Covina · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Covina

Covina sets wall and fence heights by yard and requires permits for many walls and fences. It also limits the height and size of accessory buildings in its residential zones.

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Key points

Wall height: Front-setback walls are limited to 4 feet, or 5 if 50% see-through; rear and interior side walls, 8 feet, with permits over 6.
Accessory buildings: In R-1-7500 and E-1 zones, accessory buildings are limited to one story or 15 feet; in R-1-7500, also 50% of the house's ground floor.

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

Fences and walls

Covina code What Covina's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 10 feet high. Applies: Block or sound walls on lots next to the proposed commuter rail line, and other places the chief planning official requires. § 17.71.110 · code text Block/sound attenuation walls of 10 feet maximum in height can be constructed along properties that abut the proposed commuter rail line and other locations as deemed necessary by the chief planning official.
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Solid walls in front yard setbacks. § 17.71.040 · code text Within front yard setbacks, four-foot maximum solid walls will be permitted. No more than 5 feet high. Applies: Walls in front yard setbacks when 50% of the wall surface is see-through material. § 17.71.040 · code text Maximum five-foot walls are permitted if 50 percent of the wall surface is composed of see-through material, such as tubular steel, wrought iron, wood, and vinyl pickets.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 8 feet high. Applies: Along rear and interior side lines outside the front yard setback. Over 6 feet needs a wall and fence permit and building permit. § 17.71.040 · code text Along rear and interior side property lines and outside the front yard setback, eight-foot maximum walls and fences will be permitted with a wall and fence permit and building permit.
Permit	Yes. A wall and fence permit and a building permit are required for all walls and fences. Applies: Within front yard setbacks. § 17.71.040 · code text All walls and fences require a wall and fence permit and building permit. Yes. A wall and fence permit and a building permit are required. Applies: Walls and fences over 6 feet and up to 8 feet, along rear and interior side lines outside the front yard setback. § 17.71.040 · code text Along rear and interior side property lines and outside the front yard setback, eight-foot maximum walls and fences will be permitted with a wall and fence permit and building permit. Administrative approval is required. Applies: Walls and fences 6 feet or less, along rear and interior side lines outside the front yard setback. § 17.71.040 · code text Walls and fences that are six feet or less will be permitted with administrative approval. Yes. A building permit and plan check approval are required. Applies: Any wall or fence next to the proposed commuter rail line. § 17.71.110 · code text Building permit and plan check approval are required for any wall or fence. Yes. A wall and fence permit and a building permit are required. Applies: Any improvement to an existing wall or fence. § 17.71.100 · code text Wall and fence permit and building permit approvals are required for any improvement to an existing wall or fence.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Covina code What Covina's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 1 story or 15 feet high. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-1-7500 residential zone. § 17.26.090 · code text Accessory buildings shall not have a height greater than one story or 15 feet, except to allow the construction of a "nonhabitable" storage room above a detached garage, not to exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. two and one-half stories or 35 feet, whichever is less Applies: R-1-7500 residential zone; nonhabitable storage room above a detached garage only; it may never be converted to living space § 17.26.090 · code text Accessory buildings shall not have a height greater than one story or 15 feet, except to allow the construction of a "nonhabitable" storage room above a detached garage, not to exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. No more than 1 story or 15 feet high. Applies: Accessory buildings in the E-1 estate residential zone. § 17.14.090 · code text Accessory buildings shall not have a height greater than one story or 15 feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 50% of the main building's ground floor area. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-1-7500 residential zone. § 17.26.106 · code text Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the maximum ground floor area of accessory buildings shall not exceed 50 percent of the ground floor area of the main building.

RV and boat parking

Covina code What Covina's code adds
Front-yard parking	Only in the paved access, garage or paved parking areas. Applies: Trailers, boats, motor homes, campers and other vehicles in required front yards and street-side yards in residential zones. § 10.32.210 · code text Neither the required front yards nor those side yards abutting a street of property zoned with a residential classification shall be used for the purposes of parking trailers, boats, house trailers, motor homes, campers, camper bodies or motor vehicles except in the paved access, garage or paved parking areas as set forth in CMC § 17.26.110. Storage over 72 hours only during repair or construction work on the lot, up to 60 days per 12 months. Applies: Applies to required front yards and street-side yards in residential zones. § 10.32.210 · code text The parking of a vehicle in such front yard is to be used in actual bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon such lot, not exceeding 60 days in any 12-month period;
Screening and surface	Vehicles must be completely screened from view from the street, as the zoning code requires. Applies: Applies to storage over 72 hours in required front yards and street-side yards in residential zones. § 10.32.210 · code text Where the vehicles stored are completely screened from visibility from the abutting street and the manner of screening is in accordance with the provisions of CMC Title 17.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Covina code What Covina's code adds
EV charger permit	An expedited nondiscretionary building permit is required. Applies: Applies to installing an EV charging station at any site in the city. § 14.04.220 · code text Anyone seeking to install an electric vehicle charging station at any site within the city shall apply to the building official for an expedited nondiscretionary building permit. Apply in person, by mail, or electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to expedited building permit applications for EV charging stations. § 14.04.220 · code text An application for an expedited building permit for an electric vehicle charging station, and all associated documentation, may be submitted to the building official in person, by mail, or by electronic submission. Electronic signatures may be used in lieu of wet signatures.
Solar permit process	Expedited review; you may apply electronically, and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 14.04.210 · code text Electronic permit applications shall be submitted through the method of electronic submittal specified by the building official and shall be available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days, or as soon after as practicable. Applies: Applies to a complete application that meets the approved checklists and standard plans. § 14.04.210 · code text The building official shall issue a building permit for any complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist(s) and standard plan(s) as follows: within three business days for any application, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable.

Tree removal

Covina code What Covina's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree preservation permit is required. Applies: Applies to heritage trees on any lot in the city; damage includes removal. § 17.83.030 · code text Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall damage any heritage tree located on any lot or parcel of land within the city unless a tree preservation permit is first obtained as provided herein.

Swimming pools

Covina code No middle horizontal rails; top and bottom rails at least 54 inches apart; vertical bars at most 4 inches apart. Masonry or concrete block walls, solid wood, chain link or ornamental iron; other fencing needs special building department approval.

All 10 Covina rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Other Covina rules on this

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

Parcel map for an SB 9 lot split (§ 16.06.025)
SB 9 two homes and lot splits in single-family zones (§ 17.33.060) — single-family zones only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Covina?

Front-setback walls are limited to 4 feet, or 5 if 50% see-through; rear and interior side walls, 8 feet, with permits over 6.

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

In R-1-7500 and E-1 zones, accessory buildings are limited to one story or 15 feet; in R-1-7500, also 50% of the house's ground floor.

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

Covina's code: Only in the paved access, garage or paved parking areas. (Trailers, boats, motor homes, campers and other vehicles in required front yards and street-side yards in residential zones.) (§ 10.32.210); Storage over 72 hours only during repair or construction work on the lot, up to 60 days per 12 months. (Applies to required front yards and street-side yards in residential zones.) (§ 10.32.210).

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

Covina's code: An expedited nondiscretionary building permit is required. (Applies to installing an EV charging station at any site in the city.) (§ 14.04.220); Apply in person, by mail, or electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to expedited building permit applications for EV charging stations.) (§ 14.04.220).

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

Covina's code: Yes, a tree preservation permit is required. (Applies to heritage trees on any lot in the city; damage includes removal.) (§ 17.83.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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Covina Municipal Code — full text

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Covina overview