Rialto · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rialto

Rialto sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, the fence type and whether the yard faces a street.

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Key points

Fence height: On interior lots, solid front-yard fences are limited to 3½ feet, open fences and hedges to 6 feet; side and rear yards, 6 feet.
Yard coverage: Accessory buildings may cover at most 25% of a rear yard; in single-family zones, all buildings together at most 30% of the lot.
Home businesses: Every home business needs a home occupation permit (city rule).

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

Fences and walls

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Corner visibility	A fence, hedge or wall over 3.5 feet may not extend forward of the nearest part of the main building. Applies: In the street side setback of lots next to a street; security fences must not block sight lines at the intersection. § 18.56.030 · code text A fence, hedge or wall exceeding three and one-half feet in height located within the street side building setback shall not extend forward of that portion of the main structure which is nearest to the side yard A fence over 3.5 feet in the rear setback needs a 45-degree corner cutoff for visibility. Applies: Reverse corner lots, where the rear property line is the side property line of the lot behind. § 18.56.030 · code text any fence within the rear yard setback exceeding three and one-half feet above ground level shall have a corner cutoff to provide sight distance and visibility for the rear lot.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, hedges and walls can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Interior lots, in the required side or rear yards. § 18.56.030 · code text The maximum height of any fence, hedge or wall shall be six feet above the ground level within the required side or rear yards. No more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Part of a side or rear yard next to a public street; the fence must be at least 12 feet from the curb face. § 18.56.030 · code text The maximum height permitted above ground level shall not exceed six feet;
Front yard height	Solid fences or walls can be no more than 3.5 feet above the curb. Applies: Interior lots, in the required front yard setback. § 18.56.030 · code text Within the required front yard setback, the maximum side height of any solid fence or wall shall not exceed three and a half feet above the level of the curb along the front yard setback Hedges, chain link, wrought iron fencing and block pilasters can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Interior lots, in the required front yard setback. § 18.56.030 · code text provided, however, that a hedge or chain link fence, wrought iron fencing and block pilasters may be constructed to a maximum height of six feet.
Permit	The planning division must approve plans before building permits are issued. Applies: Security fences and walls in the street side building setback. § 18.56.030 · code text plans and elevations of such security fences and walls shall be approved by the planning division before building permits may be issued for their construction;

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 25% of the rear yard. Applies: A detached accessory building, or all accessory buildings together. § 18.52.030 · code text A detached accessory building, or combination of accessory buildings may occupy not more than twenty-five percent of a rear yard as defined in Section 18.04.770, provided that the maximum building coverage in a single-family residential zone shall not exceed thirty percent of the total lot area. No more than 30% of the total lot area. Applies: All buildings on the lot together in a single-family residential zone. § 18.52.030 · code text A detached accessory building, or combination of accessory buildings may occupy not more than twenty-five percent of a rear yard as defined in Section 18.04.770, provided that the maximum building coverage in a single-family residential zone shall not exceed thirty percent of the total lot area.
Side and rear setback	Can be as close as 5 feet to an interior property line. Applies: Interior property lines next to the rear yard area. § 18.52.030 · code text An accessory building may be located within five feet of any interior property line adjacent to the rear yard area.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the house. Applies: Accessory buildings with more than 120 square feet of roof area. § 18.52.030 · code text An accessory building having more than one hundred twenty square feet of roof area shall be separated from the main structure on the lot a minimum distance of ten feet.

Running a business from home

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required; it is valid only for that person, business and home. § 5.68.130 · code text A home occupation permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be valid only for the person to whom it is issued and as to the specific occupation and residence for which it is issued.

Lot splits under SB 9

Rialto code What Rialto'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 lot created by an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text Each lot created by an urban lot split shall be between forty percent and sixty 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 lot created by an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text Each lot created by an urban lot split shall be at least one thousand two hundred square feet in area.
Standards	Each new lot must adjoin a public street right-of-way. Applies: Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text Each lot created by an urban lot split shall adjoin a public street right-of-way. At least 24 feet of frontage on the public street. Applies: Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text Each lot created by an urban lot split shall have frontage on the public street right-of-way of at least twenty-four feet. No more than 2 dwelling units on each new lot. Applies: Applies to a lot created by an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built on a lot that results from an urban lot split. The original lot must be at least 2,400 square feet. Applies: Applies to the lot to be split. § 17.51.050 · code text The lot to be split must be at least two thousand four hundred square feet in area. Only a lot in a single-family residential zone may be split. Applies: Applies to an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text The lot to be split is in a single-family residential zone. No street dedication or offsite improvements are required. Applies: Applies to an urban lot split. § 17.51.050 · code text Notwithstanding Section 66411.1 of the SMA, no dedication of rights-of-way or construction of offsite improvements is required for an urban lot split.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
EV charger permit	Every EV charging station needs a permit, obtained from building and safety by the owner or the owner's agent. § 15.64.040 · code text Every electric vehicle charging station shall require a permit issued in accordance with this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person to install, operate, or maintain an electric vehicle charging station without such a permit for such work, and the permit shall be secured from the building and safety division by the owner or owner's agent. Administrative expedited review; a complete application is checked against the checklist and standards. Applies: Applies to applications with all required information and documents. § 15.64.060 · code text The building official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of applications for electric vehicle charging stations. When the application contains all the required information and documentation of the approved checklist and standards, the building official shall deem the application complete.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; apply electronically, then bring the stamped hard copy to the Building Department; only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.05.060 · code text The building official shall implement an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. This review process will be able to be submitted electronically to the city or a designated plan review consultant

Swimming pools

Rialto code Openings no wider than 4 inches. Wire mesh openings no larger than 2 inches.

All 12 Rialto rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Rialto?

On interior lots, solid front-yard fences are limited to 3½ feet, open fences and hedges to 6 feet; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

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

Accessory buildings may cover at most 25% of a rear yard; in single-family zones, all buildings together at most 30% of the lot.

Can I run a business from my home in Rialto?

Every home business needs a home occupation permit (city rule).

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Rialto?

Rialto's code: Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. (Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split.) (§ 17.51.050); Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. (Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split.) (§ 17.51.050).

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

Rialto's code: Every EV charging station needs a permit, obtained from building and safety by the owner or the owner's agent. (§ 15.64.040); Administrative expedited review; a complete application is checked against the checklist and standards. (Applies to applications with all required information and documents.) (§ 15.64.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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