Norco · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Norco

Norco sets its own fence heights, limits for antennas and wind turbines, and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the zone, the front setback and corner cutback areas.

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Key points

Fence height: Norco limits R-zone front-setback fences to 3 ft and A- and R-zone side and rear yard fences to 6 ft.
Wind turbines: City rule: noncommercial wind turbines are limited to 35 ft and a 400 sq ft swept area, and need building permits.
Home businesses: City rule: home businesses may employ no one outside the resident family and may draw no more traffic than normal for the zone.

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

Fences and walls

Norco code What Norco's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 3 feet. Applies: Corner cutback area of corner lots; applies to unpruned mature landscaping, walls, fences and other obstructions. § 18.31.08 · code text In the corner cutback area of corner lots, the height of mature landscaping without pruning, walls, fences, and other obstructions may not exceed three (3) feet in height. The corner cutback triangle reaches 25 feet back from where the front and street side property lines meet. Applies: Corner lots; nothing in the triangle may be over 3 feet high. § 18.31.08 · code text These points shall be measured twenty-five (25) feet back from the intersection of the prolongation of the front and street side property lines.
Height anywhere on the lot	A solid wall or fence at least 8 feet and no more than 9 feet high. Applies: One breeding or breaking pen at the lot's rear; at most 60 feet along each of 2 property lines, at least 25 feet from streets. § 18.31.08 · code text such breeding and/or breaking pen shall have a solid wall or fence enclosure not less than eight (8) feet and not exceeding nine (9) feet in height from the ground level
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet if it blocks more than 10% of visibility. Applies: Front building setback in an A zone; a wall, fence or hedge that blocks less may be up to 6 feet. § 18.31.08 · code text Three (3) feet in height, if the surface obstructs more than ten percent (10%) visibility through any portion thereof. No more than 3 feet. Applies: Walls, fences or hedges in the front building setback of any lot in an R zone. § 18.31.08 · code text Within the front building setback area of any lot or parcel in any R zone, no wall, fence or hedge shall exceed three (3) feet in height.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Walls or fences in required side and rear yards and outside the front setback, A or R zones; the Planning Director may modify. § 18.31.08 · code text No wall or fence exceeding six (6) feet in height shall be erected or maintained on any required rear yard or side yard open space in any zone designated by an "A" or "R" code letter.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Norco code What Norco's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet above ground, and ground mounted. Applies: Satellite dish antennas to the rear or side of the main home, in agricultural, residential and hillside zones. § 18.31.16 · code text Satellite dish type antennas shall be ground mounted and not exceed a height of 15 feet as measured from ground level, except satellite dish may be mounted on the roof of Commercial Industrial buildings if screened to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission. No more than 45 feet above ground. Applies: Antennas other than satellite dishes, to the rear or side of the main home, in agricultural, residential and hillside zones. § 18.31.16 · code text All other antenna shall not exceed an overall height of forty-five feet as measured from ground level; and No more than 35 feet, including the swept area. Applies: Noncommercial wind energy systems (wind turbines); building permits are required. § 18.31.16 · code text No WECS shall exceed a height of 35 feet (including the swept area) nor have a swept area in excess of 400 square feet.
Size or lot coverage	Swept area no more than 400 square feet. Applies: Noncommercial wind energy systems (wind turbines). § 18.31.16 · code text No WECS shall exceed a height of 35 feet (including the swept area) nor have a swept area in excess of 400 square feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 2 1/2 times the swept-area diameter from all property lines. Applies: All parts of a noncommercial wind energy system (wind turbine). § 18.31.16 · code text All portions of the WECS shall be at least two and one-half (2 1/2) times the diameter of the swept area from all property lines except that the WECS shall be five (5) times the diameter of the swept area from any property line downwind of the prevalent wind condition. At least 5 times the swept-area diameter. Applies: Noncommercial wind turbine, from any property line downwind of the prevailing wind. § 18.31.16 · code text All portions of the WECS shall be at least two and one-half (2 1/2) times the diameter of the swept area from all property lines except that the WECS shall be five (5) times the diameter of the swept area from any property line downwind of the prevalent wind condition.

Running a business from home

Norco code What Norco's code adds
Customer visits	No more foot or car traffic than is normal for the zone. § 18.32.06 · code text A home occupation use shall not cause greater pedestrian or vehicular traffic to the dwelling and garage in which it is conducted than is normal for the zone in which it is being conducted.
Employees	No employees or contract helpers. Applies: Family members who live in the home may help. § 18.32.06 · code text A home occupation shall not be conducted with the assistance of any persons, who are employed or retained for such by contract or otherwise; provided, however, members of the family residing in the dwelling may so assist.
Businesses not allowed	Home occupation associated with a non-conforming residential use § 18.32.04 · code text A home occupation associated with a non-conforming residential use is expressly prohibited.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Norco code What Norco's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued when the application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.110.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the Building Official shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days. One inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.110.060 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. The inspection shall be scheduled within two business days of a request, shall be done in a timely manner, and should include consolidated inspections.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.110.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the Building Official shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days.

Swimming pools

Norco code What Norco's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from any property line or dwelling. Applies: Applies to private pools for occupants and their nonpaying guests. § 18.31.14 · code text Private swimming pools for the use of the occupants of the premises and their nonpaying guests shall be located not nearer than five (5) feet to any property line or dwelling.

Pets, chickens and bees

Norco code What Norco's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs over 4 months old per lot. Applies: Applies to any lot in the city, unless run as a licensed kennel. § 6.12.015 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor, house or maintain in excess of four dogs over the age of four months on any lot within the incorporated area of the City, unless operated as a kennel as defined in Section 6.12.010 and licensed and regulated pursuant to Chapter 6.12.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Norco?

Norco limits R-zone front-setback fences to 3 ft and A- and R-zone side and rear yard fences to 6 ft.

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

City rule: noncommercial wind turbines are limited to 35 ft and a 400 sq ft swept area, and need building permits.

Can I run a business from my home in Norco?

City rule: home businesses may employ no one outside the resident family and may draw no more traffic than normal for the zone.

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

Norco's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued when the application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.110.060); One inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.110.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Norco?

Norco's code: At least 5 feet from any property line or dwelling. (Applies to private pools for occupants and their nonpaying guests.) (§ 18.31.14).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Norco?

Norco's code: No more than 4 dogs over 4 months old per lot. (Applies to any lot in the city, unless run as a licensed kennel.) (§ 6.12.015).

General information, not legal advice.

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