Huntington Beach · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach sets its own height, size and setback limits for accessory structures and its own rules for home businesses. A detached garage may be taller when it matches the main dwelling and has no living space.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Huntington Beach limits accessory structures to 15 ft, set at least 5 ft from the rear property line.
Home businesses: Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures. A detached garage may be taller if it matches the main home's design and has no living space. § 230.08 · code text Fifteen feet, except a detached garage for a single-family or multi- family dwelling may exceed the maximum height when it is designed to be architecturally compatible with the main dwelling and does not include habitable floor area. No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Minor accessory structures in the front yard setback. § 230.08 · code text Minor accessory structures may be located within the front yard setback provided they do not exceed 42 inches in height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 600 square feet or 10% of the lot area, whichever is more. Applies: RL District: total floor area of detached accessory structures, including garages, over 4 feet tall. § 230.08 · code text In an RL District, the total gross floor area of accessory structures, including garages, more than four feet in height that are not attached to a dwelling shall not exceed 600 square feet or 10% of lot area, whichever is more.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Not in required front, side or street side yards. No rear setback next to an alley, except for garages and carports. § 230.08 · code text An accessory structure shall be set back five feet from the rear property line except no setback is required for accessory structures, excluding garages and carports, which abut an alley. At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines, measured from the post or wall. Applies: Patio covers. § 230.08 · code text A patio cover open on at least two sides and complying with all other provisions of this subsection may be attached to a principal structure or detached provided a five-foot clearance from the post/wall to side and rear property lines is maintained. 1 foot from side and rear lines for each foot of height, up to 5 feet. Applies: Rock formations. § 230.08 · code text Rock formations shall be set back one foot from the side and/or rear property lines for each foot of rock formation height, maximum five-foot setback required.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the home. Applies: Minor accessory structures in a required side yard. § 230.08 · code text A minimum five-foot clearance is maintained between said structure and the dwelling if it is located in a required side yard; At least 10 feet apart. Applies: Buildings on the same lot. § 230.08 · code text The distance between buildings on the same lot shall not be less than 10 feet. At least 6 feet from a building on the same lot. Applies: The post or wall of a detached solid patio cover. § 230.08 · code text The minimum separation between a detached solid patio cover post/wall and a building on the same lot is six feet. At least 1 foot from eave to eave, subject to building code rules. § 230.08 · code text The minimum separation from eave to eave shall be one foot subject to building code requirements.

Running a business from home

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
Space used	Only 1 room of the home. Applies: Swimming lessons are the exception. § 230.12 · code text A home occupation shall be conducted entirely within one room in a dwelling, with the exception of swimming lessons.
Customer visits	No more than 4 students per class. Applies: Swimming lessons in an outdoor pool. § 230.12 · code text Where a home occupation involves swimming instruction in an outdoor swimming pool, each swimming class shall be limited to four students, and no more than two vehicles shall be used to transport students to such classes.
Employees	Only residents of the home may work on site or report to work there. Applies: This also applies to independent contractors. § 230.12 · code text No one other than a resident of the dwelling shall be employed on-site or report to work at the site in the conduct of a home occupation. This prohibition also applies to independent contractors.
Permit	A business license is required. § 230.12 · code text A home occupation in an R district shall require a business license. An administrative permit with neighborhood notice is required. Applies: Home businesses that give instruction or services, such as music lessons, beauty services or swimming lessons. § 230.12 · code text If the home occupation involves instruction and/or service, e.g., music lessons, beauty shop, swimming lessons or other similar uses as determined by the Director, then an administrative permit is required subject to Neighborhood Notification in compliance with Chapter 241.
Businesses not allowed	motor vehicle repair for commercial purposes § 230.12 · code text No motor vehicle repair for commercial purposes shall be permitted. office or salesroom open to visitors § 230.12 · code text A home occupation shall not include an office or salesroom open to visitors, and there shall be no advertising of the address of the home occupation. renting out the premises for commercial purposes, including parties and commercial filming activities § 230.12 · code text No renting out the premises for commercial purposes, e.g. parties, commercial filming activities, or other similar activities shall be permitted.

Lot splits under SB 9

Huntington Beach code At most 800 square feet and 1 bedroom. At most 1,600 square feet and 2 bedrooms.

