Cypress · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Cypress

Cypress sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, and accessory-structure limits depend on the structure type and its distance from property lines.

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Key points

Fence height: Cypress limits fences to 42 inches in front and street side yards and 7 feet in residential rear and interior side yards.
Accessory structures: Cypress limits detached accessory structures to 15 feet; sheds in a required side yard or within 5 feet of the rear line, 7 feet.
Home businesses: Cypress allows a home business in one room only, with no non-resident employees, a home occupation permit and a business license.

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

Fences and walls

Cypress code What Cypress's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Traffic sight areas where streets, alleys and driveways meet. § 3.11.070 · code text At intersections of streets, alleys and driveways within traffic sight areas. See Subsection 3.11.150 (Traffic Safety Visibility Area). \| 42 inches
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Front and street side yards. § 3.11.070 · code text Front and street side yards \| 42 inches.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 7 feet high. Applies: Rear and interior side yards in residential zones. § 3.11.070 · code text Rear and interior side yards \| 7 feet in residential zoning districts No more than 8 feet high. Applies: Rear and side yards next to parks and nonresidential uses. § 3.11.070 · code text Rear and side yards adjacent to parks and nonresidential land uses \| 8 feet

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Cypress code What Cypress's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Detached accessory structures. Sheds, playhouses and similar items in a required side yard or within 5 feet of the rear line are lower. § 3.17.020 · code text Detached accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, except detached tool sheds, playhouses, recreation equipment, and similar facilities located within a required side yard or within five feet of a rear property line, which shall not exceed a height of seven feet from grade. No more than 7 feet above grade. Applies: Detached tool sheds, playhouses, play equipment and similar items in a required side yard or within 5 feet of a rear line. § 3.17.020 · code text Detached accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, except detached tool sheds, playhouses, recreation equipment, and similar facilities located within a required side yard or within five feet of a rear property line, which shall not exceed a height of seven feet from grade.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 40% of the required rear yard. Applies: The floor area of a single detached accessory structure. § 3.17.020 · code text The floor area of a single detached accessory structure shall not exceed 40% nor shall the sum of the floor area(s) of the total number of detached accessory structures exceed 50%, of the required rear yard of the parcel in compliance with table 2-3 (Residential Zoning District Development Standards). No more than 50% of the required rear yard. Applies: The total floor area of all detached accessory structures. § 3.17.020 · code text The floor area of a single detached accessory structure shall not exceed 40% nor shall the sum of the floor area(s) of the total number of detached accessory structures exceed 50%, of the required rear yard of the parcel in compliance with table 2-3 (Residential Zoning District Development Standards).
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: Air conditioning, pool and spa equipment. § 3.17.020 · code text Air conditioning equipment, pool and spa equipment \| Side, rear \| 5 feet \| 5 feet At least 5 feet from the side line. Applies: Garages, carports, portable covers, canopies or shelters for single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. § 3.17.020 · code text Garage, carport, portable covers, canopies, or shelters (permanent/temporary) of any type \| Side \| 5 feet (3) \| Same as main structure At least 3 feet from the rear line. Applies: Garages, carports, covers or shelters for single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, when the entrance does not face a street or alley. § 3.17.020 · code text Garage, carport, portable covers, canopies, or shelters (permanent/temporary) of any type \| Rear \| 3 feet; if entrance facing right-of-way - 20 feet \| Same as main structure At least 20 feet from the rear line. Applies: Garages, carports, covers or shelters for single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, when the entrance faces a street or alley. § 3.17.020 · code text Garage, carport, portable covers, canopies, or shelters (permanent/temporary) of any type \| Rear \| 3 feet; if entrance facing right-of-way - 20 feet \| Same as main structure At least 5 feet from the side line. Applies: All other accessory structures, such as sheds, gazebos and patio covers, for single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. § 3.17.020 · code text All other accessory structures, including fire pit, gazebo, greenhouse, outdoor play equipment, patio cover, recreational court, spa, stationary barbeque, storage shed, swimming pool, treehouse, workshop \| Side \| 5 feet \| Same as main structure (3) At least 5 feet from the rear line. Applies: All other accessory structures, such as sheds, gazebos and patio covers, for single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. § 3.17.020 · code text All other accessory structures, including fire pit, gazebo, greenhouse, outdoor play equipment, patio cover, recreational court, spa, stationary barbeque, storage shed, swimming pool, treehouse, workshop \| Rear \| 5 feet \| Same as main structure
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main home and other structures. Applies: Detached accessory structures, except where the building code allows otherwise. § 3.17.020 · code text Detached accessory structures on a single parcel shall be separated from the main structure and other structures by at least six feet, or more, as required, except as allowed by the building code.

