La Quinta · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in La Quinta

La Quinta's city code limits detached accessory buildings by their roof area and sets rules for home businesses. A permit is needed for a fence or hedge in a right-of-way.

Ask about building on your lot in La Quinta See coverage

Key points

Sheds: City code limits sheds to 10 feet with up to 200 square feet of roof, and 17 feet with 201 square feet or more.
Home businesses: City code limits a home business to 25% of the combined floor area of house and garage, with no customer pickup or delivery.
Right-of-way permit: City code requires a permit for a hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way, with stated exceptions.

Each rule below is marked La Quinta 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 Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Permit	A permit is required for a hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way. Applies: Except as another section of the code allows. § 14.16.420 · code text No hedge, fence or similar structure, except as provided in Section 14.16.440, shall be planted, erected or maintained in a right-of-way without a permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

La Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 10 feet tall. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as storage or garden sheds with 0 to 100 square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 0—100 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 3.5 \| 10 \| 3.5 No more than 10 feet tall. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as storage or garden sheds with 101 to 200 square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 101—200 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 5 \| 10 \| 5 No more than 17 feet tall. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as storage or garden sheds with 201 or more square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 201+ \| 17 \| 10 \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building
Side and rear setback	At least 3.5 feet from the interior side or rear lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 0 to 100 square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 0—100 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 3.5 \| 10 \| 3.5 At least 5 feet from the interior side or rear lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 101 to 200 square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 101—200 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 5 \| 10 \| 5 At least 10 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 0 to 100 square feet of roof area; exterior side yard. § 9.60.050 · code text 0—100 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 3.5 \| 10 \| 3.5 At least 10 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 101 to 200 square feet of roof area; exterior side yard. § 9.60.050 · code text 101—200 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 5 \| 10 \| 5 Same setbacks as the main building. Applies: Structures with 201 or more square feet of roof area; interior side, exterior side and rear yards. § 9.60.050 · code text 201+ \| 17 \| 10 \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the main building. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 0 to 100 square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 0—100 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 3.5 \| 10 \| 3.5 At least 5 feet from the main building. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 101 to 200 square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 101—200 \| 10 \| 5 \| 20 \| 5 \| 10 \| 5 At least 10 feet from the main building. Applies: Detached accessory buildings such as sheds with 201 or more square feet of roof area. § 9.60.050 · code text 201+ \| 17 \| 10 \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building \| Same as for main building

Running a business from home

La Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the combined floor area of the house and garage. § 9.60.110 · code text The home occupation shall not occupy more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the combined floor area of the house and garage.
Customer visits	No more than 2 students at the home at the same time. Applies: Music lessons and academic tutoring. § 9.60.110 · code text Exception: Musical instruction and academic tutoring where not more than two (2) students are present at the residence at the same time shall be permitted. Customers cannot pick up or receive products or services at the home. § 9.60.110 · code text The dwelling unit shall not be the point of customer pickup or delivery of products or services, nor shall a home occupation create greater vehicular or pedestrian traffic than normal for the district in which it is located.
Employees	Only residents of the home can work in the business. § 9.60.110 · code text Only residents of the dwelling unit may be engaged in the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 9.60.110 · code text Establishment and operation of a home occupation shall require approval of a home occupation permit processed by the director of building and safety in accordance with Section 9.210.060.
Businesses not allowed	Medical, dental or similar occupations in which patients are seen in the home § 9.60.110 · code text Medical, dental or similar occupations in which patients are seen in the home are prohibited.

