Avalon · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Avalon

Avalon sets fence heights by yard in every zone, with lower limits in front yards and near street side lot lines. Its accessory rule covers buildings with wide openings facing an alley.

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Key points

Fence height: Avalon limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in required interior side and rear yards.
Alley openings: Avalon sets a rule for accessory buildings whose opening facing an alley is more than 6 feet wide.

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

Fences and walls

Avalon code Avalon limits fences to 42 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in required interior side and rear yards.

All 4 Avalon rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 6 feet from the alley property line. Applies: Accessory buildings with an opening more than 6 feet wide that faces an existing or proposed alley. § 9-7.403 · code text any accessory building having an opening more than six feet wide facing an existing or proposed alley shall be located not less than six feet from the property line of said alley.

RV and boat parking

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours in a row. Applies: Applies to any vehicle on a public street or alley. § 4-4.1004 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours. Trailers may not park on a street or alley except while loading or unloading, or with a City permit. Applies: Applies to trailers on any street or alley. § 4-4.1004 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of a trailer shall park such trailer upon any street or alley except while loading or unloading property thereto or therefrom or pursuant to a permit issued under § 4-9.101 et seq.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic applications and signatures are accepted; the charger may not be used until approval and all permits are granted. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 4-4.2005 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Solar permit process	City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit when a complete application meets the checklist, standard plan and chapter. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar, unless the Official decides a use permit is warranted. § 8-6.06 · code text Unless the Official determines a use permit is warranted, City staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter.

Building in a flood zone

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 6-9.403 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in § 6-9.302.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood by at most 1 foot. Applies: Applies in Zones A1-30 and AE until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 6-9.506 · code text no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the City of Avalon. No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered civil engineer certifies no increase in base flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 6-9.506 · code text the City of Avalon shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: Lowest floor, including basement, of a new or substantially improved home in Zones AE, AH and A1-30. § 6-9.501 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 Zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Above the highest adjacent grade, at least as high as the depth number in feet shown on the FIRM. Applies: Lowest floor, including basement, of a new or substantially improved home in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 6-9.501 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: Lowest floor, including basement, of a new or substantially improved home in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 6-9.501 · code text or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At or above the base flood elevation, as the city's floodplain rules determine it. Applies: Lowest floor, including basement, of a new or substantially improved home in an unnumbered A Zone (no base flood elevations on the FIRM). § 6-9.501 · code text In an A Zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A Zone], elevated to or above the base flood elevation
When a remodel must meet flood rules	Improvements costing 50% or more of the structure's market value before the work. Applies: Improvement costs are added up over 5 years; the structure must then meet current floodplain management standards. § 6-9.403 · code text If the cumulative cost of improvements over a five-year period equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement

Noise and construction hours

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; no work on Sundays. Applies: Outdoor construction work and equipment within 500 feet of a residential zone, hotel or motel; emergency work with a Noise Variance Permit is exempt. § 5-13.06 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person at a radius within 500 feet of any residential zone or of a hotel or motel, to operate equipment or perform any outside construction or repair work on buildings, structures, or projects, or to operate any pile driver, power shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, power hoist, or any other construction-type device, or to cause to permit such construction operations, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Construction hours on weekends and holidays	No construction at any time on Sundays. Applies: Outdoor construction work and equipment within 500 feet of a residential zone, hotel or motel; emergency work with a Noise Variance Permit is exempt. § 5-13.06 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person at a radius within 500 feet of any residential zone or of a hotel or motel, to operate equipment or perform any outside construction or repair work on buildings, structures, or projects, or to operate any pile driver, power shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, power hoist, or any other construction-type device, or to cause to permit such construction operations, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., or at any time on a Sunday, except when such acts constitute emergency work as defined in subsection (d) of § 5-13.02 of this chapter and issuance a Noise Variance Permit as described in § 5-13.10.

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	1 parking space per dwelling unit. Applies: All residential uses. § 9-7.605 · code text Residential uses shall be one parking space per dwelling unit.
Spaces for a single-family home	1 parking space per dwelling unit. § 9-7.605 · code text Residential uses shall be one parking space per dwelling unit.

Signs on homes

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Other temporary signs	8 square feet of signage per residential structure, or per dwelling unit if the structure has several units. Applies: Temporary signs in residential zones. § 9-7.719 · code text Each residential structure is limited to eight square feet of signage, except where the structure contains multiple dwelling units, and then each dwelling unit shall be limited to eight square feet of signage.

Trash and recycling carts

Avalon code What Avalon's code adds
Sorting organics and green waste	Separate containers for solid waste, recyclables and organic waste, when the City-contractor contract requires it. Applies: When the contract between the City and a contractor requires occupants to use separate containers for solid waste, recyclables or organic waste. § 6-2.109 · code text Moreover, in the event that the contract entered into between the City and a contractor requires occupants to place solid waste, recyclables and/or organic waste in separate containers, all persons shall only place solid waste, recyclables or organic waste, as applicable, in each container and shall ensure that such container is properly placed for collection with the lid or cover securely closed.
When carts must come back	Within 24 hours after the container is emptied § 6-2.107 · code text No person shall place, or cause to be placed, any container on any sidewalk, road, street, or alley on any day other than the day or days established for collection of solid waste, recyclables, or organic wastes on the particular route, and no person shall permit or cause such container to remain there for more than 24 hours after the container has been emptied.

Other Avalon rules on this

Avalon'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 Avalon?

Avalon sets a rule for accessory buildings whose opening facing an alley is more than 6 feet wide.

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

Avalon's code: City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit when a complete application meets the checklist, standard plan and chapter. (Applies to small rooftop home solar, unless the Official decides a use permit is warranted.) (§ 8-6.06); Electronic applications and signatures are accepted; the charger may not be used until approval and all permits are granted. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 4-4.2005).

What are the rules for building in an Avalon flood zone?

Avalon's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 6-9.403); At or above the base flood elevation. (Lowest floor, including basement, of a new or substantially improved home in Zones AE, AH and A1-30.) (§ 6-9.501).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Avalon?

Avalon's code: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; no work on Sundays. (Outdoor construction work and equipment within 500 feet of a residential zone, hotel or motel; emergency work with a Noise Variance Permit is exempt.) (§ 5-13.06); No construction at any time on Sundays. (Outdoor construction work and equipment within 500 feet of a residential zone, hotel or motel; emergency work with a Noise Variance Permit is exempt.) (§ 5-13.06).

Can I run a family child care home in Avalon?

California law sets this for every city, including Avalon: 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)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Avalon?

Avalon's code: 1 parking space per dwelling unit. (All residential uses.) (§ 9-7.605); 1 parking space per dwelling unit. (§ 9-7.605).

What signs may I put up at my home in Avalon?

Avalon's code: 8 square feet of signage per residential structure, or per dwelling unit if the structure has several units. (Temporary signs in residential zones.) (§ 9-7.719).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Avalon?

Avalon's code: Separate containers for solid waste, recyclables and organic waste, when the City-contractor contract requires it. (When the contract between the City and a contractor requires occupants to use separate containers for solid waste, recyclables or organic waste.) (§ 6-2.109); Within 24 hours after the container is emptied (§ 6-2.107).

General information, not legal advice.

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