animals in any combination. Applies: Agricultural zone. § 6.22.050 · code text In the agricultural zone, raising or keeping of livestock shall be limited to domesticated animals such as rabbits, and not more than two horses, mules, cows, goats, sheep or similar large animals in any combination. Livestock are not allowed except in the agricultural zone, unless the zoning code allows them. Applies: Within city limits. § 6.22.050 · code text Unless otherwise permitted by the zoning code of the city, no person or persons, shall keep any livestock, as defined in Chapter 6.04 of this title, within the city limits, except in the agricultural zone.
Permit	A breeding permit is required. Applies: Keeping more than 1 unspayed female dog. § 6.20.040 · code text or has obtained a breeding permit per Section 6.20.050.
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs 6 months or older. Applies: Per location, unless the zoning code allows more. § 6.20.040 · code text no person shall keep or maintain more than three dogs that have attained the age of six months, at any location within the city No more than 1 unspayed female dog. Applies: Per location, unless you hold a breeding permit. § 6.20.040 · code text No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female dog at any location within the city

Other Buena Park rules on this

Buena Park'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) (§ 19.348.090)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Buena Park?

Buena Park single-family zones: fence limits are 7 feet in side and rear yards; 6 feet in front yards if set back 20 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Buena Park?

In single-family zones, Buena Park limits non-habitable accessory structures to 600 square feet or 50% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.

Can I run a business from my home in Buena Park?

Buena Park home businesses may use at most one room, not a garage or accessory building; only occupants of the dwelling may work there.

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

Buena Park's code: No more than 2 days in a row. (RV or unattached trailer in front of the owner's home to load or unload for travel; police temporary permit required.) (§ 10.24.040); No more than 7 days in a row. (RV in front of a home the owner is visiting; police permit required; no more than 6 permits a year per address.) (§ 10.24.040).

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

Buena Park's code: Administrative, ministerial review; the permit is issued when the application meets the EV charging permit checklist. (§ 15.71.060); Electronic submittal is available. (§ 15.71.050).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Buena Park?

Buena Park's code: At least 100 feet from the front property line and 30 feet from any other property line. (Livestock houses, coops or runways.) (§ 6.22.050); No more than 2 horses, mules, cows, goats, sheep or similar large animals in any combination. (Agricultural zone.) (§ 6.22.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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