Orange Cove · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Orange Cove

Orange Cove limits fence, hedge and wall heights by yard and keeps corner, driveway and alley sight areas clear. Its accessory structure height rule applies only in its multiple-family districts R-2-A and R-3-A.

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Key points

Fence heights: Front yard fences: at most 3 feet, or 4 feet for open wire mesh; on side and rear lines of interior lots, 6 feet.
Accessory height: In the R-2-A and R-3-A multiple-family districts, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet to plate height.

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

Fences and walls

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing may block the view in the 45-degree corner cutoff through points 30 feet from the corner. Applies: Corner lots where streets or highways meet; the points are measured along each property line. § 17.06.130 · code text There shall be a corner cutoff area at all intersecting streets or highways. The cutoff line shall be in a horizontal plane, making an angle of forty-five degrees, with the side, front or rear property line, as the case may be. It shall pass through the points located on both the side and front (or rear) property lines at a distance of thirty (30) feet from the intersection of such lines at the corner of a street or highway. Nothing may block the view in the 45-degree cutoff on each driveway side, at least 10 feet from its edge. Applies: Private driveways that meet a street or alley. § 17.06.130 · code text They shall pass through a point not less than ten feet from the edges of the driveway where it intersects the street or alley right-of-way. Nothing may block the view in the 45-degree cutoff on each alley side, at least 10 feet from its edge. Applies: Alleys that meet a street or alley. § 17.06.130 · code text They shall pass through a point not less than ten feet from the edges of the alley where it intersects the street or alley right-of-way.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, hedges and walls can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: R-A district: on or inside rear and side lines of interior lots, and on or behind front yard setback lines. § 17.08.150 · code text Fences, hedges and walls, not greater than six feet in height, shall be permitted on or within all rear and side property lines on interior lots and on or to the rear of all front yard setback lines.
Front yard height	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: Any required front yard, and the street side yard of a reversed corner lot, except as the code allows. § 17.08.150 · code text No fence, wall or hedge over three feet in height shall be permitted in any required front yard, or in the required side yard on the street side of a reversed corner lot, except as follows: Open wire mesh fences can be up to 4 feet tall. Applies: Mesh must let through at least 90% of light; in a required front yard or street side yard of a reversed corner lot. § 17.08.150 · code text On all parcels, regardless of the size of the parcel, a fence composed of wire mesh capable of admitting at least ninety percent of the light as measured on a reputable light meter of a height not over four feet shall be permitted.
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Fences over 3 feet in a required front yard on parcels of 5 acres or more. § 17.08.150 · code text On parcels of five acres or more a fence of greater height shall be permitted subject to a conditional use permit;

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory buildings can be at most 1 story or 12 feet to plate height. Applies: R-2-A medium density multiple-family residential district. § 17.19.050 · code text Accessory buildings erected in this district shall not exceed one story, or twelve feet to plate height. Accessory buildings can be at most 1 story or 12 feet to plate height. Applies: R-3-A high density multiple-family residential district. § 17.24.050 · code text Accessory buildings erected in this district shall not exceed one story or twelve feet to plate height.

RV and boat parking

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours on the street. Applies: Applies to utility trailers no longer than 20 feet, parked in front of the property they serve; other trailers may not park on the street. § 10.32.032 · code text it shall be lawful for any person to park or detach a utility trailer no longer than twenty feet in length on the street in the city for a period of no more than seventy-two hours for any lawful purpose related to the real property adjacent to the right-of-way where the utility trailer is parked.

Pets, chickens and bees

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Bees	No, except as part of an existing agricultural operation. § 6.12.060 · code text No person shall keep or maintain within the city any stand of bees except in conjunction with an existing agricultural operation.
Large animals	Horses, cows, goats, sheep and similar animals are not household pets or an accessory home use, unless otherwise lawfully permitted. § 17.04.940 · code text Household pets shall not include horses, cows, goats, sheep, other equine, bovine, ovine, or ruminant animals No more than 2 Vietnamese potbellied pigs per single-family home; none at multi-family dwellings. § 6.12.020 · code text No more than two Vietnamese potbellied pigs shall be permitted at any one single-family residence. Pigs are prohibited from any multiple-family dwelling.
Pet limit	Dogs, cats and potbellied pigs: 3 combined; other pets: 3 combined; reptiles: 3; all pets: 6 total. Applies: Per household or premises; within the combined limits, at most 3 dogs, 3 cats, or 2 potbellied pigs. § 6.12.010 · code text The maximum number of household pets allowed in a household or on any premises shall be as follows:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Orange Cove?

Front yard fences: at most 3 feet, or 4 feet for open wire mesh; on side and rear lines of interior lots, 6 feet.

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

In the R-2-A and R-3-A multiple-family districts, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet to plate height.

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

Orange Cove's code: No more than 72 hours on the street. (Applies to utility trailers no longer than 20 feet, parked in front of the property they serve; other trailers may not park on the street.) (§ 10.32.032).

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

Orange Cove's code: No, except as part of an existing agricultural operation. (§ 6.12.060); Horses, cows, goats, sheep and similar animals are not household pets or an accessory home use, unless otherwise lawfully permitted. (§ 17.04.940).

General information, not legal advice.

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