Baldwin Park · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park sets fence heights by yard in residential zones, with a higher limit for wrought iron in front yards. The city also limits accessory structure height and size, and home businesses need a permit.

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Key points

Fence height: In residential zones, Baldwin Park limits front-yard fences to 3 feet, or 5 feet for wrought iron; side and rear fences, 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Baldwin Park caps all non-parking accessory structures on a lot at the lesser of 500 square feet or 50% of the main ground floor.
Home business: Baldwin Park home businesses other than cottage food need a permit, may use at most 150 square feet, and may employ only residents.

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

Fences and walls

Baldwin Park code In residential zones, Baldwin Park limits front-yard fences to 3 feet, or 5 feet for wrought iron; side and rear fences, 6 feet.

All 5 Baldwin Park rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Baldwin Park code Baldwin Park caps all non-parking accessory structures on a lot at the lesser of 500 square feet or 50% of the main ground floor.

All 5 Baldwin Park rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Baldwin Park code Baldwin Park home businesses other than cottage food need a permit, may use at most 150 square feet, and may employ only residents.

All 6 Baldwin Park rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Baldwin Park code At least 20 feet front setback. At least 4 feet interior side setback.

All 18 Baldwin Park rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Baldwin Park code What Baldwin Park's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official must approve the application if it meets the approved checklist and standards. Applies: Applies if the charging station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 157.06 · code text If the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards, and the proposed charging station does not pose any specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety, the Building Official must approve the application. Decision (approval or use permit needed) within 30 days of a complete application. § 157.06 · code text The Building Official must notify an applicant whether the application has been approved, or, alternatively, whether the applicant must obtain an electric vehicle charging station use permit or a hydrogen-fueling station use permit, within 30 days after the submission of a complete application.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued when the application meets the checklist and standard plan; one inspection. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 156.07 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit in a timely manner and no later than five working days from the day of submittal.
Review time	Within 5 working days. Applies: Applies to a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 156.07 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit in a timely manner and no later than five working days from the day of submittal.

Tree removal

Baldwin Park code What Baldwin Park's code adds
Exemptions	Removing or pruning a tree that is an imminent threat to public property or welfare. Applies: As decided by responding police, the Los Angeles County Fire Department or the Public Works Director. § 153.165.100 · code text The removal or pruning of any tree which poses an imminent threat to public property or welfare, as determined by a member of a responding law enforcement agency, the Los Angeles County Fire Department or the Public Works Director. Normal trimming or pruning and removing deadwood. Applies: On private property, if the tree is not damaged or killed and loses no more than 50% of live foliage, limbs or roots. § 153.165.100 · code text Normal and routine trimming or pruning of trees on private property that does not result in damage or death to a tree and/or does not result in loss of more 50% of the live foliage and limbs or root base, and removal of deadwood.

Swimming pools

Baldwin Park code No openings except doors or gates built to the code's gate rules. Mesh of at least 11-gauge galvanized steel wire.

All 12 Baldwin Park rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Baldwin Park code Yes, up to 3 hens. At least 15 feet from any habitable building.

All 5 Baldwin Park rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Baldwin Park code What Baldwin Park's code adds
Hours	8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Applies: Only on the first weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of March, June, September and December. § 119.02 · code text Garage sales shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Signs	2 signs max, 3 square feet each; posted at most 2 days early; removed by 7 p.m. the last day. Applies: Signs on the sale premises; none on public right-of-way structures. § 119.02 · code text Such signs may not be posted anywhere earlier than two days prior to the day the sale is to commence, and shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. on the day the sale is terminated. No more than two signs, placards, or other form of advertisement shall be placed upon the premises used for such sale, and shall not exceed three square feet in size.

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)

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Baldwin Park code What Baldwin Park's code adds
False alarm fees	An administrative fine set by City Council resolution. Applies: Each false alarm after the first in a calendar year; pay within 30 days of the invoice. § 91.40 · code text The amount of the administrative fine for each false alarm shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
False alarms before a fee	1 false alarm per calendar year. § 91.40 · code text An alarm system user shall pay to the city, within 30 days after the date of an invoice, an administrative fine for each false alarm generated by each alarm system in excess of one false alarm per calendar year.
Alarm permit	Required for each alarm system. § 91.17 · code text Any alarm system user within the city limits is required to maintain an alarm system user permit for each alarm system used by that person within the city.

Trash and recycling carts

Baldwin Park code Out of public view by 8:00 p.m. on the designated collection day. Not before 8:00 p.m. on the day before collection

All 3 Baldwin Park rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Baldwin Park rules on this

Baldwin Park'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

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

Baldwin Park's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued when the application meets the checklist and standard plan; one inspection. (Applies to small rooftop home solar systems that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 156.07); The Building Official must approve the application if it meets the approved checklist and standards. (Applies if the charging station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 157.06).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Baldwin Park?

Baldwin Park's code: Removing or pruning a tree that is an imminent threat to public property or welfare. (As decided by responding police, the Los Angeles County Fire Department or the Public Works Director.) (§ 153.165.100); Normal trimming or pruning and removing deadwood. (On private property, if the tree is not damaged or killed and loses no more than 50% of live foliage, limbs or roots.) (§ 153.165.100).

What are the garage sale rules in Baldwin Park?

Baldwin Park's code: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Only on the first weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of March, June, September and December.) (§ 119.02); 2 signs max, 3 square feet each; posted at most 2 days early; removed by 7 p.m. the last day. (Signs on the sale premises; none on public right-of-way structures.) (§ 119.02).

Can I run a family child care home in Baldwin Park?

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

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Baldwin Park?

Baldwin Park's code: An administrative fine set by City Council resolution. (Each false alarm after the first in a calendar year; pay within 30 days of the invoice.) (§ 91.40); 1 false alarm per calendar year. (§ 91.40).

General information, not legal advice.

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