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Rancho Cucamonga · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga sets its own rules for fences, accessory structures and home businesses on residential lots. Fence height depends on the yard, and accessory limits depend on the type of structure.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Front-yard fences: at most 3 ft, or 6 ft if the top 3 ft is 90% open; rear and interior side yards, 6 ft.
  • Sheds and garages: Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.
  • Home businesses: Every home business needs a city home occupation permit, then a city business license once the permit is approved.

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

Fences and walls

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 36 inches tall.
    Applies: Residential zones, within the clear visibility triangle at intersections of streets, alleys and driveways.
    § 17.48.050 · code text
    At intersections of streets, alleys, and driveways within the clear visibility triangle | Varies (4) | 36 in
Height anywhere on the lot
  • Fences may be no more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: All other areas of the lot in residential zones.
    § 17.48.050 · code text
    All other areas of lot | 0 ft | 6 ft
Front yard height
  • No more than 3 feet tall, or up to 6 feet if the top is open.
    Applies: Required front yard in residential zones. 6 feet only when the top 3 feet is 90% visually open and transparent.
    § 17.48.050 · code text
    Required front yard area | 0 ft (2) | 3 ft/ 6 ft (3)
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences may be no more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Residential zones; required rear and interior side yards, along rear and interior property lines.
    § 17.48.050 · code text
    Required rear and interior side yard area (along rear and interior property lines) | 0 ft | 6 ft
  • Fences may be no more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Corner lots in residential zones; required street side yard, with the fence set back 5 feet from the property line.
    § 17.48.050 · code text
    Required street side yard area (along corner side property lines) | 5 ft (2) | 6 ft
Permit
  • No planning approval is needed for fences meeting the location and height rules; a building permit may still be required.
    Applies: Residential fences and walls. Other new fences and walls need site development review.
    § 17.48.020 · code text
    Unless otherwise exempt below, site development review [see section 17.16.100 (Site Development Review)] is required for new fences and walls.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Detached solid-roof structures such as garages and sheds.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Detached Solid Roof Structures (i.e., garages, sheds) (11) | Not permitted | 5 ft (2) | 5 ft (2) (3) (4) | Not permitted (5) | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area (8) | 16 ft
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Open-roof structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open roof structure | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Open structures with a solid roof, such as patio covers and gazebos.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open structures with a solid roof (i.e., patio cover, gazebo) (12) | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Water features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Water features | No minimum | 3 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 16 ft
  • No more than 5 feet tall.
    Applies: Pools and spas.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft (7) | 5 ft (7) | 5ft (7) | No minimum | n/a | 5 ft
  • No more than 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Pool accessories.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pool accessories | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 8 ft
  • No more than 10 feet tall.
    Applies: Temporary, portable shade structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Temporary, portable shade structures | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area | 10 ft
Size or lot coverage
  • Accessory structures may cover no more than 30% of the rear yard setback area.
    Applies: All accessory structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Accessory structures shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the rear yard setback area.
  • Guesthouses may be no more than 640 square feet, with no more than 2 bedrooms.
    Applies: Guesthouses.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Guesthouses shall no contain more than two bedrooms and have a maximum size of 640 square feet.
  • May take up no more than 50% of the lot width.
    Applies: Open structures with a solid roof in front of the main home, outside the front setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    When located in front of the primary residence outside the front setback, building shall not occupy more than 50% of the lot width.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Garages, sheds and other detached solid-roof structures. 5-foot side setback inside the rear yard setback area; elsewhere, the house's side setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Detached Solid Roof Structures (i.e., garages, sheds) (11) | Not permitted | 5 ft (2) | 5 ft (2) (3) (4) | Not permitted (5) | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area (8) | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Open-roof structures. 5-foot side setback inside the rear yard setback area; elsewhere, the house's side setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open roof structure | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Patio covers, gazebos and similar solid-roof open structures. 5-foot side setback inside the rear yard setback area; elsewhere, the house's side setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open structures with a solid roof (i.e., patio cover, gazebo) (12) | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • At least 3 feet from the rear property line.
    Applies: Water features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Water features | No minimum | 3 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the side property lines.
    Applies: Water features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Water features | No minimum | 3 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Pools and spas, measured from the water's edge.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft (7) | 5 ft (7) | 5ft (7) | No minimum | n/a | 5 ft
  • At least 5 feet from all side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Pool and spa equipment.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Related equipment shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all side and rear property lines.
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Pool accessories.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pool accessories | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 8 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Play equipment.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Play equipment | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | n/a
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Decks and patios.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Deck/patio | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | 30% required yard area (10) | n/a
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Outdoor entertainment features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Outdoor entertainment features | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted (9) | No minimum | n/a | n/a
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Temporary, portable shade structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Temporary, portable shade structures | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area | 10 ft
  • No minimum setback: they may be built to the side or rear property line.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings no more than 6 feet tall at the highest point. Building code distance from the main building still applies.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Accessory buildings not exceeding six feet in height at the highest point may be built to the side and/or rear property line, provided that the accessory structure meets minimum building code requirements for distance between the accessory structure and the primary building.
No permit needed up to
  • No planning approval is needed for structures under 120 square feet.
    Applies: Only if no part is 6 feet tall or taller. A building permit may still be required.
    § 17.42.030 · code text
    All accessory structures that are less than 120 square feet in size with no portion of the structure equal to or greater than six feet in height.

