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Lemoore · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lemoore

Lemoore's city code sets fence heights by yard, sets accessory structure height and setbacks by type and size, and has minor and major home occupation permits. A home business also needs a business license.

Ask about building on your lot in Lemoore See coverage

Key points

  • Fence height: City code limits front yard fences to 4 feet and at least 50% open; interior side and rear fences 7 feet.
  • Accessory buildings: City code limits accessory buildings to 16 feet; those over 8 feet tall must be 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.
  • Home businesses: Minor home occupations are limited to 150 square feet or 15% of the home, whichever is less, with no visitors or customers.

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

Fences and walls

Lemoore code What Lemoore's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 3 feet, and at least 50% open.
    Applies: Clear visibility area where streets, alleys and driveways meet.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    Within the clear visibility area at the intersection of streets, alleys, and driveways | 3 feet | 50%
Front yard height
  • No more than 4 feet, and at least 50% open.
    Applies: Required front yard setback.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    Within required front yard setback | 4 feet | 50%
  • Up to 7 feet, between the interior side lot line and the back of the house.
    Applies: Single-family corner lots, front door facing street side line. Front setback up to 5 feet from front line, after a planning director visibility finding.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    a fence or wall up to seven feet (7') high may be constructed within the required front yard setback up to five feet (5') from the front lot line
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 4 feet, and at least 50% open.
    Applies: Street side yard setback, less than 3 feet from the back of sidewalk.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    Less than 3 feet from back of sidewalk | 4 feet | 50%
  • No more than 4 feet, and at least 50% open.
    Applies: Street side yard setback, 3 feet or more from the back of sidewalk and in front of the main building's front face.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    3 feet or greater from back of sidewalk and in front of the front face of the main building | 4 feet | 50%
  • No more than 7 feet.
    Applies: Street side yard setback, 3 feet or more from the back of sidewalk and behind the main building's front face.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    3 feet or greater from back of sidewalk and behind the front face of the main building | 7 feet 1 | 0%
  • No more than 7 feet.
    Applies: Interior side yard and rear yard setbacks.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    Interior side yard and rear yard setback | 7 feet 1 | 0%
Permit
  • A building permit is required for fences over 7 feet.
    Applies: All fences taller than 7 feet.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    A building permit is required for all fences that exceed seven feet (7') in height.
  • No special planning permit is required; zoning plan check applies when a building permit is needed.
    Applies: Except a building permit for fences over 7 feet and an encroachment permit in a city-maintained public utility easement.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    no special planning permit or entitlement shall be required for fences or walls, except that zoning plan check shall be conducted in the event that a building permit is required.
  • An encroachment permit is required.
    Applies: Fences in a city-maintained public utility easement.
    § 9-5B-5 · code text
    An encroachment permit is required for all fences located within a city maintained public utility easement

