Palm Desert · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Palm Desert

Palm Desert sets fence heights by location, and fences in front and side setbacks may be taller the farther they stand from the curb face. Many home businesses, including auto repair, barber shops, medical offices and on-site retail sales, are not allowed.

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Key points

Fence heights: Walls and fences behind the front building setback, including side yard, interior side and rear-yard fences, are limited to 6 feet.
Accessory buildings: Enclosed accessory buildings: at most 8 feet, or under 14 feet on lots over 12,000 square feet; setback equal to their height.
Home businesses: Home-based businesses need a permit and may have 1 outside person; instructional services may have up to 6 students at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Front yard height	Up to 3 feet 6 inches. Applies: In front and side setbacks, 7 feet from the curb face, on RE, R-1, R-2, R-3 and PR lots; not in the public right-of-way. § 25.40.080 · code text Short fence \| 7′-0″ from curb face 1 \| 3′6″ 3 feet 7 inches to 4 feet 11 inches. Applies: Front and side setbacks, 15 feet from the curb face, on RE, R-1, R-2, R-3 and PR lots. Must not block driveway or corner views. § 25.40.080 · code text Moderate height fence \| 15′-0″ from curb face 1,2 \| 3′7″ to 4′11″ 5 to 6 feet. Applies: In front and side setbacks, 20 feet from the curb face, on RE, R-1, R-2, R-3 and PR lots. § 25.40.080 · code text Tall fence \| 20′-0″ from curb face \| 5′ to 6′
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: For walls and fences behind the front building setback that can be seen from the street, including side and rear-yard fences. § 25.40.080 · code text Walls and fences at or behind building setbacks, visible from ROW \| Behind front building setback (side yard tie-in fences, interior side yard and rear-yard fences) \| 6′-0″ No more than 6 feet. Applies: For walls and fences behind the front building setback that cannot be seen from the street. § 25.40.080 · code text Walls and fences, not visible from ROW \| Behind front building setback \| 6′-0″ No more than 6 feet, measured from the highest adjoining grade. Applies: For retaining walls, or retaining walls with wrought iron fences, at a cut slope on a rear or interior side property line. § 25.40.080 · code text Retaining walls and combinations of retaining and wrought iron fences (cut slope) \| Rear or interior side property line associated with a cut slope \| 6′-0″ (highest adjoining grade) No more than 6 feet, measured from the lowest adjoining grade. Applies: For retaining walls at a fill slope on a rear or interior side property line. § 25.40.080 · code text Retaining walls (fill slope) \| Rear or interior side property line associated with a fill slope \| 6′-0″ (lowest adjoining grade) 3 No more than 9 feet from the lower grade, and no more than 6 feet from the higher grade. Applies: For a solid retaining wall with a wrought iron fence at a fill slope on a rear or interior side property line. § 25.40.080 · code text Combinations of solid retaining walls and wrought iron fences located on a rear or interior side property line associated with a fill slope \| 9′-0″ (lower adjacent grade) 6′-0″ (maximum combination fence height measured from the higher adjacent grade)
Permit	Yes, a permit from the building official, after paying the set fees. Applies: For walls, including retaining walls. § 27.28.140 · code text Appropriate fees in accordance with the schedule of fees as adopted from time to time by resolution of the city council shall be paid, and a permit shall be obtained from the building official.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 7 feet. Applies: In a side yard setback enclosed by a solid wall or fence, set back at least 3 feet from the side line. § 25.40.050 · code text the maximum structure height does not exceed 7 feet Up to 8 feet. Applies: For enclosed buildings like sheds, greenhouses and detached garages on any residential lot, set back from property lines as far as they are tall. § 25.40.050 · code text Enclosed buildings less than, or equal to, 8 feet in height are permitted on all residential lots, with a minimum set back from a property line a distance equal to its height. Less than 14 feet. Applies: For enclosed buildings over 8 feet tall, only on lots larger than 12,000 square feet. § 25.40.050 · code text Enclosed buildings greater than 8 feet in height, but less than 14 feet in height, are permitted on lot sizes greater than 12,000 square feet in area. No more than 18 feet and 1 story. Applies: Only with a conditional use permit, on lots larger than 40,000 square feet, set back as far as the structure is tall. § 25.40.050 · code text Buildings and structures with a maximum height of 18 feet, one-story, and with a set back from property line at a distance equal to its height, may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit as described in Section 25.72.050. No more than 10 feet above grade. Applies: For open, non-living structures like play equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, set back from property lines as far as they are tall. § 25.40.050 · code text Open, non-habitable, structures, including, but not limited to, playground equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, are permitted with a maximum height of 10 feet above grade and if set back from property lines a distance equal to the structure's height.
Size or lot coverage	Enclosed buildings may cover no more than 25% of the required yard setback. § 25.40.050 · code text Enclosed buildings shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the required yard setback, and shall be set back from any property line a distance equal to its height.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from the side property line. Applies: For a structure in the side yard setback, when the side yard has a solid wall or fence. § 25.40.050 · code text the structure is set back a minimum of 3 feet from the side yard property line At least as far from property lines as the building is tall. Applies: For enclosed buildings 8 feet tall or less. § 25.40.050 · code text Enclosed buildings less than, or equal to, 8 feet in height are permitted on all residential lots, with a minimum set back from a property line a distance equal to its height. At least as far from property lines as the building is tall. Applies: For enclosed buildings over 8 feet and under 14 feet tall, on lots larger than 12,000 square feet. § 25.40.050 · code text Enclosed buildings shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the required yard setback, and shall be set back from any property line a distance equal to its height. At least as far from property lines as the structure is tall. Applies: For 1-story structures up to 18 feet, on lots larger than 40,000 square feet, with a conditional use permit. § 25.40.050 · code text Buildings and structures with a maximum height of 18 feet, one-story, and with a set back from property line at a distance equal to its height, may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit as described in Section 25.72.050. At least as far from property lines as the structure is tall. Applies: For open, non-living structures like play equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises. § 25.40.050 · code text Open, non-habitable, structures, including, but not limited to, playground equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, are permitted with a maximum height of 10 feet above grade and if set back from property lines a distance equal to the structure's height.

