Palos Verdes Estates · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Palos Verdes Estates

Palos Verdes Estates sets the same height limits for fences, walls and accessory structures in its R-1 and R-M zones, based on the setback next to a public street. Greater heights need a special permit from the director or the planning commission.

Ask about building on your lot in Palos Verdes Estates See coverage

Key points

Fence heights: R-1 and R-M zones: fences at most 3 feet 6 inches in the street setback, and 6 feet 6 inches outside it.
Habitable size: Habitable accessory structures: at most 700 square feet or 10 percent of the lot, whichever is less, without a conditional use permit.
Home businesses: Home occupations may use at most 200 square feet, including storage, and only residents or immediate family may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Palos Verdes Estates code What Palos Verdes Estates's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet 6 inches. Applies: In R-1 and R-M zones, for fences and walls outside the minimum required setback next to a public street. § 18.32.010 · code text All other fences, walls or accessory structures shall not exceed six feet, six inches in height.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet 6 inches. Applies: In R-1 and R-M zones, within the minimum required setback next to a public street. Alley setbacks are not included. § 18.32.010 · code text Any fence, wall or accessory structure in the minimum required setback adjacent to a public street shall not exceed three feet, six inches in height. No more than 3 feet 6 inches on the street side and 6 feet 6 inches on the downhill side. Applies: For a fence, wall or accessory structure on a slope downhill from the street. § 18.32.010 · code text However, if a fence, wall, or accessory structure is located on a downhill slope from the street it shall not exceed three feet, six inches in height on the side facing the street and not exceed six feet, six inches in height on the downhill side of a slope.
Permit	A special permit may allow more height; the director may approve 6 feet 6 inches to 8 feet. Applies: The director's approval is for structures outside the street setback. Not needed if approved through other required approvals. § 18.32.010 · code text By the director, if he/she finds the wall, fence or accessory structure proposed shall not adversely affect any other property, for any wall, fence or accessory structure which is more than six feet, six inches but no more than eight feet in height and is not located within the minimum required setback adjacent to a public street. A special permit from the planning commission. Applies: For structures outside the street setback over 8 feet, or inside the street setback over 3 feet 6 inches. § 18.32.010 · code text By the planning commission, if it finds the wall, fence or accessory structure proposed shall not adversely affect any other property, for:

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Palos Verdes Estates code What Palos Verdes Estates's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 3 feet 6 inches. Applies: In R-1 and R-M zones, for accessory structures in the minimum required setback next to a public street. Alley setbacks not included. § 18.32.010 · code text Any fence, wall or accessory structure in the minimum required setback adjacent to a public street shall not exceed three feet, six inches in height. No more than 6 feet 6 inches on the downhill side. Applies: R-1 and R-M zones, in the street setback on a slope downhill from the street. 3 feet 6 inches on the street side. § 18.32.010 · code text However, if a fence, wall, or accessory structure is located on a downhill slope from the street it shall not exceed three feet, six inches in height on the side facing the street and not exceed six feet, six inches in height on the downhill side of a slope. No more than 6 feet 6 inches. Applies: In R-1 and R-M zones, outside the minimum setback next to a public street. Taller needs a special permit. § 18.32.010 · code text All other fences, walls or accessory structures shall not exceed six feet, six inches in height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 700 square feet or 10% of the lot size, whichever is less. Applies: For habitable accessory structures, unless a conditional use permit is obtained. Never larger than the main home. § 18.32.010 · code text Habitable accessory structures shall not exceed seven hundred square feet or ten percent of the lot size, whichever is less.

Running a business from home

Palos Verdes Estates code What Palos Verdes Estates's code adds
Space used	No more than 200 square feet of floor area. Includes space used for business storage. § 18.42.030 · code text No more than two hundred square feet of floor area may be used in connection with a home occupation or for storage purposes in connection with a home occupation.
Customer visits	No more than what is normal and reasonable for a home. Applies: For visitors, customers and deliveries. § 18.42.030 · code text Visitors, customers or deliveries shall not exceed that normally and reasonably occurring for a residence.
Employees	Only residents of the home or their immediate family. Applies: For employees working at the home. § 18.42.030 · code text The only employees of the home occupation permitted at the residential unit shall be the resident(s) of such unit or members of the resident’s immediate family.
Permit	An approved application and payment of the home occupation license tax. Applies: For home occupations in the R-1 and R-M zones. § 18.42.030 · code text Home occupations are permitted in the R-1 and R-M zones if such uses are established and at all times maintained consistent with the following criteria, and following approval of an application as provided in PVEMC § 18.42.040 and payment of the applicable home occupation license tax.
Businesses not allowed	any proposed use not permitted in the C zone Applies: home occupations in the R-1 and R-M zones § 18.42.030 · code text The proposed use is permitted in the C zone.

RV and boat parking

Palos Verdes Estates code What Palos Verdes Estates's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles on any public street, unless the city issued an oversized vehicle permit to a resident or visitor. § 10.64.020 · code text No person shall park or leave standing any oversized vehicle upon any public street or highway in the city. Not allowed. Applies: Applies to trailers of any size on any public street, unless the city issued an oversized vehicle permit to a resident or visitor. § 10.64.020 · code text No person shall park or leave standing any trailer, regardless of length or width, upon any public street or highway in the city. Up to 72 hours. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles or trailers left after a mechanical breakdown, for emergency repairs. § 10.64.030 · code text Oversized vehicles or trailers parked or left standing as a result of a mechanical breakdown so as to allow the performance of emergency repairs on the vehicle for a period not to exceed seventy-two hours;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Palos Verdes Estates code What Palos Verdes Estates's code adds
EV charger permit	Permit applications may be filed electronically. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.20.020 · code text The guidelines shall be consistent with California Government Code Section 65850.7 and will allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and associated documentation.

Swimming pools

Palos Verdes Estates code What Palos Verdes Estates's code adds
Permit	A grading permit may be issued to dig a pool if over 24 months have passed since all earlier grading. Applies: Applies only after more than 24 months since earlier grading was completed. § 18.24.035 · code text a grading permit may be issued by the building official for the excavation to install a swimming pool, provided more than twenty-four months have expired since all earlier grading was completed.

Other Palos Verdes Estates rules on this

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

Which animals besides pets you may keep (§ 6.04.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Palos Verdes Estates?

R-1 and R-M zones: fences at most 3 feet 6 inches in the street setback, and 6 feet 6 inches outside it.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Palos Verdes Estates?

Habitable accessory structures: at most 700 square feet or 10 percent of the lot, whichever is less, without a conditional use permit.

Can I run a business from my home in Palos Verdes Estates?

Home occupations may use at most 200 square feet, including storage, and only residents or immediate family may work there.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Palos Verdes Estates?

Palos Verdes Estates's code: Not allowed. (Applies to oversized vehicles on any public street, unless the city issued an oversized vehicle permit to a resident or visitor.) (§ 10.64.020); Not allowed. (Applies to trailers of any size on any public street, unless the city issued an oversized vehicle permit to a resident or visitor.) (§ 10.64.020).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Palos Verdes Estates?

Palos Verdes Estates's code: Permit applications may be filed electronically. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.20.020).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Palos Verdes Estates?

Palos Verdes Estates's code: A grading permit may be issued to dig a pool if over 24 months have passed since all earlier grading. (Applies only after more than 24 months since earlier grading was completed.) (§ 18.24.035).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Palos Verdes Estates property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Palos Verdes Estates

Palos Verdes Estates Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Palos Verdes Estates

Buying & selling in Palos Verdes Estates

Palos Verdes Estates overview