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Upland · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Upland

Upland sets its own limits on accessory structures and home businesses. Accessory setbacks depend on openings, fire walls and distance from the front property line, and some businesses may not run from a home.

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Key points

  • Accessory height: Upland limits accessory structures in residential zones to one story and 15 feet, except play equipment in the side or rear yard.
  • Accessory size: Upland limits accessory structures, not counting detached garages, carports, spas and pools, to 10% of the lot or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less.
  • Home businesses: Upland limits minor home businesses to 6 clients or visitors a day and major ones to 12.

Each rule below is marked Upland 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

Upland code What Upland's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 15 feet, and 1 story only.
    Applies: Accessory structures in residential zones; play equipment in the side or rear yard is excepted.
    § 17.19.050 · code text
    The height of accessory structures shall not exceed 15 feet, with the exception of play equipment that is located in the side or rear yard.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 10% of the lot size or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
    Applies: Not counting detached garages, carports, spas and swimming pools.
    § 17.19.050 · code text
    Excluding detached garages/carports, spas and swimming pools, accessory structures shall not exceed 10 percent of the lot size or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet from the side or rear property line.
    Applies: No openings face the property line.
    § 17.19.050 · code text
    Accessory structures shall be located a minimum of 3 feet from the side or rear property line if there are no openings facing the property line and 5 feet from the side or rear property line if there are openings facing the property line.
  • At least 5 feet from the side or rear property line.
    Applies: Openings face the property line.
    § 17.19.050 · code text
    Accessory structures shall be located a minimum of 3 feet from the side or rear property line if there are no openings facing the property line and 5 feet from the side or rear property line if there are openings facing the property line.
  • 0 feet from the side property line.
    Applies: SFR-10 zone; detached accessory buildings or garages 85 feet or more from the front property line, with a fire wall.
    § 18.12.100 · code text
    detached accessory buildings or garages located 85 feet or more from the front property line, may be located a zero distance from the side property line subject to provision of a fire wall.
  • At least 3 feet from the property line.
    Applies: SFR-10 zone; detached accessory buildings or garages without a fire wall.
    § 18.12.100 · code text
    Detached accessory buildings or garages without a fire wall shall be a minimum of three feet from the property line.
  • 0 feet from the side property line.
    Applies: SFR-7.5 zone; detached accessory buildings or garages 75 feet or more from the front property line, with a fire wall.
    § 18.16.090 · code text
    detached accessory buildings or garages located 75 feet or more from the front property line may be located a zero distance from the side property line subject to provision of a fire wall.
  • 0 feet from the side property line.
    Applies: SFR-5 zone; detached accessory buildings or garages 65 feet or more from the front property line, with a fire wall.
    § 18.24.090 · code text
    detached accessory buildings or garages located 65 feet or more from the front property line may be located a zero distance from the side property line subject to provision of a fire wall.
  • At least 3 feet from the property line.
    Applies: SFR-5 zone; detached accessory buildings or garages without a fire wall.
    § 18.24.090 · code text
    Detached accessory buildings or garages located 65 feet or more from the front property line may be located a zero distance from the side property line subject to provision of a fire wall. Detached accessory buildings or garages without the fire wall shall be a minimum of three feet from the property line.
Distance from the house
  • At least 7 feet between the main building and accessory buildings.
    § 17.19.050 · code text
    There shall be a minimum separation of 7 feet between principal and accessory buildings.

Running a business from home

Upland code What Upland's code adds
Customer visits
  • No more than 6 clients or visitors per day.
    Applies: Minor home businesses.
    § 17.27.040 · code text
    Minor home occupations receive no more than six clients or visitors per day.
  • No more than 12 clients or visitors per day.
    Applies: Major home businesses.
    § 17.27.040 · code text
    Major home occupations receive no more than 12 clients or visitors per day.
Businesses not allowed
  • photography studio, beauty parlor, barber shop, nail salon, massage parlor, pet grooming, appliance or vehicle repair shops, animal hospital, medical practitioner, clinic, music school, dancing school, business school, any other school or program with organized classes, except for individual instruction
    § 17.27.060 · code text
    The following uses, and those with similar characteristics, are prohibited as home occupations: photography studio, beauty parlor, barber shop, nail salon, massage parlor, pet grooming, appliance or vehicle repair shops, animal hospital, medical practitioner, clinic, music school, dancing school, business school, any other school or program with organized classes, except for individual instruction.

