Riverside · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Riverside

Riverside sets its own limits on accessory structures and home businesses, and has a separate chapter on fences, walls and landscape materials. Accessory structure height and size depend on the zone, the stories and the lot size.

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Key points

Accessory height: In single-family zones, accessory structures are limited to 20 feet for 1 story and 30 feet for 2 stories (city rule).
Home businesses: Home offices may not have customer or client visits, and home instruction is limited to 1 pupil at a time (city rule).
Fences: The city has its own chapter on fences, walls and landscape materials.

Each rule below is marked Riverside 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

Riverside code What Riverside's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 20 feet tall overall. Applies: Single-story accessory structures in single-family residential zones. § 19.440.030 · code text Single-story accessory structures shall not exceed 20 feet in overall height and two-story accessory structures shall not exceed 30 feet in overall height. No more than 30 feet tall overall. Applies: Two-story accessory structures in single-family residential zones. § 19.440.030 · code text Single-story accessory structures shall not exceed 20 feet in overall height and two-story accessory structures shall not exceed 30 feet in overall height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 35% of the required side or rear setback area. Applies: Accessory structures. § 19.440.030 · code text Accessory structures shall not cover more than 35 percent of the required side or rear yard setback area. No more than 120 square feet in total. Applies: All metal accessory structures in the RR, RE and R-1 Zones. § 19.440.030 · code text All metal accessory structures shall be limited to a maximum total floor area of 120 square feet in the RR, RE, and R-1 Zones. No more than 750 square feet. Applies: Accessory structures on lots smaller than one-half acre in the RR, RE and R-1 Zones. § 19.440.030 · code text Accessory structures shall be limited to a maximum floor area of 750 square feet on lots less than one-half acre in the RR, RE, and R-1 Zones. No size limit. Applies: Accessory structures in the RC, RA-5, R-3 or R-4 Zones. § 19.440.030 · code text In the RC, RA-5, R-3 or R-4 Zones. No size limit. Applies: Accessory structures on lots of one-half acre or more in the RR, RE and R-1 Zones. § 19.440.030 · code text On lots one-half acre or greater in the RR, RE, and R-1 Zones.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from interior side and rear lot lines. Applies: Single-story accessory structures in single-family residential zones. § 19.440.030 · code text The interior side and rear yard setback shall be five feet for a single-story accessory structure. Same interior side and rear setbacks as the main house. Applies: Two-story accessory structures, or those over 20 feet tall, in single-family residential zones. § 19.440.030 · code text The interior side and rear yard setback shall be the same as that which applies to primary structures for two-story accessory structures or accessory structures exceeding 20 feet in height. At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Accessory structures over 5 feet tall in single-family residential zones. § 19.440.030 · code text Any accessory structure over five feet in height shall be set back at least five feet from side and rear property lines. At least 5 feet from any rear or interior side lot line. Applies: Patio covers, which can be no more than 1 story. § 19.440.030 · code text Such structures shall not exceed more than one story in height and shall be erected at least five feet away from any rear or interior side lot line.
No permit needed up to	No building permit may be needed for 120 square feet or less. Applies: Single-story detached sheds or playhouses no taller than 10 feet, when the California Building Code exempts them. § 19.440.020 · code text Single-story, detached, accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar use, may be exempt from building permits, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the height does not exceed ten feet and is specifically exempted by the California Building Code.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the main building, or the Building Code distance if greater. Applies: Detached accessory structures. § 19.440.030 · code text Accessory structures shall be located a minimum of five feet from the principal building or the distance required by the Building Code, whichever is greater.

