Redondo Beach · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach sets its own limits on fences and accessory structures in residential zones. Fence height depends on the setback and on corner sight lines, and accessory limits are strictest in the rear setback.

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Key points

Fence height: In residential zones, fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front setback and 6 feet in the required rear or side setback.
Rear-setback structures: An accessory structure in the required rear setback is limited to 15 feet high, 1 story and 800 square feet (city rule).

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

Fences and walls

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing taller than 36 inches above sidewalk grade, including trees, fences and shrubs. Applies: All corner lots, in a triangle with 15-foot sides at the street corner. § 10-2.1524 · code text Within such triangular area, no tree, fence, shrub, or other physical obstruction higher than 36 inches above the established sidewalk grade shall be permitted. Nothing taller than 36 inches above curb grade, including trees, fences and shrubs. Applies: Lots next to both a street and an alley, in a triangle with 15-foot sides at that corner. § 10-2.1524 · code text Within such triangular area, no tree, fence, shrub, or other physical obstruction higher than 36 inches above the established curb grade shall be permitted. Fences, walls and hedges can be no more than 42 inches tall in a corner triangle. Applies: Reverse corner lots in residential zones; triangle uses points 15 feet along the rear and street side lot lines. § 10-2.1524 · code text no fence, wall, or hedge over 42 inches in height shall be permitted within a triangular area at the corner of the lot abutting the front setback of the key lot, which triangle shall be formed by the rear and exterior side lot lines and a diagonal line drawn between two points located 15 feet along the rear and exterior side lot lines from their point of intersection
Front yard height	Fences, hedges and walls can be no more than 42 inches tall. Applies: In any required front setback in residential zones. § 10-2.1524 · code text No fence, hedge, or wall over 42 inches in height shall be permitted within any required front setback.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, hedges and walls can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: In any required rear or side setback in residential zones. § 10-2.1524 · code text no fence, hedge, or wall greater than six feet in height shall be permitted within any required rear setback or side setback.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback in any residential zone. § 10-2.1500 · code text No accessory structure shall exceed 15 feet in height. No more than 1 story. Applies: Accessory buildings in a residential zone. § 10-2.1500 · code text No accessory building shall exceed one story in height. Outside walls can be no more than 10 feet tall, measured from existing grade to the top of plate. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text The perimeter walls shall not exceed 10 feet in height as measured from existing grade to the point of intersection with the top of the plate. A parapet can extend no more than 3 feet above the top of plate. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text A parapet may not extend more than three feet above the top of plate. 1 story; ceiling line no more than 10 feet above the garage floor and 11 feet above the sidewalk. Applies: Garages in the front setback of single-family lots 4 feet or more above or below the street; a Modification is required. § 10-2.1500 · code text The height of the private garage shall not exceed one story, nor shall the top of the plate (ceiling line) of the garage exceed 10 feet in height above the finished floor of the garage and 11 feet above the sidewalk elevation.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 800 square feet of gross floor area. Applies: Any accessory structure, or group of them, with any part in the required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text No accessory structure or combination of accessory structures, any portion of which is located in the required rear setback, shall exceed 800 square feet in gross floor area. The garage can be no more than 23 feet wide. Applies: Garages in the front setback of single-family lots 4 feet or more above or below the street; a Modification is required. § 10-2.1500 · code text The maximum width of the private garage shall not exceed 23 feet.
Side and rear setback	Side setbacks must total at least 10 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text The total side setback, measured from each side property line to the wall of the structure, shall equal not less than 10 feet. At least 5 feet on each side. Applies: Accessory structures in the rear setback that extend forward of the rear 23 feet of the lot, or are habitable. § 10-2.1500 · code text Further, if any portion of the accessory structure is located forward of the rear 23 feet of the lot, or if the structure is habitable, a minimum side setback of five feet shall be required on each side of the structure. No side setback is required. Applies: Non-living accessory structures next to an alley, entirely behind a line 45 feet from the far side of the alley. § 10-2.1500 · code text Notwithstanding the foregoing, no side setback shall be required for a nonhabitable accessory structure if no portion of the accessory structure is located forward of a line drawn parallel to and 45 feet from the property line abutting the opposite side of the alley (see illustration below). At least 5 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: Accessory structures in the required rear setback of a corner lot. § 10-2.1500 · code text Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be a minimum five foot exterior side setback for an accessory structure located in the required rear setback of a corner lot. The street side setback must equal the front setback required on the neighboring key lot. Applies: Accessory structures on a reverse corner lot. § 10-2.1500 · code text There shall be a minimum exterior side setback equal to the required front setback of the adjoining key lot (see illustration below). At least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Habitable structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text A habitable structure shall have a minimum rear setback of five feet. At least 25 feet from the far side of the alley. Applies: Garages with the door facing an alley. § 10-2.1500 · code text A garage having its opening facing an alley shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from the opposite side of the alley right-of-way line. At least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Accessory structures on a reverse corner lot in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text There shall be a minimum five foot rear setback (see illustration below).
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from homes and other accessory buildings on the site. Applies: Enclosed accessory buildings; measured between supporting walls or columns. § 10-2.1500 · code text Accessory buildings shall be detached from dwelling unit(s) and other accessory buildings on site with a minimum separation of five feet between the columns and/or walls supporting the buildings. No separation is required. Applies: Accessory structures that are not enclosed. § 10-2.1500 · code text An accessory structure that is not enclosed does not require the five foot separation.

