Redlands · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Redlands

Redlands sets its own rules for accessory buildings and home businesses. Accessory building height, size and yard coverage depend on the zone, and a home business needs a permit and a city business license.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: In the R-S and R-1-D zones, accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet high and 1,000 square feet each (city rule).
Home businesses: A home business may use at most 10% of the home or 1 room, whichever is less; only the resident family may work there.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Redlands code What Redlands's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet tall, from the foundation at ground level to the highest point of the roof. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-S Suburban Residential District and the R-1-D Zone. § 18.40.150 · code text Accessory buildings shall not exceed a maximum height of fifteen feet (15') as measured from the foundation at ground-level to the highest point of the roof.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 20% of the rear yard. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-S Suburban Residential District. § 18.40.150 · code text Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than twenty percent (20%) of the rear yard No more than 10% of the rear yard. Applies: A-1 and A-1-20 Agricultural Districts, or an interior side yard where there is no buildable rear yard. § 18.20.160 · code text Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than ten percent (10%) of the rear yard No more than 35% of the rear yard area. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-1-D Zone. § 18.48.180 · code text except that accessory buildings may occupy not more than thirty five percent (35%) of the rear yard area. No more than 1,000 square feet of total floor area. Applies: Each accessory building in the R-S Suburban Residential District and the R-1-D Zone. § 18.40.150 · code text An accessory building shall not exceed a total floor area of one thousand (1,000) square feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Accessory buildings up to 10 feet tall. § 18.20.160 · code text Five feet (5') for buildings up to ten feet (10') high; At least 10 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Buildings more than 10 feet tall. § 18.40.150 · code text Ten feet (10') for buildings more than ten feet (10') high. At least 20 feet from the rear property line. Applies: When the accessory building is entered straight in from an alley. § 18.40.150 · code text for accessory buildings, if perpendicular access to the accessory building is from the alley, not less than twenty feet (20') from the rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main buildings. Applies: Basic minimum; some cases need 20 or 25 feet. § 18.40.150 · code text Accessory buildings shall be a minimum of ten feet (10') from the main buildings; At least 20 feet between buildings. Applies: When more than 5 feet of the accessory building extends into the area behind the main building. § 18.40.150 · code text in which case the minimum space between buildings shall be twenty feet (20'). At least 25 feet between buildings. Applies: When cars enter the garage through the space between the buildings. § 18.40.150 · code text In cases where vehicular entry to garage occurs in the space between buildings, the minimum space between buildings shall be not less than twenty five feet (25'). At least 10 feet from the front main building. Applies: Accessory buildings in a required rear yard with front and rear homes in the R-1-D Zone. § 18.48.180 · code text provided such accessory buildings are not closer than ten feet (10') from the front main building At least 20 feet from the front of the rear main building. Applies: Accessory buildings in a required rear yard with front and rear homes in the R-1-D Zone. § 18.48.180 · code text and twenty feet (20') from the front of the rear main building.

Running a business from home

Redlands code What Redlands's code adds
Space used	No more than 10% of the home's total square footage or 1 room, whichever is less. § 18.160.020 · code text No more than ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the dwelling or one room of the dwelling, whichever is less, shall be employed for the home occupation.
Customer visits	No customers or clients may visit the home. Applies: Music lessons, tutoring and produce sales may be allowed if the community development director approves their intensity. § 18.160.020 · code text The home occupation shall not allow customers or clientele to visit the dwelling.
Employees	Only the family living in the home can work in the business. § 18.160.020 · code text There shall be no employment of persons other than the resident family of the dwelling.
Permit	A home occupation permit and a current city business license are required. § 18.160.020 · code text A home occupation permit is not valid until a current city business license is obtained.
Businesses not allowed	direct sales of products or merchandise from the home, except produce grown on the subject property § 18.160.020 · code text There shall be no direct sales of products or merchandise from the home, except for produce (fruit or vegetables) grown on the subject property.

