Skip to content

Wildomar · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Wildomar

Wildomar sets its own limits on fences and accessory structures, and has its own chapter on home-based businesses. Fence and accessory limits depend on lot size.

Key points

  • Fence height: On lots under one acre, Wildomar limits front-yard fences to 3.5 feet if solid or 5 feet if wrought iron.
  • Accessory structures: Wildomar limits accessory structures to 20 feet on lots of one acre or less and 35 feet on larger lots.
  • Home businesses: Wildomar has its own chapter on home-based businesses.

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

Fences and walls

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
Front yard height
  • Solid fences and garden walls may be no more than 3.5 feet (42 inches) tall.
    Applies: Required front yard on lots under 1 acre.
    § 17.150.050 · code text
    3.5 feet (42") for solid fences/garden walls
  • Wrought-iron fencing may be no more than 5 feet tall.
    Applies: Required front yard on lots under 1 acre. Chain link fencing is not allowed in a front yard.
    § 17.150.050 · code text
    5 feet for chain link and wrought-iron fencing
  • Solid fences and decorative walls may be no more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Required front yard. This is not the limit for lots under 1 acre, which is 3.5 feet.
    § 17.150.050 · code text
    6 feet for solid fences/decorative walls
  • Decorative pilasters with caps at a gate entry may be no more than 7 feet tall.
    Applies: Required front yard. This is not the limit for lots under 1 acre, which is 3.5 feet.
    § 17.150.050 · code text
    Decorative pilasters (w/cap) at gate entry cannot exceed 7 feet
  • Gates may be no more than 8 feet tall at the crown peak.
    Applies: Required front yard. This is not the limit for lots under 1 acre, which is 3.5 feet.
    § 17.150.050 · code text
    Gates (at the crown peak) cannot exceed 8 feet
Permit
  • Minor development review approval is required unless exempt; a building permit may also be required.
    Applies: Fences and walls. Residential privacy fences that meet the fence rules do not need planning review.
    § 17.150.050 · code text
    Unless otherwise exempt, minor development review approval shall be required for fences and walls.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
Maximum height
  • Accessory structures may be no more than 20 feet tall.
    Applies: Lots of 1 acre or smaller.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    Notwithstanding the height limitations of any zone, the height limit on any lot shall be 20 feet.
  • Accessory structures may be no more than 35 feet tall.
    Applies: Lots larger than 1 acre.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    Notwithstanding the height limitations of any zone, the height limit on any lot shall be 35 feet.
Size or lot coverage
  • The detached accessory structure and the main home together may total no more than 50% of the lot area.
    Applies: Lots of 1 acre or smaller.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    The total size of a detached accessory structure along with the size of the principal/main dwelling shall not exceed 50% of the lot area.
  • A detached accessory structure may be no larger than 1,200 square feet.
    Applies: Lots of 1 acre or smaller.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    A detached accessory structure shall not be greater than 1,200 square feet.
  • The detached accessory structure and the main home together may total no more than 30% of the lot area.
    Applies: Lots larger than 1 acre.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    The total size of a detached accessory structure along with the size of the principal/main dwelling shall not exceed 30% of the lot area.
  • A detached accessory structure may be no larger than 2,000 square feet.
    Applies: Lots larger than 1 acre.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    A detached accessory structure shall not be greater than 2,000 square feet.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from a side property line and 10 feet from a rear property line.
    Applies: Lots of 1 acre or smaller. A greater setback in the zone applies where there is one.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    The minimum setback from a side property line shall be five feet and the minimum setback from a rear property line shall be 10 feet; provided, however, that where the applicable zone provides for a greater side or rear yard setback, such greater setback shall apply.
  • At least 10 feet from side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Lots larger than 1 acre. A greater setback in the zone applies where there is one.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    The minimum setback from a side property line and from a rear property line shall be 10 feet; provided, however, that where the applicable zone provides for a greater side or rear yard setback, such greater setback shall apply.
No permit needed up to
  • No building permit is needed up to 120 square feet.
    Applies: Detached single-story accessory structures.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    detached single-story accessory structures, not more than 120 square feet in size and, therefore, not requiring a building permit
  • No Planning Department review is needed under 120 square feet.
    Applies: Accessory structures with no part 6 feet tall or more. Building permits may still be needed.
    § 17.185.060 · code text
    All accessory structures that are less than 120 square feet in size with no portion of the structure equal to or greater than six feet in height and that meet the siting requirements of Title 17.
Distance from the house
  • At least 10 feet from the main building and from any other accessory structure.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings on single-family lots.
    § 17.185.040 · code text
    No detached accessory building shall be closer than 10 feet to the principal building and no closer than 10 feet to any other accessory structure.

