Lake Elsinore · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lake Elsinore

Lake Elsinore's city code sets fence heights and minimums by yard, with separate rules for mobilehome lots. Accessory structure height and setbacks depend on the structure's group and size.

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Key points

Fence height: Front yard fences are limited to 36 inches, or 5 feet if wrought iron; side and rear fences must be at least 6 feet.
Accessory structures: In single-family districts, carports, gazebos and patio covers are limited to 15 feet; sheds under 120 square feet, 6½ feet.

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

Fences and walls

Lake Elsinore code What Lake Elsinore's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet tall. Applies: Within or along the required front yard of a mobilehome lot. § 17.92.080 · code text The height shall be reduced to three feet within or along the required front yard depth. Fences and walls can be no more than 36 inches tall. Applies: In required front yards; wrought-iron fences may be 5 feet. § 17.44.080 · code text In required front yards, the maximum height of a fence or wall shall be 36 inches; with the exception that wrought-iron fences may be five feet in height. Wrought-iron fences can be up to 5 feet tall. Applies: In required front yards. § 17.44.080 · code text In required front yards, the maximum height of a fence or wall shall be 36 inches; with the exception that wrought-iron fences may be five feet in height.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet 6 inches tall. Applies: Side and rear yards of mobilehome lots in the mobilehome district; fences there must also be at least 5 feet tall. § 17.92.080 · code text Fences, walls, hedges or a combination thereof shall not be less than five feet in height nor more than six feet six inches in height within or along each side or rear yard of a mobilehome lot. Side and rear property line fences or walls must be at least 6 feet tall. Applies: Measured from the highest ground level on either side. § 17.44.080 · code text The required height of all side and rear property line fences or walls shall be a minimum of six feet. A decorative masonry wall at least 6 feet tall is required. Applies: R-2 Medium Density Residential District, along all side and rear property lines or lines next to a major utility easement. § 17.80.160 · code text Decorative masonry walls a minimum of six feet in height, as measured from the highest grade elevation either side of the wall, shall be provided along all side and rear property lines or property lines that abut a major utility easement.
Permit	Planning Commission approval is required. Applies: Walls more than 8 feet tall in total. § 17.112.070 · code text All walls in excess of eight feet in total height shall require specific approval of the Planning Commission.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lake Elsinore code What Lake Elsinore's code adds
Maximum height	six and one-half feet Applies: Group I sheds, children's playhouses and similar enclosures of less than 120 square feet, which may sit on the property line; same limit in the R-E, R-1 and R-H single-family districts § 17.68.040 · code text Sheds, children's playhouses, and similar enclosures of less than 120 square feet provided they do not exceed a maximum height of six and one-half feet. No more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Group II structures: carports, gazebos, patio covers and detached enclosed structures under 600 square feet; R-E, R-1 and R-H districts. § 17.76.040 · code text provided they do not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet and are located no closer than five feet to a side property line, or 10 feet to a rear property line. No more than 17 feet tall. Applies: Group III garages, stables, workshops and similar structures of 600 square feet or more in the R-H Hillside district; same setbacks as the house. § 17.72.040 · code text provided they do not exceed a maximum height of 17 feet and, unless otherwise provided in this chapter, are located no closer to a property line than the setback prescribed for the main dwelling unit
Size or lot coverage	less than 120 square feet Applies: Group I sheds, children's playhouses and similar enclosures up to six and one-half feet tall may sit on the property line if under this size; same in the R-E, R-1 and R-H single-family districts § 17.68.040 · code text Sheds, children's playhouses, and similar enclosures of less than 120 square feet provided they do not exceed a maximum height of six and one-half feet. Less than 600 square feet of floor area. Applies: Under this size: Group II rules (at most 15 feet tall, 5 feet side, 10 feet rear setbacks); larger: Group III; R-E, R-1, R-H districts. § 17.76.040 · code text as well as detached enclosed structures not included in Group I, but containing less than 600 square feet of floor area such as sheds, children's playhouses and workshops No more than 400 square feet. Applies: Equipment storage structures in the R-2 Medium Density Residential District. § 17.80.040 · code text Equipment storage structures not exceeding 400 square feet. less than 120 square feet Applies: sheds, playhouses and similar enclosures on duplex and triplex lots in the R-2 Medium Density Residential District; under this size and six and one-half feet tall they may sit in the required side or rear yard with no setback § 17.80.040 · code text On duplex and triplex lots, sheds, children's playhouses, and similar enclosures of less than 120 square feet and a height of six and one-half feet may encroach into the required side and/or rear yard
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from a property line. Applies: Group II structures in the R-E Estate Single-Family Residential District. § 17.68.040 · code text provided they do not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet and are located no closer than five feet to a property line, or 10 feet to a rear property line. At least 10 feet from a rear property line. Applies: Group II structures in the R-E Estate Single-Family Residential District. § 17.68.040 · code text provided they do not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet and are located no closer than five feet to a property line, or 10 feet to a rear property line. At least 5 feet from a side property line. Applies: Group II structures in the R-1 Single-Family Residential and R-H Hillside districts. § 17.76.040 · code text provided they do not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet and are located no closer than five feet to a side property line, or 10 feet to a rear property line. At least 10 feet from a rear property line. Applies: Group II structures in the R-1 Single-Family Residential and R-H Hillside districts. § 17.76.040 · code text provided they do not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet and are located no closer than five feet to a side property line, or 10 feet to a rear property line. At least 10 feet from any property line other than a public right-of-way or trail. Applies: Group III structures of 600 square feet or more in the R-E district; also at least 20 feet from a public right-of-way or trail. § 17.68.040 · code text provided they are located no closer than 20 feet to a public right-of-way or trail and no closer than 10 feet to any other property line.