Lot splits under SB 9

Redlands code What Redlands's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. Applies: Applies to each resulting lot. § 17.12.030 · code text Each of the resulting lots must be between sixty percent (60%) and forty percent (40%) of the original lot area.
Standards	Setback and lot coverage rules apply only as far as they allow 2 primary units of 800 square feet each. § 17.12.030 · code text This setback standard is only enforced to the extent that it does not prevent two (2) primary dwelling units on the lot at eight hundred (800) square feet each. The lot to be split must be at least 2,400 square feet. Applies: Applies to the original lot. § 17.12.030 · code text The lot to be split must be a minimum of two thousand four hundred (2,400) square-feet in area. Lots must be laid out so homes can meet the zone's setback standards. Applies: Urban lot split. No setback is needed for an existing structure or one rebuilt in the same place and size. § 17.12.030 · code text The proposed lots shall be designed to allow the existing and/or future dwelling units to comply with the applicable objective standards for yards and setbacks.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to each resulting lot. § 17.12.030 · code text The resulting lots must each be a minimum of one thousand two hundred (1,200) square-feet in area.
Owner occupancy	Only individual owners may apply; corporations and LLCs cannot meet the 3-year occupancy rule. Applies: Community land trusts and qualified nonprofit corporations are excepted. § 17.12.030 · code text Corporations, including but not limited to LLCs, are not eligible applicants because they cannot satisfy the three (3) year occupancy requirement.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Redlands code Reviewed administratively as a nondiscretionary permit. The permit can be issued once the chief building official finds the application meets all checklist requirements.

All 8 Redlands rules on solar panels and ev chargers, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Swimming pools

Redlands code What Redlands's code adds
Pool barrier	An enclosure meeting state pool-safety law that separates the pool or spa from the home. Applies: New or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home with a permit; plus at least 1 other drowning prevention feature. § 15.06.070 · code text An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 and isolates the swimming pool or spa from the private single-family home. House or accessory walls used as part of the enclosure must have protected door openings. Applies: Applies to walls used to complete the isolation enclosure. § 15.06.070 · code text Any walls of the residential structure or accessory structures used to complete the isolation enclosure must have its door openings equipped with protection as required in 115922 (a)(4) or (5).

Pets, chickens and bees

Redlands code What Redlands's code adds
Chickens	Yes (hens); eggs produced on the property may be sold incidentally. § 6.24.030 · code text Incidental sale of chicken eggs produced on the subject property is permitted.
Coop setback	At least 10 feet from all dwellings. Applies: Applies to enclosures or cages for hens, rabbits and Belgian hares. § 6.24.030 · code text Enclosures or cages for all hens, rabbits and Belgian hares shall be kept at a distance of at least ten feet (10') from all dwellings.
Permit	Yes, a permit from the animal services division is required. Applies: Applies to keeping livestock or other nondomestic animals. § 6.24.010 · code text It is unlawful to keep within the city any livestock or any other nondomestic animals without first obtaining a permit from the animal services division.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In the R-S and R-1-D zones, accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet high and 1,000 square feet each (city rule).

Can I run a business from my home in Redlands?

A home business may use at most 10% of the home or 1 room, whichever is less; only the resident family may work there.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Redlands?

Redlands's code: Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. (Applies to each resulting lot.) (§ 17.12.030); Setback and lot coverage rules apply only as far as they allow 2 primary units of 800 square feet each. (§ 17.12.030).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Redlands?

Redlands's code: An enclosure meeting state pool-safety law that separates the pool or spa from the home. (New or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home with a permit; plus at least 1 other drowning prevention feature.) (§ 15.06.070); House or accessory walls used as part of the enclosure must have protected door openings. (Applies to walls used to complete the isolation enclosure.) (§ 15.06.070).

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

Redlands's code: Yes (hens); eggs produced on the property may be sold incidentally. (§ 6.24.030); At least 10 feet from all dwellings. (Applies to enclosures or cages for hens, rabbits and Belgian hares.) (§ 6.24.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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