San Jacinto · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Jacinto

San Jacinto sets its own rules for accessory structures and home businesses. Setbacks depend on the structure type and the zone, and the city lists many businesses that may not run from a home.

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Key points

Accessory height: Detached accessory structures in residential zones: at most 15 feet; sheds and playhouses in a side setback or near the rear line, 7 feet.
Home businesses: Home offices may not have client visits; barber services and lessons allow 1 customer or pupil at a time; a business license is required.

Each rule below is marked San Jacinto 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 Jacinto code What San Jacinto's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Detached accessory structures in residential zones, except tool sheds, playhouses or play equipment in a side setback or within 5 feet of the rear line. § 17.405.050 · code text Detached accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, except detached tool sheds, playhouses, recreation equipment, and similar facilities located within a required side setback or within five feet of a rear property line, which shall not exceed a height of seven feet from finished grade. No more than 7 feet above finished grade. Applies: Detached tool sheds, playhouses, recreation equipment and similar items in a required side setback or within 5 feet of a rear property line. § 17.405.050 · code text Detached accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, except detached tool sheds, playhouses, recreation equipment, and similar facilities located within a required side setback or within five feet of a rear property line, which shall not exceed a height of seven feet from finished grade.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the side and rear. Applies: Air conditioning, pool and spa equipment for single-family and duplex homes. § 17.405.050 · code text Air conditioning equipment, pool and spa equipment \| Side, Rear \| 5 feet (4) \| 5 feet At least 5 feet from the side. Applies: Garages, carports, portable covers, canopies or shelters for single-family and duplex homes. § 17.405.050 · code text Garage, carport, portable covers, canopies, or shelters (permanent/temporary) of any type \| Side \| 5 feet (3)(4) \| Same as primary structure At least 5 feet from the rear. Applies: Garages, carports, covers, canopies or shelters for single-family and duplex homes, when the entrance does not face the right-of-way. § 17.405.050 · code text Garage, carport, portable covers, canopies, or shelters (permanent/temporary) of any type \| Rear \| 5 feet; or 20 feet if entrance faces right-of-way \| Same as primary structure At least 20 feet from the rear. Applies: Garages, carports, covers, canopies or shelters for single-family and duplex homes, when the entrance faces the right-of-way. § 17.405.050 · code text Garage, carport, portable covers, canopies, or shelters (permanent/temporary) of any type \| Rear \| 5 feet; or 20 feet if entrance faces right-of-way \| Same as primary structure At least 5 feet from the side. Applies: All other accessory structures, such as decks, sheds, gazebos, patio covers and pools, for single-family and duplex homes. § 17.405.050 · code text All other accessory structures, including decks, platforms, stationary compost bin, fire pit, gazebo, greenhouse, landscape ponds, outdoor play equipment, patio cover, recreational court, spa, stationary barbeque, storage shed, swimming pool, treehouse, workshop. \| Side \| 5 feet \| Same as primary structure At least 10 feet from the rear. Applies: All other accessory structures for single-family and duplex homes in the RE and RR zones. § 17.405.050 · code text All other accessory structures, including decks, platforms, stationary compost bin, fire pit, gazebo, greenhouse, landscape ponds, outdoor play equipment, patio cover, recreational court, spa, stationary barbeque, storage shed, swimming pool, treehouse, workshop. \| Rear \| 10 feet-RE and RR Zones 5 feet-All other residential zones \| Same as primary structure At least 5 feet from the rear. Applies: All other accessory structures for single-family and duplex homes in all other residential zones. § 17.405.050 · code text All other accessory structures, including decks, platforms, stationary compost bin, fire pit, gazebo, greenhouse, landscape ponds, outdoor play equipment, patio cover, recreational court, spa, stationary barbeque, storage shed, swimming pool, treehouse, workshop. \| Rear \| 10 feet-RE and RR Zones 5 feet-All other residential zones \| Same as primary structure At least 4 feet from the key lot's side lot line. Applies: Detached accessory structures on a corner lot. They may not project past the front setback line of the key lot behind. § 17.405.050 · code text Detached accessory structures on a corner lot shall not project beyond the front setback line required on the key lot in the rear and shall not be located closer than four feet to the side lot line of the key lot; provided, however, that the accessory structure shall not be located less than 25 feet from the side street line of a corner or reversed corner lot. At least 25 feet from the side street line. Applies: Detached accessory structures on a corner or reversed corner lot. § 17.405.050 · code text Detached accessory structures on a corner lot shall not project beyond the front setback line required on the key lot in the rear and shall not be located closer than four feet to the side lot line of the key lot; provided, however, that the accessory structure shall not be located less than 25 feet from the side street line of a corner or reversed corner lot.

