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Stanton · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Stanton

Stanton sets its own rules for fences, accessory structures and home businesses. A new, replaced or repaired fence or wall needs city approval, and some businesses may not run from a home.

Ask about building on your lot in Stanton See coverage

Key points

  • Accessory structures: Stanton limits detached accessory structures in residential zones to 16 feet and 640 square feet each.
  • Fence permit: Stanton requires Department review and a Building Permit for any new, replacement or repaired wall or fence.
  • Home businesses: Stanton requires a Home Occupation Permit, or a use permit if clients visit, and bans uses such as auto repair and barber shops.

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

Fences and walls

Stanton code What Stanton's code adds
Corner visibility
  • Fences, walls and hedges must not block the Traffic Visibility Area.
    § 20.310.050 · code text
    the fence, wall, or hedge shall not be erected or maintained so that it obstructs the Traffic Visibility Area described in Section 20.305.100.
Height anywhere on the lot
  • Pilasters or columns can be up to 54 inches tall.
    Applies: Columns at most 2 feet wide and at least 12 feet apart; open fencing between them from 30.1 to 54 inches.
    § 20.310.050 · code text
    Pilasters or columns up to 54 inches in height may be allowed under the following circumstances:
  • A privacy screen can be up to 60 inches tall.
    Applies: Measured from the top of the wall, set back at least 10 feet from the front lot line.
    § 20.310.050 · code text
    A privacy screen up to 60 inches in height may be allowed under the following circumstances:
Permit
  • Yes. Department approval and a Building Permit are required for any new, replaced or repaired wall or fence.
    § 20.310.060 · code text
    A fence or wall shall be installed or constructed only following the issuance of a Building Permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Stanton code What Stanton's code adds
Maximum height
  • Detached accessory structures can be at most 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Residential zones.
    § 20.410.050 · code text
    Height (Maximum) | 16 ft | 16 ft | 16 ft | 16 ft | 16 ft | 16 ft
Size or lot coverage
  • Each detached accessory structure can be at most 640 square feet.
    Applies: Residential zones.
    § 20.410.050 · code text
    Individual Structure | 640 sq ft | 640 sq ft | 640 sq ft | 640 sq ft | 640 sq ft | 640 sq ft
  • All together at most 10% of the lot or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
    Applies: Combined detached accessory structures in a residential zone.
    § 20.410.050 · code text
    10% of lot size or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less
  • The footprint can be no larger than the main building's footprint.
    Applies: Covered accessory structures in a residential zone.
    § 20.410.050 · code text
    The footprint of a covered accessory structure shall not exceed the footprint of the related primary structure.
Distance from the house
  • At least 6 feet from other buildings.
    Applies: Detached accessory structures in RE, RL, RM-SFD and RH-SFD zones.
    § 20.410.050 · code text
    Separation Distance (Minimum) | 6 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 10 ft | 6 ft | 10 ft
  • At least 10 feet from other buildings.
    Applies: Detached accessory structures in RM-MF and RH-MF zones.
    § 20.410.050 · code text
    Separation Distance (Minimum) | 6 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 10 ft | 6 ft | 10 ft

