Dana Point · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Dana Point

Dana Point sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and the side that faces a neighbor; accessory height depends on location and structure type.

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Key points

Fence height: Dana Point limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard, and side and rear yard fences to 6 feet facing a neighbor.
Accessory structures: Dana Point limits detached accessory structures in a setback area to 12 feet; qualifying detached garages with sloped hip or gable roofs, 18 feet.
Home businesses: Dana Point allows a home business in one room, with no outside employees and at most 10 business vehicle trips a day.

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

Fences and walls

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Fences, walls and hedges in the required front yard. Pilaster and wrought iron fences may go higher under set rules. § 9.05.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges shall not exceed 42 inches in height except as provided in Subsection (b)(2) below. No more than 36 inches high. Applies: Pilasters in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text Pilasters may not exceed 18 inches in width and may not exceed 36 inches in height. Pilasters must be spaced at a minimum of eight feet on center. No more than 48 inches high, measured from finished grade. Applies: Wrought iron inserts in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text Wrought iron inserts may be designed to a maximum height of 48 inches as measured from finished grade. No more than 30 inches high. Applies: Retaining walls in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text The maximum height of retaining walls in the required front yard shall be 30 inches. No more than 42 inches high in total. Applies: Total wall height, including any retaining wall, in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text The total wall height, including the retaining wall shall not exceed 42 inches.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high, measured from finished grade. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in the required side and rear yard that face a neighboring property. § 9.05.120 · code text The maximum height of any fence, wall or hedge within the required side and rear yard which faces an adjacent property shall be six feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the fence, wall or hedge to the top of the fence, wall or hedge. No more than 8 feet high, measured from finished grade. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in the required side or rear yard that face the owner's own property. § 9.05.120 · code text The maximum height of any fence, wall or hedge within the required side or rear yard which faces the subject property shall be eight feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the fence, wall or hedge to the top of the fence, wall or hedge.
Permit	A Minor Site Development Permit is needed for alternatives to the height limits and for retaining walls over 30 inches. Applies: Not needed for a retaining wall on an approved grading plan, or one under 72 inches, not visible from a public right-of-way, with no fill. § 9.05.120 · code text Retaining walls that are greater than 30 inches from the top of the wall to finished grade may be permitted subject to the approval of a Minor Site Development Permit, as described in Chapter 9.71.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet high. Applies: Detached accessory structures in the setback area. § 9.05.260 · code text The standard maximum height of detached accessory structures is 12 feet when located in the setback area pursuant to Section 9.05.080(L). Up to 18 feet high. Applies: Detached garages with nonhabitable storage space, no stairway access, and a fully sloped hip or gable roof. § 9.05.260 · code text The maximum height of a detached garage may be increased up to a maximum of 18 feet subject to the following standards:
Distance from the house	At least 8 feet from the main home. Applies: The RSF 22 zone. § 9.09.030 · code text (l) Minimum Building Separation (between primary and accessory buildings on the same lot): \| 8 ft \| 10 ft \| 10 ft At least 10 feet from the main home. Applies: The RSF 2, RSF 3, RSF 4, RSF 7, RSF 8, RSF 12, RBR 12, RBRD 18, RD 14 and RMF 7 zones. § 9.09.030 · code text (l) Minimum Building Separation - (between primary and accessory buildings on the same lot): \| 10 ft \| 10 ft \| 10 ft \| 10 ft

Running a business from home

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home. Applies: The room used for the business. § 9.07.030 · code text No more than one room of the residence shall be used for business purposes.
Customer visits	No more than 10 vehicle trips per day. Applies: Business-related vehicle trips. § 9.07.030 · code text The business shall generate no more than 10 vehicle trips per day.
Employees	No outside employees. Only people who live in the home may take part. § 9.07.030 · code text Only persons residing in the residence shall be involved in the business; no outside employees shall be permitted.
Businesses not allowed	Actual retail sales on the premises, except sales by phone or mail § 9.07.030 · code text No actual retail sales shall be conducted on the premises other than sales by phone or mail.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
EV charger permit	Charging stations that meet the city's adopted checklist get an expedited administrative permit review. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 8.33.010 · code text the Building Official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative permit review; electronic submittal and electronic signatures are allowed. Applies: Applies to small rooftop solar PV systems. § 8.22.019 · code text the Building Official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for small rooftop solar PV systems

