Calexico · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Calexico

Calexico sets its own limits on fence heights, detached accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the zone, the yard and the distance from a driveway.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: R-zone fences are limited to 6 feet, and to 36 inches within 15 feet of where a driveway meets the street.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit from the planning director before it opens; non-resident employees, garage use and onsite sales need director approval.
Accessory structures: In R zones, the city sets 5-foot and 10-foot limits for detached accessory structures in an interior side or rear yard.

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

Fences and walls

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Corner visibility	At most 36 inches tall. Applies: In R zones, for a wall or fence next to a driveway or access street, within 15 feet of the driveway-street right-of-way intersection. § 17.03.150 · code text A wall or fence adjacent to a driveway or street providing vehicular access to an abutting lot or street shall not exceed thirty-six inches in height within fifteen feet of the intersection of said driveway and the street right-of-way. At most 36 inches tall. Applies: In the Agricultural Zone dwelling area, for a wall or fence next to a driveway or access street, within 15 feet of the driveway-street intersection. § 17.09.460 · code text Within the area designated for a dwelling, a wall or fence adjacent to a driveway or street providing vehicular access to an abutting lot or street shall not exceed thirty-six inches in height within fifteen feet of the intersection of said driveway and the street right-of-way.
Height anywhere on the lot	At most 6 feet tall. Applies: In the Agricultural Zone, for a wall or fence along the property lot lines. § 17.09.460 · code text A wall or fence not more than six feet in height may be maintained along the property lot lines.
Front yard height	At most 6 feet tall, except as the section otherwise allows. Applies: In R zones, in a required front yard or a side yard next to a street. § 17.03.150 · code text In any required front yard or side yard adjacent to a street, a wall or fence shall not exceed six feet in height, except as provided in this section. At most 36 inches tall. Applies: In the Agricultural Zone, in the area designated for a dwelling, within the required front yard setback. § 17.09.460 · code text Within the area designated for a dwelling, walls and fences shall not exceed a height of thirty-six inches within the required front yard setback.
Side and rear yard height	At most 6 feet tall. Applies: In R zones, along interior side or rear lot lines, if the fence does not extend into a required front yard or street-side yard. § 17.03.150 · code text A wall or fence not more than six feet in height may be maintained along the interior side or rear lot lines; provided, that such wall or fence does not extend into a required front yard or side yard adjacent to a street except as provided in this section.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from an interior side or rear lot line. Applies: For a detached accessory structure in an interior side yard or rear yard in an R zone. § 17.03.140 · code text A detached accessory structure may be located within an interior side yard or rear yard; provided, that such structure is located no closer than five feet to an interior side or rear lot line and is at least ten feet from the main structure. No closer than 5 feet to an interior side or rear lot line. Applies: For parts of canopies, patios and breezeways that extend into a required rear or interior side yard in an R zone. § 17.03.140 · code text Shall not exceed fifteen feet in height or project closer than five feet to an interior side yard or rear lot line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main building. Applies: For a detached accessory structure in an interior side yard or rear yard in an R zone. § 17.03.140 · code text A detached accessory structure may be located within an interior side yard or rear yard; provided, that such structure is located no closer than five feet to an interior side or rear lot line and is at least ten feet from the main structure.

Running a business from home

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Employees	Only residents of the home may work in the business. Non-resident employees need director approval. § 17.11.200 · code text Only the residents of the dwelling unit may be engaged in the home occupation.
Permit	A permit from the planning director is required before the business starts. § 17.11.200 · code text A permit must be issued by the planning director prior to operation of such use. Approval from the planning and building services director is required. Applies: When the home business is in an attached or detached garage. § 17.11.200 · code text If a resident would like to conduct the home occupation within the attached or detached garage, the resident will have to obtain approval from the planning and building services director and comply with any conditions of approval imposed on the proposed home occupation. Approval from the planning and building services director is required. Applies: When the business employs people who do not live in the home. § 17.11.200 · code text If the resident would like to employee individuals that do not reside within the dwelling unit, they will need to obtain approval by the planning and building services director and will be subject to conditions of approval for said business operation. Approval and permits from the planning and building services director are required. Applies: When goods are sold on the property. § 17.11.200 · code text If the resident would like to conduct onsite sales of goods on the premise, the resident must obtain the proper approval and permits from the planning and building services director.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Solar permit process	Apply in person or electronically, with the permit processing and inspection fees. Electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 17.11.1150 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's planning department in person or by electronic submittal, together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. The planning department approves a complete application and issues all required permits or authorizations. Applies: Applies when the application and documents are complete and meet the code and checklist requirements. § 17.11.1170 · code text Upon the director's determination that an application is complete, the city's planning department shall approve the application and, in conjunction with any other city departments, issue all required permits or authorizations.

