Ridgecrest · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest sets its own limits on fences, detached accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and on nearness to a street intersection.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences: at most 7 feet behind the front setback on side and rear lines; 3 ft 6 in in front setbacks at intersections.
Accessory size: Detached accessory buildings in residential zones are limited to 2/3 of the main home's square footage, except approved accessory dwelling units.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit; only immediate or resident family may work there, and vehicle repair and auto painting are barred.

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

Fences and walls

Ridgecrest code What Ridgecrest's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No higher than 7 feet above the top of the curb. Applies: Street side fences. § 106-32 · code text On street side fences, the height shall not be higher than seven feet above the top of curb.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet 6 inches tall at the front property line. Applies: Interior lots, where the fence tapers down from behind the front setback line to the front property line. § 106-32 · code text On interior lots, the horizontal fencing line may be linearly tapered from behind the front yard setback line to the front yard property line provided that the fence is not higher than three feet, six inches above grade at the property line. Fences, walls and hedges can be no more than 3 feet 6 inches tall. Applies: In any front setback next to a street intersection, unless the code allows otherwise. § 106-32 · code text No fence, wall or hedge shall be installed or constructed above the height of three feet, six inches within any front or side setback adjacent to a street intersection except as provided below:
Side and rear yard height	Fences and walls can be no more than 7 feet tall, measured from average grade. Applies: Behind the front yard setback, along side and rear property lines. § 106-32 · code text Fences and walls behind the front yard setback along the side and rear yard property lines not exceeding seven feet in height as measured from the average grade on either side of the fence. Fences, walls and hedges can be no more than 3 feet 6 inches tall. Applies: Side setbacks next to a street intersection, unless over 25 feet from the front property line extension or the public works director approves. § 106-32 · code text No fence, wall or hedge shall be installed or constructed above the height of three feet, six inches within any front or side setback adjacent to a street intersection except as provided below:

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Ridgecrest code What Ridgecrest's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 35 feet tall. Applies: Private garages in the front yard of interior lots where the front half slopes more than 1 foot in 4 feet. § 106-28 · code text further provided that no such building shall exceed 35 feet in height
Size or lot coverage	No more than two-thirds of the house's square footage. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in residential zones, except approved accessory dwelling units. § 106-28 · code text Detached accessory buildings shall not exceed two-thirds of the square footage of the primary dwelling.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the side or front property line. Applies: Private garages in the front yard of interior lots where the front half slopes more than 1 foot in 4 feet. § 106-28 · code text no portion of any such building shall be less than five feet from the side or front property line of the lot

Running a business from home

Ridgecrest code What Ridgecrest's code adds
Customer visits	No more traffic than a normal home brings. Applies: Retail sales and services at the home for people who come there. § 106-31 · code text Retail sales at the residence and services performed at the residence for persons who have come to the residence for such services shall be limited to no more traffic than that normally occasioned by a residential use.
Employees	No employees, salespeople, contractors or partners other than immediate or resident family members. Applies: Working at or coming to the property for the home business. § 106-31 · code text No employees, salesmen or other help, including independent contractors, partners or joint ventures hired, engaged, or retained by the permittee, other than members of the immediate or resident family, shall perform any work at the premises or go to or upon the premises in conjunction with the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 106-31 · code text The applicant for a home occupation permit shall attest to and acknowledge that they will not violate the following criteria:
Businesses not allowed	Any vocation or business involving machinery which cannot be stored or operated in the room allowed for use of the home occupation or concealed in the vehicle of not over one-ton capacity § 106-31 · code text Any vocation or business involving machinery which cannot be stored or operated in the room allowed for use of the home occupation or concealed in the vehicle of not over one-ton capacity; Automotive, vehicular, or motorcycle repair or engine repair, body and fender repair and auto painting § 106-31 · code text Automotive, vehicular, or motorcycle repair or engine repair, body and fender repair and auto painting.

RV and boat parking

Ridgecrest code What Ridgecrest's code adds
Where it may be parked	In all yard areas except the required front yard setback on any side yard next to a street. Applies: Applies to oversize vehicles, including RVs, campers and trailers, on private property. § 15-462 · code text Oversize vehicles may be parked or stored on private property in all yard areas except the required front yard setback on any side yard abutting a street right-of-way. On the apron between the driveway and the nearest side property line, in front of the setback. Applies: Trailers, campers and house cars; must not cross any property line; paved or graveled area kept free of trash and parts. § 15-462 · code text Semi-trailers, camp trailers, campers and/or house cars may be parked on the apron in front of a yard setback located between the driveway and the side property line closest to the driveway if:
Screening and surface	A paved or graveled surface. Applies: Applies to the apron parking area for trailers, campers and house cars. § 15-462 · code text The parking or storage area has a paved or graveled surface;
Size limit	Over 25 feet long, 7 feet wide or 7 feet high is oversize; buses, trucks, trailers and campers always count. Applies: House cars also count at any size. Oversize vehicles may not park in the required front yard setback on private property. § 15-461 · code text An oversize vehicle is any vehicle, motorized or non-motorized, that exceeds 25 feet in length, or exceeds seven feet in width, and/or exceeds seven feet in height.
Parking on the street	Not allowed on residential streets, except loading, unloading, service work on the block or emergency repairs, up to 72 hours. Applies: Vehicles over 25 feet long, and trailers or trucks over 90 inches wide, on residential streets. § 15-463 · code text or to perform repairs of an emergency nature on the motor vehicle itself, for a maximum of 72 consecutive hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Ridgecrest code What Ridgecrest's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist, laws and safety standards. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 102-183 · code text approve the application and issue all necessary permits within five business days after submission if the applications is for 25 or less vehicle charging stations at a single site Electronic submittal of applications and documents is allowed, and electronic signatures are accepted. § 102-183 · code text the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this article and associated supporting documentations

