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Paramount · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Paramount

In Paramount, fence and wall height in R zones depends on location: required front yards allow much lower fences than the area behind them. Home businesses need a permit and a business license and may use only part of the main building.

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Key points

  • Front-yard fences: City rule: walls, fences or hedges in any required front yard in an R zone are limited to 42 inches.
  • Fences behind: City rule: behind the required front yard in R zones, fences and walls are limited to 8 feet, with some exceptions.
  • Permit: City rule: a home occupation needs a home occupation permit and a business license, applied for with the City Clerk.
  • Space used: City rule: a home occupation may use no more than 1 room (25% of total floor area) or 100 square feet, whichever is less.
  • Main building only: City rule: only the main building may be used; no part of the garage, any other building or outside space.
  • Employees: City rule: no employees or assistants may work on the premises except members of the resident family.

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

Fences and walls

Paramount code What Paramount's code adds
Corner visibility
  • Keep a clear vision area on each side of the driveway, bounded by a 30-degree diagonal line.
    Applies: Corner and reverse corner lots with a driveway from the side street. The line starts where the driveway edge meets the required side yard line.
    § 17.44.340 · code text
    On corner lots and reverse corner lots, if a vehicular entrance is provided from the side street side, an area for safety vision clearance shall be maintained on each side of the driveway. Such area for vision clearance shall be defined by a diagonal line beginning at the intersection of the edges of the driveway and the inside line of the required side yard and extending away from the driveway at an angle of 30 degrees to the edge of the driveway toward the side street property line of the lot.
Front yard height
  • No more than 42 inches.
    Applies: For walls, fences or hedges in any required front yard in any R zone.
    § 17.44.340 · code text
    A wall, fence or hedge not exceeding 42 inches in height may be located or maintained in any required front yard.
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 8 feet.
    Applies: Anywhere behind the rear line of the required front yard in any R zone, with some exceptions.
    § 17.44.340 · code text
    A fence, wall or hedge not exceeding eight feet in height, may be located anywhere on any lot to the rear of the rear line of the required front yard except:
  • A protective fence or wall up to 42 inches may sit on top of the retaining wall.
    Applies: Retaining wall holding fill in any R zone. The retaining wall counts toward fence height; any part above 6 feet must be open work.
    § 17.44.340 · code text
    Where a retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a fence, solid wall or hedge; provided, that in any event a protective fence or wall not more than 42 inches in height may be erected at the top of the retaining wall, and any portion of such fence above the six-foot maximum height shall be an open work fence.

Running a business from home

Paramount code What Paramount's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 1 room (25% of the total floor area) or 100 square feet, whichever is less.
    § 17.16.060 · code text
    The business shall not occupy more than one room (25% of the total floor area) or a maximum of 100 square feet, whichever is less.
  • The main building only. No part of the garage or any other building or outside space may be used.
    § 17.16.060 · code text
    No building or space outside of the main building shall be used for home occupation purposes.
Employees
  • No employees or assistants on the premises except members of the resident family.
    § 17.16.060 · code text
    There shall be no employees or assistants on the premises other than members of the resident family.
Permit
  • A home occupation permit and a business license, applied for with the City Clerk.
    § 17.16.060 · code text
    Any person proposing to manage, conduct or carry on any business within the home shall file a written application for a home occupation permit and business license with the City Clerk.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Paramount code What Paramount's code adds
EV charger permit
  • The Building Official issues all permits when the application meets the City checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted.
    § 15.06.040 · code text
    the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process
  • Apply in person; electronic filing and electronic signatures are not accepted.
    Applies: Until the City accepts electronic filing of all building permit applications.
    § 15.08.060 · code text
    Solar energy system permit applications shall be submitted in person to the Building Department for review.
  • One inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request.
    Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review.
    § 15.08.060 · code text
    Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.
  • Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit issues when the application meets the checklist and standard plan.
    Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems.
    § 15.08.060 · code text
    An inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request.
Review time
  • Within 3 business days.
    Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.
    § 15.08.060 · 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 Department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within three business days.

Swimming pools

Paramount code What Paramount's code adds
Setback from property lines
  • At least 5 feet from any exterior property line or building on the lot; not in any front yard.
    Applies: Applies in any zone.
    § 17.44.310 · code text
    In any zone, a swimming pool may not be located in any front yard, nor closer than five feet to any exterior property line or to any building on the same premises.

Pets, chickens and bees

Paramount code What Paramount's code adds
Bees
  • No; beehives and bees are not allowed anywhere in the city.
    Applies: Applies within city limits.
    § 6.44.010 · code text
    No person shall establish or maintain any hive or box where bees are kept, or keep any bees on any premises, dwelling, or property within City limits.

Other Paramount rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Paramount?

City rule: walls, fences or hedges in any required front yard in an R zone are limited to 42 inches. City rule: behind the required front yard in R zones, fences and walls are limited to 8 feet, with some exceptions.

Can I run a business from my home in Paramount?

City rule: a home occupation needs a home occupation permit and a business license, applied for with the City Clerk. City rule: a home occupation may use no more than 1 room (25% of total floor area) or 100 square feet, whichever is less. City rule: only the main building may be used; no part of the garage, any other building or outside space. City rule: no employees or assistants may work on the premises except members of the resident family.

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

Paramount's code: The Building Official issues all permits when the application meets the City checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted. (§ 15.06.040); Apply in person; electronic filing and electronic signatures are not accepted. (Until the City accepts electronic filing of all building permit applications.) (§ 15.08.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Paramount?

Paramount's code: At least 5 feet from any exterior property line or building on the lot; not in any front yard. (Applies in any zone.) (§ 17.44.310).

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

Paramount's code: No; beehives and bees are not allowed anywhere in the city. (Applies within city limits.) (§ 6.44.010).

General information, not legal advice.

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