Arvin · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Arvin
Arvin sets fence heights by yard in its residential and E zones and limits detached accessory building height. Home businesses need a city business license and a home occupation permit, and some uses are not allowed.
Key points
- Fence height: In residential and E zones, Arvin limits fences to 4 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
- Accessory buildings: Arvin limits detached accessory buildings in residential and E zones to 2 stories or 35 feet.
- Home business: Arvin home businesses may use at most 400 square feet of the residence; retail sales, beauty parlors, barber shops and schools are not allowed.
Each rule below is marked Arvin code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Arvin code In residential and E zones, Arvin limits fences to 4 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Arvin code Arvin limits detached accessory buildings in residential and E zones to 2 stories or 35 feet.
All 4 Arvin rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Arvin code Arvin home businesses may use at most 400 square feet of the residence; retail sales, beauty parlors, barber shops and schools are not allowed.
All 3 Arvin rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Arvin code Two parcels of about equal area; the smaller must be at least 40% of the original lot area. At least 1,200 square feet for each new parcel.
All 5 Arvin rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Arvin code A building permit and any other required plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits. The permit is issued the same day.
All 3 Arvin rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
| Pet limit |
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Building in a flood zone
Arvin code A development permit is required before any construction or other development begins in a special flood hazard area. No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other new development unless an engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation.
All 5 Arvin rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
Arvin code Not before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. A permit is for no more than 3 calendar days in a row.
All 4 Arvin rules on garage and yard sales, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Signs on homes
| For-sale and open-house signs |
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Other Arvin rules on this
Arvin's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Public facility development impact fees (Ch. 14.01)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a family child care home in Arvin?
California law sets this for every city, including Arvin: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
What signs may I put up at my home in Arvin?
Arvin's code: At most 12 square feet. (§ 15.24.070).
General information, not legal advice.
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