RV and boat parking

Lake Elsinore code What Lake Elsinore's code adds
Size limit	RVs over 20 feet long may not park on the street for more than 24 hours in a row. Applies: Applies to public streets and highways in residential districts. § 10.12.130 · code text Any "recreational vehicle (RV)" over 20 feet long measured from the extreme forward point to the extreme rear point, including extensions. Vehicles or vehicle-trailer combinations over 25 feet long may not park on the street over 24 hours in a row. Applies: Applies to public streets and highways in residential districts; RVs follow the 20-foot rule. § 10.12.130 · code text Except for recreational vehicles as provided in subsection (E) of this section, any motor vehicle or motor vehicle with an attached trailer or nonmotorized vehicle over 25 feet long measured from the extreme forward point to the extreme rear point, including extensions;
Parking on the street	No more than 24 hours in a row. Applies: Residential-district streets; RVs over 20 feet, other vehicles over 25 feet, detached trailers and boat trailers. § 10.12.130 · code text No person shall park or leave standing upon any public street or highway in a residential district for a period in excess of 24 consecutive hours:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lake Elsinore code What Lake Elsinore's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic submittal and signatures accepted; all needed permits are issued when the application meets the City's checklist. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations covered by this chapter. § 15.76.040 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process	Administrative expedited review; 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.74.060 · code text Subject to satisfactory review of the permit application, the Building and Safety Division shall issue a building permit within three business days from the date in which a permit application is made.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days of the application. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar, if the application passes review. § 15.74.060 · code text Subject to satisfactory review of the permit application, the Building and Safety Division shall issue a building permit within three business days from the date in which a permit application is made.

Swimming pools

Lake Elsinore code The gap under the barrier may be no more than 2 inches. The gap under the barrier may be up to 4 inches.

All 15 Lake Elsinore rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Lake Elsinore code What Lake Elsinore's code adds
Bees	Yes, up to 2 colonies of no more than 2 supers each, at least 50 feet from any neighboring property. Applies: Hives owned or kept by the property's resident or owner; hives must be registered with the county agricultural commissioner. § 6.13.020 · code text A hive or colony shall maintain a minimum distance of 50 feet from any neighboring property;
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Applies to exceptions to the beekeeping limits and conditions. § 6.13.030 · code text Exceptions to LEMC § 6.13.020 may be made by the granting of a conditional use permit.

Other Lake Elsinore rules on this

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

Permit to remove a significant palm tree (Ch. 5.116) — significant palm trees only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lake Elsinore?

Front yard fences are limited to 36 inches, or 5 feet if wrought iron; side and rear fences must be at least 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Lake Elsinore?

In single-family districts, carports, gazebos and patio covers are limited to 15 feet; sheds under 120 square feet, 6½ feet.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Lake Elsinore?

Lake Elsinore's code: RVs over 20 feet long may not park on the street for more than 24 hours in a row. (Applies to public streets and highways in residential districts.) (§ 10.12.130); Vehicles or vehicle-trailer combinations over 25 feet long may not park on the street over 24 hours in a row. (Applies to public streets and highways in residential districts; RVs follow the 20-foot rule.) (§ 10.12.130).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Lake Elsinore?

Lake Elsinore's code: Electronic submittal and signatures accepted; all needed permits are issued when the application meets the City's checklist. (Applies to EV charging stations covered by this chapter.) (§ 15.76.040); Administrative expedited review; 1 inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.74.060).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Lake Elsinore?

Lake Elsinore's code: Yes, up to 2 colonies of no more than 2 supers each, at least 50 feet from any neighboring property. (Hives owned or kept by the property's resident or owner; hives must be registered with the county agricultural commissioner.) (§ 6.13.020); A conditional use permit is required. (Applies to exceptions to the beekeeping limits and conditions.) (§ 6.13.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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