Lot splits under SB 9

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
How the lot may be divided
  • Each new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot's area.
    Applies: Urban lot splits.
    § 16.72.020 · code text
    Is at least 40% of the lot area of the original parcel;
Unit size
  • At most 1,200 square feet of floor area.
    Applies: New homes built under the urban lot split rules.
    § 16.72.050 · code text
    New dwelling units constructed under this chapter shall be no more than 1,200 square feet in floor area.
Minimum new lot size
  • Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.
    Applies: Each new lot.
    § 16.72.020 · code text
    Is at least 1,200 square feet in size;
Standards
  • No more than 2 new lots.
    Applies: A proposed urban lot split.
    § 16.72.020 · code text
    The proposed urban lot split will create no more than two new parcels, and each of the newly created parcels meets the following requirements:
  • Only lots in the R-R, R-R-O, R-1, R-1A, R-A, R-T or R-T-R zones qualify.
    § 16.72.020 · code text
    The parcel to be subdivided is located within the R-R, R-R-O, R-1, R-1A, R-A, R-T, or R-T-R zone.
  • Each lot needs at least 24 feet of street frontage.
    Applies: A flag lot may use a driveway or private road at least 12 feet wide.
    § 16.72.030 · code text
    Lots without 24 feet or more of frontage on a street will not be permitted.
  • No added setback is required.
    Applies: An existing structure, or one built in the same place and to the same size.
    § 16.72.030 · code text
    No additional setback shall be required for an existing structure, or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure.
  • Standards do not apply where they would prevent 2 units or force a unit under 800 square feet.
    Applies: Zoning and design standards for urban lot splits.
    § 16.72.050 · code text
    The standards described in this paragraph shall apply to all urban lot splits except where such standard directly conflicts with a provision of this chapter, or whether the applicant demonstrates that such zoning district standard or design standard would have the effect of the effect of physically precluding the construction of two units on either of the resulting parcels or would necessarily result in a unit size of less than 800 square feet.
Owner occupancy
  • At least 3 years.
    Applies: The owner intends to live in 1 unit as their main home from approval; not required for a community land trust or qualified nonprofit.
    § 16.72.020 · code text
    The owner of the parcel intends to occupy one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split.
Parking
  • 1 off-street parking space.
    Applies: Each lot; none needed within ½ mile walk of a high-quality transit corridor or major transit stop, or 1 block of car-share.
    § 16.72.030 · code text
    A minimum of one off-street parking space shall be provided on each parcel except no parking shall be required where the parcel meets one or both of the following instances:
  • No parking is required.
    Applies: Lots within ½ mile walking distance of a high-quality transit corridor or major transit stop.
    § 16.72.030 · code text
    The parcel is located within one-half mile walking distance of either a high-quality transit corridor, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code, or a major transit stop, as defined in Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code.

