Calimesa · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Calimesa

Calimesa requires prior approval for fences, sets when an accessory building skips minor development plan review, and limits home businesses. Home businesses need a permit and a city business license.

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Key points

Fence approval: City rule: a fence needs prior approval through a DPR, a CUP or the planning department; a fence without it is prohibited.
Accessory buildings: A single-family accessory building up to 650 square feet and 18 feet tall, not facing a public street, skips minor development plan review.
Home businesses: City rule: home businesses need a home occupation permit and a city business license, and only the home's occupants may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Calimesa code What Calimesa's code adds
Permit	Yes. A fence needs approval before it is built. Applies: A fence not approved as part of a DPR or CUP, or first approved by the planning department, is not allowed. § 18.65.050 · code text Any fence that has not previously been approved as part of a DPR, CUP, or first approved by the planning department shall be prohibited.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Calimesa code What Calimesa's code adds
No permit needed up to	Accessory buildings of 650 square feet or less skip minor development plan review. Applies: Single-family homes only. At most 18 feet tall, not next to or facing a public street. Zoning clearance and a building permit may still apply. § 18.90.030 · code text Accessory buildings (650 square feet or less and no more than 18 feet in height), patios, decks, gazebos, and other incidental structures not directly adjacent to or facing a public street, landscape components, and fenced-in areas, designed for single-family residential development.

Running a business from home

Calimesa code What Calimesa's code adds
Employees	Only the people who live in the home may work in the business. § 18.15.090 · code text Only the occupants of the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation, except for a cottage food operation which is entitled to one nonresident employee. 1 employee who does not live in the home is allowed. Applies: For a cottage food operation only. § 18.15.090 · code text Only the occupants of the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation, except for a cottage food operation which is entitled to one nonresident employee.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: For all home-based businesses, except an employee or contract employee of a licensed business that is not located in a home. § 18.15.090 · code text A home occupation permit shall be required for all home-based businesses except as provided in this subsection (C). No home occupation permit is needed. Applies: For an employee or contract employee of a licensed business, not located in a home, who works from home. § 18.15.090 · code text An employee or contract employee of a licensed business enterprise (not located within a home) may work from home without first obtaining a home occupation permit. A city business license is required. Applies: The license must be obtained right after the home occupation permit takes effect. § 18.15.090 · code text Immediately following the effective date of an approved home occupation permit, the applicant shall obtain a city business license.
Businesses not allowed	barber, beauty shop or hair stylist; businesses involving harboring, training, breeding, raising, or grooming dogs, cats, or other animals; carpentry and cabinet making; food handling, food processing, food warehousing, or food packaging businesses except qualifying cottage food operations; medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini storage; repair, fix-it, or plumbing shops; storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades; vehicle repair, upholstery, and painting; welding and machining; commercial cannabis activity; any use not allowed in the zone district; and any other use determined not incidental or compatible with residential activities § 18.15.090 · code text The following examples are uses that are not considered incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are prohibited:

RV and boat parking

Calimesa code Front or side yard, on an improved surface, without reaching into the public right-of-way or over the sidewalk. Up to 2 more RVs may be parked in the rear yard.

All 13 Calimesa rules on rv and boat parking, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Calimesa code What Calimesa's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited nondiscretionary building permit if the station meets all health and safety rules; apply in person, by mail or electronically. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.100.030 · code text Anyone seeking to install an electric vehicle charging station at any site within the city may apply to the building official for an expedited nondiscretionary building permit.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit issues when a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Electronic filing available. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 15.90.050 · code text The building official shall develop and implement an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems;
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Complete electronic applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan; otherwise as soon after as practicable. § 15.90.050 · code text The building official shall issue a building permit within three business days for electronic applications or as soon thereafter as may be practicable upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Calimesa code What Calimesa's code adds
Exemptions	Commercial tree farms, city projects and single-family lots under 1 acre are exempt from the 36-inch box replacement rule. Applies: Replacing a mature specimen tree removed in a new subdivision. § 18.70.120 · code text Commercial tree farms, city government projects and individual single-family lots less than one acre shall be exempt from this provision. No permit is required. Applies: Oak tree permit: pruning or removing live tissue from oaks under 2 inches in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above natural grade. § 18.80.030 · code text Any activities related to pruning or removal of live tissue, involving oak trees that are less than two inches in diameter at breast height (measured four and one-half feet above natural grade). No permit is required. Applies: Oak tree permit: removing deadwood, after the community development director confirms it is deadwood. § 18.80.030 · code text Removal of deadwood. No permit is required. Applies: Oak tree permit: removing dangerous trees that are an immediate threat to people or buildings on developed property. § 18.80.030 · code text Removal of trees that are dangerous or hazardous and pose an imminent threat to human life or structures on developed property, including but not limited to potential or actual damage due to thunderstorms, lightning strikes, windstorms, floods, fires, earthquakes, or other natural disasters. No permit is required. Applies: Oak tree permit: removal that a fire official finds necessary. § 18.80.030 · code text Removal of trees when determined to be necessary by a fire official.
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Cutting, removing, relocating or encroaching into the protected zone of a protected or heritage oak or protected oak stand, on public or private property. § 18.80.020 · code text No person shall cut, damage, remove, encroach into the protected zone of a protected oak tree, heritage oak tree, or protected stand of oak trees, or relocate any oak tree on any public or private property within the city, without first having obtained a permit, as set forth in this chapter. Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Removing more than 5 trees within 36 months; all species except oaks, which have their own permit. § 18.70.120 · code text In the event that more than five trees are to be cut down, uprooted, destroyed or removed within a 36-month period, a permit shall first be issued by the community development department.
Replacement trees	Plant replacement trees or acorns for each tree removed, if the site allows, or provide other suitable mitigation. Applies: Removing a protected oak tree under an oak tree removal permit. § 18.80.050 · code text Replacement trees or acorns will be planted to replace each tree that is removed, if feasible, based upon site characteristics, or other appropriate mitigation will be provided. Plant a 36-inch box specimen tree for each mature specimen tree removed. Applies: Mature specimen removed in a new subdivision without a tree replacement plan approved with the development. § 18.70.120 · code text any mature specimen that is removed in a new subdivision is considered to be of significant value by the community development department and shall be replaced with a 36-inch box specimen tree in addition to any other required landscaping.

Other Calimesa rules on this

Calimesa'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) (§ 17.15.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Calimesa?

City rule: a fence needs prior approval through a DPR, a CUP or the planning department; a fence without it is prohibited.

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

A single-family accessory building up to 650 square feet and 18 feet tall, not facing a public street, skips minor development plan review.

Can I run a business from my home in Calimesa?

City rule: home businesses need a home occupation permit and a city business license, and only the home's occupants may work there.

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

Calimesa's code: Expedited nondiscretionary building permit if the station meets all health and safety rules; apply in person, by mail or electronically. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.100.030); Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit issues when a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Electronic filing available. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 15.90.050).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Calimesa?

Calimesa's code: Commercial tree farms, city projects and single-family lots under 1 acre are exempt from the 36-inch box replacement rule. (Replacing a mature specimen tree removed in a new subdivision.) (§ 18.70.120); No permit is required. (Oak tree permit: pruning or removing live tissue from oaks under 2 inches in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above natural grade.) (§ 18.80.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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