San Fernando · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Fernando

San Fernando sets its own rules for accessory structures and home businesses. Two-story accessory structures are allowed only when the other story is a garage or an accessory dwelling unit.

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Key points

Accessory size: Non-parking accessory structures are limited to the lesser of 500 sq ft, 50% of the main ground floor, or 50% of the rear yard.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit, must stay inside the home's enclosed living area, and only residents may work there.

Each rule below is marked San Fernando 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

San Fernando code What San Fernando's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 26 feet high. Applies: Two-story accessory structures, only when the other story is a garage or ADU. The second story meets main-home setbacks unless it is only an ADU. § 106-45 · code text Two story accessory residential structures, at a maximum of 26 feet high, will not be permitted unless only one store is the accessory residential structure and the other story is a garage and/or an accessory dwelling unit;
Size or lot coverage	No more than 500 square feet, 50% of main building ground floor, or 50% of rear yard, whichever is less. Applies: Total of all accessory structures on a lot that are not for parking. ADUs do not count. § 106-45 · code text Five hundred square feet,
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from any property line. Applies: Detached accessory structures. § 106-45 · code text Detached accessory structures shall be located at least three feet from any property line.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main building. A breezeway may connect them. Applies: Detached accessory structures. § 106-45 · code text Detached accessory structures shall be located at least six feet from the main building. A breezeway may span the space between the two structures.

Running a business from home

San Fernando code What San Fernando's code adds
Space used	Only inside the enclosed living area of the home. § 106-616 · code text A home occupation shall be conducted only within the enclosed living area of the dwelling unit.
Customer visits	None. No vehicle or pedestrian traffic related to the business is allowed. § 106-616 · code text No vehicular or pedestrian traffic related to this home occupation shall be allowed.
Employees	Only residents of the home may work in the business. § 106-616 · code text Only the residents of the dwelling unit may be engaged in the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 106-615 · code text Written approval of a proposed use as a proper home occupation shall be considered a home occupation permit and shall remain in effect until revoked as provided in section 106-617.
Businesses not allowed	garment worker, pieceworker, or any other person engaged in the manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication of products Applies: Excluded from the self-employed and independent contractor home occupations the city allows § 106-615 · code text A self-employed person or an independent contractor, but not including a garment worker, a pieceworker or any other person engaged in the manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication of products.

Lot splits under SB 9

San Fernando code Each new lot must be between 48% and 52% of the original lot's area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 9 San Fernando rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

San Fernando code What San Fernando's code adds
Where it may be parked	Behind the building setback line. Applies: A city resident storing their own trailer coach on their own property when it is not in use. § 46-26 · code text However, a city resident may store his own trailer coach on his own property back of the building setback line when the coach is not in use.
Parking on the street	No street parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. without a resident or guest RV permit. Applies: RVs, campers, boats and their trailers; mobile homes cannot get a permit. § 90-220 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of a recreational vehicle shall park or leave such vehicle standing upon any street, alley, or portion of the public right of between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. without a valid resident RV permit or guest RV permit conspicuously displayed in the lower driver's side of the windshield or nearest window such that all the permit's information is visible. Up to 2 days in a row. Applies: Resident RV permit; 1 per address, on the same block, not within 50 feet of an intersection. § 90-220 · code text Resident RV permits shall remain valid for up to two consecutive days and shall expire at 6:00 a.m. on the third day. No more than 4 days in total per calendar month. Applies: Resident RV permits at a residential address. § 90-220 · code text Upon the expiration of the resident RV permit, the permittee may then apply for a new resident RV permit, however, no resident RV permit will be issued for a residential address for more than a total of four days in any calendar month. Up to 2 days in a row. Applies: Guest RV permit. § 90-220 · code text Guest RV permits shall remain valid for up to two consecutive days and shall expire at 6:00 a.m. on the third day. No more than 4 days in total per calendar month. Applies: Guest RV permits at a residential address. § 90-220 · code text Upon the expiration of the guest RV permit, the permittee may apply for a new guest RV permit, however, no guest RV permit will be issued for a residential address for more than a total of four days total in any calendar month.

Solar panels and EV chargers

San Fernando code What San Fernando's code adds
Solar permit process	Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 18-295 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. Such an inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request for such an inspection.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: A complete permit application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system. § 18-295 · code text Upon the building department's determination that the application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system permit is complete, the building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three (3) business days.