Running a business from home

Cypress code What Cypress's code adds
Space used	Only 1 room of the home. § 3.17.110 · code text One room only in the dwelling shall be employed for the use of the home occupation.
Customer visits	No more foot or car traffic than is normal in the surrounding residential area. § 3.17.110 · code text Home occupations may not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond that considered normal within the surrounding residential district.
Employees	Only residents of the home may work in the business. § 3.17.110 · code text No one other than a resident of the dwelling may be employed by a home occupation operating within that dwelling.
Permit	A valid home occupation permit and a business license are required. § 4.19.090 · code text A home occupation shall not be established or operated in any manner without the prior approval, issuance, and maintenance of a valid home occupation permit. A business tax certificate from the finance department is required. § 3.17.110 · code text A business tax certificate shall be obtained from the finance department.
Businesses not allowed	Any use that generates six or more additional vehicle trips per day; adult entertainment activities/businesses; animal hospitals and grooming facilities; automotive and other vehicle reconditioning, repair, servicing, painting, storage, or upholstery; commercial cabinet or furniture making businesses; commercial kennels; contractor's storage yards; dismantling, junk, or scrap yards; exercise studios; medical clinics, laboratories, and offices; engine repair, reconditioning, servicing, or manufacture; sales of alcohol, explosives, hazardous products or wastes, firearms, or ammunition; sales of home furnishing materials; uses requiring explosives or highly combustible or toxic materials; welding and machine shop operations; and similar uses deemed objectionable by the director § 4.19.090 · code text The following uses, either by operation or nature, are considered not to be incidental to or compatible with residential activities and therefore shall not be allowed as home occupation activities:

Lot splits under SB 9

Cypress code About equal lots; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Neither new lot may be smaller than 1,200 square feet.

All 12 Cypress rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Cypress code What Cypress's code adds
EV charger permit	A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits, plus building official approval, before installing. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 5-81 · code text All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the city relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the system.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist. § 5-74 · code text The building official shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for applications that meet the requirements of the approved checklist The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to complete electronic applications for small residential rooftop solar systems. § 5-74 · code text or within three business days for electronic applications after receipt of a complete application.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 5-74 · code text The building official shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems

Tree removal

Cypress code What Cypress's code adds
Protected trees	Paving or building within 30 feet of a landmark tree needs a landmark tree adjacent construction permit. § 17-24 · code text No person shall pave any land or construct any structure within 30 feet of any landmark tree unless a landmark tree adjacent construction permit is first applied for and granted

Swimming pools

Cypress code What Cypress's code adds
Equipment and alarms	Pool motors and similar equipment may not block pool paths. § 3.11.140 · code text Pool motors and similar equipment shall not block pool paths.
Maintenance and empty pools	An enclosure must be kept around the pool or spa at all times. § 19-10 · code text No person shall maintain a swimming pool/spa in the city unless he shall at all times maintain, on the lot or premises upon which such pool/spa is situated, an enclosure as provided in this article. Temporary fencing must be installed when digging for a new pool or spa begins. Applies: Applies when excavation for a new pool or spa starts. § 19-10 · code text Upon commencement of excavation for a new pool/spa, temporary fencing shall be installed.
Pool barrier	Pools and spas, permanent or portable, must be fenced as the building code requires. § 3.11.140 · code text Swimming pools and spas, whether permanently constructed or portable, shall be enclosed by fencing as required by the city's building code.
Setback from property lines	At least 4 feet. Applies: Permanent pools and spas; distance from the interior side lot line, rear lot line, the main building and any accessory structure. § 3.11.140 · code text A minimum four-foot setback from the interior side lot line, rear lot line, and from the primary structure and any accessory structure.

Other Cypress rules on this

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

Animal keeping on residential lots (§ 3.17.040)
Overnight street parking of RVs and oversized vehicles (§§ 16-73–16-73.3) — on public streets

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Cypress?

Cypress limits fences to 42 inches in front and street side yards and 7 feet in residential rear and interior side yards.

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

Cypress limits detached accessory structures to 15 feet; sheds in a required side yard or within 5 feet of the rear line, 7 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Cypress?

Cypress allows a home business in one room only, with no non-resident employees, a home occupation permit and a business license.

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

Cypress's code: A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits, plus building official approval, before installing. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 5-81); The permit is issued the same day. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist.) (§ 5-74).

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

Cypress's code: Paving or building within 30 feet of a landmark tree needs a landmark tree adjacent construction permit. (§ 17-24).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Cypress?

Cypress's code: Pool motors and similar equipment may not block pool paths. (§ 3.11.140); An enclosure must be kept around the pool or spa at all times. (§ 19-10).

General information, not legal advice.

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