Running a business from home

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Space used	No more than 640 square feet. Applies: In the Residential Estate (RE) zone, for business or storage space in a home or accessory structure. § 25.34.020 · code text Home-based businesses or associated storage may be conducted in a dwelling or accessory structure not to exceed 640 square feet.
Customer visits	No more than 6 students at any 1 time. Applies: For instructional services. § 25.34.020 · code text Maximum number of students at any 1 time shall be limited to 6.
Employees	Only residents, plus no more than 1 outside person who does not live in the home. Applies: For home-based businesses in general. § 25.34.020 · code text Only residents of the subject residential dwelling may operate, engage in, or conduct the home-based business, except that not more than 1 outside person who is not a resident of the subject dwelling may also participate in the operation or conduct of the subject home-based business.
Permit	A home-based business permit approved by the Director. § 25.34.020 · code text Establishment and operation of a home-based business shall require approval of a home-based business permit processed by the Director in accordance with this section.
Businesses not allowed	Auto repair and auto body repair; barber and beauty shops; bicycle repair; carpentry work; on-site retail, wholesale or consignment sales or display of merchandise; laundering service; medical and dental offices; painting of vehicles, trailers or boats; photo studios; private schools with organized classes; upholstering; storage of construction and service trade equipment; welding and machining § 25.34.020 · code text These specified uses shall not be permitted as home-based businesses:

Lot splits under SB 9

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Standards	Building on the new lots must meet the underlying zone's objective standards. Applies: Except as this section or state law provides otherwise. § 26.30.010 · code text Except as otherwise provided in this section or state law (including, but not limited to, Government Code Section 66411.7(m)), development on the resulting lots must comply with the objective standards of the underlying zone. The lot to be split must be in a single-family residential zone. § 26.30.010 · code text The lot to be split is in a single-family residential zone.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official issues all permits when the application meets the checklist; the charger stays off until city approval. Applies: Applies to installing an electric vehicle charging station. § 15.36.050 · 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	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with fees; permits are approved administratively once complete and meeting the checklist. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 15.17.040 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the City's Permitting Center in person, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. One inspection. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 15.17.040 · code text For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the building official and Fire Chief.

