La Cañada Flintridge · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in La Cañada Flintridge

La Cañada Flintridge's city code limits accessory structures on single-family lots and taxes home businesses. The home business license fee depends on how many hours a week the business operates.

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Key points

Accessory structures: City code limits accessory structures on single-family lots to 15 feet; more needs a variance or a height modification of up to 6 feet.
Home businesses: City code requires an annual business license tax; a home occupation license fee applies to businesses run 20 hours a week or less.

Each rule below is marked La Cañada Flintridge 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

La Cañada Flintridge code What La Cañada Flintridge's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Single-family lots. More only with a variance, or an administrative height modification of up to 6 feet. § 11.11.050 · code text The maximum height for accessory structures shall be 15 feet.
Size or lot coverage	Garage depth and width each no more than 25 feet. Applies: Only the sole, detached rear garage on a single-family lot that uses the reduced 5-foot rear or interior side setback. § 11.11.050 · code text Garage depth and width shall not exceed 25 feet.
Side and rear setback	May be reduced to 5 feet at the rear and interior sides. Applies: A detached garage in the rear part of a parcel, if it is the only garage and meets the stated limits. § 11.11.050 · code text Setback requirements for any detached garage in the rear portion of a parcel may be reduced to a minimum of five feet at the rear and/or the interior side yard(s), provided that it is the sole garage on the parcel, and provided that the following limitations are met within the reduced setback area:

Running a business from home

La Cañada Flintridge code What La Cañada Flintridge's code adds
Permit	An annual business license tax, paid as the home occupation license fee. Applies: Businesses run a total of 20 hours per week or less. § 6.20.020 · code text If said person is engaged in or carrying on such business for a total of 20 hours per week or less, said business shall pay the home occupation license fee. An annual business license tax, in the category that best fits the business. Applies: Businesses run more than 20 hours per week. § 6.20.020 · code text If said person is engaged in or carrying on such business for more than 20 hours per week, the business shall be classified in that category which most closely suits the business, as determined by the city clerk.

Lot splits under SB 9

La Cañada Flintridge code No new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. At most 800 square feet.

All 19 La Cañada Flintridge rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

La Cañada Flintridge code What La Cañada Flintridge's code adds
Where it may be parked	Not on a public street, highway or alley at any time, except with a city permit. Applies: Permits only for city residents, and only next to the resident's address or where allowed as incidental parking or storage. § 8.11.020 · code text Subject to the restrictions set forth in subsection D below, parking a recreational vehicle on a public street, highway or alley is allowed with a permit issued by the city.
Front-yard parking	Only with a city permit, up to 14 days in any calendar year. Applies: Within the front yard setback of a single-family home. The 14 days combine with any street permit days for the same vehicle. § 8.11.020 · code text As an example, permits may be issued for up to 14 days in any calendar year on the public street, or up to 14 days in any calendar year within the front yard setback of a single-family residence, or any combination thereof.
Parking on the street	Up to 2 hours without a permit, for loading or unloading. Applies: Applies where parking is allowed. § 8.11.020 · code text Temporary parking of a recreational vehicle is allowed without a permit for purposes of loading or unloading the vehicle for a maximum of two hours where parking is allowed. Up to 14 days in any calendar year, with a city permit. Applies: Per vehicle. Street permit days and front-yard permit days on a single-family lot count together. § 8.11.020 · code text Permits will be issued for a specific recreational vehicle tracked by vehicle license for a maximum of 14 days in any calendar year;

Tree removal

La Cañada Flintridge code What La Cañada Flintridge's code adds
Exemptions	Removing an unprotected tree does not need a tree removal permit. § 11.40.060 · code text Removal of an unprotected tree. Removing a dead tree, as the director determines, does not need a tree removal permit. § 11.40.060 · code text Removal of a dead tree, as determined by the director. Removal required by the city, fire department or a public utility does not need a tree removal permit. § 11.40.060 · code text Removal of a protected tree which is required by the city, the fire department, or a public utility. Emergency removal of a protected tree does not need a tree removal permit, but notice and documents are required. Applies: Notify the director before removal if practicable, or within a reasonable time after, with documents showing the emergency. § 11.40.060 · code text Removal of a protected tree due to an emergency, subject to the following requirements:
Permit to remove	Yes. A tree removal permit is required. Applies: Applies to removing any protected tree. § 11.40.060 · code text A tree removal permit shall be required for the removal of any protected tree in accordance with the provisions of this section.
Replacement trees	Replacement trees may be required on the property, in number and size per the city's Tree Replacement Chart. Applies: Permit granted for structure interference, hardship, disease or damage, or fire department order; only where removal affects neighborhood character and can be mitigated on site. § 11.40.060 · code text the property owner or applicant may be required to plant replacement trees on the subject property if removal of the protected tree(s) impacts the character of the neighborhood from public view or adjacent properties and where removal can be mitigated on-site. The director may allow a payment into the city's tree replacement fund instead of planting. Applies: Applies when replacement trees cannot fit on the property because of its size, shape, topography or existing development. § 11.40.060 · code text the director may authorize the property owner or applicant to pay money into the city's tree replacement fund in lieu of the required planting of replacement trees. Plant replacement trees on the property, or pay a set amount into the city's tree replacement fund. Applies: Permit granted for other reasonable cause, where removal does not affect neighborhood character or can be reasonably mitigated. § 11.40.060 · code text the property owner or applicant shall be required to plant replacement trees on the subject property, as set forth in subsection (F)(1), or pay a designated amount into the city's tree replacement fund

Pets, chickens and bees

La Cañada Flintridge code Up to 6 chickens or ducks, plus 3 more per 5,000 square feet over 15,000 square feet. Geese may replace chickens or ducks one for one, up to 3 geese.

All 8 La Cañada Flintridge rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in La Cañada Flintridge?

City code limits accessory structures on single-family lots to 15 feet; more needs a variance or a height modification of up to 6 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in La Cañada Flintridge?

City code requires an annual business license tax; a home occupation license fee applies to businesses run 20 hours a week or less.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in La Cañada Flintridge?

La Cañada Flintridge's code: Not on a public street, highway or alley at any time, except with a city permit. (Permits only for city residents, and only next to the resident's address or where allowed as incidental parking or storage.) (§ 8.11.020); Only with a city permit, up to 14 days in any calendar year. (Within the front yard setback of a single-family home. The 14 days combine with any street permit days for the same vehicle.) (§ 8.11.020).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in La Cañada Flintridge?

La Cañada Flintridge's code: Removing an unprotected tree does not need a tree removal permit. (§ 11.40.060); Removing a dead tree, as the director determines, does not need a tree removal permit. (§ 11.40.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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