Rancho Palos Verdes · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rancho Palos Verdes

Rancho Palos Verdes sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. A fence or wall in a rear or side setback next to another parcel or a city viewing station needs a permit, with listed exceptions.

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Key points

Front-yard fences: In residential zones, fences, walls and hedges in the front yard setback are limited to 42 inches (city rule).
Accessory height: Accessory structures are limited to 12 feet; detached garages, chimneys, treehouses and flagpoles may be exempt if they do not significantly block views.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit from the director and may have at most 1 employee who does not live there (city rule).

Each rule below is marked Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Palos Verdes code What Rancho Palos Verdes's code adds
Front yard height	Fences, walls and hedges may be up to 42 inches tall. Applies: In the front yard setback in residential zoning districts. Intersection visibility rules may limit them further. § 17.76.030 · code text Up to 42 inches in height shall be permitted, except as restricted by the intersection visibility requirements of section 17.48.070 (Intersection visibility) of this title;
Permit	A fence/wall permit is required, with some listed exceptions. Applies: In the rear or side yard setback next to a neighboring parcel, or next to a city-designated viewing station. § 17.76.030 · code text A fence/wall permit shall be required for any fence or wall placed within the rear yard or side yard setback adjacent to any contiguous or abutting parcel (as determined by the director), or placed adjacent to or abutting a city-designated viewing station identified in the city's general plan or coastal specific plan, except as specified below: No permit is needed. Applies: Residential fences, walls and hedges that meet the listed requirements, unless conditions of a fence/wall permit restrict them. § 17.76.030 · code text Unless restricted by conditions imposed through a fence/wall permit issued pursuant to subsection B of this section which meet the following requirements shall be allowed without a permit:

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Rancho Palos Verdes code What Rancho Palos Verdes's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory structures may be no more than 12 feet tall, measured from the lowest grade to the ridge. § 17.49.050 · code text Such accessory structures shall be limited to 12 feet in height, as measured from the lowest preconstruction grade adjacent to the foundation wall to the ridge. The 12-foot height limit may be waived. Applies: Detached garages, stand-alone chimneys, treehouses or flagpoles, if the director finds no significant impact on views from neighboring properties. § 17.49.050 · code text Upon a finding by the director that a detached garage, stand-alone chimney, treehouse, or a flagpole will have no significant impact on views from adjacent properties, the garage, standalone chimney, treehouse, or flagpole may be exempted from the 12-foot height limitation
Size or lot coverage	Storage sheds under 120 square feet may be allowed. Applies: In the Coastal Structure Setback Zone only, with a coastal permit. Other new permanent structures are not allowed in that zone. § 17.72.040 · code text Minor structures and equipment, such as trash enclosures, storage sheds of less than 120 square feet, doghouses, enclosed water heaters, barbecues, garden walls, air conditioners, pool filters, vents and other minor structures and/or equipment may be allowed.

Running a business from home

Rancho Palos Verdes code What Rancho Palos Verdes's code adds
Employees	Only 1 employee who does not live in the home. Applies: All other help must live at the home. The employee must park on site. § 17.08.030 · code text With the exception of one "home occupation employee," as that term is defined in chapter 17.96 (Definitions), there shall be no employment of help other than individuals residing at the subject residence. The home occupation employee shall park on site.
Permit	A home occupation permit from the director is required. § 17.08.020 · code text It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to establish, cause, permit or maintain any type of business, profession or other commercial occupation in any residential zoning district without first securing a home occupation permit from the director.
Businesses not allowed	commercial marijuana activities § 17.08.040 · code text Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, commercial marijuana activities, as defined in section 17.96.445 (Commercial Marijuana Activities), are not permitted as home occupations in the city.

Lot splits under SB 9

Rancho Palos Verdes code Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Up to 800 square feet of floor area.

