Newman · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Newman

Newman sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the yard, on corner and driveway sight areas, and on the fence design.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front yard and 7 ft in side or rear yards.
Accessory buildings: City rule: accessory buildings are limited to 12 ft; those over 120 sq ft need Building Official approval.
Home businesses: City rule: home businesses need a Planning Director permit and a city business license; only residents may work on site.

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

Fences and walls

Newman code What Newman's code adds
Corner visibility	At most 3 feet above the curb in the corner triangle reaching 40 feet along each curb line. Applies: Corner lots: fences, hedges, walls, landscaping and other visual obstructions. § 5.23.060 · code text Fences, hedges, walls and other ornamental landscaping or other visual obstructions shall not be over three feet high above the curb on a corner lot within a triangle formed by the curb lines and a line connecting those lines from points thereon which lie 40 feet from the intersection of the curb lines. Nothing over 3 feet in the triangle 10 feet along the sidewalk and 10 feet along a private driveway. Applies: Height measured above the sidewalk or driveway level; covers fences, hedges, walls and landscaping. § 5.23.060 · code text Fences, hedges, walls and other ornamental landscaping or other visual obstruction over three feet high above the sidewalk and/or driveway elevation shall not be permitted to be located within the triangular area adjacent to a private driveway formed by measuring 10 feet from the driveway along a sidewalk and 10 feet along the driveway from the sidewalk.
Front yard height	Fences and walls up to 42 inches tall can stand in any required yard. Includes the required front yard; measured from the highest finished grade. § 5.23.060 · code text Fences, and walls not exceeding 42 inches in height, measured from the highest finished grade from any adjoining and subject properties may occupy any required yard area. See-through fences, such as chain link, can be up to 4 feet tall. Applies: In a required yard, including the front yard, with staff approval. § 5.23.060 · code text Fences with visual clearance (such as chainlink) may be allowed up to four feet in height, subject to staff approval. Fences can be at most 42 inches tall. Applies: Step-down fences in the required setback, from where the sight lines meet the property line toward the street. § 5.23.060 · code text Where the A and B lines intersect the property line, at that point forward the fence shall not be higher than 42 inches.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 7 feet tall. Applies: Side or rear yards, not in front yards; on corner lots at least 10 feet from the street side curb; measured from highest finished grade. § 5.23.060 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height, measured from the highest finished grade from any adjoining and subject properties, may occupy any side or rear yard area, provided:
Permit	A use permit and a building permit are required. Applies: Fences or structures that go beyond the standard fence rules. § 5.23.060 · code text Fences or structures exceeding the requirements of subsections (A), (B) and (C) of this section may be erected provided a use permit and building permit are obtained. A Newman Public Works Department permit is required before building the fence. Applies: Fences on a public right-of-way or in any easement. § 5.23.060 · code text No fence shall be constructed upon the public right-of-way or within any easement, including a public utility easement, prior to the issuance of a permit by the Newman Public Works Department

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Newman code What Newman's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory buildings can be at most 12 feet tall. § 5.23.030 · code text An accessory building shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. Applies: Detached accessory buildings. § 5.23.030 · code text Detached accessory buildings shall be placed no closer than five feet from a side or rear lot line.
No permit needed up to	Up to 120 square feet without Building Official approval. Applies: Accessory buildings over 120 square feet need Building Official approval before they are placed or built. § 5.23.030 · code text Accessory buildings exceeding 120 square feet shall require approval of the Building Official prior to their placement or construction on a lot.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any home or building on the same or a neighboring lot. Applies: Detached accessory buildings, except detached patio covers. § 5.23.030 · code text A detached accessory building shall be located on the rear one-half of the lot and at least six feet from any dwelling/building existing or under construction on the same lot or any adjacent lot. No minimum distance from the house is required. Applies: Detached patio covers, unless the building or fire code requires one. § 5.23.030 · code text In the case of a detached patio cover, no minimum separation from the primary dwelling shall be required unless otherwise stipulated by building or fire code.

