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Twentynine Palms · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Twentynine Palms

Twentynine Palms sets its own rules for home businesses and has its own chapters on fences and accessory structures. A home business needs a Home Occupation Permit and a city business license.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Twentynine Palms limits home-business storage to 500 square feet and allows at most 2 persons outside the family, with a permit and business license.
  • Fences and walls: Twentynine Palms has its own chapter on fences, walls and screens.
  • Accessory structures: Twentynine Palms has its own chapter on accessory uses and structures.

Each rule below is marked Twentynine Palms 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

Twentynine Palms code What Twentynine Palms's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 500 square feet of floor area.
    Applies: Storage of materials and supplies for the home business.
    § 19.32.060 · code text
    No more than 500 square feet of floor area may be used for storage of materials and supplies used for the home occupation.
Employees
  • No more than 2 employees besides immediate family members living in the home.
    § 19.32.060 · code text
    No more than two persons other than a member of the immediate family occupying such dwelling shall be employed
Permit
  • Yes. A Home Occupation Permit and a valid city business license.
    § 19.32.020 · code text
    A home occupation may be permitted as an accessory use in any structure authorized for residential use in the City with a Home Occupation Permit.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Twentynine Palms code What Twentynine Palms's code adds
Solar permit process
  • Administrative approval and permit within a reasonable time after a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plans.
    Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.
    § 18.08.040 · code text
    the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations within a reasonable time following receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plans and this Chapter.

Pets, chickens and bees

Twentynine Palms code What Twentynine Palms's code adds
Large animals
  • No livestock on parcels under 1 acre; 1 large livestock animal per quarter acre, 6 at most.
    Applies: Applies in land use districts that allow large or small livestock.
    § 19.102.100 · code text
    all of these animals are prohibited on parcels less than one (1) acre in size. The density for large livestock shall be one (1) large livestock animal per quarter acre, with a maximum combined total of six (6) large livestock animals
  • 1 large or small livestock animal per quarter acre; no more than 6 in total.
    Applies: Applies to RL-1 parcels of at least 1 acre.
    § 19.102.100 · code text
    On parcels of at least one (1) acre, one (1) large or small livestock animal is allowed per quarter acre. The maximum combined total of all large and small livestock is six (6)
  • 1 large and 1 small livestock animal per quarter acre, each up to 12; 12 combined at most.
    Applies: RL-5 parcels of 1 acre or larger; the combined limit applies on parcels of 5 acres or larger.
    § 19.102.100 · code text
    On parcels of one (1) acre or larger, one (1) large livestock animal is allowed per quarter acre, up to a maximum of twelve (12) large livestock animals.
  • No more than 4 horses per acre or fraction of an acre, with no upper limit.
    Applies: Lots in the designated equestrian area; more than 10 horses also needs Site Plan Review.
    § 19.102.100 · code text
    No more than four (4) horses per acre, or fraction thereof (i.e., one (1) horse per quarter acre), with no upper limit, may be kept on any lot or parcel designated an equestrian area.
Permit
  • An Animal Entitlement Permit (AEP) is required.
    Applies: Applies to exotic animals or more animals than the chapter allows.
    § 19.102.120 · code text
    Except in the case of an approved kennel or cattery, the issuance of an AEP allows the custodian to possess exotic animals, and animal(s) in excess of the number allowed by this Chapter
Pet limit
  • Up to 4 dogs and/or 4 cats.
    Applies: Per home in the OSR (Open Space Residential) zone.
    § 8.01.020 · code text
    Four (4) dogs and/or four (4) cats.
  • Up to 4 dogs and 4 cats in total per lot.
    Applies: Applies in the E-5 (Rul-5) zone.
    § 8.01.020 · code text
    E-5 (Rul-5) four (4) dogs and four (4) cats total per lot.
  • Up to 3 dogs and/or 3 cats.
    Applies: Per home in the RS-1 zone.
    § 8.01.020 · code text
    RS-1 - three (3) dogs and/or three (3) cats;
  • Up to 3 dogs and/or 3 cats.
    Applies: Legal nonconforming detached single-family homes on 1 acre or more in non-residential zones.
    § 8.01.020 · code text
    Detached Single Family Residences one (1) acre or larger - three (3) dogs and/or three (3) cats.
  • Up to 2 dogs or 2 cats.
    Applies: Other legal nonconforming detached homes in non-residential zones.
    § 8.01.020 · code text
    Other Detached Residential Dwellings - two (2) dogs or two (2) cats.
  • Up to 1 dog or 1 cat.
    Applies: Legal nonconforming attached units in non-residential zones.
    § 8.01.020 · code text
    Attached Units - one (1) dog or one (1) cat.
  • Up to 4 more dogs and/or 4 more cats and/or 2 more miniature pigs.
    Applies: With an Animal Entitlement Permit, beyond the number otherwise allowed.
    § 19.102.120 · code text
    the issuance of an AEP allows the custodian to possess exotic animals, and animal(s) in excess of the number allowed by this Chapter, up to a maximum of four (4) additional dogs and/or four (4) additional cats

Other Twentynine Palms rules on this

Twentynine Palms'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 Twentynine Palms?

Twentynine Palms has its own chapter on fences, walls and screens. Twentynine Palms also has a related rule: Fences, walls and screens (Ch. 19.74).

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Twentynine Palms?

Twentynine Palms has its own chapter on accessory uses and structures. Twentynine Palms also has a related rule: Accessory uses and structures (Ch. 19.70).

Can I run a business from my home in Twentynine Palms?

Twentynine Palms limits home-business storage to 500 square feet and allows at most 2 persons outside the family, with a permit and business license.

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

Twentynine Palms's code: Administrative approval and permit within a reasonable time after a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plans. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 18.08.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Twentynine Palms?

Twentynine Palms's code: No livestock on parcels under 1 acre; 1 large livestock animal per quarter acre, 6 at most. (Applies in land use districts that allow large or small livestock.) (§ 19.102.100); 1 large or small livestock animal per quarter acre; no more than 6 in total. (Applies to RL-1 parcels of at least 1 acre.) (§ 19.102.100).

General information, not legal advice.

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Twentynine Palms Municipal Code — full text

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