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Building on your lot in Glendale

Glendale sets fence limits for street setbacks in its F overlay zone. It also requires a permit to run a business from home.

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Key points

  • Fence height: In the F overlay zone, Glendale limits fences and gates in street setbacks to 42 inches, at least 5 feet from the curb.
  • Home businesses: Glendale requires a home occupation permit from the director of community development, granted for at most 5 years.

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

Fences and walls

Glendale code What Glendale's code adds
Front yard height
  • Fences and gates may be no more than 42 inches tall at any point.
    Applies: F overlay zone, in the street front setback. They must be at least 5 feet from the back of the curb.
    § 30.27.040 · code text
    Fences and gates located within the street front or street side setback area shall be located on private property and shall be at least five feet from the back of the street curb or roadway pavement (where no curb exists) and shall not exceed a height, at any point, of 42 inches;
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences and gates may be no more than 42 inches tall at any point.
    Applies: F overlay zone, in the street side setback. They must be at least 5 feet from the back of the curb.
    § 30.27.040 · code text
    Fences and gates located within the street front or street side setback area shall be located on private property and shall be at least five feet from the back of the street curb or roadway pavement (where no curb exists) and shall not exceed a height, at any point, of 42 inches;

Running a business from home

Glendale code What Glendale's code adds
Permit
  • A home occupation permit from the director of community development is required, for no more than 5 years.
    § 30.41.030 · code text
    The director of community development shall grant a home occupation for a period of time not to exceed five years.

RV and boat parking

Glendale code What Glendale's code adds
Parking on the street
  • A police permit allows street parking during banned hours for two 24-hour periods, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    Applies: Large vehicles, boats and personal watercraft; no more than once a month for the same vehicle.
    § 10.36.140 · code text
    Such dates shall consist of two 24 hour periods, to commence in all cases at 6:00 p.m. and to end in all cases at 6:00 p.m. the following day;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Glendale code Not allowed in the street front setback, except over a building already there and up to 1 foot beyond it. Not allowed in the street side setback, except over a building already there and 1 foot beyond it.

All 11 Glendale rules on solar panels and ev chargers, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Glendale code What Glendale's code adds
Chickens
  • Yes; no more than 12 chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, pheasants, rabbits or hares in any combination.
    Applies: Within 300 feet of any home other than the keeper's own.
    § 6.04.050 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain more than 12 rabbits, hares, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons or pheasants or any combination thereof, within 300 feet of any residence or dwelling house other than that occupied by such person.
Large animals
  • Horses are allowed.
    Applies: Horses as defined in the city's zoning code.
    § 6.04.130 · code text
    Horses as defined in Title 30 of this code;
Permit
  • A permit from the city clerk is required for raccoons and capuchin, squirrel or woolly monkeys.
    Applies: Keeping these animals in the city.
    § 6.04.160 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain any raccoon, capuchin monkey, squirrel monkey or woolly monkey in the city, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the city clerk as provided by Section 6.08.151 of this code.

Other Glendale rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Glendale?

In the F overlay zone, Glendale limits fences and gates in street setbacks to 42 inches, at least 5 feet from the curb.

Can I run a business from my home in Glendale?

Glendale requires a home occupation permit from the director of community development, granted for at most 5 years.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Glendale?

Glendale's code: A police permit allows street parking during banned hours for two 24-hour periods, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Large vehicles, boats and personal watercraft; no more than once a month for the same vehicle.) (§ 10.36.140).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Glendale?

Glendale's code: Yes; no more than 12 chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, pheasants, rabbits or hares in any combination. (Within 300 feet of any home other than the keeper's own.) (§ 6.04.050); Horses are allowed. (Horses as defined in the city's zoning code.) (§ 6.04.130).

General information, not legal advice.

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