Santa Fe Springs · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Fe Springs

Santa Fe Springs sets its own rules for accessory buildings in multiple-family zones and for home businesses. A home business that is only a business phone or mailing address needs only Director approval.

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Key points

Accessory height: In multiple-family residential zones, accessory buildings other than accessory dwelling units are limited to 16 feet (city rule).
Home businesses: Only resident family members may work in a home business, with no customer traffic; most need Planning Commission approval.

Each rule below is marked Santa Fe Springs 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

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 16 feet. Applies: Accessory buildings in multiple-family residential zones, not including accessory dwelling units. § 155.102 · code text An accessory building shall have a maximum height of 16 feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from the side property line. Applies: Multi-family zones; 70 feet or more from front line. May sit on non-street side line with no openings, 1-hour fire walls, roof drainage onto lot. § 155.102 · code text An accessory building which is 70 feet or more from the front property line, but which does not meet the requirements of division (C) of this section, may not be located closer than three feet from the side property line. At least 3 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Multi-family zones; unless the building has no openings, 1-hour fire-resistant walls next to property lines, and drains all roof water onto the lot. § 155.102 · code text An accessory building which does not comply with the requirements of division (F) of this section shall not be located closer than three feet from the rear property line. At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Multi-family zones; reverse corner lot, where the rear line is also the side line of the lot behind. § 155.102 · code text On a reverse corner lot, an accessory building shall not be located closer than five feet from any rear property line which is also the side property line for the property to its rear.

Running a business from home

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Customer visits	The business may not create foot or vehicle traffic. § 155.635 · code text The use shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Employees	No employees other than members of the resident family. § 155.635 · code text No employment of help other than members of the resident family.
Permit	Approval by the Director of Planning and Development. Applies: Businesses that use the home only as a business phone or mailing address. § 155.635 · code text Such uses which consist solely of a business phone and/or mailing address shall only require approval by the Director of Planning and Development Planning Commission approval is required. Applies: All other home occupations. § 155.635 · code text all other such uses shall require Planning Commission approval.
Businesses not allowed	industrial homework prohibited by state law § 155.635 · code text The use shall not be a category of industrial homework which is prohibited by state law.

RV and boat parking

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Where it may be parked	Allowed on any property the trailer owner owns or occupies, in any zone, except required front yards and street-side yards. Applies: A trailer not used for living or sleeping; certain residential front and side areas are also excluded. § 155.654 · code text A trailer not used for living or sleeping purposes may be parked or stored on any premises in any zone, owned or occupied by the owner of said trailer, except as follows:
Front-yard parking	No. Applies: In a required front yard or a side yard next to a street. § 155.654 · code text A trailer shall not be parked or stored in any required front yard, or side yard adjoining a street. No. Applies: In a residential zone, between the front property line and the front of the house. § 155.654 · code text In a residential zone, a trailer shall not be parked or stored in any area between the front property line and the front of the residence, and in the case of a corner lot, said trailer shall not be parked or stored in any area between the side property line adjoining the street and the side of the residence. No. Applies: On a residential corner lot, between the street-side property line and the side of the house. § 155.654 · code text In a residential zone, a trailer shall not be parked or stored in any area between the front property line and the front of the residence, and in the case of a corner lot, said trailer shall not be parked or stored in any area between the side property line adjoining the street and the side of the residence.
Parking on the street	No more than 2 hours. Applies: RVs on any street or alley, unless a temporary RV parking permit was issued. § 72.26 · code text No person shall stop, stand, or park a recreational vehicle on any street or alley for a period of time longer than two hours unless a temporary RV parking permit has been issued to such RV pursuant this section. Valid for 72 hours. Applies: A temporary RV parking permit issued to a resident for their own RV or for an out-of-town visitor. § 72.26 · code text A temporary RV parking permit issued to a resident for his or her own RV or for an out-of-town visitor shall be valid for 72 hours. Valid for no more than 7 days in a row. Applies: A temporary RV parking permit issued to an out-of-town visitor. § 72.26 · code text A temporary RV parking permit issued to an out-of-town visitor shall be valid for no more than seven consecutive days. No more than 7 days in a row per month and 21 days per calendar year. Applies: Temporary RV permits for all out-of-town visitors at one home address combined. § 72.26 · code text Temporary RV parking permits issued to out-of-town visitors shall not exceed seven consecutive days per month and 21 days per calendar year for all out-of-town visitors per residential address.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary permit for a complete checklist application; only one inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Small home rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 155.034 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within three business days of receipt of a complete electronic application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. Electronic submittal is available; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applicants for small home rooftop solar permits. § 155.033 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	Same day over the counter; within 3 business days for a complete electronic application. Applies: A complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan. § 155.034 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within three business days of receipt of a complete electronic application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Pools must always be kept from breeding mosquitoes; abandoned or out-of-service pools must be emptied and kept dry. Applies: Owners and operators of property with a swimming pool. § 94.16 · code text All owners of property that contain a swimming pool and all operators of a swimming pool shall at all times properly maintain and operate the swimming pool in a manner that does not allow the swimming pool to become a breeding place for mosquitos, including emptying and keeping dry a swimming pool that is abandoned and/or not in service.

Other Santa Fe Springs rules on this

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

SB 9 two-unit housing development (§ 155.660)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Santa Fe Springs?

In multiple-family residential zones, accessory buildings other than accessory dwelling units are limited to 16 feet (city rule).

Can I run a business from my home in Santa Fe Springs?

Only resident family members may work in a home business, with no customer traffic; most need Planning Commission approval.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Santa Fe Springs?

Santa Fe Springs's code: Allowed on any property the trailer owner owns or occupies, in any zone, except required front yards and street-side yards. (A trailer not used for living or sleeping; certain residential front and side areas are also excluded.) (§ 155.654); No. (In a required front yard or a side yard next to a street.) (§ 155.654).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Santa Fe Springs?

Santa Fe Springs's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary permit for a complete checklist application; only one inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. (Small home rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 155.034); Electronic submittal is available; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applicants for small home rooftop solar permits.) (§ 155.033).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Santa Fe Springs?

Santa Fe Springs's code: Pools must always be kept from breeding mosquitoes; abandoned or out-of-service pools must be emptied and kept dry. (Owners and operators of property with a swimming pool.) (§ 94.16).

General information, not legal advice.

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