Lot splits under SB 9

Upland code What Upland's code adds
How the lot may be divided
  • Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area.
    Applies: Applies to each resulting lot.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    Each of the resulting lots must be between 40 percent and 60 percent of the original lot area.
Unit size
  • More than 500 and no more than 800 square feet; an existing home over 800 square feet may not expand.
    Applies: Applies to each primary dwelling on a lot created by an urban lot split.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    A primary dwelling that was legally established prior to the urban lot split and that is larger than 800 square feet is limited to the
Minimum new lot size
  • Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.
    Applies: Applies to each resulting lot.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    The resulting lots must each be at least 1,200 square feet.
Standards
  • The lot to be split must be at least 2,400 square feet.
    Applies: Applies to the original lot.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    The lot to be split must be at least 2,400 square feet.
  • No more than 2 dwelling units of any kind.
    Applies: Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built on a lot that results from an urban lot split.
  • Each new lot needs at least 30 feet of frontage on the public right-of-way.
    Applies: Applies to an urban lot split.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    Each resulting lot must have frontage on the public right-of-way of at least 30 feet.
  • Each new lot must adjoin the public right-of-way.
    Applies: Applies to each resulting lot.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    Each resulting lot must adjoin the public right-of-way.
  • Only lots in the RS-20, RS-15, RS-10, RS-7.5 and RS-4 single-family zones may be split.
    Applies: Applies to the lot to be split.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    The lot to be split is in a single-family residential zone. For purposes of this chapter, a single-family residential zone is a zone where the only residential use that is allowed as a primary use is a single residential dwelling on a lot and includes only the following zones: RS-20 (Residential Single-Family Low), RS-15 (Residential Single-Family Low), RS-10 (Residential Single-Family Low), RS-7.5 (Residential Single-Family Medium), and RS-4 (Residential Single-Family Medium).
  • No dedication of rights-of-way or building of off-site improvements is required.
    Applies: Applies to an urban lot split.
    § 16.48.050 · code text
    Notwithstanding Section 66411.1 of the SMA, no dedication of rights-of-way or construction of off-site improvements is required for an urban lot split.

RV and boat parking

Upland code What Upland's code adds
Where it may be parked
  • In an enclosed garage, interior side yard or rear yard.
    Applies: Applies to RVs parked or stored on the same property for more than 72 hours.
    § 17.34.040 · code text
    Recreational vehicles parked or stored for more than 72 hours on the same property shall be parked or stored within an enclosed garage, interior side yard or rear yard; shall be screened from public view by an effective combination of building walls, decorative screen walls, fences, or landscaping; and shall not be utilized for day use, occasional use or habitation.
Front-yard parking
  • Allowed up to 72 hours on a driveway or paved surface, perpendicular to the street, not over the sidewalk.
    Applies: Applies to RVs in a required front or street side setback.
    § 17.34.040 · code text
    Recreational vehicles may be parked within any required front or street side setback area for temporary periods of time not exceeding 72 hours if they are parked on a driveway or paved surface, are parked perpendicular to the street, and do not encroach over a sidewalk or other part of the public right-of-way.
Screening and surface
  • Screened from public view by walls, decorative screens, fences or landscaping.
    Applies: Applies to RVs parked or stored on the same property for more than 72 hours.
    § 17.34.040 · code text
    Recreational vehicles parked or stored for more than 72 hours on the same property shall be parked or stored within an enclosed garage, interior side yard or rear yard; shall be screened from public view by an effective combination of building walls, decorative screen walls, fences, or landscaping; and shall not be utilized for day use, occasional use or habitation.
  • Paved or surfaced with materials such as concrete, asphalt, gravel or brick.
    Applies: Applies to areas where RVs are lawfully parked or stored.
    § 17.34.050 · code text
    Any area specified in this chapter where parking and/or storage lawfully occurs shall be paved or improved with materials such as concrete, asphalt, gravel, or brick.
Living in an RV
  • Not allowed.
    Applies: RVs parked or stored on the same property over 72 hours may not be used for day use, occasional use or living.
    § 17.34.040 · code text
    Recreational vehicles parked or stored for more than 72 hours on the same property shall be parked or stored within an enclosed garage, interior side yard or rear yard; shall be screened from public view by an effective combination of building walls, decorative screen walls, fences, or landscaping; and shall not be utilized for day use, occasional use or habitation.

Other Upland rules on this

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

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Upland limits accessory structures in residential zones to one story and 15 feet, except play equipment in the side or rear yard. Upland limits accessory structures, not counting detached garages, carports, spas and pools, to 10% of the lot or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less.

Can I run a business from my home in Upland?

Upland limits minor home businesses to 6 clients or visitors a day and major ones to 12.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Upland?

Upland's code: Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. (Applies to each resulting lot.) (§ 16.48.050); More than 500 and no more than 800 square feet; an existing home over 800 square feet may not expand. (Applies to each primary dwelling on a lot created by an urban lot split.) (§ 16.48.050).

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

Upland's code: In an enclosed garage, interior side yard or rear yard. (Applies to RVs parked or stored on the same property for more than 72 hours.) (§ 17.34.040); Allowed up to 72 hours on a driveway or paved surface, perpendicular to the street, not over the sidewalk. (Applies to RVs in a required front or street side setback.) (§ 17.34.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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