Swimming pools

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Permit	Yes. Work started without a permit pays double the permit fee, except urgent emergency work. Applies: Applies to installing, altering or repairing a pool, spa or hot tub system or any part of it. § 8.18.014 · code text Every applicant for a permit to install, alter, or repair a swimming pool, spa or hot tub system or part thereof, shall state in writing on the application form provided the work proposed to be done.

Pets, chickens and bees

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Bees	No, keeping bees is not allowed. Applies: Applies in residential districts. § 9.07.190 · code text The keeping of livestock (as defined in Section 9.75.120), poultry or bees;
Chickens	No, keeping poultry is not allowed. Applies: Applies in residential districts. § 9.07.190 · code text The keeping of livestock (as defined in Section 9.75.120), poultry or bees;
Coop setback	At least 25 feet away. Applies: Overnight animal structures, except dog houses or rabbit hutches; distance from any neighboring home or any area where a home may legally be built. § 9.07.190 · code text Within 25 feet of any adjoining existing residential structure, or any area where a residential structure may be legally located if no residential structure exists;
Large animals	At most 1 animal on lots under 15,000 square feet; at most 2 on lots over 15,000 square feet. Applies: Domesticated livestock in residential districts, with a use agreement and an animal permit. § 9.07.190 · code text That there shall be no more than one animal on lots less than 15,000 square feet in size and that a maximum of two animals may be permitted on lots over 15,000 square feet in size.
Permit	An animal permit from the Orange County Health Care Agency, plus a use agreement with the City. Applies: Applies to keeping domesticated livestock. § 9.07.190 · code text The keeping of up to two domesticated livestock, as defined in Section 9.75.120, is permitted in all residential districts subject to the execution of a use agreement with the City of Dana Point and the issuance of an animal permit by the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Pet limit	Up to 3 dogs, cats or other small animals over 4 months old. Applies: Applies in all residential districts. § 9.07.190 · code text The keeping of three or fewer dogs, cats, or other small animals over the age of four months is permitted in all residential districts. 4 to 6 domesticated animals over 4 months old need a use agreement and an animal permit. Applies: Applies in residential districts. § 9.07.190 · code text The keeping of between four and six domesticated animals over the age of four months shall be in compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 10.03.190 of the Municipal Code. Keeping more than 6 animals over 4 months old is not allowed. § 9.07.190 · code text The keeping of more than six animals over the age of four months;

Other Dana Point rules on this

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

Street parking limits for wide vehicles and trailers (§ 12.08.050) — on public streets

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Dana Point?

Dana Point limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard, and side and rear yard fences to 6 feet facing a neighbor.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Dana Point?

Dana Point limits detached accessory structures in a setback area to 12 feet; qualifying detached garages with sloped hip or gable roofs, 18 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Dana Point?

Dana Point allows a home business in one room, with no outside employees and at most 10 business vehicle trips a day.

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

Dana Point's code: Charging stations that meet the city's adopted checklist get an expedited administrative permit review. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 8.33.010); Expedited administrative permit review; electronic submittal and electronic signatures are allowed. (Applies to small rooftop solar PV systems.) (§ 8.22.019).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: Yes. Work started without a permit pays double the permit fee, except urgent emergency work. (Applies to installing, altering or repairing a pool, spa or hot tub system or any part of it.) (§ 8.18.014).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: No, keeping bees is not allowed. (Applies in residential districts.) (§ 9.07.190); No, keeping poultry is not allowed. (Applies in residential districts.) (§ 9.07.190).

General information, not legal advice.

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Dana Point Municipal Code — full text

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