Lancaster · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lancaster

Lancaster's city code sets fence heights by setback and limits accessory structure height, coverage and setbacks by size. A home business needs a city business license, and many business types are not allowed at home.

Ask about building on your lot in Lancaster See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in front setbacks and 6 feet in side or rear setbacks; director's review may allow 25% more.
Accessory structures: Detached accessory structures are limited to 8 feet if 120 sq ft or less, otherwise one story or 12 feet; detached garages 20 feet.
Home businesses: Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.

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

Fences and walls

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet. Applies: Residential property: front yard setback or corner lot side yard setback. A director's review may allow up to 25% more. § 17.08.130 · code text Within front yard setback or corner lot side yard setback located at or behind the property line \| 4 feet
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Residential property: side or rear yard setback, or along or behind the corner lot side yard setback. Director's review may allow up to 25% more. § 17.08.130 · code text Within side or rear yard setback or along/behind corner lot side yard setback located at or behind the property line \| 6 feet

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 8 feet. Applies: Detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached accessory structures 120 sq. ft. or less (small shed, etc.) \| 8 feet No more than 1 story or 12 feet. Applies: Detached accessory structures over 120 square feet. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached accessory structures greater than 120 sq. ft. (shed, gazebo, etc.) \| One story or 12 feet No more than 20 feet. Applies: Detached garages without second-story living area. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached garages (without 2 nd story living area) \| 20 feet
Size or lot coverage	Roofed structures may cover no more than 50% of the required rear yard. Applies: Infill residential lots under 7,000 square feet may cover up to 60%. § 17.08.160 · code text No more than 50% of the required rear yard shall be covered by roofed structures. Up to 60% of the rear yard may be covered by roofed structures. Applies: Infill residential lots smaller than 7,000 square feet. § 17.08.160 · code text Infill residential lots (smaller than 7,000 square feet) may have up to 60% of the rear yard covered by roofed structures.
Side and rear setback	No setback (0 feet) from the interior side and rear lines. Applies: Detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less. Front and street side setbacks of the zone still apply. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached accessory structures 120 sq. ft. or less (small shed, etc.) \| 8 feet \| 0 feet \| 6 feet At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines. Applies: Detached accessory structures over 120 square feet. Front and street side setbacks of the zone still apply. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached accessory structures greater than 120 sq. ft. (shed, gazebo, etc.) \| One story or 12 feet \| 5 feet \| 6 feet No setback (0 feet) from the interior side and rear lines. Applies: Detached garages without second-story living area. Must not drain onto neighboring properties. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached garages (without 2 nd story living area) \| 20 feet \| 0 feet \| 6 feet
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main building. Applies: Detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached accessory structures 120 sq. ft. or less (small shed, etc.) \| 8 feet \| 0 feet \| 6 feet At least 6 feet from the main building. Applies: Detached accessory structures over 120 square feet. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached accessory structures greater than 120 sq. ft. (shed, gazebo, etc.) \| One story or 12 feet \| 5 feet \| 6 feet At least 6 feet from the main building. Applies: Detached garages without second-story living area. § 17.08.160 · code text Detached garages (without 2 nd story living area) \| 20 feet \| 0 feet \| 6 feet

Running a business from home

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Customer visits	Customers or clients may come only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. § 17.08.200 · code text No customer or client may come to the premises except during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Employees	No more than 1 employee. Applies: Home occupations in an apartment or condominium unit. § 17.08.200 · code text A maximum of one employee is allowed at the home occupation, if located in an apartment or condominium unit; No more than 2 employees. Applies: Homes in an urban residential zone. § 17.08.200 · code text 2 employees is allowed if the home is within an urban residential zone; No more than 3 employees. Applies: Homes in a rural residential zone. § 17.08.200 · code text and 3 employees in rural residential zones.
Permit	A City of Lancaster business license (home-based business license) is required. § 17.08.200 · code text The home occupation shall be required to obtain a business license through the City of Lancaster.
Businesses not allowed	Ambulance service; animal training; body piercing; construction, preassembly and similar large woodworking operations; contractor and construction yards that cause or require outdoor storage; cosmetology services including barber and beauty shops; forensic testing; limousine, taxi or tow truck services; recreational vehicle rentals or automobile leasing; food or ice cream vending vehicles; other vehicles not normally incidental to a residential use where such motor vehicles would be parked or stored at the home occupation site; mechanical and electronic repair utilizing, maintaining, or storing more mechanical or electronic equipment on the premises than is common to a residence; on-site massage therapists; rental establishments; repair services related to automobiles, motorcycles, large household appliances, small engines, garden equipment, or other machinery; sales or production of drug paraphernalia; tattoo studio; taxidermy; manufacturing, sale, lease, or rental of firearms and/or ammunition; welding shop and/or metal fabrication; uses subject to Director's Review or a conditional use permit in the applicable zone; uses determined by the Director to be similar in nature § 17.08.200 · code text The following uses shall not be allowed as a home occupation: Pet grooming Applies: Not prohibited in RR-1 and RR-2.5 zones if on appointment basis only § 17.08.200 · code text Pet grooming (not prohibited in RR-1 and RR-2.5 zones, if on appointment basis only);

