Montebello · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Montebello

Montebello sets its own fence heights, spacing for accessory buildings and home-business permits. Fence limits depend on the yard and on the fence type.

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Key points

Fence height: Montebello limits R-zone fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft behind it; approved wrought iron may reach 6 ft.
Building spacing: City rule: accessory buildings must stand 10 ft from the main building, or 5 ft with 1-hour fire-resistant construction.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business needs a home occupation permit and a business license.

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

Fences and walls

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	A wall, fence or hedge up to 36 inches high. Applies: Any R zone; allowed on any part of a lot. § 17.10.130 · code text In any R-zone, a wall, fence or hedge thirty-six inches in height may be located and maintained on any part of a lot. No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Any R zone; anywhere behind the required front yard, except on reversed corner lots. § 17.10.130 · code text A wall, fence or hedge not more than six feet in height may be located anywhere on the lot behind the rear line of the required front yard with the exception of reversed corner lots.
Front yard height	A wrought iron or similar see-through decorative fence up to 6 feet high. Applies: Required front yard, with city planner approval. View-blocking fences, hedges or walls there may not exceed 3 feet. § 17.10.130 · code text Within the required front yard, a wrought iron or similar nonview obscuring decorative fence not more than six feet in height may be permitted.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet. Applies: Between main and accessory buildings; 5 feet is allowed with 1-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building. § 17.10.050 · code text The distance between main and accessory buildings shall be a minimum of ten feet or five feet with one-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building. At least 5 feet. Applies: With 1-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building; the space between buildings must be open from ground to sky. § 17.10.050 · code text The distance between main and accessory buildings shall be a minimum of ten feet or five feet with one-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building. The five-foot area between buildings shall be open from the ground to the sky.

Running a business from home

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit and a business license. § 17.59.030 · code text An application for a home occupation permit shall be filed with a business license application on a form prescribed by the city.

RV and boat parking

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Where it may be parked	Only in covered parking or on a paved area at the rear of the property. Applies: Oversized vehicles parked or stored on private property. § 10.68.080 · code text Oversized vehicles may not be parked or stored other than in covered parking or on a paved area at the rear of the property.
Front-yard parking	Allowed on a paved driveway only if the rear yard cannot be reached. Applies: At least 5 feet behind the front property line if there is a sidewalk, or 5 feet from the street's paved edge if not. § 10.68.080 · code text The vehicle shall be parked at least five feet beyond the front yard property line if there is a sidewalk between the property and the street. If there is no sidewalk between the property and the street curb, the vehicle must be parked at least five feet from the paved edge of the street.
Screening and surface	Must be parked on pavement; no parking on grass, dirt or other landscaped areas. § 10.68.080 · code text No vehicle shall be parked on the grass, dirt or other landscaped areas surrounding a residence.
Parking on the street	An unattached trailer may not be left on the street, except while being loaded or unloaded. Applies: Trailers and similar equipment not attached to a towing vehicle. § 10.68.070 · code text Which is in the process of being loaded or unloaded.
Living in an RV	No. Applies: Oversized vehicles in a driveway: no storage, living or sleeping; no water or sewer hookup for more than 72 hours. § 10.68.080 · code text An oversized vehicle shall not be used for storage, living or sleeping while parked in the driveway and shall not be connected to water or sewer hose for more than seventy-two hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Solar permit process	Electronic submittal by email, internet or fax; electronic signatures accepted. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.72.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by e-mail, the internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all expedited solar energy system permit applicants. Administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when the checklist and standard plan are met; one inspection, plus possible fire inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.72.060 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. A separate fire inspection may be performed.
Review time	Within 3 business days. Applies: The application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.72.060 · code text the building department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within three business days.

Swimming pools

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Pool barrier	No opening larger than 6 inches square, other than doors or gates. § 15.04.090 · code text with no opening therein (other than doors or gates) larger than six inches square
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. § 15.04.090 · code text a fence or other solid structure not less than five feet in height
Gates	Self-closing and self-latching device at least 4 feet above the bottom; gates or doors stay closed when not in use. Applies: All gates or doors through the enclosure. § 15.04.090 · code text All gates or doors opening through such enclosure shall be kept closed at all times when not in actual use and shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device placed not less than four feet from the bottom of such structure
Maintenance and empty pools	A fence or solid structure must fully surround the pool, lot or premises at all times. § 15.04.090 · code text shall, at all times maintain on the lot or premises upon which such pool is located and completely surrounding such pool, lot or premises, a fence or other solid structure
Permit	Pool plans must show these rules are met; final approval is withheld until they are. Applies: Swimming pools to be built. § 15.04.090 · code text All plans hereafter submitted to the city for swimming pools to be constructed shall show compliance with the requirements of this section, and final inspection and approval of all pools hereafter constructed shall be withheld until all requirements of this section shall have been complied with.

Other Montebello rules on this

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

Keeping horses at home (§ 17.68.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Montebello?

Montebello limits R-zone fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft behind it; approved wrought iron may reach 6 ft.

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

City rule: accessory buildings must stand 10 ft from the main building, or 5 ft with 1-hour fire-resistant construction.

Can I run a business from my home in Montebello?

City rule: a home business needs a home occupation permit and a business license.

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

Montebello's code: Only in covered parking or on a paved area at the rear of the property. (Oversized vehicles parked or stored on private property.) (§ 10.68.080); Allowed on a paved driveway only if the rear yard cannot be reached. (At least 5 feet behind the front property line if there is a sidewalk, or 5 feet from the street's paved edge if not.) (§ 10.68.080).

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

Montebello's code: Electronic submittal by email, internet or fax; electronic signatures accepted. (Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.72.050); Administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when the checklist and standard plan are met; one inspection, plus possible fire inspection. (Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.72.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Montebello?

Montebello's code: No opening larger than 6 inches square, other than doors or gates. (§ 15.04.090); At least 5 feet high. (§ 15.04.090).

General information, not legal advice.

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