Orange County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Orange County

In unincorporated Orange County, the county code sets fence and wall heights by setback area and keeps home occupations inside the living area. These county rules apply only in unincorporated areas.

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Key points

Fence heights: Required front setback: solid fences limited to 3.5 feet, open fencing to 5 feet; setbacks not adjoining a street, 6 feet.
Accessory structures: The county has a chapter on accessory uses and structures that applies in all districts unless a plan says otherwise.
Home occupations: A home occupation must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area, with at most 1 client at any given time.

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

Orange County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Orange County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Corner visibility	Fences can be at most 3.5 feet tall. Applies: Within 5 feet of where a street right-of-way line meets an interior property line, a driveway or an alley. § 7-9-64 · code text Notwithstanding "b" above, the maximum height shall be three and one-half (3.5) feet within five (5) feet of the point of intersection of: Fences can be at most 3.5 feet tall in the corner triangle. Applies: Street corners: the triangle between 2 points 15 feet from where the street right-of-way lines meet. § 7-9-64 · code text Notwithstanding "b" above, the maximum height shall be three and one-half (3.5) feet within the triangular area formed by drawing a straight line between two (2) points located on, and fifteen (15) feet distant from, the point of intersection of two (2) ultimate street or highway right-of-way lines extended.
Front yard height	Solid fences can be at most 3.5 feet tall. Applies: In any required front setback, up to 20 feet deep. § 7-9-64 · code text The maximum height of solid fencing shall be three and one-half (3.5) feet within any required front setback area up to a maximum depth of twenty (20) feet. Open fences and pilasters can be at most 5 feet tall. Applies: In any required front setback. § 7-9-64 · code text The maximum height of open fencing and pilasters shall be a maximum of five (5) feet within any required front setback area. Retaining walls can be at most 3.5 feet tall. Applies: In the required front setback where the street is higher than the setback; exposed wall face at most 6 feet. § 7-9-64 · code text Where the elevation of the street is higher than the front setback area, the maximum height of a retaining wall shall be three and one-half (3.5) feet within any required front setback area and the exposed area of the retaining wall shall be a maximum of six (6) feet.
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Rear or side setbacks next to a street, with no driveway access through them. § 7-9-64 · code text The maximum height shall be six (6) feet within any rear or side setback area (through which no vehicular access is taken) adjoining a street. Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Required front, rear or side setbacks not next to a street. § 7-9-64 · code text The maximum height shall be six (6) feet within any required front, rear, or side setback area not adjoining a street. Fences or walls can never exceed 8 feet from base to top. Applies: Side or rear setbacks where the neighboring site is higher; height may be measured from the neighbor's ground level. § 7-9-64 · code text However, where the elevation of an adjoining building site to the side or rear is higher than the base of the fence or wall in the side or rear setback area, the height of the fence or wall may be measured from the elevation of the adjoining building site to the top of the fence or wall and in no case shall such fence or wall exceed eight (8) feet from the base of the fence/wall to the top.
Permit	A Site Development Permit for fences up to 8 feet; a Use Permit for fences over 8 feet. Applies: Exceptions to the standard fence and wall height rules. § 7-9-64 · code text Exceptions and modifications to the fence and wall height provisions may be permitted subject to the approval of Site Development Permit by the Director for fences/walls eight (8) feet or less, or approval of a Use Permit for fences/walls greater than eight (8) feet by the Zoning Administrator per section 7-9-125.

