Orange · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Orange

Orange sets fence and wall heights by yard and ground level, with taller walls allowed near freeways, railroads and nonresidential zones. Habitable accessory structures are limited to 450 square feet in total unless a conditional use permit is approved.

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Key points

Fence heights: On standard residential lots, front-yard fences: at most 3 1/2 feet; side and rear, 6 feet from higher ground, 10 from lower.
Accessory limits: Accessory structures together are limited to 50% of the main structure's square footage; any part in a side or rear setback, 10 feet tall.

Each rule below is marked Orange 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 code What Orange's code adds
Front yard height	Fences can be at most 3.5 feet tall. Applies: Required front yard of a standard residential lot. § 17.12.070 · code text In the required front yard area, the height shall be limited to three and one-half feet.
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to the fence. Applies: Side and rear yards of standard residential lots. § 17.12.070 · code text Six feet, as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence. Fences can be at most 10 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to the fence. Applies: Side and rear yards of standard residential lots. § 17.12.070 · code text Six feet, as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence. Sound walls can be up to 8 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to the wall. Applies: Properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall. Sound walls can be up to 10 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to the wall. Applies: Properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall. Fences or walls can be up to 8 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to them. Applies: Properties next to a nonresidential zoning district. § 17.12.070 · code text For properties abutting a nonresidential zoning district the height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence or wall, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence or wall. Fences or walls can be up to 10 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to them. Applies: Properties next to a nonresidential zoning district. § 17.12.070 · code text For properties abutting a nonresidential zoning district the height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence or wall, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence or wall. Sound walls can be up to 10 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to the wall. Applies: Mobile home properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to 10 feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 12 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall. Sound walls can be up to 12 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to the wall. Applies: Mobile home properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to 10 feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 12 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Orange code What Orange's code adds
Maximum height	Can be at most 10 feet tall. Applies: The part of an accessory structure or ADU that is inside the side or rear setback areas. § 17.14.160 · code text Building height shall not exceed 10 feet for that portion of the accessory structure or ADU that occurs within the side or rear setback areas, as defined for principal structures.
Size or lot coverage	Can cover at most 40% of the required rear yard. Applies: Non-habitable detached structures on the rear lot line, together with allowed extensions of the main building. § 17.14.160 · code text The accessory structure may abut the rear lot line only if it is not intended for habitation (interior is unfinished, such as a garage, workshop, storage shed, etc.) and the accessory structure and permitted extensions of the primary structure do not cover more than 40% of the required rear yard area. At most 50% of the main building's square footage in total. Applies: All attached or detached accessory structures on a lot combined; 1 ADU of 800 square feet or less is still allowed. § 17.14.160 · code text The total aggregate square footage of all attached or detached accessory structures on a lot shall not exceed 50% of the square footage of the principal structure, provided that one ADU of 800 or fewer square feet shall be allowed in the event the aggregate is exceeded. Up to 450 gross square feet in total. Applies: Habitable accessory structures; larger ones need a conditional use permit. § 17.14.160 · code text Habitable accessory structures greater than 450 gross aggregate square feet are allowed subject to the approval of a conditional use permit by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with Section 17.10.030(E)(1)(d).
Side and rear setback	No interior side setback is required (0 feet). Applies: Detached non-habitable structures in R1, R2, R-3 and R-4 zones; no eave over the line; part in the setback at most 10 feet tall. § 17.14.160 · code text R1-6 through R1-R \| 6 \| 20 \| 0 (c, d, e, f) \| 10 \| 0 (b, c, d, e, f) No rear setback is required (0 feet). Applies: Detached non-habitable structures in R1–R-4 zones covering at most 40% of the rear yard with main-building extensions; corner lots need 5 feet. § 17.14.160 · code text The accessory structure may abut the rear lot line only if it is not intended for habitation (interior is unfinished, such as a garage, workshop, storage shed, etc.) and the accessory structure and permitted extensions of the primary structure do not cover more than 40% of the required rear yard area. At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Corner or reverse corner lots. § 17.14.160 · code text Also, a minimum five-foot rear yard setback is required for a corner or reverse corner lot. At least 20 feet from the property line. Applies: Detached garages and carports that open onto a street next to the lot. § 17.14.160 · code text In all cases, detached garages and carports which open onto an abutting street shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the property line.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Orange code What Orange's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; one inspection. Applies: Applies to complete rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plan. § 15.18.060 · code text The Building Division shall issue a building permit on the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one business day for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. You may apply by email or the internet. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants. § 15.18.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, or the internet shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	Same day. Applies: Applies to complete over-the-counter rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.18.060 · code text The Building Division shall issue a building permit on the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one business day for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. Within 1 business day. Applies: Applies to complete electronic rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.18.060 · code text The Building Division shall issue a building permit on the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one business day for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Orange code What Orange's code adds
Pool barrier	Openings may be no wider than 4 inches. Applies: Applies if a wrought iron fence is used. § 17.14.190 · code text If a wrought iron fence is provided, the openings in the fence shall not be wider than four inches.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high, measured from outside the pool area. § 17.14.190 · code text A fence or wall not less than five feet in height, as measured from outside the pool area, shall be provided around the pool or spa.
Gates	Gates and doors must self-close and self-latch, with latches at least 5 feet above ground. § 17.14.190 · code text The gate or door shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device which enables the gate or door to be securely closed. Latches shall be placed a minimum of five feet above the ground.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from any property line. Applies: Applies to above-grade pools or spas and their elevated decking. § 17.14.190 · code text All above grade pools or spas and associated elevated decking shall maintain a minimum setback of three feet from any property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

Orange code What Orange's code adds
Permit	A permit from the Director of Community Development is required to keep bees. Applies: Applies anywhere in the city; no permit for hives within 300 feet of another home or 100 feet of the property line. § 6.08.010 · code text No person shall keep bees within the City without first procuring a permit. The Director of Community Development is authorized to issue such permit on payment of a fee in an amount set by City Council resolution.

Other Orange rules on this

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

SB 9 units in single-family zones (§ 17.14.060)
No RV or trailer parking on streets or home lots (§ 10.34.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Orange?

On standard residential lots, front-yard fences: at most 3 1/2 feet; side and rear, 6 feet from higher ground, 10 from lower.

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

Accessory structures together are limited to 50% of the main structure's square footage; any part in a side or rear setback, 10 feet tall.

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

Orange's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; one inspection. (Applies to complete rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.18.060); You may apply by email or the internet. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.) (§ 15.18.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Orange?

Orange's code: Openings may be no wider than 4 inches. (Applies if a wrought iron fence is used.) (§ 17.14.190); At least 5 feet high, measured from outside the pool area. (§ 17.14.190).

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

Orange's code: A permit from the Director of Community Development is required to keep bees. (Applies anywhere in the city; no permit for hives within 300 feet of another home or 100 feet of the property line.) (§ 6.08.010).

General information, not legal advice.

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