Tree removal

San Fernando code What San Fernando's code adds
Exemptions	No zoning clearance, administrative permit or discretionary permit is needed. Applies: A heritage or protected tree found to threaten public welfare by fire, police or public works, or removal ordered by an agency or insurer. § 106-350 · code text A heritage or protected tree that is a threat to the public welfare as determined by the Los Angeles Fire Department, San Fernando Police Department, or San Fernando Public Works Director or removal as directed by a county, state, or federal agency, or an insurance provider shall be exempt from obtaining a zoning clearance, administrative permit, or discretionary permit approval for its removal. Immature trees can be moved or removed without a permit. § 106-350 · code text Immature trees may be relocated or removed without a permit.
Permit to remove	Yes; the director approves removal based on a certified arborist report, such as for a dead, diseased or hazardous tree. Applies: Heritage, native or protected trees on private property; other reasons include utility or hardscape damage or hardship. § 106-350 · code text The director is authorized to approve the removal of a heritage tree, native tree, or protected tree based on the findings of a report prepared an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist confirming one or more of the following factors:
Replacement trees	Replacement trees at a 1:2 ratio. Applies: When keeping a heritage, native or protected tree is not feasible; canopy trees on site; owner covenants to replace any that die within 3 years. § 106-350 · code text Where it has been determined that preservation of a heritage tree, native tree, or protected tree is infeasible, replacement tree(s) shall be provided at a 1:2 ratio as follows: Replace it with 2 trees of 15-gallon size. Applies: Any tree that dies because of construction; replacements need a mature canopy of at least 20 feet and low water use. § 106-350 · code text Any tree that dies as a result of construction must be replaced with two 15-gallon size trees with a mature tree canopy of at least 20 feet and low water requirement.

Pets, chickens and bees

San Fernando code What San Fernando's code adds
Bees	Only if the hive is at least 300 feet from any other home and 100 feet from every property line. § 14-5 · code text No person shall establish or maintain any hive or box where bees are kept or keep any bees on any premises in the city within 300 feet of any dwelling other than that of the owner of such bees or within 100 feet of any exterior boundary of the property on which the hive or box is located
Chickens	Up to 50 chickens or other poultry without a permit; more needs a health officer permit. Applies: Lots of 7,500 square feet or less; poultry under 6 months old are not counted. § 14-4 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than 50 chickens or poultry of any kind, except that poultry less than six months old shall not be included as coming under such limitation, or more than 20 rabbits or hares upon any lot, enclosure or premises having an area of 7,500 square feet or less without first obtaining a permit from the health officer.
Permit	A permit from the health officer is required. Applies: Keeping more than 50 poultry or more than 20 rabbits or hares on a lot of 7,500 square feet or less. § 14-4 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than 50 chickens or poultry of any kind, except that poultry less than six months old shall not be included as coming under such limitation, or more than 20 rabbits or hares upon any lot, enclosure or premises having an area of 7,500 square feet or less without first obtaining a permit from the health officer.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Non-parking accessory structures are limited to the lesser of 500 sq ft, 50% of the main ground floor, or 50% of the rear yard.

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

A home business needs a permit, must stay inside the home's enclosed living area, and only residents may work there.

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

San Fernando's code: Behind the building setback line. (A city resident storing their own trailer coach on their own property when it is not in use.) (§ 46-26); No street parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. without a resident or guest RV permit. (RVs, campers, boats and their trailers; mobile homes cannot get a permit.) (§ 90-220).

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

San Fernando's code: Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. (Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 18-295); The permit is issued within 3 business days. (A complete permit application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system.) (§ 18-295).

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

San Fernando's code: No zoning clearance, administrative permit or discretionary permit is needed. (A heritage or protected tree found to threaten public welfare by fire, police or public works, or removal ordered by an agency or insurer.) (§ 106-350); Immature trees can be moved or removed without a permit. (§ 106-350).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in San Fernando?

San Fernando's code: Only if the hive is at least 300 feet from any other home and 100 feet from every property line. (§ 14-5); Up to 50 chickens or other poultry without a permit; more needs a health officer permit. (Lots of 7,500 square feet or less; poultry under 6 months old are not counted.) (§ 14-4).

General information, not legal advice.

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San Fernando Municipal Code — full text

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San Fernando overview