Holtville · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Holtville

Holtville sets its own fence heights and setback rules for accessory structures, and has its own chapter on home occupations. Front-yard fence height depends on whether the fence is open or closed.

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Key points

Fence height: Holtville limits front-yard fences to 4 ft if open or 30 inches if closed; side and rear lot lines 6 ft.
Accessory structures: A detached Holtville accessory structure in the rear yard may be closer than 5 ft to the rear line with 1-hour fire walls.
Home businesses: Holtville has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17.46).

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

Fences and walls

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 30 inches high within 15 feet of where the driveway meets the street. Applies: Walls or fences next to a driveway that serves a neighboring lot. § 17.10.110 · code text A wall or fence adjacent to a driveway providing vehicular access to an abutting lot shall not exceed 30 inches in height within 15 feet of the intersection of said driveway and the street right-of way;
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Open walls or fences in any required front yard. § 17.10.110 · code text In any required front yard, a wall or fence shall not exceed four feet in height if open and exceed 30 inches if closed; No more than 30 inches high. Applies: Solid walls or fences in any required front yard. § 17.10.110 · code text In any required front yard, a wall or fence shall not exceed four feet in height if open and exceed 30 inches if closed;
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Along side or rear lot lines, not reaching into the required front yard. § 17.10.110 · code text A wall or fence not more than six feet in height may be maintained along the side or rear lot lines; provided, that such a wall or fence does not extend into required front yard;

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Parts of canopies or roofs that reach into a required rear or side yard. § 17.10.100 · code text Shall not exceed 15 feet in height or project closer than five feet to a side yard or rear lot line;
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from a side or rear lot line. Applies: Parts of canopies or roofs that reach into a required rear or side yard. § 17.10.100 · code text Shall not exceed 15 feet in height or project closer than five feet to a side yard or rear lot line; May be closer than 5 feet to the rear line with one-hour fire walls, not needed next to an alley. Applies: Detached accessory structures in the rear yard. Front and side yards follow the main building's setbacks. § 17.10.100 · code text A detached accessory structure may be located within a rear yard; provided, that when the structure is located closer than five feet to a rear lot line, one-hour fire walls are required, except where the rear lot abuts an alley;
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the main building. § 17.10.100 · code text A detached structure shall maintain a minimum of five feet separation from the main structure.

Swimming pools

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Pool barrier	The barrier must block access by anyone other than the owners or occupants. § 17.44.010 · code text and constructed or installed so as to obstruct access by persons other than the owners or occupants of the premises on which the swimming pool is located.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. § 17.44.010 · code text Every swimming pool shall be enclosed by a natural baffler, retaining wall, fence or other structure having a minimum height of five feet, and a maximum height as provided in HMC § 17.10.110(B),
Gates	Gates must self-latch, with latches at least 4 feet above ground, and stay closed and latched at all times. § 17.44.020 · code text All gates must be self-latching, with latches placed at least four feet above the underlying ground in order to be securely closed. All gates opening through such enclosure shall be kept securely closed and latched at all times.
Maintenance and empty pools	Every existing pool must be enclosed as required for all swimming pools. Applies: Applies to existing swimming pools. § 17.44.010 · code text Every existing swimming pool shall be enclosed as required by subsection A of this section.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from any front or side property line. Applies: Applies to pools built after the pool ordinance took effect. § 17.44.040 · code text but in no case shall be located closer than three feet from any front or side property line. At least 3 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Applies to pools and their equipment built after the pool ordinance took effect. § 17.44.040 · code text All swimming pools, including heating, filtering, pumping and accessory equipment, constructed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title shall be subject to a three-foot rear yard requirement.

Pets, chickens and bees

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Coop setback	At least 20 feet from any home. Applies: Applies to chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks and other fowl or poultry. § 7.12.040 · code text Any such rabbits, hamsters, chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks or other fowl or poultry must be kept or maintained not less than 20 feet distant from any building or structure used for human dwelling purposes.
Pet limit	No more than 3 cats over 4 months old per residence. § 7.12.080 · code text It is unlawful to keep more than three cats over four months of age at any one residence. No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old per residence. § 7.12.070 · code text It is unlawful to keep more than three dogs over four months of age at any one residence.

Other Holtville rules on this

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

Home occupations (Ch. 17.46)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Holtville?

Holtville limits front-yard fences to 4 ft if open or 30 inches if closed; side and rear lot lines 6 ft.

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

A detached Holtville accessory structure in the rear yard may be closer than 5 ft to the rear line with 1-hour fire walls.

Can I run a business from my home in Holtville?

Holtville has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17.46). Holtville also has a related rule: Home occupations (Ch. 17.46).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Holtville?

Holtville's code: The barrier must block access by anyone other than the owners or occupants. (§ 17.44.010); At least 5 feet high. (§ 17.44.010).

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

Holtville's code: At least 20 feet from any home. (Applies to chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks and other fowl or poultry.) (§ 7.12.040); No more than 3 cats over 4 months old per residence. (§ 7.12.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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