Running a business from home

San Jacinto code What San Jacinto's code adds
Customer visits	No customers or clients may visit the site. Applies: Business, professional and sales offices, not including medical, dental and similar uses with regular patient visits. § 17.615.040 · code text provided that no in-person retail sales transactions are made on the premises and that no customers or clients visit the site, except as specifically allowed by this section. No more than 1 customer receiving services at any given time. Applies: Barber or beauty services. § 17.615.040 · code text Barber or Beauty Services with no more than one customer receiving services at any given time. No more than 1 pupil receiving instruction at any given time. Applies: Lessons in academics, music, voice, art, dance or similar activities. § 17.615.040 · code text Instruction in academia, music, voice, art, dance or similar activities with no more than one pupil receiving instruction at any given time.
Permit	A business license is required. Applies: A new business license is needed before changing to a different type of home business activity. § 17.615.100 · code text A change in the type of home occupation activity (e.g., a change from one allowed activity to another allowed activity) conducted by the original resident/permittee shall also require a new business license before conducting an allowed home occupation. Approval of the Riverside County Health Department is required. Applies: Home catering and food preparation businesses. § 17.615.040 · code text Home catering and food preparation businesses, subject to the approval of the Riverside County Health Department.
Businesses not allowed	adult businesses; alcohol sales; ammunition, explosives, or fireworks sales, use, or manufacturing; commercial breeding, boarding, grooming, harboring, kenneling, raising, and/or training of dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises; on-site carpentry and cabinet making; cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, testing or sale of cannabis or cannabis products; dance clubs/night clubs; commercial food preparation; fortune telling; lawn mower and/or small engine repair; noncertified massage practitioners; medical, dental and veterinary offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini storage; plant nurseries; private clubs; retail or wholesale sales of products stored at the residence; storage and/or sales of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades; tattoo and body piercing; television, radio, or appliance repair; tobacco/hookah lounges/parlors; tow truck services; vehicle repair, upholstery, automobile detailing, and painting; vehicle sales; welding and machining; and other similar uses determined by the Director not to be incidental to or compatible with residential activities § 17.615.050 · code text Irrespective of Section 17.615.040 (Allowed Home Occupations) above, the following uses are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities and are prohibited as home occupations:

Lot splits under SB 9

San Jacinto code Each unit must be no more than 800 square feet and more than 500 square feet. Each unit must be no more than 800 square feet and more than 500 square feet.

All 12 San Jacinto rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

San Jacinto code What San Jacinto's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours. Applies: Applies to recreational vehicles parked on public streets in a residential district. § 10.16.240 · code text Recreational vehicles shall be allowed to park on public streets in a residential district for not more than seventy-two (72) hours or in a commercial district for not more than one hundred twenty (120) hours.
Living in an RV	No. Living in a recreational vehicle is strictly prohibited. § 10.16.240 · code text Habitation of recreational vehicles is strictly prohibited.