Lot splits under SB 9

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach'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. § 10-1.1508 · code text Each of the resulting lots must be approximately equal, between 60 percent and 40 percent of the original lot area.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to each resulting lot. § 10-1.1508 · code text The resulting lots must each be at least 1,200 square feet.
Standards	The lot to be split must be in the R-1 or R-1A Single-Family Residential Zone. § 10-1.1508 · code text The lot to be split is in the R-1 or R-1A Single-Family Residential Zone. Each new lot must have at least 20 feet of frontage on the public right-of-way. Applies: Applies to each resulting lot. § 10-1.1508 · code text Each resulting lot must have frontage on the public right of way of at least 20 feet. No more than 2 dwelling units of any kind on a resulting lot. Applies: Applies to a lot created by an urban lot split. § 10-1.1508 · code text No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built on a lot that results from an urban lot split.

RV and boat parking

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach's code adds
Parking on the street	No oversized vehicle parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Applies: Public streets, highways and city parking lots, unless the vehicle has an overnight permit or another exception applies. § 3-7.2102 · code text No person shall stop, stand, park or leave standing any oversized vehicle on any public highway, street or city parking lot at any time between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless otherwise authorized by this article. Emergency parking for up to 24 consecutive hours. Applies: Oversized vehicle left at the roadside after a breakdown or driver incapacity. An exception to the overnight ban. § 3-7.2105 · code text Emergency parking may be allowed for 24 consecutive hours where a vehicle is left standing at the roadside because of mechanical breakdown or because of the driver's physical incapacity to proceed. An out-of-town visitor overnight permit is valid for no more than 7 days. Applies: For oversized vehicles of a resident's out-of-town visitors. Not issued to vehicles registered in the City. § 3-7.2105 · code text An out-of-town visitor permit shall be valid for a maximum period of seven days and will not be issued to a vehicle registered to a residence or address in the City;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative review as a nondiscretionary permit. Applies: Applies to charging station applications that meet all checklist requirements. § 9-28.06 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the Chief Building Official as a nondiscretionary permit.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day over the counter, or within 2 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Applies to complete small home rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plan. § 9-14.06 · code text or within two business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Pets, chickens and bees

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach's code adds
Bees	Yes, with an annual beekeeping permit. § 5-1.703 · code text No person shall keep, maintain or allow any hive of bees within the City without first obtaining an annual beekeeping permit in accordance with the following requirements. Hives must be kept from public access by a security fence and clear warning signs. Applies: Applies to permitted beehives. § 5-1.707 · code text Hives shall be isolated from public access by a security fence and prominent signage warning of the presence of a hive.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Redondo Beach?

In residential zones, fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front setback and 6 feet in the required rear or side setback.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Redondo Beach?

An accessory structure in the required rear setback is limited to 15 feet high, 1 story and 800 square feet (city rule).

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Redondo Beach?

Redondo Beach's code: Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. (Applies to each resulting lot.) (§ 10-1.1508); Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. (Applies to each resulting lot.) (§ 10-1.1508).

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Redondo Beach?

Redondo Beach's code: No oversized vehicle parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Public streets, highways and city parking lots, unless the vehicle has an overnight permit or another exception applies.) (§ 3-7.2102); Emergency parking for up to 24 consecutive hours. (Oversized vehicle left at the roadside after a breakdown or driver incapacity. An exception to the overnight ban.) (§ 3-7.2105).

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

Redondo Beach's code: Administrative review as a nondiscretionary permit. (Applies to charging station applications that meet all checklist requirements.) (§ 9-28.06); The permit is issued the same day over the counter, or within 2 business days for electronic applications. (Applies to complete small home rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.) (§ 9-14.06).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Redondo Beach?

Redondo Beach's code: Yes, with an annual beekeeping permit. (§ 5-1.703); Hives must be kept from public access by a security fence and clear warning signs. (Applies to permitted beehives.) (§ 5-1.707).

General information, not legal advice.

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