La Mirada · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in La Mirada

La Mirada's city code controls fence finishes, accessory structure height and setbacks, and home businesses. Setbacks depend on the type of structure, and a home business needs a permit and a business license.

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Key points

Accessory structures: City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet; enclosed or solid-roofed ones and pools must be 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.
Home businesses: City code limits a home business to one room, with no customer activity on the premises and only residents working there.
Fence approval: City code requires planning division approval of the finish, materials, color and texture of all interior neighborhood fences and walls before construction.

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

Fences and walls

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Permit	The planning division must approve the finish, materials, color and texture before construction. Applies: All interior neighborhood fences and walls. § 21.62.070 · code text The finish, materials, color, and texture, shall complement the existing main structure and must be approved by the planning division prior to construction.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Enclosed or solid-roofed accessory structures. § 21.60.040 · code text Enclosed and/or solid- roofed structure 2 \| 3 \| 5 ft. 4 \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. 5 \| 6 ft. \| 15 ft. No more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Landscape features. § 21.60.040 · code text Landscape features \| 6 \| 3 ft. 6 \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 6 ft. \| 15 ft. No more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Play equipment. § 21.60.040 · code text Play equipment \| 3 \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 6 ft. 7 \| 15 ft.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from side and rear property lines, for fire clearance. Applies: Any combustible accessory structure; enclosed or solid-roofed structures and pools or spas need 5 feet. § 21.60.040 · code text all combustible accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of three feet from side and rear property lines At least 5 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Enclosed or solid-roofed accessory structures. § 21.60.040 · code text Enclosed and/or solid- roofed structure 2 \| 3 \| 5 ft. 4 \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. 5 \| 6 ft. \| 15 ft. At least 3 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Landscape features. § 21.60.040 · code text Landscape features \| 6 \| 3 ft. 6 \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 6 ft. \| 15 ft. At least 3 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Play equipment. § 21.60.040 · code text Play equipment \| 3 \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 6 ft. 7 \| 15 ft. At least 3 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Decks and patios. § 21.60.040 · code text Deck/patio \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 3 ft. \| 6 ft. 7 \| N/A At least 5 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Pools and spas, including filters, heaters and similar equipment. § 21.60.040 · code text Pool/spa, including any filter, heater, or similar equipment \| 3 \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. 8 \| N/A At least 25 feet from the far side of the alley. Applies: Detached garages entered from an alley next to the lot. § 21.60.040 · code text Detached garage structures with access from an adjacent alley shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from the opposite side of the alley.

Running a business from home

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home. Applies: The room used for the home business. § 21.98.030 · code text No more than one room in a dwelling unit, or the maintenance of an office open to the general public, shall be used in connection with the home occupation.
Customer visits	No sales to customers or other customer activity on the property. Applies: A condition of every home occupation permit. § 21.98.030 · code text There shall be no sale of goods or products to customers or other customer activity on the premises. No more traffic than is normal for a home. Applies: Customers, salespeople, repair workers, service and delivery vehicles, messengers and others coming to or from the property. § 21.98.030 · code text There shall be no traffic to or from the premises by customers, salesmen, repairmen, service vehicles, delivery persons, messengers, or others beyond the amount of such traffic incidental to residential uses.
Employees	Only residents of the home can work there for the business. § 21.98.030 · code text No persons other than the residents of the premises shall work on the premises in connection with the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: Before running any commercial or office use in a residential area, home or allowed accessory structure. § 21.98.020 · code text A home occupation permit is required prior to operating any commercial or office-related use within a residential neighborhood or zoning district, residential structure, or permitted accessory structure. A business license is required. Applies: Before the home business can start. § 21.98.040 · code text The home occupation may not begin operation until a business license has been obtained.

Lot splits under SB 9

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Setbacks	At least 4 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Not required for an existing structure, or one built in the same location and dimensions as an existing structure. § 20.30.040 · code text Except for those circumstances as stated above, the setback for side and rear property lines shall be four feet. At least 20 feet from the front property line. Applies: Applies to the front setback. § 20.30.040 · code text The front setback to the property line shall be 20 feet. At least 10 feet between structures, free and clear, measured wall to wall. § 20.30.040 · code text The distance between structures shall be ten feet, free and clear, measured from wall to wall.
Standards	Each new parcel must have at least 15 feet of frontage on the public right-of-way. § 20.30.040 · code text Each resulting parcel must have frontage on the public right-of-way of at least 15 feet. Each unit must have a designated path of travel to the public right-of-way. § 20.30.040 · code text Each dwelling unit must have a designated path of travel that meets the public right-of-way. Only residential uses are allowed. § 20.30.040 · code text The uses shall be limited to residential uses. No short-term rentals. Units must be rented for at least 31 days. Applies: Applies to units created by an urban lot split. § 20.30.040 · code text Any unit created pursuant to this section shall be for a minimum of 31 days.
Owner occupancy	Owner signs an affidavit and records a covenant to live in 1 unit as principal residence at least 3 years. Applies: Counted from approval. Does not apply to a community land trust or a qualified nonprofit corporation. § 20.30.040 · code text The property owner of an urban lot split intends to occupy one of the dwelling units on the newly created lots as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split.

