San Dimas · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Dimas

San Dimas sets its own rules for fences, accessory structures on corner lots and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, and one specific plan area has its own fence rules.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front yard setback and 6 feet along side and rear property lines (city rule).
Corner lots: On corner lots, the city sets 10 feet for detached accessory structures and 20 feet for detached garages whose doors face the street.
Home businesses: Home businesses in residential zones need a home occupation permit; massage practices and massage technicians are not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

San Dimas code What San Dimas's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Specific Plan No. 8, outside the required front yard setback. Taller only with director of community development approval. § 18.512.200 · code text The maximum fence height in all other areas shall be six feet, unless a taller fence or wall is approved by the director of community development as a method of protecting the health, safety or welfare of the residents.
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches. Applies: Fences and walls in any required front yard setback. § 18.20.110 · code text Fences, and walls not over forty-two inches in height shall be permitted in any required front yard setback. No more than 42 inches. Applies: Solid fences or walls in the required front yard setback, Specific Plan No. 8. § 18.512.200 · code text The maximum height of solid fences or walls in the required front yard setback shall be forty-two inches.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: On or within rear and side property lines, and on or behind front setback lines. § 18.20.110 · code text Fences, and walls not greater than six feet in height on or within all rear and side property lines, and on or to the rear of all front setback lines. Up to 6 feet, measured from the street side face. Applies: Corner lots, street side yard setback. Set back at least 18 inches from the street side line unless a landscaped parkway exists. § 18.20.110 · code text Fences, walls, and gates within the required street side yard setback are allowed up to six feet in height measured from the street side face of the wall.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

San Dimas code What San Dimas's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from the street side property line. Applies: Detached accessory structures on corner lots in any residential zone. § 18.20.070 · code text No detached accessory structure in any residential zone shall be located at a distance less than ten feet from the street side yard property line. At least 20 feet from the side street property line. Applies: Detached garages on corner lots in residential zones, when the garage door faces the street. § 18.20.070 · code text No detached garage in any residential zone shall be located at a distance less than twenty feet from the side street property line when the garage door faces the street.

Running a business from home

San Dimas code What San Dimas's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: Home-based businesses in all residential zones and specific plans that allow homes as a primary use. § 18.184.010 · code text The general purpose of this chapter is to set forth provisions by which home based businesses, that are an accessory use to the primary residence, may be allowed in all residential zones and specific plans that allow residential as a primary use, provided that they comply with the prescribed standards to minimize impacts to residential neighborhoods.
Businesses not allowed	Massage practices and massage technicians § 18.184.030 · code text A. Massage practices and massage technicians.

Solar panels and EV chargers

San Dimas code What San Dimas's code adds
EV charger permit	A nondiscretionary permit is issued once the application meets the city checklist; the charger cannot be energized until approved. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.08.070 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city's adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7 and Assembly Bill 1236, approve the non-discretionary application and issue all necessary permits.
Solar permit process	Administrative review; 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 15.06.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the city's checklist and standard plan, the building department shall issue a non-discretionary permit within three business days of the filing of the application and payment of the permit fee.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar meeting the city checklist and standard plan; counted from filing and fee payment. § 15.06.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the city's checklist and standard plan, the building department shall issue a non-discretionary permit within three business days of the filing of the application and payment of the permit fee.

Tree removal

San Dimas code What San Dimas's code adds
Penalty	Replacing each removed tree with up to 4 trees. Applies: After a conviction, instead of jail, as a condition of probation. § 18.162.130 · code text requiring the replacement of each tree removed in violation of this chapter with up to four trees of a similar species of not less than a twenty-four inch box size, or other replacement of equivalent value and size, whichever is greater.
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree removal permit (the director's written approval) for mature significant trees. Applies: Undeveloped property; required before any grading or building permit. § 18.162.030 · code text A tree removal permit is required. Yes, with approval of the community development director or the planning commission. Applies: Mature significant trees on developed property; the planning division may approve up to 3. § 18.162.040 · code text Mature significant trees may be removed from developed property with the approval of the director of community development or the planning commission subject to the following procedures: Topping or severe pruning that limits future growth counts as removing the tree. Applies: As determined by a Certified Arborist. § 18.162.110 · code text Topping and/or severe pruning of trees that results in significant damage to the tree to the point that reasonable future growth may be limited, as determined by a Certified Arborist, shall constitute a tree removal and is subject to the penalties outlined in Section 18.162.130;
Replacement trees	Up to 4 similar trees, at least 24-inch box, or equal value and size, whichever is greater, or director-approved security. Applies: Before a development permit is issued for a lot where trees were removed in violation of the rules. § 18.162.130 · code text unless and until the owner of such lot has replaced each such tree, to an on-site or off-site location pursuant to the provisions of this section, with up to four trees of a similar species of not less than twenty-four inch box size, or of equivalent value and size, whichever is greater, or provided security satisfactory to the director of development services that such trees will be planted at such time as determined by the director.

Swimming pools

San Dimas code What San Dimas's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	An unattended, undrained pool on vacant premises is a public nuisance; whoever possesses the land must drain it immediately. Applies: When the premises are vacated or unoccupied. § 8.24.100 · code text Whenever there is located upon a lot or parcel an unattended, undrained swimming pool and such premises are vacated or unoccupied, such unattended, undrained, swimming pool is a public nuisance and shall be immediately drained by the person in possession of such land, either as owner, purchaser, lessee, tenant, licensee or otherwise.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet. Applies: Pools, spas, rockscapes and pool equipment, from side, rear and street-side property lines. § 18.20.220 · code text A minimum five-foot setback from side, rear, and street side property lines shall be required for swimming pools, spas, rockscapes, and pool equipment.

Other San Dimas rules on this

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

Keeping horses (§ 18.28.050) — single-family agriculture zone only
Limits on pets in residential zones (§ 18.20.060)
RVs, boats and trailers at a home (§ 18.20.030)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in San Dimas?

Fences are limited to 42 inches in the required front yard setback and 6 feet along side and rear property lines (city rule).

How big can a shed or accessory building be in San Dimas?

On corner lots, the city sets 10 feet for detached accessory structures and 20 feet for detached garages whose doors face the street.

Can I run a business from my home in San Dimas?

Home businesses in residential zones need a home occupation permit; massage practices and massage technicians are not allowed.

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

San Dimas's code: A nondiscretionary permit is issued once the application meets the city checklist; the charger cannot be energized until approved. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.08.070); Administrative review; 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 15.06.060).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in San Dimas?

San Dimas's code: Replacing each removed tree with up to 4 trees. (After a conviction, instead of jail, as a condition of probation.) (§ 18.162.130); Yes, a tree removal permit (the director's written approval) for mature significant trees. (Undeveloped property; required before any grading or building permit.) (§ 18.162.030).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in San Dimas?

San Dimas's code: An unattended, undrained pool on vacant premises is a public nuisance; whoever possesses the land must drain it immediately. (When the premises are vacated or unoccupied.) (§ 8.24.100); At least 5 feet. (Pools, spas, rockscapes and pool equipment, from side, rear and street-side property lines.) (§ 18.20.220).

General information, not legal advice.

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