El Cajon · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in El Cajon

El Cajon sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and clear sight lines, and accessory setbacks depend on structure height.

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Key points

Fence height: El Cajon limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet behind it; reverse corner lots have extra limits.
Accessory structures: El Cajon limits accessory structures to 20 feet and no larger than the home; footprints over 1,200 square feet need a minor use permit.
Home businesses: El Cajon allows no customers at a home business, except one student or family per session for indoor lessons, and resident employees only.

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

Fences and walls

El Cajon code What El Cajon's code adds
Corner visibility	No fence, wall or hedge may block pedestrian or vehicle visibility; if one would, the city sets its height. Applies: Any fence, wall or hedge, in any location. The director, planning commission or city council decides the height. § 17.130.210 · code text Under no circumstances shall any fence, wall or hedge required or permitted by this title, regardless of its location, block pedestrian or vehicular visibility for safe and easy circulation. In such circumstances, the director or the planning commission, or the city council, as applicable, shall determine the appropriate height of any required or permitted fence, wall or hedge.
Front yard height	Walls, fences and hedges up to 42 inches tall are allowed anywhere on the lot. Applies: Applies in the required front yard; up to 6 feet is allowed only behind the required front yard line. § 17.130.170 · code text A wall, fence or hedge 42 inches in height may be situated and maintained on any part of a lot.
Height anywhere on the lot	Open metal or rigid wire mesh fences can be up to 6 feet tall anywhere on the lot. Applies: Metal bars at least 4 inches apart, or rigid mesh, at least 8-gauge, openings 1 inch or more, not chain link; sight lines kept clear. § 17.130.170 · code text Metal fencing or nonmalleable wire mesh fencing, as generally shown in Figure 17.130.170, not more than six feet in height may be situated anywhere on a lot provided the following standards are satisfied: Solid posts, pilasters or columns can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Posts at least 8 feet apart on center and no more than 16 inches wide. § 17.130.170 · code text Solid posts, pilasters, or columns are permitted up to six feet in height provided they are located no less than eight feet on center and are no greater than 16 inches in width.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, walls and hedges can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Anywhere behind the required front yard line; on a reverse corner lot, 42 inches within 10 feet of the side street property line. § 17.130.170 · code text A fence, wall or hedge not more than six feet in height may be situated anywhere on a lot to the rear of the line of the required front yard, except in the case of a reverse corner lot, a fence, wall or hedge higher than 42 inches shall not be situated closer to the side exterior property line than 10 feet. Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 42 inches tall. Applies: Reverse corner lots, within 10 feet of the side street property line. § 17.130.170 · code text A fence, wall or hedge not more than six feet in height may be situated anywhere on a lot to the rear of the line of the required front yard, except in the case of a reverse corner lot, a fence, wall or hedge higher than 42 inches shall not be situated closer to the side exterior property line than 10 feet.
Permit	An administrative zoning permit is required for extra height or other materials. Applies: Walls or fences the director of community development approves where justified. § 17.130.170 · code text Where justified, the director of community development may approve walls or fences with a greater height or alternative material(s), subject to the granting of an administrative zoning permit as described in section 17.40.020(C).

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

El Cajon code What El Cajon's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory structures can be at most 20 feet tall. § 17.140.120 · code text Accessory structures are limited to a height of 20 feet.
Size or lot coverage	No accessory structure can be larger than the main home. Applies: Each individual accessory structure. § 17.140.120 · code text An individual accessory structure shall not be larger than the primary dwelling unit. A footprint over 1,200 square feet needs a minor use permit. Applies: Each accessory structure. § 17.140.120 · code text Accessory structures with a footprint greater than 1,200 square feet are subject to the approval of a minor use permit, in conformance with Chapter 17.58.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Accessory structures 12 feet tall or less. § 17.140.120 · code text Accessory structures, no greater than 12 feet in height, are subject to a minimum three foot setback from the interior side and rear yard property lines. At least 5 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Accessory structures taller than 12 feet. § 17.140.120 · code text Accessory structures, greater than 12 feet in height, are subject to a minimum five foot setback from the interior side and rear yard property lines.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any other structure. Applies: Any single-family zone. § 17.140.120 · code text Accessory structures shall not be located closer than six feet from any other structure in any single-family zone. At least 12 feet from any building people live in. Applies: Any multi-family zone. § 17.140.120 · code text Accessory structures shall not be located closer than 12 feet from any structure used for human habitation in any multi-family zone.

