Newport Beach · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Newport Beach

Newport Beach sets its own limits for small accessory structures in setbacks and its own home-business rules. Fences, hedges and walls have separate city sections, including one for the coastal zone.

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Key points

Setback structures: City rule: accessory structures in required side or rear setbacks are limited to 6 ft high and 150 sq ft each.
Home businesses: City rule: home businesses need a business license and prior appointments for visits; vehicle repair and hazardous storage are not allowed.
Fences: Fences, hedges and walls fall under city § 20.30.040, and in the coastal zone under § 21.30.040.

Each rule below is marked Newport Beach 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

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory structures in a side or rear setback can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Each structure, including mechanical equipment housings, at most 150 square feet; not in a rear setback next to an alley. § 21.30.110 · code text Accessory structures, including housings for mechanical equipment, not more than six feet in height and totaling no more than one hundred fifty (150) square feet per structure, may be located within a required side or rear setback area other than a rear setback area abutting an alley. Arbors, trellises and similar garden structures can be at most 9 feet tall. Applies: When they extend into required front, side or rear setbacks. § 21.30.110 · code text The maximum height of the structure shall not exceed nine feet.
Size or lot coverage	At most 150 square feet per structure. Applies: Accessory structures up to 6 feet tall, including equipment housings, in a side or rear setback; not in a rear setback next to an alley. § 21.30.110 · code text Accessory structures, including housings for mechanical equipment, not more than six feet in height and totaling no more than one hundred fifty (150) square feet per structure, may be located within a required side or rear setback area other than a rear setback area abutting an alley. Footprint can be at most 16 square feet. Applies: Arbors, trellises and similar garden structures that extend into required front, side or rear setbacks. § 21.30.110 · code text The maximum footprint of the structure shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet;

Running a business from home

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
Customer visits	Visitors only by prior appointment. § 20.48.110 · code text Home occupations shall not be open to visitors without prior appointments.
Employees	Employees are limited to permanent residents of the home. Applies: Independent contractors who visit now and then are not counted. § 20.48.110 · code text Employees of a home occupation shall be limited to permanent residents of the dwelling unit.
Permit	A business license is required, as the city's business license rules require. § 20.48.110 · code text Applicable business licenses shall be obtained as required by Title 5 (Business Licenses and Regulations). A film permit is required. Applies: Commercial filming. § 20.48.110 · code text Commercial filming activities may be allowed subject to approval of a film permit in compliance with Chapter 5.46 (Regulation of Commercial Film Production).
Businesses not allowed	Vehicle repair or storage associated with the home occupation; storage of hazardous materials § 20.48.110 · code text Vehicle repair or storage associated with the home occupation shall not be allowed. Storage of hazardous materials shall not be allowed.

Lot splits under SB 9

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
Standards	No work, including grading, may start on either lot without a building permit, issued only after the parcel map records. Applies: The permit must be for housing that meets the city's objective standards; applies during or after an urban lot split. § 19.90.040 · code text No development, including grading, shall commence on either lot, concurrent or subsequent to an urban lot split, unless it is approved with a valid building permit for the construction of a housing development that complies with all the objective development and design standards in Sections 20.48.200 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and 20.48.205 (SB 9 Housing Developments and Urban Lot Splits in Single-Unit Residential Zoning Districts), or any other adopted objective design standards in effect at the time a complete application is submitted.
Owner occupancy	The owner states they will live in one unit as principal residence for at least 3 years. Applies: Counted from recording of the final parcel map. § 19.90.020 · code text The owner intends to occupy one of the housing units located on a lot created by the parcel map as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the recording of the final parcel map;

RV and boat parking

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles over 22 feet long, or 84+ inches wide and over 84 inches tall, may not park on residential streets. Applies: Trailers too; also banned within 500 feet of a park, day care or school entrance; short loading exceptions apply. § 12.40.055 · code text “large motor vehicle” shall mean any motor vehicle eighty-four (84) inches or more in width and more than eighty-four (84) inches in height or more than twenty-two (22) feet in length
Parking on the street	Less than 24 consecutive hours. Applies: Large vehicles or hitched trailers next to the owner's home for loading, unloading, cleaning, battery charging or trip preparation. § 12.40.055 · code text Large motor vehicles, or nonmotorized vehicles which are attached to a motor vehicle, parked for less than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours if parked adjacent to the owner’s residence for the purposes of loading, unloading, cleaning, battery charging, or other activity preparatory or incidental to travel; No more than 72 hours. Applies: Next to the owner's home or a police-approved location, for loading, cleaning, charging or trip preparation, with the Police Chief's permission. § 12.40.055 · code text Large motor vehicles, or nonmotorized vehicles which are attached to a motor vehicle, parked adjacent to the owner’s residence or at such other location approved by the Chief of Police, for no more than seventy-two (72) hours for the purposes of loading, unloading, cleaning, battery charging, or other activity preparatory or incidental to travel, provided permission has been granted by the Chief of Police; No more than 72 hours. Applies: In the REQ (SP 7) district of Santa Ana Heights, for loading, unloading or standing, by vehicles transporting horses. § 12.40.055 · code text Any motor vehicle or nonmotorized vehicle, currently registered and licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, that is parked in the REQ (SP 7) district of Santa Ana Heights for the express purpose of loading/unloading or standing for a period not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
EV charger permit	Approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Applies: Applies to applications to install EV charging stations. § 15.19.060 · code text The Building Division shall administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit.
Solar permit process	A nondiscretionary permit for a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan; one inspection for expedited systems. Applies: Applies to complete applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.18.070 · code text The Building Division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Review time	Same day. Applies: Applies to complete over-the-counter applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.18.070 · code text The Building Division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Applies to complete electronic applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.18.070 · code text within one to three business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
Drain safety	Spas may not be used when the suction outlet cover is missing, damaged, broken, or loose. Applies: Applies to spas and exercise spas. § 15.09.460 · code text Spas and exercise spas shall not be used or operated if the suction outlet cover is missing, damaged, broken or loose.