All 15 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

Rancho Palos Verdes code What Rancho Palos Verdes's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles over 22 feet long, 8 feet high, 7 feet wide, or 10,000+ pounds need a permit for street parking. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles and trailers, including RVs, on any street or alley. § 10.36.020 · code text NO PARKING OF OVERSIZED VEHICLES/TRAILERS (EXCEEDING 22 FEET IN LENGTH; EIGHT FEET IN HEIGHT, OR SEVEN FEET IN WIDTH, OR HAVING A MANUFACTURER'S GROSS WEIGHT OF 10,000 POUNDS OR MORE) ON ANY STREET OR ALLEY WITHIN THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES WITHOUT A PERMIT.
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours in a row. Applies: Applies to a permitted oversized vehicle at the location named in the permit. § 10.36.020 · code text Permitted oversized vehicles shall not remain parked at the location specified in the permit for longer than 72 consecutive hours. No more than 6 nights in a calendar month. Applies: Applies to a permitted oversized vehicle parked overnight at the permit location. § 10.36.020 · code text No oversized vehicle shall be parked overnight at the location specified on the permit more than six nights during any calendar month. It must be gone for 24 hours before parking overnight there again. Applies: Applies after 72 hours at the permit location. § 10.36.020 · code text the oversized vehicle shall have been absent from the location for a minimum period of 24 hours from the expiration of the last registration. May stay on a street or alley for emergency repairs, such as a flat tire, if done within 6 hours. Applies: Any oversized vehicle; not for routine maintenance or major repairs. § 10.36.020 · code text provided all repairs are completed within six hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Rancho Palos Verdes code What Rancho Palos Verdes's code adds
EV charger permit	A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits the city requires. Applies: Applies to all EV charging stations. § 15.44.010 · code text All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the city relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the system.
Solar height and setbacks	Must not extend into a setback area. Applies: Applies to ground-mounted energy systems. § 17.83.050 · code text Installation of renewable energy systems are permitted in any zoning district through a minor site plan review application, provided that such systems do not encroach into a setback area or exceed 12 feet in height, as measured from existing grade. No more than 12 feet high, measured from existing grade. Applies: Applies to ground-mounted energy systems. § 17.83.050 · code text Installation of renewable energy systems are permitted in any zoning district through a minor site plan review application, provided that such systems do not encroach into a setback area or exceed 12 feet in height, as measured from existing grade.
Solar permit process	May be installed after the needed building permits are obtained from the city. Applies: Applies to roof-mounted renewable energy systems. § 17.83.050 · code text Any roof-mounted renewable energy system may be installed after the applicable building permits have been obtained from the city. A minor site plan review application. Applies: Applies to ground-mounted energy systems. § 17.83.050 · code text Installation of renewable energy systems are permitted in any zoning district through a minor site plan review application, provided that such systems do not encroach into a setback area or exceed 12 feet in height, as measured from existing grade.

Pets, chickens and bees

Rancho Palos Verdes code What Rancho Palos Verdes's code adds
Large animals	2 large animals, plus 1 more per extra 5,000 square feet of lot area, up to 4 in total. Applies: Developed lots of at least 15,000 square feet in the Equestrian Overlay (Q) District. § 17.46.020 · code text Two large domestic animals may be kept or maintained on a developed lot or parcel having a gross lot area of at least 15,000 square feet. One additional large domestic animal may be kept or maintained for each additional 5,000 square feet of gross lot area, not to exceed a total of four large domestic animals.
Permit	No permit is needed for the allowed number of large animals. Applies: Developed Equestrian Overlay (Q) lots of 15,000+ square feet; 2 animals, plus 1 per extra 5,000 square feet, up to 4. § 17.46.020 · code text Two large domestic animals may be kept or maintained on a developed lot or parcel having a gross lot area of at least 15,000 square feet. One additional large domestic animal may be kept or maintained for each additional 5,000 square feet of gross lot area, not to exceed a total of four large domestic animals.
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs and 5 cats. Applies: Applies to any residential lot in the city. § 6.04.040 · code text No person shall be permitted to keep in excess of four dogs and five cats on any residential lot within the city.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Rancho Palos Verdes?

In residential zones, fences, walls and hedges in the front yard setback are limited to 42 inches (city rule).

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

Accessory structures are limited to 12 feet; detached garages, chimneys, treehouses and flagpoles may be exempt if they do not significantly block views.

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

A home business needs a permit from the director and may have at most 1 employee who does not live there (city rule).

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

Rancho Palos Verdes's code: Vehicles over 22 feet long, 8 feet high, 7 feet wide, or 10,000+ pounds need a permit for street parking. (Applies to oversized vehicles and trailers, including RVs, on any street or alley.) (§ 10.36.020); No more than 72 hours in a row. (Applies to a permitted oversized vehicle at the location named in the permit.) (§ 10.36.020).

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

Rancho Palos Verdes's code: A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits the city requires. (Applies to all EV charging stations.) (§ 15.44.010); Must not extend into a setback area. (Applies to ground-mounted energy systems.) (§ 17.83.050).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Rancho Palos Verdes?

Rancho Palos Verdes's code: 2 large animals, plus 1 more per extra 5,000 square feet of lot area, up to 4 in total. (Developed lots of at least 15,000 square feet in the Equestrian Overlay (Q) District.) (§ 17.46.020); No permit is needed for the allowed number of large animals. (Developed Equestrian Overlay (Q) lots of 15,000+ square feet; 2 animals, plus 1 per extra 5,000 square feet, up to 4.) (§ 17.46.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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