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lemoore code What Lemoore's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 8 feet.
    Applies: Buildings of 120 square feet or less that are 8 feet tall or less.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    8' tall or less | Same minimum as for primary structure | 10' | No minimum | No minimum | 8'
  • No more than 16 feet.
    Applies: Buildings of 120 square feet or less that are over 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Greater than 8' tall | | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • No more than 16 feet.
    Applies: Fully enclosed buildings over 120 square feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Fully enclosed | Same minimum as for primary structure | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • No more than 16 feet.
    Applies: Buildings over 120 square feet with limited or no enclosure.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Limited/no enclosure | | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • No more than 8 feet.
    Applies: Garden structures under 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    <8' tall | 12' | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 8'
  • No more than 16 feet.
    Applies: Garden structures 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    8' tall | 12' | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • No taller than the main house.
    Applies: Combustible or portable carports.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Combustible and/or portable | Set back even with or behind the front of the house | Not permitted on the street side of a corner lot | 5' | 10' | Height of house primary structure
  • No taller than the main house.
    Applies: Noncombustible, permanent carports.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Noncombustible and permanent | 4' behind the sidewalk and outside of public right of way and clear visibility area | 4' behind the sidewalk and outside of public right of way and clear visibility area | No minimum | 10' | Height of house main structure
  • No more than 2 feet high.
    Applies: Decks.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Deck | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 2'
  • The same as for the main structure.
    Applies: Play equipment.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Play equipment | Same as primary structure | 15' | 5' | No minimum | Same as for primary structure
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Buildings of 120 square feet or less that are over 8 feet tall. Street side setback is 15 feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Greater than 8' tall | | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Fully enclosed buildings over 120 square feet. Street side setback is 15 feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Fully enclosed | Same minimum as for primary structure | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Buildings over 120 square feet with limited or no enclosure. Street side setback is 15 feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Limited/no enclosure | | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Garden structures 8 feet tall. Street side setback is 15 feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    8' tall | 12' | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Combustible or portable carports. Not allowed on the street side of a corner lot.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Combustible and/or portable | Set back even with or behind the front of the house | Not permitted on the street side of a corner lot | 5' | 10' | Height of house primary structure
  • No minimum setback from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Buildings of 120 square feet or less that are 8 feet tall or less. Street side setback is 10 feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    8' tall or less | Same minimum as for primary structure | 10' | No minimum | No minimum | 8'
  • No minimum setback.
    Applies: Garden structures under 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    <8' tall | 12' | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 8'
  • No minimum setback from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Noncombustible, permanent carports. On the street side, 4 feet behind the sidewalk and outside the clear visibility area.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Noncombustible and permanent | 4' behind the sidewalk and outside of public right of way and clear visibility area | 4' behind the sidewalk and outside of public right of way and clear visibility area | No minimum | 10' | Height of house main structure
  • At least 5 feet.
    Applies: Built-in pools and spas.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Pool/spa (built-in) | Same as for primary structure | 5' | 5' | 3' | Not applicable
  • No minimum setback.
    Applies: Decks.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Deck | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 2'
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Play equipment. Street side setback is 15 feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Play equipment | Same as primary structure | 15' | 5' | No minimum | Same as for primary structure
Distance from the house
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Buildings of 120 square feet or less that are over 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Greater than 8' tall | | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Fully enclosed buildings over 120 square feet.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Fully enclosed | Same minimum as for primary structure | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Buildings over 120 square feet with limited or no enclosure.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Limited/no enclosure | | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Garden structures 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    8' tall | 12' | 15' | 5' | 10' | 16'
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Combustible or portable carports.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Combustible and/or portable | Set back even with or behind the front of the house | Not permitted on the street side of a corner lot | 5' | 10' | Height of house primary structure
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Noncombustible, permanent carports.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Noncombustible and permanent | 4' behind the sidewalk and outside of public right of way and clear visibility area | 4' behind the sidewalk and outside of public right of way and clear visibility area | No minimum | 10' | Height of house main structure
  • At least 3 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Built-in pools and spas.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Pool/spa (built-in) | Same as for primary structure | 5' | 5' | 3' | Not applicable
  • No minimum separation from the main building.
    Applies: Buildings of 120 square feet or less that are 8 feet tall or less.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    8' tall or less | Same minimum as for primary structure | 10' | No minimum | No minimum | 8'
  • No minimum separation from the main building.
    Applies: Garden structures under 8 feet tall.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    <8' tall | 12' | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 8'
  • No minimum separation from the main building.
    Applies: Decks.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Deck | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | No minimum | 2'
  • No minimum separation from the main building.
    Applies: Play equipment.
    § 9-4D-18 · code text
    Play equipment | Same as primary structure | 15' | 5' | No minimum | Same as for primary structure

