Compton · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Compton

Compton limits how much of a required rear yard accessory structures may cover in its residential zones and limits the space and workers of home businesses.

Ask about building on your lot in Compton See coverage

Key points

Rear yard coverage: One-story accessory structures may cover at most 50% of a required rear yard in the R-L zone and 60% in the R-M zone.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business is limited to one room or 25% of the home's floor area, whichever is less, with only residents working.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Compton code What Compton's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than twice the area required for off-street parking. Applies: The combined area of all accessory structures in the Low-Density (R-L) and Medium-Density (R-M) Residential Zones. § 30-8.3 · code text Accessory structures shall have a combined area no greater than twice that required for off-street parking. May cover no more than 50% of the required rear yard. Applies: One-story detached accessory structures and attached open patio covers in the Low-Density Residential Zone (R-L). § 30-8.3 · code text Detached accessory structures of not more than one story and attached unenclosed patio covers may occupy not more than 50% of a required rear yard. May cover no more than 60% of the required rear yard. Applies: One-story detached accessory structures and attached open patio covers in the Medium-Density Residential Zone (R-M). § 30-9.3 · code text Detached accessory structures of not more than one story and attached unenclosed patio covers may occupy not more than 60% of a required rear yard.

Running a business from home

Compton code What Compton's code adds
Space used	One room of the home or 25% of its gross floor area, whichever is less. § 30-11.5 · code text The home occupation shall be limited to one room of the dwelling or 25% of the gross floor area of the dwelling, whichever is less.
Customer visits	No more than the traffic a home used only as a residence normally gets. Applies: Car and foot traffic to the business. § 30-11.5 · code text Vehicular or pedestrian traffic to the business shall not exceed that normally experienced by exclusively residential use.
Employees	Only the people who live in the home may work in the business. § 30-11.5 · code text Only the residents of the dwelling shall be employed in the business.
Businesses not allowed	wholesale or retail business; businesses involving on-site sales § 30-11.5 · code text No wholesale or retail business, nor any business involving on-site sales shall operate as a home occupation. vehicle repair, equipment repair, merchandise sales, dating services, beauty salons, on-site food preparation, upholstery and similar uses § 30-11.5 · code text Vehicle repair, equipment repair, merchandise sales, dating services, beauty salons, on-site food preparation, upholstery and similar uses are not permitted as a home occupation.

RV and boat parking

Compton code What Compton's code adds
Front-yard parking	No more than 72 hours in a row unless you have a permit from the Traffic Committee. Applies: Applies to vehicles, trailers, boats and their parts parked or stored in the front yard or an unfenced street side yard setback. § 12-3.18 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any motor vehicle, trailer, tractor, airplane, boat, or parts thereof shall store or park any of the foregoing within the front yard or unfenced street side yard setback area for more than a period of 72 consecutive hours without first having obtained a permit from the Traffic Committee following the procedure specified by City Council Resolution.
Parking on the street	Trailers only when hitched to a vehicle; nonmotorized RVs up to 72 hours, only for loading or unloading. Applies: Applies to nonmotorized recreational vehicles, attached or not, parked only to load and unload. § 12-3.17 · code text No person shall park any nonmotorized vehicle or trailer unless such nonmotorized vehicle or trailer is attached to a motorized vehicle, and then only in compliance with the provisions in the Traffic Ordinance of this City; provided, however, that nonmotorized recreational vehicles, attached or unattached to a vehicle, may be parked for the sole purpose of loading and unloading for a period of time not to exceed 72 consecutive hours. Emergency parking is allowed for up to 24 hours in a row. Applies: Only for an oversized vehicle left on a city street because of a breakdown or because the driver or owner is physically unable. § 12-10.3 · code text Emergency parking may be allowed for 24 consecutive hours where an oversized vehicle is left parked on a City street because of mechanical breakdown or because of physical incapacity of the driver or owner.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Compton code What Compton's code adds
EV charger permit	You may submit the application and documents in person, by mail, or electronically. Applies: Applies to EV charger permit applications and their documents. § 15-27.3 · code text Applications and associated documentation may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically. A complete application that meets the checklist is approved without discretion, as an expedited permit. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations, unless the building official finds a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 15-27.3 · code text A complete application shall be approved ministerially unless the building official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety.

Pets, chickens and bees

Compton code What Compton's code adds
Chickens	Fighting cocks and gamecocks are not allowed. Applies: Applies citywide, including the Richland Farms area. § 7-6.13 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the City to include the Richland Farms area; any fighting cock, fighting animals, or fighting birds, gamecock, or birds of prey.

Other Compton rules on this

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

Review before removing mature trees (§ 30-43.7) — when several trees are removed within a set period

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

One-story accessory structures may cover at most 50% of a required rear yard in the R-L zone and 60% in the R-M zone.

Can I run a business from my home in Compton?

City rule: a home business is limited to one room or 25% of the home's floor area, whichever is less, with only residents working.

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

Compton's code: No more than 72 hours in a row unless you have a permit from the Traffic Committee. (Applies to vehicles, trailers, boats and their parts parked or stored in the front yard or an unfenced street side yard setback.) (§ 12-3.18); Trailers only when hitched to a vehicle; nonmotorized RVs up to 72 hours, only for loading or unloading. (Applies to nonmotorized recreational vehicles, attached or not, parked only to load and unload.) (§ 12-3.17).

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

Compton's code: You may submit the application and documents in person, by mail, or electronically. (Applies to EV charger permit applications and their documents.) (§ 15-27.3); A complete application that meets the checklist is approved without discretion, as an expedited permit. (Applies to EV charging stations, unless the building official finds a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 15-27.3).

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

Compton's code: Fighting cocks and gamecocks are not allowed. (Applies citywide, including the Richland Farms area.) (§ 7-6.13).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Compton property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Compton

Compton Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Compton

Buying & selling in Compton

Compton overview