Carpinteria · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Carpinteria

Carpinteria limits fence heights by yard, limits accessory structures in the rear yard setback, and limits the space and visitors of home businesses. Taller fences need community development department approval.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: in single-family districts, fences are limited to 3 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in side and rear setbacks.
Accessory structures: Accessory structures in the required rear yard setback may cover at most 40% of the rear yard.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business is limited to one room and 5 people served at a time, and needs a business license.

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

Fences and walls

Carpinteria code What Carpinteria's code adds
Front yard height	Fences can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In the required front yard setback in single-family districts. A taller fence needs community development department approval. § 14.50.050 · code text Fences of three feet or less in height located in the required front yard setback; Solid fences or walls can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In a front yard setback in the PRD district. § 14.14.120 · code text No solid fence or wall located in a front yard setback shall exceed a height of three feet; A fence or wall up to 6 feet tall may be allowed. Applies: In the front yard setback in the PRD district, subject to the city's general fence rules. § 14.14.120 · code text a fence or wall not to exceed six feet in height may be permitted in the front, side, or rear yard setback subject to the provisions of Sections 14.50.050 and 14.50.060.
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: In required side and rear yard setbacks in single-family districts. A taller fence needs community development department approval. § 14.50.050 · code text Fences of six feet or less in height may be located in the required side and rear yard setback. A fence or wall up to 6 feet tall may be allowed. Applies: In the side or rear yard setback in the PRD district, subject to the city's general fence rules. § 14.14.120 · code text a fence or wall not to exceed six feet in height may be permitted in the front, side, or rear yard setback subject to the provisions of Sections 14.50.050 and 14.50.060.
Permit	Yes. A building permit is required. Applies: For retaining walls that need footings. § 14.50.050 · code text Retaining walls requiring footings shall require a building permit and shall be consistent with all provisions of this chapter.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Carpinteria code What Carpinteria's code adds
Size or lot coverage	Can cover no more than 40% of the rear yard. Applies: For an accessory structure in the required rear yard setback. § 14.50.020 · code text An accessory structure may be located in the required rear yard setback; provided, that it is located no closer than ten feet to the principal structure and that it occupies no more than forty percent of the rear yard.
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from the rear property line. Applies: On a corner lot that backs onto a key lot. § 14.50.020 · code text For a corner lot backing on a key lot, no accessory structure shall be located closer than ten feet to the rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main building. Applies: For an accessory structure in the required rear yard setback. § 14.50.020 · code text An accessory structure may be located in the required rear yard setback; provided, that it is located no closer than ten feet to the principal structure and that it occupies no more than forty percent of the rear yard.

Running a business from home

Carpinteria code What Carpinteria's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the living space of the building. § 14.50.030 · code text A home occupation (as defined in Chapter 14.08) shall be conducted within not more than one room of the dwelling portion of a building.
Customer visits	No more than 5 customers, patients, clients, students or others served on the property at any one time. § 14.50.030 · code text There shall be no more than five customers, patients, clients, students, or other persons served by the occupation upon the premises at any one time. Up to 2 clients at a time. Applies: For home massage businesses. § 5.48.135 · code text A home occupation massage establishment may only service up to two (2) clients at a time.
Permit	A city business license is required. § 14.50.030 · code text A city business license shall be required as provided in Section 5.04.080. A massage establishment permit is required, plus any other permits and licenses the code requires. Applies: For home massage businesses. § 5.48.135 · code text Any home occupation massage establishment must obtain a massage establishment permit, in addition to all other permits and licenses that may be required pursuant to this code.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Carpinteria code What Carpinteria's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued for a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.29.070 · code text The building division shall issue a building permit within three business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Review time	Building permit issued within 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.29.070 · code text The building division shall issue a building permit within three business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Carpinteria code What Carpinteria's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from any other property line. Applies: Pools and related structures; not allowed in the required front or side yard setback. § 14.50.040 · code text shall not be closer than five feet to any other property line.

Other Carpinteria rules on this

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

Permit to keep horses, livestock and chickens (§ 6.04.390)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Carpinteria?

City rule: in single-family districts, fences are limited to 3 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in side and rear setbacks.

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

Accessory structures in the required rear yard setback may cover at most 40% of the rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in Carpinteria?

City rule: a home business is limited to one room and 5 people served at a time, and needs a business license.

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

Carpinteria's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued for a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. (Small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.29.070); Building permit issued within 3 business days. (Small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.29.070).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Carpinteria?

Carpinteria's code: At least 5 feet from any other property line. (Pools and related structures; not allowed in the required front or side yard setback.) (§ 14.50.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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