Swimming pools

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Equipment and alarms	Pool equipment at least 5 feet from property lines (2 feet with structural documentation), housed or screened from public view. Applies: Applies to private pools on residential lots. § 25.40.060 · code text With appropriate structural documentation, the minimum setback may be reduced to 2 feet from the property line.
Maintenance and empty pools	Pools must meet the Uniform Swimming Pool Code and not be hazardous, such as polluted, stagnant, smelly or insect-breeding water. § 8.70.130 · code text All swimming pools shall be maintained in accordance with applicable requirements of the Uniform Swimming Pool Code adopted by the city, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended.
Setback from property lines	The water's edge at least 5 feet from any property line; 2 feet with engineering proof of no surcharge. Applies: Applies to private pools on residential lots. § 25.40.060 · code text The water perimeter of the pool shall be no closer than 5 feet from any property line unless appropriate engineering documentation is provided which shows that the pool will not create a surcharge problem on structures at the property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Bees	Yes; up to 2 hive colonies. Applies: Applies per single-family home on lots of 20,000 square feet or less. § 25.34.170 · code text The maximum number of permanent beehive colonies that may be kept per single-family dwelling unit shall be limited to 2 colonies on lots that are 20,000 square feet and less in area, and 4 colonies on lots greater than 20,000 square feet. Yes; up to 4 hive colonies. Applies: Applies per single-family home on lots over 20,000 square feet. § 25.34.170 · code text The maximum number of permanent beehive colonies that may be kept per single-family dwelling unit shall be limited to 2 colonies on lots that are 20,000 square feet and less in area, and 4 colonies on lots greater than 20,000 square feet. Yes; extra colonies are allowed temporarily. Applies: Applies temporarily to handle swarming or other beekeeping issues. § 25.34.170 · code text Additional bee hive colonies are allowed on a temporary basis to address swarming or any other issues related to proper beekeeping management.
Coop setback	At least 5 feet from all property lines. Applies: Applies to beehive colonies. § 25.34.170 · code text Beehive colony(ies) shall be located at least 5 feet from all property lines.
Pet limit	At most 4 animals in any mix. Applies: Applies to residential premises; kittens under 3 months and puppies under 4 months do not count. § 6.28.070 · code text It is unlawful for any person to keep or harbor more than four animals of any combination on residential premises. This does not include kittens under the age of three months or puppies under the age of four months.

Other Palm Desert rules on this

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

Permit to park an RV on private property (§ 8.40.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Palm Desert?

Walls and fences behind the front building setback, including side yard, interior side and rear-yard fences, are limited to 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Palm Desert?

Enclosed accessory buildings: at most 8 feet, or under 14 feet on lots over 12,000 square feet; setback equal to their height.

Can I run a business from my home in Palm Desert?

Home-based businesses need a permit and may have 1 outside person; instructional services may have up to 6 students at a time.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Palm Desert?

Palm Desert's code: Building on the new lots must meet the underlying zone's objective standards. (Except as this section or state law provides otherwise.) (§ 26.30.010); The lot to be split must be in a single-family residential zone. (§ 26.30.010).

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

Palm Desert's code: The building official issues all permits when the application meets the checklist; the charger stays off until city approval. (Applies to installing an electric vehicle charging station.) (§ 15.36.050); Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with fees; permits are approved administratively once complete and meeting the checklist. (Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review.) (§ 15.17.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Palm Desert?

Palm Desert's code: Pool equipment at least 5 feet from property lines (2 feet with structural documentation), housed or screened from public view. (Applies to private pools on residential lots.) (§ 25.40.060); Pools must meet the Uniform Swimming Pool Code and not be hazardous, such as polluted, stagnant, smelly or insect-breeding water. (§ 8.70.130).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Palm Desert?

Palm Desert's code: Yes; up to 2 hive colonies. (Applies per single-family home on lots of 20,000 square feet or less.) (§ 25.34.170); Yes; up to 4 hive colonies. (Applies per single-family home on lots over 20,000 square feet.) (§ 25.34.170).

General information, not legal advice.

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