Taft · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Taft

Taft sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, and some businesses, such as vehicle repair and hairdressing, may not run from a home.

Ask about building on your lot in Taft See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Taft limits residential fences to 40 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in interior side and rear yards.
Accessory buildings: Taft limits detached accessory buildings in residential districts to 15 feet, and no higher than the main structure.
Home businesses: Taft requires a home occupation permit, customer services by appointment only, and only resident family members as employees.

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

Fences and walls

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 40 inches. Applies: Residential districts: required front yard, and street side yard of a reversed corner lot; only the first 24 inches may be solid. § 6-11-9 · code text In any required front yard or street side yard of a reversed corner lot, a wall or fence shall not exceed forty inches (40") in height.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet, measured from adjacent grade. Applies: Residential districts: interior side, rear or street side yards, not extending into the front yard or a reversed corner lot's street side yard. § 6-11-9 · code text A wall or fence not more than six feet (6') in height, as measured from the adjacent grade on the same parcel may be maintained along any interior side yard, rear yard or street side yard; provided, that such wall or fence does not extend into the required front yard or the street side yard of a reverse corner lot.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet, and no higher than the main building. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in residential districts. § 6-11-3 · code text Accessory buildings shall have a maximum height of fifteen feet (15'); provided, however, that the accessory building is no higher than the main structure.
Side and rear setback	Never closer than 30 inches to an interior side or rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory structures in residential districts; sides closer than 5 feet to those lines need 1-hour firewalls. § 6-11-3 · code text In no case, however, shall an accessory structure be located closer than thirty inches (30") to an interior side property line or to a rear property line.

Running a business from home

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Space used	Up to 25% of the living space or 250 square feet, whichever is greater. Applies: Storage of materials and supplies for the home business. § 6-12-18 · code text Up to twenty five percent (25%) of the living space or two hundred fifty (250) square feet, whichever is greater, of the home may be used for storage of materials and supplies related to the home occupation.
Customer visits	By appointment only. Applies: Commercial services for customers at the home. § 6-12-18 · code text Providing commercial services for customers at the residence shall be by appointment only.
Employees	All employees must be members of the resident family and live on the premises. § 6-12-18 · code text All employees shall be members of the resident family and shall reside on the premises.
Permit	Yes. A home occupation permit approved by the Planning Director. § 6-12-18 · code text Prior to approving a request for a home occupation, the Planning Director shall find that the proposed use meets the following conditions prior to approval of any such home occupation permit: A business license application filed with the Finance Department. Applies: Filed together with the home occupation application. § 6-12-18 · code text An application for a home occupation shall be filed with a business license application to the Finance Department in a manner prescribed by the Planning Director.
Businesses not allowed	Motor vehicle repair or service; hairdressing, barbering, or any other cosmetology uses; firearm or ammunition sales, including by mail order; uses involving the storage or use of chemicals, solvents, mixtures, or materials that are corrosive, toxic, flammable, an irritant, a strong sensitizer or other similar industrial materials § 6-12-18 · code text The following uses, by their operation or nature, shall not be permitted to operate as home occupations:

RV and boat parking

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Where it may be parked	In the side yard, rear yard, or a parking area next to an alley. Applies: Applies to residentially zoned property. § 6-12-20 · code text Such vehicles shall be parked or stored along the side yard, in the rear yard, or available parking area adjacent to an alleyway.
Front-yard parking	No. Applies: RVs may not be parked or stored in the front yard of residentially zoned property. § 6-12-20 · code text Recreational vehicles shall not be parked or stored within the front yard of any residential zoned property.
Parking on the street	Permanent parking or storage is not allowed. Applies: Applies to public streets and other public property. § 6-12-20 · code text Recreational vehicles shall not be permanently parked or stored on a public street or other public property and shall be subject to section 9-2-3 of this Code.
Living in an RV	No. Applies: Living in an RV or trailer is not allowed in the city, except in a licensed mobilehome park or approved mobilehome subdivision. § 6-12-20 · code text It is unlawful to use a mobilehome, trailer coach, motor home, travel trailer, camp car or similar type structure or vehicle for human habitation purposes within the City, except when parked within a licensed mobilehome park or approved mobilehome subdivision.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	The panel array may not exceed the zone district's height limit. Applies: Required for a small residential rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited review. § 6-11-34 · code text The solar panel or module array does not exceed the maximum height limit of the zone district of the subject property.
Solar permit process	Administrative review and approval by the building official, limited to health and safety requirements. Applies: Applies to all solar energy systems. § 6-11-34 · code text All proposed solar energy design systems shall be reviewed and approved administratively by the building official or their designee: Expedited review with only one inspection. Applies: Rooftop systems up to 10 kilowatts AC or 30 kilowatts thermal, on a single-family home or duplex, meeting height and checklist rules. § 6-11-34 · code text A solar energy system shall be eligible for an expedited review if: An electronic copy with an electronic signature may be sent to the email address the city lists. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 6-11-34 · code text Small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for an expedited review may submit an electronic copy of the building permit application, with an electronic signature, and required application materials via the identified e-mail address indicated on the city's website and on the building permit application. Permit fees may not exceed $500.00, plus $15.00 per kilowatt above 15 kW. Applies: Applies to residential rooftop solar systems. § 6-11-34 · code text Permit fees for rooftop solar energy systems shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus fifteen dollars ($15.00) per kilowatt for each kilowatt above fifteen (15) kW for residential rooftop solar energy systems

