Perris · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Perris

Perris sets fence heights by yard in residential zones and requires a 6-foot decorative block wall where side or rear yards front public streets. Two-story accessory buildings are allowed only in the A1 and R-20,000 zones, up to 30 feet.

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Key points

Fence heights: Residential front yards: fences at most 5 feet, with the part over 3 feet at least 50 percent open; behind it, 6 feet.
Accessory buildings: Single-story accessory buildings: at most 20 feet tall, set back 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.
Home businesses: A home occupation may use 1 room or 25 percent of the dwelling, with 1 customer vehicle and 1 non-resident employee at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Walls, fences or hedges 3 feet high or less may go on any part of the lot. Applies: Residential zones. § 19.02.040 · code text A wall, fence or hedge three feet in height or less may be located and maintained on any part of a lot.
Front yard height	Up to 5 feet high, if the part over 3 feet is at least 50% open. Applies: Front yards in residential zones. § 19.02.040 · code text A wall or fence up to five feet in height is allowed within the front yard of any residential zone provided that portion over three feet in height is at least 50 percent open.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Residential interior or corner lots, anywhere behind the required front yard. § 19.02.040 · code text On an interior or corner lot a wall, fence or hedge not more than six feet in height may be located anywhere on the lot to the rear of the required front yard. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Residential reversed corner lots behind the required front yard, except in the required triangular open area of the side street yard. § 19.02.040 · code text On a reversed corner lot a wall, fence, or hedge not more than six feet in height may be maintained anywhere on the lot to the rear of the required front yard except within the required triangular open area at the rear constituting a part to the required side yard of the side street side. A 6-foot decorative block wall is required. Applies: Residential reversed corner lots and lots with side or rear yards along streets, to the rear line of the required yard. § 19.02.040 · code text All reversed corner lots, and lots with side or rear yards that front along public streets, shall provide decorative block wall fencing six feet in height, to the rear line of the required side and/or rear yard.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 20 feet high overall. Applies: Single-story accessory buildings. § 19.29.040 · code text Single-story accessory buildings shall not exceed 20 feet in overall height and two-story accessory buildings shall not exceed 30 feet in overall height. No more than 30 feet high overall. Applies: Two-story accessory buildings, allowed only in the A1 and R-20,000 residential zones. § 19.29.040 · code text Single-story accessory buildings shall not exceed 20 feet in overall height and two-story accessory buildings shall not exceed 30 feet in overall height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 35% of the required side or rear yard setback area. Applies: Accessory buildings. § 19.29.040 · code text Accessory buildings shall not cover more than 35 percent of the required side or rear yard setback area. No more than 750 square feet of floor area. § 19.29.040 · code text Accessory buildings shall be limited to a maximum floor area of 750 square feet. No more than 120 square feet. Applies: Metal accessory buildings in residential zones, except in the A1 and R-20,000 zones. § 19.29.040 · code text Except in A1 and R-20,000 zones, all metal accessory buildings shall be limited to a maximum 120 square feet; all other accessory structures shall be limited to a maximum floor area of 750 square feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from interior side and rear lines. Applies: Single-story accessory buildings. § 19.29.040 · code text The interior side and rear yard setback shall be five feet for a single-story accessory building, and shall be the same as the respective setbacks required by the underlying zone for two-story accessory buildings. The same side and rear setbacks as the zone requires. Applies: Two-story accessory buildings, allowed only in the A1 and R-20,000 residential zones. § 19.29.040 · code text The interior side and rear yard setback shall be five feet for a single-story accessory building, and shall be the same as the respective setbacks required by the underlying zone for two-story accessory buildings. At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Accessory buildings over 5 feet high. § 19.29.040 · code text Any accessory buildings over five feet in height shall be set back at least five feet from the side and rear property lines.
No permit needed up to	No building permit is needed up to 120 square feet. Applies: Single-story detached sheds, playhouses or similar uses, no more than 10 feet high, with no electrical or plumbing fixtures. § 19.29.030 · code text Single-story, detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses, shall be exempt from a building permit, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, the height does not exceed ten feet, and there are no electrical or plumbing fixtures.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main building. § 19.29.040 · code text Accessory buildings shall be located a minimum of ten feet from the primary building.