Swimming pools

Ridgecrest code What Ridgecrest's code adds
Pool barrier	No openings large enough for a child to pass, except through doors or gates. Applies: Pools, wading pools, fish ponds and other artificial water 18 inches or more deep. § 102-162 · code text Such fence, wall or other structure must be not less than five feet in height with no openings large enough to admit a child except through doors or gates as hereinafter provided. Wood posts at least 3 by 3 inches, at most 10 feet apart, set at least 18 inches deep. Applies: Wood fences. Boards at least 1/2 inch thick, fastened to at least 2 rails of at least 2 by 3 inches. § 102-165 · code text Redwood or pressure treated posts not less than three inches by three inches, set not more than ten feet apart, embedded at least 18 inches in the ground. Vertical boards at least one-half-inch thick shall be fastened securely to not less than two horizontal rails at least two inches by three inches in dimension. Galvanized mesh at least 11 gauge; pipe posts at least 1¼ inches across, at most 10 feet apart. Applies: Wire fences. Posts set at least 12 inches in concrete, in holes 6 inches across and 18 inches deep. § 102-165 · code text Galvanized wire mesh, minimum 11 gauge, with galvanized pipe posts of at least 1¼-inch diameter spaced not more than ten feet apart. Posts shall be set not less than 12 inches in concrete, in post holes six inches in diameter and 18 inches deep. A concrete footing at least 12 inches wide, 6 inches thick, and 12 inches below ground; steel embedded in it. Applies: Applies to masonry fences or walls. § 102-165 · code text Shall have concrete footing at least 12 inches wide and six inches thick, with a bottom not less than 12 inches below the ground surface. Any wall reinforcing steel shall be embedded in the footing.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. Applies: Fences or walls around pools, wading pools, fish ponds and other artificial water 18 inches or more deep. § 102-162 · code text Such fence, wall or other structure must be not less than five feet in height with no openings large enough to admit a child except through doors or gates as hereinafter provided.
Gates	Self-closing, self-latching devices on the inside, at least 4 feet above grade or out of small children's reach. Applies: Applies to pools, ponds and other bodies of water. § 102-164 · code text All doors or gates shall be of such size as to completely fill any opening in the fence, wall, or other structure and shall be equipped with self-closing and self-latching devices on the inside capable of keeping such gate or door located not less than four feet above grade or otherwise be inaccessible from the outside to small children. Locks must stay locked whenever the pool, pond or water is not in actual use. Applies: Applies when locks are used instead of self-closing and self-latching devices. § 102-164 · code text In lieu of such self-closing and self-latching devices, said doors and gates may be equipped with locks which shall be kept locked at all times when said pool, pond or other body of water is not in actual use;

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Ridgecrest?

Fences: at most 7 feet behind the front setback on side and rear lines; 3 ft 6 in in front setbacks at intersections.

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

Detached accessory buildings in residential zones are limited to 2/3 of the main home's square footage, except approved accessory dwelling units.

Can I run a business from my home in Ridgecrest?

A home business needs a permit; only immediate or resident family may work there, and vehicle repair and auto painting are barred.

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

Ridgecrest's code: In all yard areas except the required front yard setback on any side yard next to a street. (Applies to oversize vehicles, including RVs, campers and trailers, on private property.) (§ 15-462); On the apron between the driveway and the nearest side property line, in front of the setback. (Trailers, campers and house cars; must not cross any property line; paved or graveled area kept free of trash and parts.) (§ 15-462).

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

Ridgecrest's code: The building official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist, laws and safety standards. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 102-183); Electronic submittal of applications and documents is allowed, and electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 102-183).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Ridgecrest?

Ridgecrest's code: No openings large enough for a child to pass, except through doors or gates. (Pools, wading pools, fish ponds and other artificial water 18 inches or more deep.) (§ 102-162); Wood posts at least 3 by 3 inches, at most 10 feet apart, set at least 18 inches deep. (Wood fences. Boards at least 1/2 inch thick, fastened to at least 2 rails of at least 2 by 3 inches.) (§ 102-165).

General information, not legal advice.

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