Solar panels and EV chargers

San Jacinto code What San Jacinto's code adds
EV charger permit	Apply online through the San Jacinto Connect Online portal; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to EV charging station permit applications. § 15.60.050 · code text Permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations shall be electronically submitted utilizing the San Jacinto Connect Online portal, or applicable alternative as approved by the director.
Solar height and setbacks	Panels may not be taller than the city's maximum legal building height. Applies: Required for a small home rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited permitting. § 17.430.330 · code text The panel or module array does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the City.
Solar permit process	Approved administratively through a nondiscretionary permit. Applies: Applies when the application is mainly for solar energy, unless the Director finds a specific adverse impact. § 17.430.330 · code text An application that is for the primary purpose of providing for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy shall be administratively approved through a nondiscretionary permit unless the Director determines, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific adverse impact. A zoning clearance, landscape and irrigation plan approval, and a building permit are required. § 17.430.330 · code text The installation of a solar energy system shall require the issuance of a zoning clearance by the Director in compliance with Chapter 17.655 (Zoning Clearances), approval of the landscape and irrigation plans in compliance with 17.325 (Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation), and the issuance of a building permit.

Pets, chickens and bees

San Jacinto code What San Jacinto's code adds
Bees	Yes, at most 2 bee colonies. Applies: Applies to tracts of 1/4 acre or less. § 8.12.070 · code text 1. One-quarter acre or less tract size: two colonies, Yes, at most 4 bee colonies. Applies: Applies to tracts more than 1/4 acre but less than 1/2 acre. § 8.12.070 · code text 2. More than one-quarter acre but less than one-half acre tract size: four colonies, Yes, at most 6 bee colonies. Applies: Applies to tracts more than 1/2 acre but less than 1 acre. § 8.12.070 · code text 3. More than one-half acre but less than one acre tract size: six colonies, Yes, at most 8 bee colonies. Applies: Applies to tracts of 1 acre or larger. § 8.12.070 · code text 4. One acre or larger tract size: eight colonies, Yes, with no limit on the number of colonies. Applies: Applies, on any tract size, when all hives are at least 200 feet from every property line of the tract. § 8.12.070 · code text 5. Regardless of tract size, where all hives are situated at least two hundred (200) feet in any direction from all property lines of the tract on which the apiary is situated, there shall be no limit to the number of colonies, Yes, with no limit on the number of colonies. Applies: Applies, on any tract size, while all other property within at least 200 feet of any hive stays undeveloped. § 8.12.070 · code text 6. Regardless of tract size, so long as all property, other than the tract upon which the hives are situated, that is within a radius of at least two hundred (200) feet from any hive remains undeveloped property, there shall be no limit to the number of colonies. yes; one nucleus colony per two authorized colonies Applies: Nucleus colony in a hive structure not exceeding one standard nine and five-eighths inch depth ten frame hive body with no supers attached; must be disposed of or combined within thirty (30) days after acquisition § 8.12.070 · code text For each two colonies authorized under subsection A of this section, there may be maintained upon the same tract one nucleus colony in a hive structure not exceeding one standard nine and five-eighths inch depth ten frame hive body with no supers attached as required from time to time for managements of swarms.

Other San Jacinto rules on this

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

Connecting or draining a pool to the sewer (§ 13.32.200)
Noise limits for pool and spa equipment (§ 8.40.140) — in or next to residential areas

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Detached accessory structures in residential zones: at most 15 feet; sheds and playhouses in a side setback or near the rear line, 7 feet.

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

Home offices may not have client visits; barber services and lessons allow 1 customer or pupil at a time; a business license is required.

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

San Jacinto's code: No more than 72 hours. (Applies to recreational vehicles parked on public streets in a residential district.) (§ 10.16.240); No. Living in a recreational vehicle is strictly prohibited. (§ 10.16.240).

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

San Jacinto's code: Apply online through the San Jacinto Connect Online portal; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to EV charging station permit applications.) (§ 15.60.050); Panels may not be taller than the city's maximum legal building height. (Required for a small home rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited permitting.) (§ 17.430.330).

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

San Jacinto's code: Yes, at most 2 bee colonies. (Applies to tracts of 1/4 acre or less.) (§ 8.12.070); Yes, at most 4 bee colonies. (Applies to tracts more than 1/4 acre but less than 1/2 acre.) (§ 8.12.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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