Running a business from home

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room or 25% of the home's total square footage. § 19.02.140 · code text A maximum of one room within the dwelling unit or 25 percent of the total square footage of the dwelling unit may be used for the home occupation.
Customer visits	No more than 1 customer or client vehicle. Applies: At any one time. § 19.02.140 · code text A maximum of one customer or client vehicle at any given time shall be allowed to visit the premises of the home occupation.
Employees	No more than 1 non-resident employee or assistant. Applies: At the site at any one time. § 19.02.140 · code text In addition, no more than one non-resident employee or assistant is permitted to engage in home occupation activities at the site at any given time.
Permit	A valid business license is required. § 19.02.140 · code text A valid business license shall be obtained.
Businesses not allowed	Medical marijuana dispensaries; tattoo services § 19.02.140 · code text Medical marijuana dispensaries or tattoo services are not permitted home occupations. Cabinet making Applies: Home crafts § 19.02.140 · code text Home crafts, such as model making, rug weaving, quilting and needlework, lapidary work and wood working, limited to the uses of tools and equipment commonly available for personal residential use, but specifically excluding cabinet making. Medical, dental and similar uses that involve regular patient visits to the site § 19.02.140 · code text Telecommuting, business, professional and sales offices, excluding medical, dental and similar uses that involve regular patient visits to the site, provided that no retail sales transactions are made on the premises and that no customers or clients visit the site, except as specifically allowed by this section.

Lot splits under SB 9

Perris code 2 lots of about equal area; neither may be less than 40% of the original lot. Zoning standards are relaxed as needed to allow 2 units of at least 800 square feet.

All 19 Perris rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Perris code What Perris's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves applications meeting the city checklist, laws and safety standards, and issues all needed permits. Applies: The charging station may not be energized or used until the city approves it. § 16.25.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. § 16.25.040 · code text the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentation.
Solar height and setbacks	The panels may not exceed the maximum legal building height. Applies: To qualify as a small residential rooftop solar system for expedited permitting. § 16.12.215 · code text A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the city and county.
Review time	Permit issued the same day over the counter, or within 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Complete small residential rooftop solar applications meeting the checklist and standard plan. § 16.12.215 · code text The building division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications
Solar permit process	Electronic submittal by email, internet or fax; electronic signatures accepted. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar permit applicants. § 16.12.215 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, the Internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.

Tree removal

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Exemptions	A mature tree shading a home's backyard is exempt; front yard trees, including the street tree, are not. Applies: Trees on private home lots. § 19.71.050 · code text A mature tree shading the backyard of a home is exempt from regulation, however, front yard trees, including the street tree, are not. Hazardous or nuisance trees are not protected. § 19.71.050 · code text Tree protection extends generally to all public trees and some private trees that contribute to the city's urban canopy cover and do not fall into the category of hazardous or nuisance trees.
Protected trees	Includes trees required by project approval and trees on sensitive land: open space, flood zones, conservation areas, future trails. Applies: Private property. § 19.71.050 · code text Protected privately owned trees include, but are not limited to, the following:

Pets, chickens and bees

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs and 4 cats, each 4 months or older. Applies: Unless permitted as a kennel; applies to animals kept more than 30 days. § 8.02.040 · code text Unless permitted as a kennel it is unlawful for any person to keep within the city, in any private residence or on any other parcel, for a period longer than 30 days, more than: (1) Any four dogs, four months of age or older; and (2) Any four cats, four months of age or older.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Perris?

Residential front yards: fences at most 5 feet, with the part over 3 feet at least 50 percent open; behind it, 6 feet.

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

Single-story accessory buildings: at most 20 feet tall, set back 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.

Can I run a business from my home in Perris?

A home occupation may use 1 room or 25 percent of the dwelling, with 1 customer vehicle and 1 non-resident employee at a time.

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

Perris's code: The building official approves applications meeting the city checklist, laws and safety standards, and issues all needed permits. (The charging station may not be energized or used until the city approves it.) (§ 16.25.040); Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 16.25.040).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Perris?

Perris's code: A mature tree shading a home's backyard is exempt; front yard trees, including the street tree, are not. (Trees on private home lots.) (§ 19.71.050); Hazardous or nuisance trees are not protected. (§ 19.71.050).

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

Perris's code: No more than 4 dogs and 4 cats, each 4 months or older. (Unless permitted as a kennel; applies to animals kept more than 30 days.) (§ 8.02.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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