Running a business from home

Newman code What Newman's code adds
Customer visits	Car traffic, foot traffic and parking cannot go beyond what is normal for the zone. § 5.20.020 · code text A home occupation shall not be permitted to generate vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic and parking beyond that normal to the zoning district in which it is located.
Employees	No one other than a resident of the home can work or report for work on site. § 5.20.020 · code text No person, other than a resident of the dwelling, shall be employed on-site, or report for work at the site, in the conduct of the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit from the Planning Director and a business license from the City Finance Department. § 5.20.010 · code text Home occupations shall be permitted only after a home occupation permit has been issued by the Planning Director and a business license secured from the City Finance Department. A conditional use permit from the Planning Commission is required. Applies: Home businesses that do not meet the standard requirements and limits. § 5.20.010 · code text A home occupation which varies from the requirements and limitations of this section shall be required to obtain a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission.
Businesses not allowed	animal hospital or kennel; vehicle repair and/or body shop; barbershop, beauty shop or other personal service establishment; business, dance, or music school; campground or RV park; contractor's storage yard; doctor or dentist office; fuel wood sales and/or processing; guest lodging; laundry; mortuary; outdoor sales or repair; private club; repair shop or service establishment; retail sales business; restaurant or bar; video arcades or amusement centers § 5.20.020 · code text In no event shall a home occupation be interpreted to include an animal hospital or kennel; vehicle repair and/or body shop; barbershop, beauty shop or other personal service establishment; business, dance, or music school; campground or RV park; contractor's storage yard; doctor or dentist office; fuel wood sales and/or processing; guest lodging; laundry; mortuary; outdoor sales or repair; private club; repair shop or service establishment; retail sales business; restaurant or bar; video arcades or amusement centers.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Newman code What Newman's code adds
EV charger permit	The City Building Official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist. Applies: EV charging stations; the application must also meet all applicable laws and health and safety standards. § 4.24.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Solar permit process	Applications may be submitted electronically, with electronic signature, as available resources allow. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 4.23.030 · code text As allowed by available resources, the Department shall allow for electronic submittal of a permit application and associated documentation and shall allow electronic signature in lieu of a wet signature. Approval and all required permits once the complete application is confirmed to meet the California Building Standards Code. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 4.23.030 · code text Upon confirmation by the Department that the application and supporting documentation are complete and meet all requirements of the California Building Standards Code, the Department shall approve the application and issue all required permits.

Swimming pools

Newman code What Newman's code adds
Equipment and alarms	At least 30 feet from any home other than the owner's. Applies: Pool filter and heating systems in R Districts. § 5.23.070 · code text Filter and heating system for such pools shall not be located closer than 30 feet to any dwelling other than the owner's.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet. Applies: R District pools, from rear or side lines; also on the lot's rear half or 50 ft from the front line, whichever is less. § 5.23.070 · code text such pools shall not be located closer than five feet to any rear lot line or side line. At least 10 feet from that side lot line. Applies: The street side of a corner lot where the rear lot line abuts a side lot line. § 5.23.070 · code text On the street side of any corner lot, where the rear lot line abuts a side lot line, no pool shall be located closer than 10 feet to such side lot line.

Other Newman rules on this

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

Animals not allowed near neighbors in residential zones (§ 9.02.100)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Newman?

City rule: fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front yard and 7 ft in side or rear yards.

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

City rule: accessory buildings are limited to 12 ft; those over 120 sq ft need Building Official approval.

Can I run a business from my home in Newman?

City rule: home businesses need a Planning Director permit and a city business license; only residents may work on site.

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

Newman's code: The City Building Official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist. (EV charging stations; the application must also meet all applicable laws and health and safety standards.) (§ 4.24.040); Applications may be submitted electronically, with electronic signature, as available resources allow. (Small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 4.23.030).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Newman?

Newman's code: At least 30 feet from any home other than the owner's. (Pool filter and heating systems in R Districts.) (§ 5.23.070); At least 5 feet. (R District pools, from rear or side lines; also on the lot's rear half or 50 ft from the front line, whichever is less.) (§ 5.23.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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Newman Municipal Code — full text

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