RV and boat parking

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed unless hitched to a capable motor truck, motor vehicle or truck tractor. Applies: Applies to trailers and semitrailers on a public street or alley. § 10.16.040 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any semitrailer or trailer shall park or permit the parking of such vehicle upon any public street or alley unless such vehicle (semitrailer or trailer) is at all times while so parked attached to a motor truck, motor vehicle or truck tractor capable of moving such trailer or semitrailer upon the public streets, highways or alleys in a reasonable and lawful manner.

Solar panels and EV chargers

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	No higher than the city's maximum legal building height, using the most restrictive rule. Applies: Applies to a solar panel or array seeking expedited permitting as a small home rooftop solar system. § 17.26.070 · code text The solar panel or module array shall not exceed the maximum legal building height applicable in the City of La Mirada, as established in the City of La Mirada Zoning Ordinance, Building Code, and Residential Code, or other applicable legal authority, based on the most restrictive provision.
Solar permit process	Expedited permit. You may apply in person or online through the electronic submittal system. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar systems that meet all the expedited permitting criteria. § 17.26.030 · code text The application for a permit shall meet the requirements of Title 26, Chapter 1, Section 106.4 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any successor provision thereto, and may be submitted in person or electronically through the online submittal system maintained by the Building Official. One combined permit may cover photovoltaic systems. Thermal systems need a separate plumbing permit if plumbing is needed. Applies: Applies to photovoltaic and thermal solar systems. § 17.26.040 · code text A combined solar energy permit may be issued for photovoltaic systems, which will include all building and electrical work, however a separate plumbing permit, if needed, will be required for thermal systems.
Review time	Plan check is done within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Applies to a complete small home rooftop solar application. § 17.26.030 · code text Upon receipt of a complete small residential rooftop solar energy system application, plan check review will be completed within one to three business days.

Swimming pools

La Mirada code What La Mirada's code adds
Pool barrier	No openings larger than 50 square inches. Applies: Pools and other artificial water at least 18 inches deep anywhere, with no more than 10,000 square feet of surface. Doors and gates excepted. § 9.64.050 · code text with no openings, except doors or gates, with an area greater than fifty (50) square inches A rectangular opening may be larger than 50 square inches only if no horizontal side is over 4 inches. Applies: Applies to pool barrier openings. § 9.64.050 · code text except that a rectangular opening having no horizontal dimension exceeding four (4) inches may have a greater area A fence, wall or other structure must fully surround the pool, or the lot or premises. Applies: Pools and other artificial water at least 18 inches deep anywhere, with a water surface of no more than 10,000 square feet. § 9.64.050 · code text shall maintain on the lot or premises upon which such swimming pool, portable swimming or wading pool, fish pond, wading pool or other artificial body of water is located and completely surrounding such body of water, lot, or premises, a fence, wall, or other structure
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. Applies: Pools and other artificial water at least 18 inches deep anywhere, with a water surface of no more than 10,000 square feet. § 9.64.050 · code text a fence, wall, or other structure not less than five (5) feet in height

Other La Mirada rules on this

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

Farm animal overlay zone (Ch. 21.30) — farm animal overlay zones only
Beekeeping not allowed (§ 6.14.010)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in La Mirada?

City code requires planning division approval of the finish, materials, color and texture of all interior neighborhood fences and walls before construction.

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

City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet; enclosed or solid-roofed ones and pools must be 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.

Can I run a business from my home in La Mirada?

City code limits a home business to one room, with no customer activity on the premises and only residents working there.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in La Mirada?

La Mirada's code: At least 4 feet from side and rear property lines. (Not required for an existing structure, or one built in the same location and dimensions as an existing structure.) (§ 20.30.040); At least 20 feet from the front property line. (Applies to the front setback.) (§ 20.30.040).

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

La Mirada's code: Not allowed unless hitched to a capable motor truck, motor vehicle or truck tractor. (Applies to trailers and semitrailers on a public street or alley.) (§ 10.16.040).

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

La Mirada's code: No higher than the city's maximum legal building height, using the most restrictive rule. (Applies to a solar panel or array seeking expedited permitting as a small home rooftop solar system.) (§ 17.26.070); Expedited permit. You may apply in person or online through the electronic submittal system. (Applies to small home rooftop solar systems that meet all the expedited permitting criteria.) (§ 17.26.030).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in La Mirada?

La Mirada's code: No openings larger than 50 square inches. (Pools and other artificial water at least 18 inches deep anywhere, with no more than 10,000 square feet of surface. Doors and gates excepted.) (§ 9.64.050); A rectangular opening may be larger than 50 square inches only if no horizontal side is over 4 inches. (Applies to pool barrier openings.) (§ 9.64.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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