Swimming pools

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Pool barrier	The fence must completely enclose the pool and meet the pool barrier rules in the state Health and Safety Code. Applies: Applies to pools or other artificial bodies of water more than 2 feet deep. § 15.36.010 · code text This fence shall be at least five feet in height, shall completely enclose the pool and shall be otherwise adequate to protect against the reasonable danger if small children enter into the area.
Barrier height	The pool fence must be at least 5 feet high. § 15.36.010 · code text This fence shall be at least five feet in height, shall completely enclose the pool and shall be otherwise adequate to protect against the reasonable danger if small children enter into the area.
Equipment and alarms	Doors that lead directly to the pool must have exit alarms. Applies: Applies instead of separating the pool from the home; covers home doors with direct pool access. § 15.36.020 · code text The residence shall be equipped with exit alarms on those doors providing direct access to the pool.
Gates	Doors must be self-closing and self-latching, with the release at least 54 inches above the floor or ground. Applies: Applies instead of separating the pool from the home; covers doors leading directly from the home to the pool. § 15.36.020 · code text All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool shall be equipped with a self-closing, self latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than fifty-four inches above the floor (ground).
Maintenance and empty pools	The owner must put up and maintain a suitable fence or other enclosure. Applies: Applies to a pool or other artificial body of water more than 2 feet deep. § 15.36.010 · code text The owner of any property in the city on which there is a swimming pool or other artificial body of water of a depth of more than two feet shall erect and maintain a suitable fence or other enclosure to separate the swimming pool or body of water from the public and from access to a home.

Pets, chickens and bees

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Chickens	Yes, up to 6. Applies: Poultry on lots of 6,000 to 20,000 square feet. § 17.11.410 · code text 6,000—20,000 \| 6 Yes, up to 9. Applies: Poultry on lots of 20,001 to 30,000 square feet. § 17.11.410 · code text 20,001—30,000 \| 9 Yes, up to 12. Applies: Poultry on lots of 30,001 to 35,000 square feet. § 17.11.410 · code text 30,001—35,000 \| 12 Yes, up to 15. Applies: Poultry on lots of 35,001 square feet to 1 acre. § 17.11.410 · code text 35,001—1 acre \| 15 Yes, 25 plus 12 more per acre, up to a maximum of 100. Applies: Poultry on lots larger than 1 acre. § 17.11.410 · code text Greater than 1 acre \| 25 plus twelve additional per acre up to a maximum of one hundred
Coop setback	Small animals must be kept at least 35 feet from a neighboring home. Applies: Applies to small animal enclosures near an adjoining dwelling. § 17.11.410 · code text No small animal shall be kept closer than thirty-five feet to an adjoining dwelling.
Large animals	Up to 2 large animals. Applies: Residential zones; lots of at least 20,000 square feet; at least 100 feet from a home on a neighboring lot. § 17.11.310 · code text 20,000 sq. ft. \| 2 Up to 3 large animals. Applies: Residential zones; lots of at least 30,000 square feet; at least 100 feet from a home on a neighboring lot. § 17.11.310 · code text 30,000 sq. ft. \| 3 Up to 4 large animals. Applies: Residential zones; lots of at least 1 acre; at least 100 feet from a home on a neighboring lot. § 17.11.310 · code text 1 acre \| 4 4 large animals, plus 1 more for each acre above 1 acre. Applies: Residential zones; lots larger than 1 acre; at least 100 feet from a home on a neighboring lot. § 17.11.310 · code text Greater than 1 acre \| 4 plus one additional animal per acre above one acre
Permit	The planning director may approve it if the neighboring owner gives written permission. Applies: Keeping small animals in the required front yard setback on lots between 20,000 and 30,000 square feet. § 17.11.410 · code text The director of planning may approve the keeping of said animals within the required front yard setback area on lots between twenty thousand square feet and thirty thousand square feet when the requestor obtains the written permission of the adjoining property owner.

Other Calexico rules on this

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

Parking trailers and RVs on the street (§ 10.24.045) — public streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Calexico?

City rule: R-zone fences are limited to 6 feet, and to 36 inches within 15 feet of where a driveway meets the street.

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

In R zones, the city sets 5-foot and 10-foot limits for detached accessory structures in an interior side or rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in Calexico?

A home business needs a permit from the planning director before it opens; non-resident employees, garage use and onsite sales need director approval.

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

Calexico's code: Apply in person or electronically, with the permit processing and inspection fees. Electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 17.11.1150); The planning department approves a complete application and issues all required permits or authorizations. (Applies when the application and documents are complete and meet the code and checklist requirements.) (§ 17.11.1170).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Calexico?

Calexico's code: The fence must completely enclose the pool and meet the pool barrier rules in the state Health and Safety Code. (Applies to pools or other artificial bodies of water more than 2 feet deep.) (§ 15.36.010); The pool fence must be at least 5 feet high. (§ 15.36.010).

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

Calexico's code: Yes, up to 6. (Poultry on lots of 6,000 to 20,000 square feet.) (§ 17.11.410); Yes, up to 9. (Poultry on lots of 20,001 to 30,000 square feet.) (§ 17.11.410).

General information, not legal advice.

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