Running a business from home

Riverside code What Riverside's code adds
Customer visits	No customers or clients may visit the site. Applies: Business, professional and sales offices, unless the code allows otherwise. § 19.485.030 · code text Business, professional and sales offices, excluding medical, dental and similar uses that involve regular patient visits to the site, provided that no retail sales transactions are made on the premises and that no customers or clients visit the site, except as specifically allowed by this section. Only 1 student at a time. Applies: Lessons in academics, music, voice, art, dance or similar activities. § 19.485.030 · code text Instruction in academia, music, voice, art, dance or similar activities with no more than one pupil receiving instruction at any given time.
Businesses not allowed	medical, dental and similar uses that involve regular patient visits to the site Applies: business, professional and sales offices § 19.485.030 · code text Business, professional and sales offices, excluding medical, dental and similar uses that involve regular patient visits to the site, provided that no retail sales transactions are made on the premises and that no customers or clients visit the site, except as specifically allowed by this section. cabinet making Applies: home crafts § 19.485.030 · code text Home crafts, such as model making, rug weaving, quilting and needlework, lapidary work and wood working, limited to the uses of tools and equipment commonly available for personal residential use, but specifically excluding cabinet making.

Lot splits under SB 9

Riverside code What Riverside's code adds
How the lot may be divided	About equal lots; none smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Applies: Applies to an urban lot split. § 18.085.040 · code text In no instance shall a parcel be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision, or smaller than 1,200 square feet, whichever is greater.
Minimum new lot size	At least 1,200 square feet, or 40% of the original lot, whichever is greater. Applies: Applies to each new lot in an urban lot split. § 18.085.040 · code text In no instance shall a parcel be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision, or smaller than 1,200 square feet, whichever is greater.
Setbacks	Side and rear setbacks must be at least 4 feet. Applies: Applies to two-unit developments. § 19.443.050 · code text The side and rear yard setbacks for two-unit developments shall be at least four feet.
Standards	Each new lot must have separate sewer, water and electric services. Applies: Applies to lots created by an urban lot split. § 18.085.040 · code text Parcels created through an urban lot split shall have separate sewer, water and electrical utility services. Units must match existing or each other's roof pitch, paint color and finishes; front and street side yards fully landscaped. Applies: Applies to two-unit development design. § 19.443.060 · code text Front and street side yard areas shall be fully landscaped pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 19.570 (Water Efficient Landscaping and Irrigation) and the Citywide Design Guidelines.
Parking	1 covered on-site parking space. Applies: Per unit; none required within one-half mile of a high-quality transit corridor or major transit stop, or 1 block of car-share. § 19.443.050 · code text One on-site covered parking space shall be required per unit.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Riverside code What Riverside's code adds
EV charger permit	Building permit approval is nondiscretionary when the application meets the approved checklist and standards. Applies: EV charging stations with no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 16.23.060 · code text The Building Official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.
Solar permit process	Expedited permit review; only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 16.22.060 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building and Safety Division for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited permit review.

Swimming pools

Riverside code An enclosure that meets state pool safety rules and separates the pool or spa from the home. Removable mesh fencing that meets ASTM F2286.

All 9 Riverside rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Other Riverside rules on this

Riverside's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Fences, walls and landscape materials (Ch. 19.550)
Keeping pot-bellied pigs as pets (Ch. 8.19) — license needed; single-family residential lots
Where you may place bee hives (§ 8.20.060)
Keeping animals at home (zoning) (Ch. 19.455)
Parking trailers and trailer coaches on streets (§ 10.52.155) — public streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Riverside?

The city has its own chapter on fences, walls and landscape materials. Riverside also has a related rule: Fences, walls and landscape materials (Ch. 19.550).

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

In single-family zones, accessory structures are limited to 20 feet for 1 story and 30 feet for 2 stories (city rule).

Can I run a business from my home in Riverside?

Home offices may not have customer or client visits, and home instruction is limited to 1 pupil at a time (city rule).

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Riverside?

Riverside's code: About equal lots; none smaller than 40% of the original lot area. (Applies to an urban lot split.) (§ 18.085.040); At least 1,200 square feet, or 40% of the original lot, whichever is greater. (Applies to each new lot in an urban lot split.) (§ 18.085.040).

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

Riverside's code: Building permit approval is nondiscretionary when the application meets the approved checklist and standards. (EV charging stations with no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 16.23.060); Expedited permit review; only 1 inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 16.22.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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