Coalinga · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Coalinga

Coalinga sets fence heights by yard and limits the height and total size of detached accessory structures on residential lots. It also has a section on home occupations.

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Key points

Fence height: Front-setback fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet with an open design in residential districts; side and rear, 5 to 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Detached residential accessory structures are limited to 18 feet and 1,000 square feet combined, unless the Community Development Director approves more.
Home businesses: Coalinga regulates home occupations in Section 9-5.113 of its code.

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

Fences and walls

Coalinga code What Coalinga's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Each visible retaining wall step may be no more than 3 feet tall. Applies: Retaining walls: an embankment over 4 feet must be stepped, with at least 6 feet between walls. § 9-4.203 · code text the visible portion of each individual retaining wall at each step is a maximum of three (3) feet in height
Front yard height	Fences, walls and hedges no more than 3 feet. Applies: Front yard setback in any zone, unless zoning rules say otherwise. Open-design fences in residential districts may be 4 feet. § 9-4.203 · code text Fences, walls and hedges shall be no more than three (3) feet tall within the front yard setback Up to 4 feet. Applies: Fences with an open-design face in residential districts, within the front yard setback. § 9-4.203 · code text Fences in residential districts are permitted to be up to four (4) feet tall within the front yard setback if the face of the fence is an open design
Side and rear yard height	Between 5 and 6 feet. Applies: Side and rear yard setbacks in any zone, unless zoning rules say otherwise. § 9-4.203 · code text between five (5) to six (6) feet tall within the side and rear yard setbacks in any Zoning District
Permit	A Site Plan Review application is required. Applies: Proposed sound walls, acoustical barriers or noise berms. § 9-4.203 · code text A Site Plan Review application shall be made per the provisions of Chapter 6, Article 4, Site Plan Review, for any proposed sound wall, acoustical barrier, or noise berm.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Coalinga code What Coalinga's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 18 feet. Applies: Detached residential accessory structures. § 9-5.101 · code text The maximum height shall not exceed eighteen (18) feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,000 square feet in total. Applies: All detached residential accessory structures combined, unless the Community Development Director approves more. § 9-5.101 · code text The floor area of detached accessory structures shall not exceed a cumulative floor area of 1,000 square feet unless approved by the Community Development Director. No larger than the ground floor area of the main building. Applies: Detached residential accessory buildings, even when the Director approves more than 1,000 square feet. § 9-5.101 · code text In no case shall the accessory building exceed the ground floor area of the main building and in no case shall the maximum lot coverage allowed by the development standards be exceeded.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the rear third of a lot. § 9-5.101 · code text When located in the rear one-third of a lot, detached accessory buildings shall not be located closer than five (5) feet to any rear property line, except when the rear property line is adjacent to an alley right-of-way, street right-of-way, park or other open space, the accessory building shall not be closer than one (1) foot to such rear property line. At least 1 foot from the rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the rear third of a lot, when the rear line borders an alley, street, park or other open space. § 9-5.101 · code text When located in the rear one-third of a lot, detached accessory buildings shall not be located closer than five (5) feet to any rear property line, except when the rear property line is adjacent to an alley right-of-way, street right-of-way, park or other open space, the accessory building shall not be closer than one (1) foot to such rear property line. May be in the required side yard setback. Applies: Accessory buildings under 120 square feet in the rear third of the lot, if they do not encroach and allow proper drainage. § 9-5.101 · code text If an accessory building is or under one hundred twenty (120) square feet, it may be permitted within the required side yard setback so long as it is located in the rear one-third of the lot and does not encroach upon the adjacent property and allows for proper drainage.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any main building. Applies: Detached residential accessory structures that need a building permit, except shade structures. § 9-5.101 · code text Detached accessory structures requiring a building permit, with the exception of shade structures shall be separated from any main building by a minimum of six (6) feet.

RV and boat parking

Coalinga code What Coalinga's code adds
Parking on the street	Vehicles may stay parked for less than 72 hours. Applies: Any vehicle, including RVs, boats and trailers, on a public street or public parking facility. Moving less than 1/2 mile does not count. § 4-4.722.2 · code text No person who owns or has possession or control of a vehicle, including but not limited to a recreational vehicle, camper, fifth-wheel trailer, boat or trailer, shall park or leave the vehicle standing on a public street, way or any public parking facility within the City for a period of seventy-two (72) hours or more. Once moved, it may not be parked again within 1/2 mile of the first spot for 48 hours. Applies: Applies to RVs, campers, fifth-wheel trailers, boats and trailers on public streets. § 4-4.722.2 · code text A recreational vehicle, camper, fifth-wheel trailer, boat or trailer that is parked or left on a public street, way or any public parking facility, once moved, shall not be re-parked or returned to any location within one-half (½) mile of the location where such recreational vehicle, camper, fifth-wheel trailer, boat or trailer was first parked sooner than forty-eight (48) hours following the time that the recreational vehicle, boat or trailer is first moved.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Coalinga code What Coalinga's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City's checklist. Applies: EV charging stations that meet all laws and safety standards. The station may not be powered or used until the City approves. § 8-16.04 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Electronic submittal is allowed. § 8-16.04 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process	1 building inspection; the fire department may do a separate inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 8-15.06 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.
Review time	The permit is issued the following business day. Applies: Small rooftop solar; complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist and standard plan. § 8-15.06 · code text The Building Department shall issue a permit or other nondiscretionary permit the following business day for over- the-counter applications which are deemed complete or within three (3) business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Small rooftop solar; complete electronic applications that meet the checklist and standard plan. § 8-15.06 · code text The Building Department shall issue a permit or other nondiscretionary permit the following business day for over- the-counter applications which are deemed complete or within three (3) business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. An inspection is scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 8-15.06 · code text An inspection will be scheduled within two (2) business days of a request.

Other Coalinga rules on this

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

Home occupations (§ 9-5.113)
Animals allowed on residential lots (§ 9-5.104)
Limit on dogs and cats per home (§ 6-1.33)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Coalinga?

Front-setback fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet with an open design in residential districts; side and rear, 5 to 6 feet.

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

Detached residential accessory structures are limited to 18 feet and 1,000 square feet combined, unless the Community Development Director approves more.

Can I run a business from my home in Coalinga?

Coalinga regulates home occupations in Section 9-5.113 of its code. Coalinga also has a related rule: Home occupations (§ 9-5.113).

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

Coalinga's code: Vehicles may stay parked for less than 72 hours. (Any vehicle, including RVs, boats and trailers, on a public street or public parking facility. Moving less than 1/2 mile does not count.) (§ 4-4.722.2); Once moved, it may not be parked again within 1/2 mile of the first spot for 48 hours. (Applies to RVs, campers, fifth-wheel trailers, boats and trailers on public streets.) (§ 4-4.722.2).

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

Coalinga's code: The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City's checklist. (EV charging stations that meet all laws and safety standards. The station may not be powered or used until the City approves.) (§ 8-16.04); Electronic submittal is allowed. (§ 8-16.04).

General information, not legal advice.

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