Lot splits under SB 9

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Standards	Only lots in a single-family zone: RR-2.5, RR-1, SRR, R-15,000, R-10,000 or R-7,000. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits (SB 9). § 16.17.050 · code text The urban lot split must conform to all applicable objective requirements of the Subdivision Map Act (Gov. Code Section 66410 et seq., "SMA"), including implementing requirements of this Title 16, except as otherwise expressly provided in this section.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited approval and all needed permits when the application meets the checklist; no energizing before final inspection and approval. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 15.46.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits.
Solar permit process	Administrative approval after a complete checklist application; only 1 inspection is required. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.45.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Swimming pools

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Pool barrier	Besides doors and gates, no openings over 50 square inches, unless rectangular with no horizontal side over 4 inches. § 8.04.230 · code text with no openings except doors or gates within an area greater than fifty (50) square inches, except that a rectangular opening having no horizontal dimension exceeding four inches, may have a greater area. Wood pool fences: posts at least three by three inches, no more than ten (10) feet apart and embedded at least eighteen (18) inches; boards at least one-half inch thick on at least two rails of two by three inches Applies: wood fences § 8.04.240 · code text Wood fences shall have posts not less than three inches by three inches, spaced not over ten (10) feet on centers, Wire pool fences: mesh of at least eleven (11) gauge galvanized steel wire on galvanized pipe one and one-fourth inch in diameter, no more than ten (10) feet apart; posts set at least twelve (12) inches into concrete-filled holes at least six inches wide and eighteen (18) inches deep Applies: wire fences § 8.04.250 · code text Wire fences shall be constructed of wire mesh of not less than eleven (11) gauge galvanized steel wire supported on one and one-fourth inch diameter galvanized pipe spaced not over ten (10) feet on centers.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. Applies: Fence, wall or other structure around the pool, measured on the side away from the pool. § 8.04.230 · code text The fence, wall, or other structure required by this chapter shall be not less than five feet high, measured from the existing surface to the top of the fence or wall on the side of the fence or wall opposite the side towards the pool,
Gates	Gates and doors must fill the opening and stay closed and securely latched whenever the pool is not in use. § 8.04.300 · code text All doors or gates shall be of such size as to completely fill any opening in the fence or wall. The owner or person in possession of the premises on which such swimming pool exists shall keep such doors and gates closed and securely latched at all times when such swimming pool is not in use.

Other Lancaster rules on this

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

Animal keeping in residential zones (§ 17.08.180)
Street parking limits for oversized vehicles (§ 10.04.055) — on public streets

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lancaster?

Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in front setbacks and 6 feet in side or rear setbacks; director's review may allow 25% more.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Lancaster?

Detached accessory structures are limited to 8 feet if 120 sq ft or less, otherwise one story or 12 feet; detached garages 20 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Lancaster?

Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Lancaster?

Lancaster's code: Only lots in a single-family zone: RR-2.5, RR-1, SRR, R-15,000, R-10,000 or R-7,000. (Applies to urban lot splits (SB 9).) (§ 16.17.050).

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

Lancaster's code: Expedited approval and all needed permits when the application meets the checklist; no energizing before final inspection and approval. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 15.46.040); Administrative approval after a complete checklist application; only 1 inspection is required. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.45.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Lancaster?

Lancaster's code: Besides doors and gates, no openings over 50 square inches, unless rectangular with no horizontal side over 4 inches. (§ 8.04.230); Wood pool fences: posts at least three by three inches, no more than ten (10) feet apart and embedded at least eighteen (18) inches; boards at least one-half inch thick on at least two rails of two by three inches (wood fences) (§ 8.04.240).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Lancaster property

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

Ask your question

More on Lancaster

Lancaster Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Lancaster

Buying & selling in Lancaster

Lancaster overview