Norwalk · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Norwalk

Norwalk sets its own fence heights and accessory-building limits for residential zones. Home occupations have a separate city section.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front setback and 6 ft elsewhere on the lot, outside corner cut-offs.
Accessory buildings: City rule: residential accessory buildings are limited to 1 story and 16 ft, and enclosed ones to 800 sq ft per property.
Home occupations: Home occupations fall under the city's own section, § 17.02.150 (Home occupation permit).

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

Fences and walls

Norwalk code What Norwalk's code adds
Corner visibility	Walls, fences and hedges can be at most 30 inches tall. Applies: Within a corner cut-off area. § 17.03.300 · code text A solid wall, fence, or hedge up to six feet in height may be located anywhere on a lot or parcel, except within the required front setback area, where the height is restricted to 42 inches, and except within a corner cut-off area, where the height is restricted to 30 inches as prescribed in Section 17.03.250.
Height anywhere on the lot	Solid walls, fences and hedges can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Anywhere on the lot except the required front setback and the corner cut-off area. § 17.03.300 · code text A solid wall, fence, or hedge up to six feet in height may be located anywhere on a lot or parcel, except within the required front setback area, where the height is restricted to 42 inches, and except within a corner cut-off area, where the height is restricted to 30 inches as prescribed in Section 17.03.250.
Front yard height	Walls, fences and hedges can be at most 42 inches tall. Applies: Within the required front setback area. § 17.03.300 · code text A solid wall, fence, or hedge up to six feet in height may be located anywhere on a lot or parcel, except within the required front setback area, where the height is restricted to 42 inches, and except within a corner cut-off area, where the height is restricted to 30 inches as prescribed in Section 17.03.250.
Permit	A building permit is required. Applies: Walls or fences over 6 feet tall. § 17.03.300 · code text No wall or fence in excess of six feet in height shall be erected or constructed unless a building permit therefor has been obtained.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Norwalk code What Norwalk's code adds
Maximum height	At most 1 story and 16 feet tall. Applies: Accessory buildings and structures in any residential zone. § 17.04.205 · code text Accessory buildings and structures located in any residential zone shall not exceed one story and 16 feet in height.
Size or lot coverage	At most 800 square feet in total per residential property. Applies: Enclosed accessory buildings and structures. § 17.04.205 · code text The total area for enclosed accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed 800 square feet per residential property. At most 600 square feet of accessory buildings per home. Applies: Properties with more than 1 detached single-family home. § 17.04.205 · code text If there is more than one detached single-family dwelling on a property, the total area for accessory buildings shall not exceed 600 square feet per dwelling.
Side and rear setback	At least 4 feet from interior side and rear lot lines. Applies: Residential zones; corner lots follow the zoning district setbacks. § 17.04.205 · code text Accessory buildings and structures located in any residential zone shall have a minimum interior side and rear yard setback of four feet.

RV and boat parking

Norwalk code What Norwalk's code adds
Parking on the street	RVs and recreational trailers: no more than 72 consecutive hours, with a city permit. Applies: Permit required; within 100 feet of the resident's home, for loading, unloading or travel prep; at most 20 permits per address per calendar year. § 10.09.040 · code text With such a permit, a recreational vehicle or recreational trailer may be parked on a public street or right-of-way within 100 feet of the permittee's residence for a period not exceeding 72 consecutive hours. Up to 24 hours. Applies: RVs and RV trailers under emergency repair, such as a flat tire, not routine upkeep; repairs must be done within 24 hours. § 10.09.030 · code text provided all repairs are completed within 24 hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Norwalk code What Norwalk's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist; electronic submittal is allowed. Applies: EV charging stations; must meet applicable laws and safety standards; the charger may not be energized or used until the city approves. § 15.54.040 · 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	Expedited review; apply in person, by mail, or electronically with the permit processing fee. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.52.040 · code text The application and associated documentation may be submitted to the City's Building Division in person, mail, or by electronic submittal together with the required permit processing fee.

Swimming pools

Norwalk code What Norwalk's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Pool wastewater disposal needs prior approval and a way to empty the whole pool without surface runoff. § 15.20.140 · code text Swimming pool wastewater shall be disposed of as herein set forth in this section and the type of disposal provided shall be approved by the administrative authority prior to the commencement of any work. A means of disposal of the total contents of the pool (periodic emptying) without surface runoff shall be established to the satisfaction of the administrative authority.
Setback from property lines	At least 2 feet from any property line, and not in a public utility easement. Applies: Applies to pool equipment pits. § 15.20.130 · code text No pool equipment pit shall be located within two feet of any property line or within any public utility easement. At least 1 inch from the property line for each 1 inch of depth below grade. Applies: Applies to pool excavations, unless the Building Department finds a smaller setback will not harm the pool or other structures. § 15.20.130 · code text No pool excavation shall be less than one inch from the property line for each one inch of depth below grade unless the Building Department shall determine that a lesser setback will not impair the structural soundness of the pool or of any other existing structure on or off the property.

Other Norwalk rules on this

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

Home occupation permit (§ 17.02.150)
Permit to keep more animals at home (§ 17.02.140)
Animals on residential properties (§ 17.04.200)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Norwalk?

City rule: fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front setback and 6 ft elsewhere on the lot, outside corner cut-offs.

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

City rule: residential accessory buildings are limited to 1 story and 16 ft, and enclosed ones to 800 sq ft per property.

Can I run a business from my home in Norwalk?

Home occupations fall under the city's own section, § 17.02.150 (Home occupation permit). Norwalk also has a related rule: Home occupation permit (§ 17.02.150).

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

Norwalk's code: RVs and recreational trailers: no more than 72 consecutive hours, with a city permit. (Permit required; within 100 feet of the resident's home, for loading, unloading or travel prep; at most 20 permits per address per calendar year.) (§ 10.09.040); Up to 24 hours. (RVs and RV trailers under emergency repair, such as a flat tire, not routine upkeep; repairs must be done within 24 hours.) (§ 10.09.030).

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

Norwalk's code: The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist; electronic submittal is allowed. (EV charging stations; must meet applicable laws and safety standards; the charger may not be energized or used until the city approves.) (§ 15.54.040); Expedited review; apply in person, by mail, or electronically with the permit processing fee. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.52.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Norwalk?

Norwalk's code: Pool wastewater disposal needs prior approval and a way to empty the whole pool without surface runoff. (§ 15.20.140); At least 2 feet from any property line, and not in a public utility easement. (Applies to pool equipment pits.) (§ 15.20.130).

General information, not legal advice.

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