Running a business from home

Lemoore code What Lemoore's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 150 square feet or 15% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.
    Applies: Minor home occupations. May be changed for major home occupations.
    § 9-4D-5 · code text
    Not more than one hundred fifty (150) square feet or fifteen percent (15%) of the floor area of the dwelling, whichever is less, shall be used in the home occupation.
Customer visits
  • No visitors or customers.
    Applies: Minor home occupation permits.
    § 9-4D-5 · code text
    For minor home occupation permits, no visitors or customers shall be allowed.
  • No more than 5 visitors or customers a day.
    Applies: Major home occupation permits, between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.
    § 9-4D-5 · code text
    For major home occupation permits, visitors and customers shall not exceed those normally and reasonably occurring for a residence, including not more than five (5) a day, during the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. in the morning to seven o'clock (7:00) P.M. in the evening.
Employees
  • No off-site employees or partners. Only people living in the home may work there.
    Applies: Minor home occupations. May be changed for major home occupations.
    § 9-4D-5 · code text
    Off site employees or partners are not permitted. Only occupants of the home may work on site.
  • 1 employee who does not live at the site is allowed.
    Applies: Cottage food operations.
    § 9-4D-5 · code text
    Notwithstanding the foregoing standards, a cottage food operation may have one employee who does not live at the site, and may sell goods at the site.
Permit
  • A home occupation permit and a business license from the city are required.
    Applies: Before the home occupation starts.
    § 9-4D-5 · code text
    Prior to the establishment of a home occupation, the proprietor of a home occupation shall first obtain a home occupation permit and a business license from the city.
  • A minor permit (planning director, no public notice) or major permit (planning commission, public hearing).
    Applies: Needed before a business license is issued and the home occupation starts.
    § 9-2B-9 · code text
    All home occupations as described in chapter 4, "Land Uses", of this title shall obtain a home occupation permit prior to the issuance of a business license and the establishment of the home occupation.

RV and boat parking

Lemoore code What Lemoore's code adds
Parking on the street
  • Not allowed on any public right-of-way.
    Applies: Applies to RVs and boats, except as the code allows.
    § 6-8-2 · code text
    no person shall abandon, park, store, leave, keep or maintain, or permit to be abandoned, parked, stored, left, kept or maintained, any recreational vehicle or boat upon any public right-of-way.
Living in an RV
  • Living in or occupying an RV or boat is not allowed.
    Applies: While it is on the public right-of-way, unless the Police Department issued a temporary parking permit; active loading or unloading is excepted.
    § 6-8-2 · code text
    Unless an approved temporary parking permit has been obtained from the Police Department, no habitation or occupancy of the recreational vehicle or boat shall be allowed at any time that the recreational vehicle or boat is located on the public right-of-way except when a person is actively loading or unloading the recreational vehicle or boat.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lemoore code What Lemoore's code adds
Solar permit process
  • You may apply electronically, and electronic signatures are accepted.
    Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.
    § 8-11-5 · code text
    Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time
  • The permit is issued the same day.
    Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.
    § 8-11-7 · code text
    The development services department shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over the counter applications or within one to three (3) business days for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
  • The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days.
    Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; complete electronic applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.
    § 8-11-7 · code text
    The development services department shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over the counter applications or within one to three (3) business days for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Lemoore code What Lemoore's code adds
Permit to remove
  • Yes. A tree permit is needed before cutting, removing, topping or moving it, or working in its critical root zone.
    Applies: Applies to protected trees on private property that are not exempt.
    § 9-2B-5 · code text
    A tree permit shall be required prior to work within the critical root zone or the cutting down, removal, topping, or relocation of a protected tree on private property as defined in subsection 9-5D1-4B, "Protected Trees", of this title that are not exempt per subsection 9-5D1-4D of this title.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lemoore?

City code limits front yard fences to 4 feet and at least 50% open; interior side and rear fences 7 feet.

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

City code limits accessory buildings to 16 feet; those over 8 feet tall must be 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.

Can I run a business from my home in Lemoore?

Minor home occupations are limited to 150 square feet or 15% of the home, whichever is less, with no visitors or customers.

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

Lemoore's code: Not allowed on any public right-of-way. (Applies to RVs and boats, except as the code allows.) (§ 6-8-2); Living in or occupying an RV or boat is not allowed. (While it is on the public right-of-way, unless the Police Department issued a temporary parking permit; active loading or unloading is excepted.) (§ 6-8-2).

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

Lemoore's code: You may apply electronically, and electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.) (§ 8-11-5); The permit is issued the same day. (Small residential rooftop solar; complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.) (§ 8-11-7).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Lemoore?

Lemoore's code: Yes. A tree permit is needed before cutting, removing, topping or moving it, or working in its critical root zone. (Applies to protected trees on private property that are not exempt.) (§ 9-2B-5).

General information, not legal advice.

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