RV and boat parking

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
Parking on the street
  • Up to 48 hours, twice a month.
    Applies: Residential streets: in front of the owner's home to load, unload or clean, or a visitor's RV with the homeowner's permission.
    § 10.20.160 · code text
    For a period of not more than 48 hours, twice a month, a recreational vehicle may be parked or left standing on a City street if vehicles are otherwise allowed to park there and if:
  • No more than 2 hours in any one day.
    Applies: City streets with posted signs; does not apply in residential districts.
    § 10.20.160 · code text
    no person shall park or leave standing any recreational vehicle on any City street for a period longer than two hours of any one day when signs are erected or posted giving notice thereof.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
EV charger permit
  • The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City checklist.
    Applies: The application must also meet applicable laws and health and safety standards.
    § 15.109.040 · code text
    A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
  • You can apply electronically; electronic signatures are accepted.
    § 15.109.040 · code text
    the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Review time
  • The permit is issued within 2 business days.
    Applies: Complete electronic applications.
    § 15.108.060 · code text
    Upon the determination that the application is complete, the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within two business days for electronic applications.
  • The permit is issued the same day.
    Applies: Complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist.
    § 15.108.060 · code text
    Upon the determination that the application is complete, the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within two business days for electronic applications.

Swimming pools

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
Setback from property lines
  • At least 5 feet.
    Applies: Private residential pools, from any property line or home; pool equipment also at least 5 feet away.
    § 17.150.070 · code text
    Private, residential swimming pools for the use of the occupants of the premises and their nonpaying guests shall be located not nearer than five feet to any property line or dwelling.

Pets, chickens and bees

Wildomar code What Wildomar's code adds
Bees
  • Yes, no more than 4 bee boxes per residential lot.
    Applies: Residential zones.
    § 17.225.090 · code text
    Each residential lot shall have no more than four bee boxes.
Large animals
  • Sheep or goats: 3 times the limit of 5 grazing animals per acre.
    Applies: Lots over 20,000 square feet and 100 feet wide; animals at least 50 feet from any home.
    § 17.225.070 · code text
    For the grazing of sheep or goats, the permissible number of animals per acre may be multiplied by three.
  • No limit on goats or sheep per acre.
    Applies: Grazing to clear unharvested crops or weeds, for no more than 4 weeks in any 6-month period.
    § 17.225.070 · code text
    There shall be no limit to the permissible number of goats or sheep which may be grazed per acre when the grazing is for the purpose of cleaning up unharvested crops or weed abatement, provided that such grazing is not conducted for more than four weeks in any six-month period.
Permit
  • A residential beekeeping permit from the community development department is required.
    Applies: Beekeepers in a residential zone.
    § 17.225.090 · code text
    Any beekeepers in a residential zone shall obtain a residential beekeeping permit from the community development department.

Other Wildomar rules on this

Wildomar'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 Wildomar?

On lots under one acre, Wildomar limits front-yard fences to 3.5 feet if solid or 5 feet if wrought iron.

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

Wildomar limits accessory structures to 20 feet on lots of one acre or less and 35 feet on larger lots.

Can I run a business from my home in Wildomar?

Wildomar has its own chapter on home-based businesses. Wildomar also has a related rule: Home-based businesses (Ch. 17.110).

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Wildomar?

Wildomar's code: Each new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot's area. (Urban lot splits.) (§ 16.72.020); At most 1,200 square feet of floor area. (New homes built under the urban lot split rules.) (§ 16.72.050).

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

Wildomar's code: Up to 48 hours, twice a month. (Residential streets: in front of the owner's home to load, unload or clean, or a visitor's RV with the homeowner's permission.) (§ 10.20.160); No more than 2 hours in any one day. (City streets with posted signs; does not apply in residential districts.) (§ 10.20.160).

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

Wildomar's code: The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City checklist. (The application must also meet applicable laws and health and safety standards.) (§ 15.109.040); You can apply electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 15.109.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Wildomar?

Wildomar's code: At least 5 feet. (Private residential pools, from any property line or home; pool equipment also at least 5 feet away.) (§ 17.150.070).

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

Wildomar's code: Yes, no more than 4 bee boxes per residential lot. (Residential zones.) (§ 17.225.090); Sheep or goats: 3 times the limit of 5 grazing animals per acre. (Lots over 20,000 square feet and 100 feet wide; animals at least 50 feet from any home.) (§ 17.225.070).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Wildomar property

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

Ask your question

More on Wildomar