Running a business from home

El Cajon code What El Cajon's code adds
Customer visits	No customers may come to the home. Applies: Except indoor lessons or tutoring, limited to 1 student or family per session. § 17.225.050 · code text One for which no customer comes to the dwelling to receive the service or merchandise offered by the home occupation; Only a single student or family per session. Applies: Indoor lessons and training, such as music lessons and academic tutoring. § 17.225.050 · code text Customers are limited to a single student or family per session for activities such as music lessons and/or academic tutoring.
Employees	No employees other than people who live in the home. § 17.225.050 · code text One for which no employees other than inhabitants of the dwelling work at or come to the dwelling;
Permit	A valid business license is required and must be renewed every year. § 17.225.050 · code text One for which a valid business license is obtained and annually renewed. Required permits from the County Department of Environmental Health. Applies: Cottage food operations. § 17.225.050 · code text A cottage food operator must obtain and maintain required permits from the County Department of Environmental Health in order to operate a cottage food home occupation business.

Solar panels and EV chargers

El Cajon code What El Cajon's code adds
EV charger permit	You may submit the application and documents electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.92.040 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system, electric vehicle charging station, and advanced energy storage system permit applicants. A building permit is issued promptly after a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.92.050 · code text No approval of any association is required for the issuance of a permit for a solar energy permit, electric vehicle charging station, or advanced energy storage system.
Solar permit process	Expedited review; you may submit the application electronically, and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.92.040 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system, electric vehicle charging station, and advanced energy storage system permit applicants. A permit is issued promptly after a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan; one consolidated building inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.92.050 · code text For a small residential rooftop solar energy system one consolidated building inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner.

Swimming pools

El Cajon code What El Cajon's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Pool safety features must be kept up at all times as the California Building Code requires. Applies: Applies to anyone in possession of land in the city with a swimming pool. § 8.28.015 · code text Every person in possession of land within the City, either as owner, purchaser under contract, lessee, tenant or licensee, upon which is situated a swimming pool, shall at all times maintain the features of pool safety as prescribed by Section 3109.4.4 and/or Chapter 31B of the California Building Code.

Pets, chickens and bees

El Cajon code What El Cajon's code adds
Chickens	Yes: 1 bird per 100 square feet of unpaved rear yard, up to 10; no roosters. Applies: Single-family residential zones and the RM-6000 zone, as an accessory use to a detached single-family home. § 17.205.065 · code text The number of chickens at any one site shall not exceed one bird per each 100 square feet of unpaved rear yard area, up to a maximum of 10 chickens.
Coop setback	Behind the main house and at least 3 feet from side and rear property lines; not in any exterior yard. Applies: Applies to chicken runs and coops. § 17.205.065 · code text Chicken runs and coops must be located behind the main house on the lot and at least three feet from side and rear property lines.
Permit	You must register with the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures before keeping bees. Applies: Applies to beekeeping. § 17.205.035 · code text Registration with the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures is required prior to beekeeping activities.

Other El Cajon rules on this

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

Urban lot splits and second homes (SB 9) (§ 17.140.065) — single-family zones only
Parking RVs and trailers on the street (§ 10.28.070) — public streets only
Living in a trailer or RV while you build (§ 17.225.170) — during construction of a home only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in El Cajon?

El Cajon limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet behind it; reverse corner lots have extra limits.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in El Cajon?

El Cajon limits accessory structures to 20 feet and no larger than the home; footprints over 1,200 square feet need a minor use permit.

Can I run a business from my home in El Cajon?

El Cajon allows no customers at a home business, except one student or family per session for indoor lessons, and resident employees only.

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

El Cajon's code: You may submit the application and documents electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.92.040); A building permit is issued promptly after a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.92.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in El Cajon?

El Cajon's code: Pool safety features must be kept up at all times as the California Building Code requires. (Applies to anyone in possession of land in the city with a swimming pool.) (§ 8.28.015).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in El Cajon?

El Cajon's code: Yes: 1 bird per 100 square feet of unpaved rear yard, up to 10; no roosters. (Single-family residential zones and the RM-6000 zone, as an accessory use to a detached single-family home.) (§ 17.205.065); Behind the main house and at least 3 feet from side and rear property lines; not in any exterior yard. (Applies to chicken runs and coops.) (§ 17.205.065).

General information, not legal advice.

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