Running a business from home

Stanton code What Stanton's code adds
Permit
  • A Home Occupation Permit is required.
    Applies: Home businesses on the permitted list.
    § 20.515.050 · code text
    The following businesses are permitted upon issuance of a Home Occupation Permit:
  • A Home Occupation Use Permit is required.
    Applies: Making items for sale elsewhere, client visits to the home, or use of a vehicle or special equipment.
    § 20.515.050 · code text
    The following classes or uses may be permitted by a Home Occupation Use Permit:
  • A new Home Occupation Permit is required.
    Applies: When the original permit holder changes the type of home business.
    § 20.515.140 · 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 Home Occupation Permit before conducting an allowed home occupation.
Businesses not allowed
  • Auto repair, major or minor; barber shop or beauty parlor; carpentry work; dance instruction; funeral chapel or funeral home; gift shop; medical or dental offices, clinics or hospitals; painting of vehicles, trailers or boats; private schools with organized classes; renting of trailers and/or equipment; radio and television repair; restaurant; upholstery; shoe repair; cleaning and dyeing; preserving and home cooking for off-site sale; other uses that may generate excessive pedestrian or automobile traffic and that may be obnoxious to adjacent residents by virtue of noise, odor, or appearance as determined by the Director
    § 20.515.050 · code text
    Prohibited home occupations include the following:
  • Stable
    Applies: Except in E-1 zone
    § 20.515.050 · code text
    Stable (Except in E-1 zone);
  • Kennel
    Applies: Except in Kermore Lane opportunity area
    § 20.515.050 · code text
    Kennel (Except in Kermore Lane opportunity area);

RV and boat parking

Stanton code What Stanton's code adds
Parking on the street
  • Up to 24 consecutive hours.
    Applies: An oversized vehicle left on a city street because of a breakdown or the driver's or owner's physical incapacity.
    § 10.08.080 · code text
    Emergency parking may be allowed for twenty-four consecutive hours where an oversized vehicle is left parked on a city street because of mechanical breakdown or because of physical incapacity of the driver or owner.
  • City permit required; it allows up to 72 consecutive hours to load and unload, within 1/10 mile of home.
    Applies: Oversized vehicles: all RVs and trailers, or over 10,000 lb, 22 ft long, or 7 ft wide and high. Residents only, up to 12 yearly.
    § 10.08.080 · code text
    Parking with a permit is allowed on public residential streets for up to seventy-two consecutive hours for loading and unloading.
  • The vehicle must then leave and may not park on any city street for at least 72 consecutive hours.
    Applies: After 72 hours of permit parking.
    § 10.08.080 · code text
    After an oversized vehicle has been parked for seventy-two consecutive hours, the oversized vehicle must vacate the public right-of-way and may not park on any public street in the city for at least seventy-two consecutive hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Stanton code What Stanton's code adds
EV charger permit
  • Approved, all permits issued, when the application meets the city checklist and all applicable laws and health and safety standards.
    Applies: EV charging stations; the building official decides; not energized until city approval. Electronic submittal and signatures accepted.
    § 16.38.040 · code text
    the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures

Pets, chickens and bees

Stanton code What Stanton's code adds
Coop setback
  • At least 50 feet.
    Applies: Chicken coops, pens or other fowl enclosures, from any habitable home.
    § 8.04.090 · code text
    No chicken coop, pen or other enclosure for the housing of fowl shall be located within fifty feet of any habitable dwelling unit.

Other Stanton rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Stanton?

Stanton requires Department review and a Building Permit for any new, replacement or repaired wall or fence.

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

Stanton limits detached accessory structures in residential zones to 16 feet and 640 square feet each.

Can I run a business from my home in Stanton?

Stanton requires a Home Occupation Permit, or a use permit if clients visit, and bans uses such as auto repair and barber shops.

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

Stanton's code: Up to 24 consecutive hours. (An oversized vehicle left on a city street because of a breakdown or the driver's or owner's physical incapacity.) (§ 10.08.080); City permit required; it allows up to 72 consecutive hours to load and unload, within 1/10 mile of home. (Oversized vehicles: all RVs and trailers, or over 10,000 lb, 22 ft long, or 7 ft wide and high. Residents only, up to 12 yearly.) (§ 10.08.080).

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

Stanton's code: Approved, all permits issued, when the application meets the city checklist and all applicable laws and health and safety standards. (EV charging stations; the building official decides; not energized until city approval. Electronic submittal and signatures accepted.) (§ 16.38.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Stanton?

Stanton's code: At least 50 feet. (Chicken coops, pens or other fowl enclosures, from any habitable home.) (§ 8.04.090).

General information, not legal advice.

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