Desert Hot Springs · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and corner sight areas, and some businesses may not run from a home.

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Key points

Fence height: Desert Hot Springs limits residential fences to 4 feet in front and street-facing setbacks and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
Accessory height: Desert Hot Springs limits accessory structures to the height of the main structure, unless stored items such as a recreational vehicle need more.
Banned businesses: Desert Hot Springs does not allow some home businesses, including barber shops, animal grooming, carpentry, medical offices, vehicle repair and welding.

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

Fences and walls

Desert Hot Springs code What Desert Hot Springs's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing over 30 inches above the nearest street curb is allowed in the corner sight area. Applies: Corner lots: applies to fences, walls, hedges, signs, structures, shrubs, earth mounds and other visual obstructions in the Traffic Safety Sight Area. § 17.40.110 · code text On a corner lot, no fence, wall, hedge, sign or other structure, shrubbery, mounds of earth, or other visual obstruction over 30 inches in height above the nearest street curb elevation shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow within a Traffic Safety Sight Area.
Front yard height	Fences can be at most 4 feet tall. Applies: Residential front or street-facing yard setback. § 17.40.110 · code text \| Front/street-facing yard setback \| 4 feet \| Hedges and plants shall be no higher than 4 feet for the first 10 feet of yard \|
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Residential rear or side yard area. § 17.40.110 · code text \| Rear or side yard area \| 6 feet \| Hedges and plants shall be no higher than 4 feet for the first 10 feet of yard \|

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Desert Hot Springs code What Desert Hot Springs's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory structures can be no taller than the main building. Applies: Unless more height is needed for the items stored inside, such as a recreational vehicle garage. § 17.08.110 · code text An accessory structure shall not exceed the overall height of the main structure except in the instance where the accessory structure height is necessary for the materials and items being stored inside such as a recreational vehicle garage.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the property line. Applies: Barbecues, tennis courts, gazebos and sheds under 120 square feet, cabanas, and sun and shade sails. § 17.08.110 · code text Accessory structures such as barbecues, tennis courts, gazebos and sheds (less than 120 square feet), cabanas, and sun and shade sails shall be no closer than 5 feet from the property line. At least 10 feet from the property line. Applies: Enclosed roofed structures such as patio covers, garages, barns, pump houses, and gazebos and sheds over 120 square feet. § 17.08.110 · code text Enclosed accessory structures with roofs such as patio covers, garages, barns, pump houses, gazebos and sheds (greater than 120 square feet) shall be no closer than 10 feet.

Running a business from home

Desert Hot Springs code What Desert Hot Springs's code adds
Businesses not allowed	Barber and beauty shop; businesses which entail the harboring, training, breeding, raising, or grooming of dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises; carpentry and cabinet making; medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini-storage; repair, fix-it, or plumbing shops; storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades; vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, and painting; manufacturing, warehousing and distribution; welding and machining; any other use determined by the Director to be not incidental nor compatible with residential activities § 17.108.040 · code text The following are examples of uses that are not incidental to nor compatible with residential activities, and are prohibited:

RV and boat parking

Desert Hot Springs code What Desert Hot Springs's code adds
Where it may be parked	Only in an approved mobile home park storage space, or a space designated for a mobile home or recreation park. Applies: Applies to RVs, trailers and boats anywhere in the city; otherwise only temporary parking of up to 48 consecutive hours. § 10.16.300 · code text The vehicle or boat is parked or stored in an approved storage space in a mobile home park or designated for a mobile home park or recreation park; or May park in front of or next to property the owner or occupant owns, leases, or legally occupies. Applies: Trailer coaches, motorhomes and vehicles with campers; this is an exception to the nighttime ban on city streets. § 10.16.330 · code text Parking of trailer coach, house car or vehicle equipped with a camper when parked in front of or adjacent to property owned, leased, or otherwise legally occupied by the owner or occupant of such trailer coach, house car or vehicle equipped with a camper.
Parking on the street	No more than 48 consecutive hours. Applies: RVs, trailers and boats outside an approved storage space; more than 72 hours must pass before parking temporarily again. § 10.16.300 · code text The vehicle or boat is temporarily parked for a period of time not to exceed 48 consecutive hours and more than 72 hours shall have elapsed since the vehicle was so temporarily parked or stored. Not allowed during hours of darkness, except in a specifically marked area or for emergency repairs. Applies: Applies to trailer coaches, motorhomes, or vehicles with campers on any city street, alley, or right-of-way. § 10.16.330 · code text Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall park any trailer coach, house car or vehicle equipped with a camper upon any City street, alleyway or right-of-way during the hours of darkness except in an area clearly and specifically designated to permit such parking or when necessary to make emergency repairs.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Desert Hot Springs code What Desert Hot Springs's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; approved if it meets the checklist and has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.34.060 · code text The Building Official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging stations. Where the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards and there are no specific, adverse impacts upon public health or safety, the Building and Safety Division shall complete the building permit approval process, which is nondiscretionary. A permit is required before installing, operating, or maintaining an EV charging station. § 15.34.060 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person to install, operate, or maintain an electric vehicle charging station without such a permit for such work, and the permit shall be secured from the Building Official by the owner or the owner’s agent.
Solar permit process	Administrative, non-discretionary review; the city issues a building permit when the application meets its checklist. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the city-approved checklist. § 15.36.050 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the City-approved checklist, the City will issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit. Only one inspection is required. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.36.050 · code text Only one inspection will be required and performed by the City for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

Other Desert Hot Springs rules on this

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

Roosters are not allowed (§ 6.04.020)
Urban lot splits (SB 9 parcel maps) (§ 16.24.095)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs limits residential fences to 4 feet in front and street-facing setbacks and 6 feet in rear or side yards.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs limits accessory structures to the height of the main structure, unless stored items such as a recreational vehicle need more.

Can I run a business from my home in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs does not allow some home businesses, including barber shops, animal grooming, carpentry, medical offices, vehicle repair and welding.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs's code: Only in an approved mobile home park storage space, or a space designated for a mobile home or recreation park. (Applies to RVs, trailers and boats anywhere in the city; otherwise only temporary parking of up to 48 consecutive hours.) (§ 10.16.300); May park in front of or next to property the owner or occupant owns, leases, or legally occupies. (Trailer coaches, motorhomes and vehicles with campers; this is an exception to the nighttime ban on city streets.) (§ 10.16.330).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; approved if it meets the checklist and has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.34.060); A permit is required before installing, operating, or maintaining an EV charging station. (§ 15.34.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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