RV and boat parking

La Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Where it may be parked	In a side or rear yard. Applies: Applies to properties zoned RVL, RL or RM, with the required screening and paving. § 9.60.130 · code text The recreational vehicle or parts thereof may be stored or parked in a side or rear yard provided that a lawfully installed and permanently maintained solid wall or fence six (6) feet in height screens such RV, or parts thereof from abutting property and from the public right-of-way. In front, side or rear yards. Applies: Homes in the RC zone. The area must be paved with concrete, asphalt, gravel or similar material the full width and length of the RV. § 9.60.130 · code text RVs may be parked or stored in the front, side, or rear yards of residential properties located in the RC zone; provided, that the area in which the RV is parked or stored is paved with concrete, asphalt, gravel, or similar materials, and must extend to the width and length of the RV. On a vacant lot right next to the owner's permanent home. Applies: The owner must own the vacant lot. Only the owner's RV may park there, on a suitable pad. § 9.60.130 · code text A property owner who owns a vacant lot immediately adjacent to their permanent place of residence, may park only their RV on said lot with appropriate pad.
Front-yard parking	Not allowed. Applies: Applies to the required front yard of properties zoned RVL, RL or RM. § 9.60.130 · code text No person shall store, park, or maintain any RV or parts thereof in any required front yard area of any property zoned RVL, RL, or RM.
Screening and surface	A solid wall or fence 6 feet high. Applies: RVs in a side or rear yard on properties zoned RVL, RL or RM. It screens the RV from neighbors and the public right-of-way. § 9.60.130 · code text The recreational vehicle or parts thereof may be stored or parked in a side or rear yard provided that a lawfully installed and permanently maintained solid wall or fence six (6) feet in height screens such RV, or parts thereof from abutting property and from the public right-of-way. Paved with concrete, asphalt, gravel or similar material, covering the full width and length of the RV. Applies: Applies to RVs parked or stored on residential property. § 9.60.130 · code text The area in which the RV is parked or stored, must be paved with concrete, asphalt, gravel, or similar materials, and must extend to the width and length of the RV.
Parking on the street	No more than 72 consecutive hours, and no more than 72 hours in total in any 7-day period. Applies: Applies to any public street location or combination of locations in the city. § 9.60.130 · code text No RV shall be parked, or stored, for more than seventy-two (72) consecutive hours or for a combined total exceeding seventy-two (72) hours during any seven (7)-day period, at any public street location or combination of public street locations within the city.
Living in an RV	Living in a legally parked RV is limited to 72 hours, and 72 hours total in any 7-day period. Applies: Applies at any location or combination of locations in the city. § 9.60.130 · code text Habitation of any RV legally parked or stored, is not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours or for a combined total exceeding seventy-two (72) hours during any seven (7)-day period, at any location or combination of locations within the city.

Solar panels and EV chargers

La Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Solar permit process	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with permit processing and inspection fees. Electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems. § 8.90.040 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's community development department by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. Approved once the application and documents are complete and meet the chapter and checklist requirements. Applies: Applies when the application meets the chapter and the small home rooftop solar checklist. § 8.90.060 · code text Upon the director's determination that an application is complete, the city's community development department shall approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Swimming pools

La Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Pool barrier	No gaps that make it easy to get through the enclosure. § 8.02.050 · code text Free of voids that readily provide access through the enclosure. No enclosure is required. Applies: Walled, gated community; the pool is in a rear or side yard next to a golf course or common open space with a water feature. § 8.02.050 · code text Exception: Within a walled, gated community, when the swimming pool is located in a rear or side yard that abuts a golf course or other common open space that also has access to a water feature such as a lake, pond, water fall or other site design element involving water.
Barrier height	At least 60 inches high, measured from the outside finished grade. Applies: Applies to pools on individual residential lots. § 8.02.050 · code text A minimum height of 60 inches measured from the exterior finished grade.
Maintenance and empty pools	An enclosure must be built and kept in good condition, fully surrounding the land or the pool itself. § 8.02.050 · code text Every person who owns or who is in possession of land upon which a swimming pool is located shall construct and maintain in good condition, completely surrounding such parcel of land or the swimming pool itself, an enclosure consisting of a fence, wall, gate, building, or a combination thereof.

Pets, chickens and bees

La Quinta code What La Quinta's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs and 4 cats, and no more than 8 in total, per legal lot. Applies: Applies in any zone in the city. § 10.04.040 · code text Dogs and cats may be kept in any zone within the city provided that no more than four (4) of each, not to exceed eight (8) total, are kept within a single legal lot.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in La Quinta?

City code requires a permit for a hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way, with stated exceptions.

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

City code limits sheds to 10 feet with up to 200 square feet of roof, and 17 feet with 201 square feet or more.

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

City code limits a home business to 25% of the combined floor area of house and garage, with no customer pickup or delivery.

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

La Quinta's code: In a side or rear yard. (Applies to properties zoned RVL, RL or RM, with the required screening and paving.) (§ 9.60.130); In front, side or rear yards. (Homes in the RC zone. The area must be paved with concrete, asphalt, gravel or similar material the full width and length of the RV.) (§ 9.60.130).

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

La Quinta's code: Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with permit processing and inspection fees. Electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 8.90.040); Approved once the application and documents are complete and meet the chapter and checklist requirements. (Applies when the application meets the chapter and the small home rooftop solar checklist.) (§ 8.90.060).

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

La Quinta's code: No gaps that make it easy to get through the enclosure. (§ 8.02.050); At least 60 inches high, measured from the outside finished grade. (Applies to pools on individual residential lots.) (§ 8.02.050).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in La Quinta?

La Quinta's code: No more than 4 dogs and 4 cats, and no more than 8 in total, per legal lot. (Applies in any zone in the city.) (§ 10.04.040).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific La Quinta property

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

Ask your question

More on La Quinta

La Quinta Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in La Quinta

Buying & selling in La Quinta

La Quinta overview