Hawthorne · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Hawthorne

Hawthorne limits fences and hedges near street intersections and sets a size limit for household storage sheds. The city also has its own chapter on home occupations.

Ask about building on your lot in Hawthorne See coverage

Key points

Intersections: Hawthorne limits fences, hedges and shrubs to 30 inches above the nearest curb within 35 ft of a street intersection.
Storage sheds: Hawthorne limits storage rooms and tool sheds for household items to 120 sq ft.
Home businesses: Hawthorne has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17-24c).

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

Fences and walls

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 30 inches above the nearest curb within 35 feet of where the extended curb lines meet. Applies: For fences, signposts, hedges, shrubs and trees at or near street intersections. § 12.20.010 · code text No person owning or in possession of real property located at or near the intersection of any streets shall erect, construct, install, plant, grow or maintain on such property any fence, signpost, hedge, shrubbery or tree in excess of thirty inches in height above the nearest curb, when such fence, signpost, hedge, shrubbery or tree is nearer than thirty-five feet to the point where the adjacent curblines, extended, intersect;

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 120 square feet. Applies: For storage rooms and tool sheds for normal household items. § 17.21.160 · code text Storage rooms and tool sheds for customary household related items shall be limited to a maximum of 120 square feet.

Lot splits under SB 9

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Each new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot area. § 16.64.030 · code text provided that one lot shall not be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the original lot proposed for subdivision.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. § 16.64.030 · code text Both newly created lots must each be no smaller than 1,200 square feet.
Standards	No more than 2 new lots of about equal area. Applies: Urban lot split parcel map. § 16.64.030 · code text The parcel map for an urban lot split must subdivide an existing lot to create no more than two new lots of approximately equal lot area, provided that one lot shall not be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the original lot proposed for subdivision. Each new lot must provide access to the public right-of-way. Applies: Resulting lots. § 16.64.030 · code text Each resulting lot must provide access to the public right-of-way. No more than 1 curb cut. Applies: Urban lot splits; a flag or rear lot must share the other lot's curb cut and driveway. § 16.64.030 · code text The curb cut and driveway may be relocated if necessary, but under no circumstances may an urban lot split result in more than one curb cut. A shared access easement may be no wider than 10 feet. § 16.64.030 · code text A reciprocal access easement for an urban lot split may not exceed 10 feet in width. No right-of-way dedication or off-site improvements are required solely for an urban lot split. Applies: Urban lot split. § 16.64.030 · code text Notwithstanding the foregoing, no dedication of rights-of-way or construction of off-site improvements is required solely for an urban lot split.
Owner occupancy	Applicant signs affidavit to live in one unit as principal residence for at least 3 years after final map approval. § 16.64.030 · code text The applicant for a parcel map for an urban lot split must sign an affidavit provided by the city stating that the applicant intends to occupy one of the dwelling units on one of the resulting lots as the applicant's principal residence for a minimum of three years after the final parcel map for the urban lot split is approved.

RV and boat parking

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed unless hitched to a vehicle able to move it normally. Applies: Trailers on any street or public place; exceptions for loading, unloading or a disabled vehicle. § 10.69.010 · code text No person shall park any trailer or semitrailer upon any highway, street, alley, public way or public place in the city unless the trailer or semitrailer is at all times while so parked attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer or semitrailer in a normal manner upon the highway, street, alley, public way or public place.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. Applies: Electric vehicle charging stations; the station may not be energized until the city approves it. § 15.71.050 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Electric vehicle charging station permit applications. § 15.71.050 · code text In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentations in lieu of a wet signature by applicant.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; only one inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.70.070 · code text The city of Hawthorne building department shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems within thirty days of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

Pets, chickens and bees

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Bees	No hive or swarm within 200 feet of any home, hospital, school, church, office, store, restaurant or other dwelling. § 6.24.060 · code text No person shall keep any hive or swarm of bees within two hundred feet of any residence, hospital, sanitarium, public eating place, school, church, office building, store, home, apartment house, rooming house, or any other place of habitation.
Permit	A special permit from the director of animal services or of licensing and code enforcement is required. Applies: Keeping any animal other than a household pet. § 6.24.020 · code text No person shall keep any animal other than a household pet (dog, cat, canary, parrot, or similar animal or bird) on any real property except by special permit issued by the director of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement A special permit from the director of animal services or of licensing and code enforcement is required. Applies: Animals, fowl or birds within 35 feet of a habitable dwelling, except dogs, cats, canaries or up to 4 parrot-family birds. § 6.24.030 · code text No person shall keep any animal, fowl or bird, wild or domestic, other than dogs, cats, canaries or not more than four birds of the Psittacinac family, within thirty-five feet of any habitable dwelling, except by special permit issued by the director of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement

Other Hawthorne rules on this

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

Home occupations (Ch. 17-24c)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne limits fences, hedges and shrubs to 30 inches above the nearest curb within 35 ft of a street intersection.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne limits storage rooms and tool sheds for household items to 120 sq ft.

Can I run a business from my home in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17-24c). Hawthorne also has a related rule: Home occupations (Ch. 17-24c).

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne's code: Each new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot area. (§ 16.64.030); Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. (§ 16.64.030).

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

Hawthorne's code: Not allowed unless hitched to a vehicle able to move it normally. (Trailers on any street or public place; exceptions for loading, unloading or a disabled vehicle.) (§ 10.69.010).

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

Hawthorne's code: The building official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. (Electric vehicle charging stations; the station may not be energized until the city approves it.) (§ 15.71.050); Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (Electric vehicle charging station permit applications.) (§ 15.71.050).

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

Hawthorne's code: No hive or swarm within 200 feet of any home, hospital, school, church, office, store, restaurant or other dwelling. (§ 6.24.060); A special permit from the director of animal services or of licensing and code enforcement is required. (Keeping any animal other than a household pet.) (§ 6.24.020).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Hawthorne property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Hawthorne

Hawthorne Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Hawthorne

Buying & selling in Hawthorne

Hawthorne overview