Coachella · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Coachella

Coachella sets fence and wall heights by yard and material and limits the height and size of accessory structures in residential zones. Only members of the resident family may work in a home business.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: side and rear yard fences are limited to 6 feet, and walls and hedges along front property lines to 30 inches.
Accessory height: City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and one story unless zone standards differ; 17 feet in the S-N zone.
Accessory size: City rule: a rear-yard accessory structure in a residential zone is limited to 400 square feet or 30% of the house, whichever is greater.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business may use at most 25% of the home's ground floor, and only resident family members may work in it.

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

Fences and walls

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 6 feet, and the fence must not block visibility at the intersection. Applies: Corner property radius area or corner setback area. § 17.60.010 · code text In the corner property radius area any fence shall not be more than six feet in height provided it does not cause visual obstruction.
Front yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Single-family zones: fences or walls beyond the front yard setback toward the front line, if wrought iron or similar see-through material. § 17.60.010 · code text In a residential single-family zone, where any such fence or wall projects beyond the front yard line or setback toward the front property line it shall not be more than six feet in height if it is of wrought iron, or other such material; provided that such material does not obscure the view to the front yard through the fence. No more than 30 inches, with city staff approval. Applies: Walls, hedges and other low plants along front yard property lines. § 17.60.010 · code text Walls and low silhouette plants such as hedges, and other flora along front yard property lines must be approved by city staff and shall not be more than thirty (30) inches in height. No more than 6 feet, built as a courtyard. Applies: Front yard walls that block the view of the lawn. Needs a pedestrian entrance, wall returns, a recorded landscape maintenance agreement and city findings. § 17.60.010 · code text Any front yard wall that obscures view to the front lawn shall be built as a courtyard not be more than six feet in height, built with a pedestrian entrance, include a wall return to the front facade of the residence and along the side property line, record a front yard landscape maintenance agreement and subject to the following findings:
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Fences or walls anywhere in a side or rear yard. § 17.60.010 · code text Fences or walls not exceeding six feet in height may occupy any portion of a side or rear yard.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 17 feet and one story. Applies: Accessory structures in the S-N (Suburban Neighborhood) zone. § 17.13.030 · code text Building height for accessory structures shall not exceed seventeen (17) feet; not to exceed one story. No more than 15 feet and one story. Applies: Accessory structures in residential zones, unless the specific zone standards say otherwise. § 17.60.010 · code text An accessory structure may be a maximum of fifteen (15) feet in height and no more than one story in height, or as provided by the specific zone standards.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 400 square feet or 30% of the main home's size, whichever is greater. Applies: Accessory structures in the rear yard, residential zones. § 17.60.010 · code text An accessory structure in the rear yard is limited to a maximum size of four hundred (400) square feet or thirty (30) percent of the size of the main dwelling, whichever is greater. No more than 50% of the required rear yard setback area. Applies: All accessory structures on a site combined, residential zones. § 17.60.010 · code text Accessory structures on a site may not cover more than fifty (50) percent of the required rear yard setback area.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any interior property line. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear yard. § 17.60.010 · code text An accessory structure may occupy a required rear yard provided it is at least five feet from any interior property line, and a minimum of ten (10) feet from any street property line. At least 10 feet from any street property line. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear yard. § 17.60.010 · code text An accessory structure may occupy a required rear yard provided it is at least five feet from any interior property line, and a minimum of ten (10) feet from any street property line. At least 10 feet from any corner street line. Applies: Carports on corner lots. § 17.60.010 · code text A detached garage or carport must be a minimum of twenty (20) feet from any street property line if front loading. Side-loaded garages may be twelve (12) feet from the street line. Carports must provide a minimum of ten (10) feet from any corner street line.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from any other structure. Applies: Accessory structures, except side-loaded garages. Measured at right angles from the wall. § 17.60.010 · code text Except for side loaded garages, the wall planes or sides of an accessory structure must be a minimum of five feet from the sides or wall planes of any other structure, measured at right angles from the wall plane or sides of the accessory structure.

Running a business from home

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the home's ground floor area. Applies: All work must be inside the home. § 17.58.010 · code text All such operations shall be carried on within the dwelling, and not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the ground floor area of the dwelling shall be so used.
Employees	Only members of the resident family may be employed. § 17.58.010 · code text Employment shall be limited to members of the resident family only.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Solar permit process	City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit after a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 17.110.060 · code text Unless the planning manager determines a use permit is warranted, city staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Coachella?

City rule: side and rear yard fences are limited to 6 feet, and walls and hedges along front property lines to 30 inches.

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

City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and one story unless zone standards differ; 17 feet in the S-N zone. City rule: a rear-yard accessory structure in a residential zone is limited to 400 square feet or 30% of the house, whichever is greater.

Can I run a business from my home in Coachella?

City rule: a home business may use at most 25% of the home's ground floor, and only resident family members may work in it.

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

Coachella's code: City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit after a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 17.110.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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