All 14 Huntington Beach rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
Size limit	Motor vehicles over 22 feet long or 84 inches wide may not park on any public street or alley. Applies: Except as the city's parking rules provide. § 10.44.060 · code text Any motor vehicle, over 22 feet long or 84 inches wide, measured from the extreme forward/widest point to the extreme rear point.
Parking on the street	Not allowed, regardless of size, except with a permit from the Police Chief. Applies: Applies to RVs on any public street or alley. § 10.44.060 · code text Any recreational vehicle, regardless of size. Not allowed, regardless of size, hitched or unhitched. Applies: Applies to non-motorized trailers on any public street or alley. § 10.44.060 · code text Any non-motorized trailer, regardless of size, whether attached to a motor vehicle or detached. The Police Chief may issue a temporary overnight parking permit, valid for no more than 6 months. Applies: Applies to an RV used daily when on-site parking is not reasonably available. § 10.44.062 · code text A permit issued based on this finding shall not be valid for longer than six months. The Police Chief may issue a temporary permit; a permanent exemption is possible for a permanent condition. Applies: Applies to an RV that must be kept near the home for medical reasons, with a licensed doctor's written statement. § 10.44.062 · code text The Police Chief may issue a temporary permit to persons who demonstrate by way of written statement from a licensed medical doctor, that the recreational vehicle prohibited by Section 10.44.060 must be kept near a residence for medical reasons.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves the application and issues all required permits. Applies: Applies when the EV charger application and documents are complete and meet the checklist. § 17.62.060 · code text Upon confirmation of the application and supporting documents being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
Solar permit process	Administrative approval and all required permits. Applies: Applies when a rooftop solar application is complete and meets the standard plans and checklist. § 17.61.060 · code text If the Building Official determines a small residential rooftop solar energy system application is complete and meets the requirements of the standard plans and checklist, he or she shall administratively approve it and issue all required permits for its installation. Only one inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 17.61.060 · code text The Building Official shall perform only one inspection for a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review.

Swimming pools

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Pool and spa water must be clear, sanitary, free of algae, insects and debris, with the whole floor visible. Applies: Applies to residential property. § 17.46.040 · code text All swimming pool and spa water shall be maintained in a clear condition which is free of algae, insects, debris and in a sanitary condition. The entire floor of the swimming pool shall be clearly visible. Not securing doors, gates and other openings from public access is a public nuisance subject to abatement. Applies: Applies to residential property. § 17.46.040 · code text The failure to secure and maintain from public access all doorways, gate access and other openings, with regards to the barrier requirements of this Code.

Pets, chickens and bees

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
Bees	No beehive may be kept within 200 feet of the beekeeper's own home. Applies: Applies to bees kept on any premises in the city. § 7.12.010 · code text No person shall keep or maintain, or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained, upon premises owned or controlled by him or her in the City, any hive bees within 200 feet of any dwelling house of the owner or person in control of such bees.
Chickens	Not within 25 feet of another's home, church, school, hospital or food business; no roosters over 4 months old. Applies: Applies to chickens, ducks, geese, similar domestic fowl, and rabbits. § 7.12.120 · code text It is a nuisance and no person shall keep chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs or similar domestic fowl or rabbits, owned or controlled by him, her or it, within 25 feet from any dwelling house or structure used as a dwelling, church, school, hospital, or place where food products are kept, stored, manufactured, or served to the public, unless such house or structure be occupied by him, her or it
Coop setback	At least 25 feet. Applies: From any home, church, school, hospital or food business, unless the keeper lives there; applies to fowl and rabbits. § 7.12.120 · code text It is a nuisance and no person shall keep chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs or similar domestic fowl or rabbits, owned or controlled by him, her or it, within 25 feet from any dwelling house or structure used as a dwelling, church, school, hospital, or place where food products are kept, stored, manufactured, or served to the public, unless such house or structure be occupied by him, her or it
Large animals	No goat within 50 feet of another's home; at most 2 within 100 feet, 4 within 300, 5 within 1,000. Applies: Applies to goats; distances are from homes other than the keeper's. § 7.12.080 · code text It is a nuisance and no person shall keep or maintain any goat within 50 feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by him, her or it, or more than two goats within 100 feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by him, her or it, or more than four goats within 300 feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by him, her or it, or more than five goats within 1,000 feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by him, her or it. No male goats over 6 months old. Applies: Applies within city limits. § 7.12.080 · code text No person shall keep or maintain any male goat exceeding the age of six months within the limits of the City.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Huntington Beach?

Huntington Beach limits accessory structures to 15 ft, set at least 5 ft from the rear property line.

Can I run a business from my home in Huntington Beach?

Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.

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

Huntington Beach's code: Motor vehicles over 22 feet long or 84 inches wide may not park on any public street or alley. (Except as the city's parking rules provide.) (§ 10.44.060); Not allowed, regardless of size, except with a permit from the Police Chief. (Applies to RVs on any public street or alley.) (§ 10.44.060).

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

Huntington Beach's code: The Building Official approves the application and issues all required permits. (Applies when the EV charger application and documents are complete and meet the checklist.) (§ 17.62.060); Administrative approval and all required permits. (Applies when a rooftop solar application is complete and meets the standard plans and checklist.) (§ 17.61.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Huntington Beach?

Huntington Beach's code: Pool and spa water must be clear, sanitary, free of algae, insects and debris, with the whole floor visible. (Applies to residential property.) (§ 17.46.040); Not securing doors, gates and other openings from public access is a public nuisance subject to abatement. (Applies to residential property.) (§ 17.46.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Huntington Beach?

Huntington Beach's code: No beehive may be kept within 200 feet of the beekeeper's own home. (Applies to bees kept on any premises in the city.) (§ 7.12.010); Not within 25 feet of another's home, church, school, hospital or food business; no roosters over 4 months old. (Applies to chickens, ducks, geese, similar domestic fowl, and rabbits.) (§ 7.12.120).

General information, not legal advice.

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