McFarland · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in McFarland

McFarland sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits and home-business permits for its residential and estate zones. Fence limits depend on the yard.

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Key points

Fence height: McFarland limits fences in R and E zones to 4 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear or side yards.
Accessory buildings: McFarland limits detached accessory buildings in R and E zones to 2 stories or 35 ft; in rear or side setbacks, 120 sq ft.
Home businesses: City rule: home businesses in R-1 and R-2 zones need a home occupation permit.

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

Fences and walls

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Corner visibility	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 4 feet tall. Applies: In R-1 to R-4, R-S, E to E-7 zones: within 25 feet of reversed corner lot's rear line, between street and key lot's setback line. § 17.136.180 · code text In the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 or E-7 zones no fence, wall or hedge located within twenty-five feet of the rear line of a reversed corner lot between the street and the established setback line on the key lot, to the rear, shall exceed a height of four feet.
Front yard height	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 4 feet tall. Applies: In the required front yard in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 through E-7 zones. § 17.136.180 · code text In the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 or E-7 zones no fence, wall or hedge located in the required front yard shall exceed a height of four feet.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: In rear or side yards in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 through E-7 zones. State-regulated utilities may go higher. § 17.136.180 · code text In the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 or E-7 zones no fence, wall or hedge located in the rear or side yards shall exceed a height of six feet; provided, however, that approved public utility uses which are under the jurisdiction of a state agency may be approved to a greater height. Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: In rear or side yards in the R-1-5 single-family zone. Approved state-regulated public utility uses may go higher. § 17.16.160 · code text Fences, walls and hedges in the rear or side yards shall not exceed a height of six feet; provided, however, that approved public utility uses which are under the jurisdiction of a state agency may be approved to a greater height.
Permit	A city encroachment permit is required. Applies: For fences, walls or hedges on or over any city easement or right-of-way. § 17.136.180 · code text Fences, walls or hedges shall be allowed to be located or encroach upon any city, easement or right-of-way subject to the issuance of a city of McFarland encroachment permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Maximum height	At most 2 stories or 35 feet tall. Applies: For detached accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 through E-7 zones. § 17.136.140 · code text No detached accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 or E-7 zones may exceed two stories or thirty-five feet in height. At most 10 feet tall. Applies: For a detached private garage in the required front yard of an interior lot whose front half slopes more than 1 foot in 4. § 17.136.140 · code text provided that no such building shall exceed ten feet in height.
Size or lot coverage	At most 120 square feet of floor area. Applies: For accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area. § 17.16.120 · code text The floor area shall be a maximum one hundred twenty square feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any interior property line. Applies: For 2-story accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E and E-1 through E-7 zones. § 17.136.140 · code text No accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S, E, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 or E-7 zones, if two stories in height, shall be located nearer than five feet to any interior property line. Walls at least 10 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: For accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area. § 17.16.120 · code text The walls shall be at least ten feet from rear lot line and five feet from the side lot lines. Walls at least 5 feet from the side lot lines. Applies: For accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area. § 17.16.120 · code text The walls shall be at least ten feet from rear lot line and five feet from the side lot lines.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main building, unless connected to it. Applies: For accessory structures not physically connected to the main building. § 17.16.120 · code text The accessory structure shall be physically connected to the main structure or separated by a minimum of ten feet.

Running a business from home

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Permit	A conditional use permit (CUP) and a home occupation permit are required. § 17.153.070 · code text Resident seeking a home occupation addition to their home shall apply for a conditional use permit (CUP) and home occupation permit. A home occupation permit can be granted only in the R-1 and R-2 zones. § 17.153.020 · code text A home occupation permit may only be granted in the R-1 and R-2 zones.

RV and boat parking

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Parking on the street	A trailer or semi-trailer not hitched to a vehicle may not park, except in areas set by city council resolution. Applies: Applies in residential districts and other areas. Does not apply while actively loading or unloading. § 10.10.230 · code text No person shall stop, stand or park a trailer or semi-trailer which is uncoupled from a motor vehicle in any other residential district, or any other area, except those areas established by the city council through resolution.

Solar panels and EV chargers

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. § 15.10.040 · code text Applicants may submit the required permit application and documents by electronic submittal. The building official must approve and issue any required nondiscretionary permits if the application meets the approved checklist and standards. Applies: Applies when the charging station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 15.10.050 · code text If the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards, and the proposed charging station does not pose any specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety, the building official must approve the application and issue any required, nondiscretionary permits.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in McFarland?

McFarland limits fences in R and E zones to 4 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear or side yards.

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

McFarland limits detached accessory buildings in R and E zones to 2 stories or 35 ft; in rear or side setbacks, 120 sq ft.

Can I run a business from my home in McFarland?

City rule: home businesses in R-1 and R-2 zones need a home occupation permit.

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

McFarland's code: A trailer or semi-trailer not hitched to a vehicle may not park, except in areas set by city council resolution. (Applies in residential districts and other areas. Does not apply while actively loading or unloading.) (§ 10.10.230).

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

McFarland's code: Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 15.10.040); The building official must approve and issue any required nondiscretionary permits if the application meets the approved checklist and standards. (Applies when the charging station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 15.10.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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McFarland Municipal Code — full text

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