Temecula · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Temecula

Temecula sets its own rules for home businesses. A home business must stay inside the home or an attached enclosed building, and horticulture may be done in the rear half of the parcel.

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Key points

Business size: Temecula limits a home business to 20% of the home's gross floor area, including storage, and one employee besides residents.
Clients and permits: Temecula allows one client at a time by individual appointment and requires a home occupation permit and a city business license.

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

Running a business from home

Temecula code What Temecula's code adds
Space used	No more than 20% of the gross floor area, including storage. Applies: Area used only for the home business. § 17.04.030 · code text Further, not more than twenty percent of the gross floor area shall be used exclusively for a home occupation, including area used for storage. Only inside the home or an attached enclosed building; horticulture may be outdoors in the rear half of the parcel. § 17.04.030 · code text Horticultural activities only may be conducted outdoors, but shall be within the rear one-half of the parcel.
Customer visits	No more than 1 client at a time. Applies: In-home services with client visits; appointments must be one at a time and not back to back. § 17.04.030 · code text Appointments for in-home services that require client visitation to the residence shall be scheduled individually (1:1) and nonconsecutive so that not more than one client is on the premises at any given time.
Employees	No more than 1 employee besides the people who live in the home. Applies: Babysitters and domestic staff do not count. § 17.04.030 · code text Not more than one employee other than residents of the dwelling unit, shall be allowed to work, gather or congregate on the premises in connection with a home occupation with the exception of babysitters or domestic staff.
Permit	Yes. A home occupation permit is required. § 17.04.030 · code text A home occupation permit shall be granted, if the request conforms to the requirements listed below. A city business license is also required. Applies: The permit is valid only for the named person and address, and only while a city business license is in effect. § 17.04.030 · code text The home occupation permit shall be valid only for the person to whom it is issued, at the address for which it is issued, and during the period of time for which a valid city business license has been issued.
Businesses not allowed	on-site sales of goods or displays of goods § 17.04.030 · code text There shall be no on-site sales of goods or displays of goods.

Lot splits under SB 9

Temecula code Neither new lot may be smaller than 40% of the original parcel's area. Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 11 Temecula rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

Temecula code What Temecula's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles with any trailer over 20 feet long, 8 feet high or 90 inches wide: no parking on residential streets. Applies: Exceptions for loading, service work, emergency repairs and city permits. § 10.16.042 · code text Motor vehicles and motor vehicles with an attached trailer or nonmotorized vehicle, of a length, or combined length, in excess of twenty feet, or a height in excess of eight feet, or a width in excess of ninety inches, which width is measured from the widest portion of the body of the motor vehicle or attached trailer or nonmotorized vehicle, not including mirrors;
Parking on the street	Up to 24 hours in a row for emergency repairs after a breakdown. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles and detached trailers on residential streets. § 10.16.042 · code text Parked or left standing as a result of a mechanical break down so as to allow the performance of emergency repairs on the vehicle for a period not to exceed twenty-four consecutive hours; City permit: up to 3 days at a time, 4 times a year, 12 days a year at most. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles and detached trailers on residential streets. § 10.16.042 · code text provided, however, that no address within the city shall be issued a permit for more than three calendar days at a time, four times within a calendar year, for a maximum of twelve calendar days per calendar year.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Temecula code What Temecula's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited nondiscretionary permit, issued when the charger meets all safety rules; apply in person, by mail or electronically. Applies: Applies to installing an EV charging station anywhere in the city. § 15.24.040 · code text Anyone seeking to install an electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen-fueling station at any site within the city shall apply to the building official for an expedited nondiscretionary building permit.
Review time	The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Complete over-the-counter or electronic small rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plans. § 15.04.100 · code text within one to three business days for over the counter and electronic applications
Solar permit process	Only 1 inspection; the city tries to schedule it within 2 business days, with a 4-hour window. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.04.100 · code text The building official shall use his or her best efforts to schedule an inspection within two business days of a request and provide a four-hour inspection window.

Tree removal

Temecula code What Temecula's code adds
Penalty	3 replacement trees of similar species and size for each tree, plus 3 years of watering and care costs. Applies: Protected tree damaged or removed in violation, when the director requires replacement. § 8.48.320 · code text the replacement trees shall be the same or similar species of tree, having the approximate size, age, and health as the tree(s) damaged or destroyed, at a ratio of three new replacement trees for every one damaged or destroyed tree. Payment covering 2 replacement trees for every 1 damaged or destroyed tree. Applies: Protected tree damaged or removed in violation, when the director requires payment instead of replacement. § 8.48.320 · code text the payment required shall include, but is not limited to, the costs of procuring, transporting, planting, establishing, and maintaining replacement trees for the life of the project at a ratio of two new replacement trees for every one damaged or destroyed tree.