Pets, chickens and bees

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Bees	Yes, only with a conditional use permit; hives at least 400 feet from streets, schools, parks and others' homes. Applies: Applies to noncommercial beekeeping in the agricultural zone. § 6-12-4 · code text Noncommercial apiary (beekeeping); provided, that hives and/or boxes shall be placed a minimum of four hundred feet (400') from any street, ro
Chickens	Up to 4 adult poultry or small animals, plus 4 per extra 10,000 square feet, up to 20 total. Applies: Noncommercial keeping in A and RS zones, on parcels of 10,000 square feet net or more. § 6-12-4 · code text On parcels ten thousand (10,000) square feet net lot area or larger, a maximum of four (4) such adult animals per each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of net lot area, in any combination of species, may be kept, provided the total number kept does not exceed twenty (20) animals.
Large animals	No horses under 20,000 square feet; 1 adult horse per 20,000 square feet, up to 6 horses or ponies. Applies: Applies to noncommercial keeping in A and RS zones. § 6-12-4 · code text One adult horse may be kept on a parcel for each twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of net lot area, up to a maximum of six (6) horses or ponies, or combination thereof. None under 20,000 square feet; 2 adult goats or sheep per extra 20,000 square feet, up to 6. Applies: Noncommercial keeping of goats, sheep and other small cleft-hoof animals in A and RS zones. § 6-12-4 · code text Two (2) adult goats, sheep or other small sized cleft hoof animal may be kept for each additional twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of net lot area, up to a maximum of six (6) adult animals total, in any combination of species.
Permit	A temporary animal permit allows raising more livestock than normally allowed. Applies: Applies to minors' student fair projects sponsored by a real agricultural organization. § 6-12-4 · code text The breeding and raising of livestock, in greater numbers than allowed in this section, by minors in conjunction with a student oriented fair project sponsored by a bona fide agricultural organization shall be permitted upon application to and approval by the project assistance team.
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs that require a license, per residence. Applies: Applies to any residence other than a licensed veterinary facility. § 8-2-15 · code text It is unlawful to keep, harbor or maintain at any residence, other than a licensed veterinary facility, more than four (4) dogs subject to license under this chapter. Up to 4 adult household pets other than dogs per 10,000 square feet, up to 20 total. Applies: Applies in A, RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones. § 6-12-4 · code text The keeping of up to four (4) domestic, adult household pets, other than dogs, including domestic birds, rabbits, hamsters, rats, mice, etc., shall be permitted in any combination of species for each ten thousand (10,000) square feet of net lot area, provided the total number of adult household pets kept does not exceed twenty (20) animals.

Other Taft rules on this

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

Urban lot splits and two-unit developments (SB 9) (§ 6-11-43) — single-family zones
Private swimming pools at homes (§ 6-12-28) — residential lots

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Taft?

Taft limits residential fences to 40 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in interior side and rear yards.

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

Taft limits detached accessory buildings in residential districts to 15 feet, and no higher than the main structure.

Can I run a business from my home in Taft?

Taft requires a home occupation permit, customer services by appointment only, and only resident family members as employees.

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

Taft's code: In the side yard, rear yard, or a parking area next to an alley. (Applies to residentially zoned property.) (§ 6-12-20); No. (RVs may not be parked or stored in the front yard of residentially zoned property.) (§ 6-12-20).

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

Taft's code: The panel array may not exceed the zone district's height limit. (Required for a small residential rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited review.) (§ 6-11-34); Administrative review and approval by the building official, limited to health and safety requirements. (Applies to all solar energy systems.) (§ 6-11-34).

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

Taft's code: Yes, only with a conditional use permit; hives at least 400 feet from streets, schools, parks and others' homes. (Applies to noncommercial beekeeping in the agricultural zone.) (§ 6-12-4); Up to 4 adult poultry or small animals, plus 4 per extra 10,000 square feet, up to 20 total. (Noncommercial keeping in A and RS zones, on parcels of 10,000 square feet net or more.) (§ 6-12-4).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Taft property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Taft

Taft Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Taft

Buying & selling in Taft

Taft overview