Lemon Grove · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lemon Grove

Lemon Grove's city code limits accessory buildings in residential zones and requires a permit for home businesses. Accessory building limits cover rear yard coverage, setbacks and spacing from other buildings.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: Detached accessory buildings in Lemon Grove's residential zones need a 5-foot setback and 10 feet from other buildings.
Home businesses: City code requires a home occupation permit for any business conducted in a residential zone.

Each rule below is marked Lemon Grove 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

Lemon Grove code What Lemon Grove's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 30% of the required rear yard setback. Applies: Non-habitable accessory buildings such as sheds, garages or workshops in a Residential Zone. § 17.24.060 · code text It shall not occupy more than thirty percent of the required rear yard setback.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the rear and side lines. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in a Residential Zone. Not allowed in the required front yard setback. § 17.24.060 · code text No building shall be located in a required front yard setback, no closer than ten feet to other buildings and no closer than five feet to the rear or side property lines.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from other buildings. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in a Residential Zone. § 17.24.060 · code text No building shall be located in a required front yard setback, no closer than ten feet to other buildings and no closer than five feet to the rear or side property lines.

Running a business from home

Lemon Grove code What Lemon Grove's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: Any business run in a residential zone. § 18.20.040 · code text No occupation, trade, business or profession shall be conducted in any residential zone unless a home occupation permit has been duly issued for such use.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lemon Grove code What Lemon Grove's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; all permits are issued when the complete application meets the checklist; only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.33.060 · code text The planning and building department shall implement an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. Apply in person, by mail, or electronically (email, fax or online), with the required processing and inspection fees. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants. § 15.33.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by e-mail, fax, or the Internet shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	Deemed approved if not denied in writing within 45 days of receipt. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar, unless the delay comes from a reasonable request for more information. § 15.33.060 · code text If an application is not denied in writing within forty-five days from the date of receipt of the application, the application shall be deemed approved, unless that delay is the result of a reasonable request for additional information.

Pets, chickens and bees

Lemon Grove code What Lemon Grove's code adds
Coop setback	At least 5 feet away. Applies: Animal pens, coops, stables or enclosures, from side or rear lot lines; small animals behind a home with a solid 6-foot fence are excepted. § 18.16.020 · code text Within five feet of any side or rear lot line. At least 20 feet away. Applies: Household and small farm animals behind a home, behind a solid 6-foot fence or wall; distance from any other person's home. § 18.16.020 · code text They are at least twenty feet from any dwelling other than that occupied by the owner of the animals; At least 20 feet away. Applies: Cages, coops or pens up to 6 feet high with up to 3 small animals, behind the home; distance from any other person's home. § 18.16.020 · code text may be located anywhere behind a dwelling but may be no closer than twenty feet from any dwelling other than that occupied by the owner of the animals. At least 25 feet away. Applies: Distance from any side street lot line. § 18.16.020 · code text Within twenty-five feet of any side street lot line and fifty feet of any front lot line. At least 50 feet away. Applies: Distance from any front lot line. § 18.16.020 · code text Within twenty-five feet of any side street lot line and fifty feet of any front lot line.
Permit	A conditional use permit may be issued. Applies: For youths in animal-raising projects sponsored by 4-H, FFA or similar youth groups. § 18.16.020 · code text Conditional use permits may be issued to youths involved in animal raising projects sponsored by 4-H, FFA, or similar youth organizations involved in animal raising.
Pet limit	Either 2 dogs, or 4 cats, or 4 of these animals combined, with no more than 2 dogs per lot. Applies: Residential low and low/medium zones, on lots of 12,500 square feet or less. § 18.16.030 · code text On lots less than or equal to twelve thousand five hundred full square feet of lot area: either two dogs; or four cats; or a combination of four such animals, provided that there shall be no more than two dogs per lot. Either 4 dogs, or 6 cats, or 7 of these animals combined, with no more than 4 dogs per lot. Applies: Residential low and low/medium zones, on lots over 12,500 square feet. § 18.16.030 · code text On lots over twelve thousand five hundred full square feet of lot area: either four dogs; or six cats; or a combination of seven such animals, provided that there shall be no more than four dogs per lot. 1 dog and 2 cats per home. Applies: Applies in residential medium and medium/high districts. § 18.16.030 · code text Within the residential medium and medium/high districts, one dog, and two cats may be kept per dwelling unit. Up to 15 other household animals per lot, not counting fish; no more than 3 large or noisy birds. Applies: Applies to other household animals on a lot whose main use is residential. § 18.16.030 · code text Such household animals shall not exceed fifteen upon any one lot (excluding fish). Not more than three parrots, macaws, mynah birds, or similar large or noisy birds may be kept.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Lemon Grove?

Detached accessory buildings in Lemon Grove's residential zones need a 5-foot setback and 10 feet from other buildings.

Can I run a business from my home in Lemon Grove?

City code requires a home occupation permit for any business conducted in a residential zone.

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

Lemon Grove's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; all permits are issued when the complete application meets the checklist; only 1 inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.33.060); Apply in person, by mail, or electronically (email, fax or online), with the required processing and inspection fees. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.) (§ 15.33.050).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Lemon Grove?

Lemon Grove's code: At least 5 feet away. (Animal pens, coops, stables or enclosures, from side or rear lot lines; small animals behind a home with a solid 6-foot fence are excepted.) (§ 18.16.020); At least 20 feet away. (Household and small farm animals behind a home, behind a solid 6-foot fence or wall; distance from any other person's home.) (§ 18.16.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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