Running a business from home

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Space used	Only inside the enclosed living area of the home. § 7-9-104 · code text A home occupation shall be conducted only within the enclosed living area of the dwelling unit.
Customer visits	No more than 1 client on site. Applies: At any given time. § 7-9-104 · code text A home occupation shall not have more than one (1) client on the premises at any given time.
Permit	Allowed as an accessory use to a home under set standards; no separate permit is named. Applies: In districts that list home businesses as a permitted use. § 7-9-104 · code text Home occupations are permitted when conducted as an accessory use to a residential use in any district that specifies home occupations as a permitted use, subject to the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
Businesses not allowed	selling prepared foods on-site Applies: cottage food operation § 7-9-104 · code text A cottage food operation shall comply with all applicable State regulations and shall not sell any prepared foods on-site. distribution, transporting, manufacturing, cultivating or delivery of cannabis or cannabis products from the home § 7-9-104 · code text Distribution, transporting, manufacturing, cultivating or delivery of cannabis or cannabis products from the home is not permitted as a home occupation.

RV and boat parking

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles over 25 feet long or over 10,000 pounds may not be parked and left on a public street. Applies: Applies to public streets and highways in a residence district. § 6-4-606 · code text No person shall park and leave standing upon any public street or highway in a "residence district" any motor vehicle of a length in excess of twenty-five (25) feet or a weight in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds
Parking on the street	Only to load or unload, serve a property on the block, or for emergency repairs; 72 consecutive hours maximum. Applies: Applies to vehicles over 25 feet long or 10,000 pounds on residence-district streets. § 6-4-606 · code text Prohibited vehicles may be parked on public "residence district" streets and highways while loading or unloading persons and/or property; or when such vehicle is parked in connection with or in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which such vehicle is parked; or to perform repairs of an emergency nature on the motor vehicle itself, for a maximum of seventy-two (72) consecutive hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	Panels may not exceed the maximum legal building height. Applies: Required for a small residential rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited permitting. § 7-1-81 · code text A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the County of Orange.
Solar permit process	Expedited review; apply by email, the county website, or fax; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems in unincorporated areas of the county. § 7-1-81 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents via email, the County's website, or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar in unincorporated areas, when the application meets the checklist and standard plan. § 7-1-81 · 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 non-discretionary permit within three (3) business days.

Swimming pools

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet. Applies: From a property line or a planned vehicle right-of-way. § 7-9-116.2 · code text Swimming pools shall not be constructed within three (3) feet of an ultimate vehicular right-of-way or property line or within those areas described by section 7-9-64 (d) and (e).

Pets, chickens and bees

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Large animals	Livestock need a strong fence; wire fences need 3 tight barbed wires, one at least 4 feet high. § 4-1-143 · code text Every owner, keeper, custodian or harborer of livestock shall erect and/or maintain a fence as herein described to contain and confine all livestock kept or maintained on his premises.

Other Orange County rules on this

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

Accessory uses and structures (§ 7-9-116) — applies in all districts unless a plan says otherwise

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Orange County?

Required front setback: solid fences limited to 3.5 feet, open fencing to 5 feet; setbacks not adjoining a street, 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Orange County?

The county has a chapter on accessory uses and structures that applies in all districts unless a plan says otherwise. Orange County also has a related rule: Accessory uses and structures (§ 7-9-116) — applies in all districts unless a plan says otherwise.

Can I run a business from my home in Orange County?

A home occupation must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area, with at most 1 client at any given time.

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

Orange County's code: Vehicles over 25 feet long or over 10,000 pounds may not be parked and left on a public street. (Applies to public streets and highways in a residence district.) (§ 6-4-606); Only to load or unload, serve a property on the block, or for emergency repairs; 72 consecutive hours maximum. (Applies to vehicles over 25 feet long or 10,000 pounds on residence-district streets.) (§ 6-4-606).

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

Orange County's code: Panels may not exceed the maximum legal building height. (Required for a small residential rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited permitting.) (§ 7-1-81); Expedited review; apply by email, the county website, or fax; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems in unincorporated areas of the county.) (§ 7-1-81).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Orange County?

Orange County's code: At least 3 feet. (From a property line or a planned vehicle right-of-way.) (§ 7-9-116.2).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Orange County?

Orange County's code: Livestock need a strong fence; wire fences need 3 tight barbed wires, one at least 4 feet high. (§ 4-1-143).

General information, not legal advice.

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