Running a business from home

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Permit
  • A home occupation permit is required.
    Applies: All home businesses.
    § 17.16.040 · code text
    A home occupation permit shall be required for all home occupations.
  • A city business license is required.
    Applies: Right after the home occupation approval takes effect.
    § 17.16.040 · code text
    Immediately following the effective date of an approved home occupation, the applicant shall obtain a city business license.

RV and boat parking

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Parking on the street
  • No parking or standing unless hitched to a vehicle that can move the trailer.
    Applies: Trailers or semitrailers on any public street, highway, alley, parkway or public property.
    § 10.52.060 · code text
    No person shall park or leave standing any trailer or semitrailer upon any public street, highway, alley, parkway or property dedicated to public use, or any portion thereof, unless the trailer or semitrailer is at all times while so parked and standing attached to a vehicle capable of moving such trailer or semitrailer.
  • Unhitched trailers may stand only while actively loading or unloading, or serving a property on the same block.
    Applies: Applies to trailers or semitrailers on a public street, alley or parkway.
    § 10.52.060 · code text
    This section shall not apply to trailers or semitrailers in the process of being loaded or unloaded while actively involved in such activity,

Solar panels and EV chargers

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
EV-ready new homes
  • All parking spaces must be EV Installed.
    Applies: Applies to new one- and two-family homes and townhouses in single-family residential zones.
    § 17.64.120 · code text
    For one-and two-family dwelling units and townhouses, all parking spaces shall be EV Installed.
  • 15% of parking spaces must be EV Ready, and another 5% EV Installed.
    Applies: Applies to new multifamily residential developments.
    § 17.64.120 · code text
    15 percent of parking spaces shall be EV ready and an additional five percent shall be EV Installed.
Solar height and setbacks
  • To qualify for expedited review, the panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height.
    Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems.
    § 15.36.010 · code text
    A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined or prescribed in this Code.
Solar permit process
  • Apply online. Electronic signatures are accepted.
    Applies: Small home rooftop solar systems: no larger than 10 kilowatts AC or 30 kilowatts thermal, on a single-family home or duplex.
    § 15.36.020 · code text
    Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by the Internet shall be available to all small rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time
  • The same day.
    Applies: Applies to complete small home rooftop solar applications made over the counter.
    § 15.36.030 · code text
    the same day of receipt of an over-the-counter
  • Within 1 to 3 business days.
    Applies: Applies to complete small home rooftop solar applications not made over the counter.
    § 15.36.030 · code text
    within one to three business days of receipt of a complete application.

Tree removal

Rancho Cucamonga code Exempt: fruit- or nut-bearing trees. Exempt: trees the public works director finds will damage existing public improvements.

All 14 Rancho Cucamonga rules on tree removal, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Swimming pools

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Pool barrier
  • An enclosure meeting the California Swimming Pool Safety Act must separate the pool or spa from the home.
    Applies: The first required drowning prevention measure for a new pool or spa, or a remodel of an existing one.
    § 15.12.070 · code text
    First required measure: An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 of the California Swimming Pool Safety Act and isolates the swimming pool or spa from the private single-family home.

Other Rancho Cucamonga rules on this

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

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Rancho Cucamonga?

Front-yard fences: at most 3 ft, or 6 ft if the top 3 ft is 90% open; rear and interior side yards, 6 ft.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Rancho Cucamonga?

Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.

Can I run a business from my home in Rancho Cucamonga?

Every home business needs a city home occupation permit, then a city business license once the permit is approved.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Rancho Cucamonga?

Rancho Cucamonga's code: No parking or standing unless hitched to a vehicle that can move the trailer. (Trailers or semitrailers on any public street, highway, alley, parkway or public property.) (§ 10.52.060); Unhitched trailers may stand only while actively loading or unloading, or serving a property on the same block. (Applies to trailers or semitrailers on a public street, alley or parkway.) (§ 10.52.060).

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

Rancho Cucamonga's code: All parking spaces must be EV Installed. (Applies to new one- and two-family homes and townhouses in single-family residential zones.) (§ 17.64.120); 15% of parking spaces must be EV Ready, and another 5% EV Installed. (Applies to new multifamily residential developments.) (§ 17.64.120).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Rancho Cucamonga?

Rancho Cucamonga's code: An enclosure meeting the California Swimming Pool Safety Act must separate the pool or spa from the home. (The first required drowning prevention measure for a new pool or spa, or a remodel of an existing one.) (§ 15.12.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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