Diamond Bar · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Diamond Bar

Diamond Bar sets its own limits on accessory structures and on fences in hillside and slope areas. It also has its own chapter on home-based businesses.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Diamond Bar limits detached accessory structures in residential zones to 15 feet and one story, and no higher than the main home.
Hillside fences: In hillside and slope areas, Diamond Bar limits walls and fences to 6 feet; ones visible from roadways must be open.
Home businesses: Diamond Bar has its own chapter on home-based businesses.

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

Fences and walls

Diamond Bar code What Diamond Bar's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Walls and fences can be at most 6 feet tall and must be see-through. Applies: Hillside and slope areas: walls and fences visible from roads or public rights-of-way. § 22.22.130 · code text Walls and fencing, not exceeding six feet in height, visible from roadways or public rights-of-way shall be visually open and non-opaque. Privacy walls and fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Hillside and slope areas: next to buildings, to create private outdoor areas. § 22.22.130 · code text Privacy walls and fences, not exceeding six feet in height, are allowed adjacent to structures, in order to provide private outdoor areas.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Diamond Bar code What Diamond Bar's code adds
Maximum height	At most 1 story or 15 feet tall, and no taller than the main home. Applies: Detached accessory structures in a residential zone. § 22.42.110 · code text A detached accessory structure shall not exceed one story or 15 feet in height; and shall not exceed the height of the main residential structure.
Size or lot coverage	At most 30% of the required rear yard. Applies: Floor area of a single detached accessory structure; covered patios and barbecue areas do not count. § 22.42.110 · code text The floor area of a single detached accessory structure shall not exceed 30 percent, nor shall the sum of the floor area(s) of the total number of detached accessory structures exceed 40 percent, of the required rear yard of the parcel. At most 40% of the required rear yard. Applies: Total floor area of all detached accessory structures on the parcel. § 22.42.110 · code text The floor area of a single detached accessory structure shall not exceed 30 percent, nor shall the sum of the floor area(s) of the total number of detached accessory structures exceed 40 percent, of the required rear yard of the parcel. At most 1,000 square feet for each home. Applies: Detached accessory garages, including any workshop or storage inside, unless a larger area is approved through development review. § 22.42.110 · code text A detached accessory garage shall not occupy more than 1,000 square feet for each dwelling unit (including any workshop or storage space within the garage) unless a larger area is authorized by the director through development review, in compliance with chapter 22.48 (Development Review). Up to 500 square feet per home or 10% of the parcel, whichever is less. Applies: Accessory greenhouses. § 22.42.110 · code text An accessory greenhouse may occupy up to 500 square feet for each dwelling unit or ten percent of the parcel, whichever is less. At most 25% of the main building's floor area. Applies: Workshops not combined with a garage. § 22.42.110 · code text A workshop shall not occupy an area larger than 25 percent of the floor area of the main structure, except where a workshop is combined with a garage.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from any side lot line. Also at least 5 feet from the side line of the front half of any neighboring parcel; the setback table may require more. § 22.42.110 · code text Accessory structures shall not be closer than three feet to any side lot line, nor within five feet of the side line of the front half of any adjoining parcel. At least 5 feet from the property line or buildable pad line. Applies: Single-family homes: detached patio covers, gazebos, greenhouses or storage sheds under 220 square feet; sides and rear. § 22.42.110 · code text If less than 220 square feet, 5 feet from property line or buildable pad line. Same setbacks as the main building. Applies: Detached patio covers, gazebos, greenhouses or storage sheds of 220 square feet or more; sides and rear. § 22.42.110 · code text If 220 square feet or larger, setbacks shall be the same as required for main structure At least 5 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: Swimming pools, spas, fish ponds or outdoor play equipment at a single-family detached home. § 22.42.110 · code text Swimming pool, spa, fish pond, outdoor play equipment 3 ,4 \| Sides, rear Street side \| 5 feet As required for main structure At least 3 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: Built-in barbecues, fire pits or propane tanks at a single-family detached home. § 22.42.110 · code text Stationary barbecue, fire pit, propane tank \| Sides, rear 3 Street side \| 3 feet As required for main structure At least 42 inches from side and rear lines. Applies: Air-conditioning equipment or pool and spa equipment at a single-family detached home. § 22.42.110 · code text Air-conditioning equipment, pool and spa equipment \| Sides, rear 3 Street side \| 42 inches As required for main structure At least 10 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: Tennis courts at a single-family detached home. § 22.42.110 · code text Tennis court \| Sides, rear 3 Street side Front \| 10 feet As required for main structure As required for main structure At least 5 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: Multifamily properties: pools, spas, fish ponds, play equipment, fountains or decorative pools; front and street side need 10 feet. § 22.42.110 · code text Swimming pool, spa, the fish pond, outdoor play equipment, fountains, decorative pools \| Front Sides Street side Rear 3 \| 10 feet 5 feet 10 feet 5 feet