Pets, chickens and bees

Temecula code What Temecula's code adds
Bees	Allowed on lots of at least 0.5 acres; fresh water must be available for the bees. Applies: All zones except HR, HR-SM and OS/OS-C; only in plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text 0.5 acres Hives at least 400 feet from streets, day care, schools, parks, other owners' property lines and others' homes. Applies: Only in specific plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animal keeping. § 6.08.010 · code text 400 foot minimum setback of all bee hives, apiaries or boxes housing bees from any public streets or highways, day care, educational institution, park, property line to a different ownership, or from any dwelling or place of human habitation other than that occupied by the owner or caretaker of the bees.
Chickens	Up to 50 poultry per acre; no roosters or crowing fowl. Applies: Lots over 1.0 acre, all zones except H, HR, HR-SM, OS/OS-C; poultry contained; only where plan zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text 50 poultry/acre Up to 12 poultry; no roosters or crowing fowl. Applies: Lots under 1.0 acre, all zones except H, HR, HR-SM, OS/OS-C; poultry contained; only where plan zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text 12 poultry Up to 4 poultry; no roosters or crowing fowl. Applies: LM and M zones; poultry contained; only in plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text 4 poultry
Coop setback	At least 25 feet from the property line of a neighboring home, day care, school, hospital or church. Applies: Poultry and other listed animals; only in plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text All animals shall be kept a minimum distance of 25 feet from the property line of any adjacent residence, day care, educational institution, hospital or church that is located on adjacent property.
Large animals	2 large animals on the first 0.5 acre, plus 1 more for each extra 0.5 acre. Applies: Cattle, horses, mules; lot at least 0.5 acres; not LM, HR, HR-SM, OS/OS-C; only where plan zoning is silent. § 6.08.010 · code text First 0.5 acre - 2 large animals Each additional 0.5 acre - 1 additional large animal 2 small animals on the first 0.5 acre, plus 3 more for each extra 0.5 acre. Applies: Burros, goats, pigs, ponies, sheep; lot at least 0.5 acres; not LM, HR, HR-SM, OS/OS-C; only where plan zoning is silent. § 6.08.010 · code text First 0.5 acre - 2 small animals Each additional 0.5 acre - 3 additional small animals
Permit	A conditional use permit is needed to keep exotic animals, including as pets. Applies: All zones except HR, HR-SM and OS/OS-C; only in plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text ANIMAL USES/KEEPING THAT REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
Pet limit	No more than 4 cats or dogs in any combination. Applies: Single and multiple-family homes; only animals over 4 months count; only where plan or overlay zoning is silent on animals. § 6.08.010 · code text Any combination of 4 cats or dogs

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Temecula?

Temecula limits a home business to 20% of the home's gross floor area, including storage, and one employee besides residents. Temecula allows one client at a time by individual appointment and requires a home occupation permit and a city business license.

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

Temecula's code: Vehicles with any trailer over 20 feet long, 8 feet high or 90 inches wide: no parking on residential streets. (Exceptions for loading, service work, emergency repairs and city permits.) (§ 10.16.042); Up to 24 hours in a row for emergency repairs after a breakdown. (Applies to oversized vehicles and detached trailers on residential streets.) (§ 10.16.042).

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

Temecula's code: Expedited nondiscretionary permit, issued when the charger meets all safety rules; apply in person, by mail or electronically. (Applies to installing an EV charging station anywhere in the city.) (§ 15.24.040); The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days. (Complete over-the-counter or electronic small rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist and standard plans.) (§ 15.04.100).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Temecula?

Temecula's code: 3 replacement trees of similar species and size for each tree, plus 3 years of watering and care costs. (Protected tree damaged or removed in violation, when the director requires replacement.) (§ 8.48.320); Payment covering 2 replacement trees for every 1 damaged or destroyed tree. (Protected tree damaged or removed in violation, when the director requires payment instead of replacement.) (§ 8.48.320).

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

Temecula's code: Allowed on lots of at least 0.5 acres; fresh water must be available for the bees. (All zones except HR, HR-SM and OS/OS-C; only in plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animals.) (§ 6.08.010); Hives at least 400 feet from streets, day care, schools, parks, other owners' property lines and others' homes. (Only in specific plan or overlay areas whose zoning is silent on animal keeping.) (§ 6.08.010).

General information, not legal advice.

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