Pico Rivera · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Pico Rivera

Pico Rivera sets fence heights by location and by whether the fence blocks the view. Many home businesses are not allowed, including alcohol, firearm and retail sales, hairdressers, vehicle repair and cabinet making.

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Key points

Fence heights: Front setback fences, walls and hedges: at most 3.5 feet if view-obscuring, 4.5 feet if not; beyond the front setback, 7 feet.
Home businesses: Home occupations need a permit and may use at most 15% of the dwelling's floor area, with no non-resident employees or contractors.

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

Fences and walls

Pico Rivera code What Pico Rivera's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 7 feet high. Applies: Any fence, wall or hedge behind the front setback, except in industrial zones, at least 10 feet from a driveway edge. § 18.18.020 · code text Any fence, wall, or hedge \| Max. 7 feet Max. 10 feet industrial zones only
Front yard height	No more than 4.5 feet high. Applies: See-through fences, walls or hedges in the front setback. § 18.18.020 · code text Non-view-obscuring fence, wall, or hedge \| Max. 4.5 feet No more than 3.5 feet high. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges that block the view, in the front setback. § 18.18.020 · code text View-obscuring fence, wall, or hedge \| Max. 3.5 feet No more than 4.5 feet high. Applies: Columns or pilasters of a fence, wall or hedge in the front setback, at least 10 feet from a driveway edge. § 18.18.020 · code text Columns or pilasters as part of a fence, wall, or hedge system \| Max. 4.5 feet

Running a business from home

Pico Rivera code What Pico Rivera's code adds
Space used	No more than 15% of the home's floor area. Applies: Business activity inside the home. § 18.22.130 · code text Operations shall not exceed the use of a maximum of 15% of the floor area of the dwelling in which it is located. No area outside the home may be used for the business. Applies: One parking space is the exception. § 18.22.130 · code text No area outside the dwelling shall be used for the operations of a home occupation in any manner whatsoever, except that one parking space is allowed.
Customer visits	Only 1 customer or client at a time. Applies: On-site visits only for homes on a major arterial street, not apartments or condos, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. § 18.22.130 · code text A maximum of one customer/client may receive on-premises consultation at any one time.
Employees	No employees or independent contractors other than residents of the home. Applies: Home businesses, except where cottage food rules allow otherwise. § 18.22.130 · code text No employees or independent contractors other than residents of the dwelling unit shall be permitted to work at the location of a home occupation except as otherwise allowed for cottage food operations.
Permit	A Home Occupation Permit is required. Applies: Home businesses run as an accessory use of a home. § 18.22.130 · code text Home occupations shall be permitted only as an accessory use to a residential dwelling subject to a Home Occupation Permit in accordance with Section 18.05.060 (Other Permits and Approvals).
Businesses not allowed	alcohol sales, firearm and ammunition sales and services, on-site massage therapists, hairdressers, retail sales, vehicle storage, vehicle sales and vehicle repair, vehicle dispatch, furniture or cabinet making, commercial kennels, commercial stables, breeding facilities, forensic testing, or uses as determined by the Zoning Administrator Applies: Businesses operating out of a home § 18.22.130 · code text The following businesses shall not operate out of a home and shall not be permitted by home occupation permits: alcohol sales, firearm and ammunition sales and services, on-site massage therapists, hairdressers, retail sales, vehicle storage, vehicle sales and vehicle repair, vehicle dispatch, furniture or cabinet making, commercial kennels, commercial stables, breeding facilities, forensic testing or as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

RV and boat parking

Pico Rivera code What Pico Rivera's code adds
Size limit	Oversized: over 18 feet long, 80 inches wide or 80 inches high; no street parking 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles, counting mirrors and attachments, on any public street, park road, alley or right-of-way. § 10.08.085 · code text "Oversized vehicle" shall be defined as any vehicle, whether motorized or nonmotorized, that exceeds eighteen feet in length, or eighty inches in width or eighty inches in height.
Parking on the street	Not allowed between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles on any public street, park road, alley or right-of-way, except listed exemptions. § 10.80.010 · code text Except as provided in Section 10.80.020 or otherwise expressly provided to the contrary herein, no person shall park, stop, or leave standing on any public street, park road, alley or rights-of-way in the city any oversized vehicle between the hours of two a.m. and four a.m.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Pico Rivera code What Pico Rivera's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official issues all permits when the application meets the checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted. § 15.54.040 · code text The building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and associated supporting documents. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.
Solar permit process	Permits issue when the application meets the checklist; apply in person, by mail or electronically with fees; e-signatures accepted. § 15.52.040 · code text An applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building division by personal, mailed or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. Only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 15.52.050 · 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

Pico Rivera code What Pico Rivera's code adds
Barrier height	At least 5 feet tall. Applies: Applies to the fence, wall, building or other enclosure around any pool, spa or hot tub, per the Building Code. § 18.18.090 · code text Swimming pools shall be enclosed by a fence, portion of building, wall, or other enclosure of a minimum height of five feet in compliance with the Building Code.
Permit	A temporary encroachment permit is required. Applies: Applies when a building permit is required to build a swimming pool. § 12.32.020 · code text When a building permit is required under Title 15 of this code for the construction of a swimming pool, the applicant shall first apply for a temporary encroachment permit.
Setback from property lines	At least 4 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Measured from the water line; pools are not allowed in front or street-side setbacks. § 18.18.090 · code text Minimum four-foot setback from interior side and rear property lines;

Other Pico Rivera rules on this

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

Keeping animals at home (§ 18.22.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pico Rivera?

Front setback fences, walls and hedges: at most 3.5 feet if view-obscuring, 4.5 feet if not; beyond the front setback, 7 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Pico Rivera?

Home occupations need a permit and may use at most 15% of the dwelling's floor area, with no non-resident employees or contractors.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Pico Rivera?

Pico Rivera's code: Oversized: over 18 feet long, 80 inches wide or 80 inches high; no street parking 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. (Applies to oversized vehicles, counting mirrors and attachments, on any public street, park road, alley or right-of-way.) (§ 10.08.085); Not allowed between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. (Applies to oversized vehicles on any public street, park road, alley or right-of-way, except listed exemptions.) (§ 10.80.010).

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

Pico Rivera's code: The building official issues all permits when the application meets the checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted. (§ 15.54.040); Permits issue when the application meets the checklist; apply in person, by mail or electronically with fees; e-signatures accepted. (§ 15.52.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Pico Rivera?

Pico Rivera's code: At least 5 feet tall. (Applies to the fence, wall, building or other enclosure around any pool, spa or hot tub, per the Building Code.) (§ 18.18.090); A temporary encroachment permit is required. (Applies when a building permit is required to build a swimming pool.) (§ 12.32.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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