Solar panels and EV chargers

Diamond Bar code What Diamond Bar's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official issues permits when the application meets the city checklist and laws; electronic applications and signatures accepted. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.00.1700 · code text Consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, the building official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit is issued when the application meets the checklist and standard plan; only one inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.04.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the city's checklist and standard plan, the building department shall issue a non-discretionary permit within three business days of the filing of the application and payment of the permit fee. Applications may be sent by email, the city website, or fax; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.04.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required application and documents via email, the city's website, or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the city checklist and standard plan, counted from filing and fee payment. § 15.04.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the city's checklist and standard plan, the building department shall issue a non-discretionary permit within three business days of the filing of the application and payment of the permit fee. A correction notice is sent within 3 business days of filing and fee payment. Applies: Applies to incomplete applications for small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.04.060 · code text If an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permitting shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission, within three business days of the filing of the application and payment of the permit fee. An inspection is scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.04.060 · code text An inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request.

Tree removal

Diamond Bar code What Diamond Bar's code adds
Exemptions	The director may waive a separate tree removal permit. Applies: Applies when removing or relocating a protected tree is proposed with another discretionary permit application. § 22.38.070 · code text the director may waive the requirement of a separate tree removal permit
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Applies to removing or pruning a protected tree. § 22.38.080 · code text Applications for a tree removal permit or a tree pruning permit shall be filed with the department.
Protected trees	Native oak, walnut, sycamore and willow trees with a trunk diameter at breast height of 8 inches or more. § 22.38.030 · code text Native Oak, walnut, sycamore and willow trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of eight inches or greater; Trees the city council designates as historically significant or valuable. § 22.38.030 · code text Trees of significant historical or value as designated by the council; Any tree that must be kept or relocated as a condition of a discretionary permit. § 22.38.030 · code text Any tree required to be preserved or relocated as a condition of approval for a discretionary permit; Any tree that must be planted as a condition of a discretionary permit. § 22.38.030 · code text Any tree required to be planted as a condition of approval for a discretionary permit; A stand of trees where each tree depends on the others to survive. § 22.38.030 · code text A stand of trees, the nature of which makes each tree dependent upon the others for survival.
Replacement trees	Trees destroyed or badly damaged during construction must be replaced before final inspection. Applies: Applies to trees destroyed or receiving major damage during construction. § 22.38.140 · code text Trees that have been destroyed or that have received major damage during construction shall be replaced prior to final inspection.

Other Diamond Bar rules on this

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

Home-based businesses (Sec. 22.42.070)
Pets at home: how many dogs and cats (§ 22.42.030)
Parking trailers on streets (§ 10.16.190) — public streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Diamond Bar?

In hillside and slope areas, Diamond Bar limits walls and fences to 6 feet; ones visible from roadways must be open.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Diamond Bar?

Diamond Bar limits detached accessory structures in residential zones to 15 feet and one story, and no higher than the main home.

Can I run a business from my home in Diamond Bar?

Diamond Bar has its own chapter on home-based businesses. Diamond Bar also has a related rule: Home-based businesses (Sec. 22.42.070).

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

Diamond Bar's code: The building official issues permits when the application meets the city checklist and laws; electronic applications and signatures accepted. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.00.1700); Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit is issued when the application meets the checklist and standard plan; only one inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.04.060).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Diamond Bar?

Diamond Bar's code: The director may waive a separate tree removal permit. (Applies when removing or relocating a protected tree is proposed with another discretionary permit application.) (§ 22.38.070); Yes, a permit is required. (Applies to removing or pruning a protected tree.) (§ 22.38.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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