Pets, chickens and bees

Newport Beach code What Newport Beach's code adds
Chickens	Not allowed, since poultry counts as livestock, except where city zoning specifically permits it. § 7.12.010 · code text No person shall keep any cow, pig, goat, horse, mule, poultry or any other animal commonly considered livestock within the City except where specifically permitted under the provisions of Title 20, Planning and Zoning, of this Code.
Large animals	Livestock, such as cows, pigs, goats, horses, mules and poultry, only where city zoning specifically permits it. § 7.12.010 · code text No person shall keep any cow, pig, goat, horse, mule, poultry or any other animal commonly considered livestock within the City except where specifically permitted under the provisions of Title 20, Planning and Zoning, of this Code. Registered miniature pot-bellied pigs of 125 pounds or less are not livestock; each must be spayed or neutered. Applies: Applies to miniature pot-bellied pigs; a wild animal permit is required first. § 7.12.010 · code text Miniature pot-bellied pigs, weighing not more than one hundred twenty-five (125) pounds, and registered with a nationally recognized miniature pig association, shall not be considered livestock.
Permit	A wild animal permit is required. Applies: Applies to a miniature pot-bellied pig of 125 pounds or less, registered with a national miniature pig association. § 7.12.010 · code text Any person wishing to keep a miniature pot-bellied pig shall first obtain a wild animal permit pursuant to Section 7.08.040 except the applicant will not be required to obtain a California Fish and Game Permit.

Other Newport Beach rules on this

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

Fences, hedges, walls and retaining walls (§ 20.30.040)
Fences, hedges and walls in the coastal zone (§ 21.30.040) — coastal zone only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Newport Beach?

Fences, hedges and walls fall under city § 20.30.040, and in the coastal zone under § 21.30.040. Newport Beach also has a related rule: Fences, hedges, walls and retaining walls (§ 20.30.040); Fences, hedges and walls in the coastal zone (§ 21.30.040) — coastal zone only.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Newport Beach?

City rule: accessory structures in required side or rear setbacks are limited to 6 ft high and 150 sq ft each.

Can I run a business from my home in Newport Beach?

City rule: home businesses need a business license and prior appointments for visits; vehicle repair and hazardous storage are not allowed.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Newport Beach?

Newport Beach's code: No work, including grading, may start on either lot without a building permit, issued only after the parcel map records. (The permit must be for housing that meets the city's objective standards; applies during or after an urban lot split.) (§ 19.90.040); The owner states they will live in one unit as principal residence for at least 3 years. (Counted from recording of the final parcel map.) (§ 19.90.020).

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

Newport Beach's code: Vehicles over 22 feet long, or 84+ inches wide and over 84 inches tall, may not park on residential streets. (Trailers too; also banned within 500 feet of a park, day care or school entrance; short loading exceptions apply.) (§ 12.40.055); Less than 24 consecutive hours. (Large vehicles or hitched trailers next to the owner's home for loading, unloading, cleaning, battery charging or trip preparation.) (§ 12.40.055).

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

Newport Beach's code: Approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. (Applies to applications to install EV charging stations.) (§ 15.19.060); A nondiscretionary permit for a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan; one inspection for expedited systems. (Applies to complete applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.18.070).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Newport Beach?

Newport Beach's code: Spas may not be used when the suction outlet cover is missing, damaged, broken, or loose. (Applies to spas and exercise spas.) (§ 15.09.460).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Newport Beach?

Newport Beach's code: Not allowed, since poultry counts as livestock, except where city zoning specifically permits it. (§ 7.12.010); Livestock, such as cows, pigs, goats, horses, mules and poultry, only where city zoning specifically permits it. (§ 7.12.010).

General information, not legal advice.

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