Barstow · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Barstow

Barstow sets fence heights by yard, with lower limits in front yards and street side yards. Home businesses need a permit and a business license, may bring no business traffic, and only the resident family may work in them.

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Key points

Fence height: Barstow limits fences to 3½ feet in required front and street side yards (open chain link, 4 feet) and 6 feet in rear yards.
Corner-lot garages: Barstow sets a 24-foot rule for garages on corner or reverse corner lots that face a side street property line.
Home business: Barstow home businesses need a permit and a business license; they may bring no business traffic, and only the resident family may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Barstow code Barstow limits fences to 3½ feet in required front and street side yards (open chain link, 4 feet) and 6 feet in rear yards.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 24 feet from the side street property line. Applies: Garages on corner or reverse corner lots that face a side street property line. § 19.24.060 · code text Garages shall not be permitted closer than 24 feet to side street property line for corner or reverse corner lots when the garage faces a side street property line.

Running a business from home

Barstow code Barstow home businesses need a permit and a business license; they may bring no business traffic, and only the resident family may work there.

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

Solar panels and EV chargers

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Solar permit process	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the permit fee; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 15.10.030 · code text An applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building department in person, by mail, or by electronic submittal along with the permit fee, as adopted in the city's Master Fee Schedule.
Review time	Plan check within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to complete applications; incomplete ones get a written correction notice within the same time. § 15.10.040 · code text Applications received either in person or electronic submittal will be plan checked within three business days.

Grading and erosion control

Barstow code Cuts up to 50 cubic yards, under 2 feet, or slopes no taller than 5 feet nor steeper than 2:1. Fill up to 50 cubic yards if under 3 feet, or up to 20 cubic yards if under 5 feet.

All 3 Barstow rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Exemptions	Exempt only from the park land-acquisition part of the impact fee; parkland dedication rules still apply. Applies: Development that would otherwise owe both parkland dedication and an impact fee. § 12.40.100 · code text Where a development would otherwise be subject both to the requirements of chapter 18.24 of this Code and a requirement of payment of impact fee, the development shall be exempt from the portion of the impact fee for the acquisition of land for parks improvements, but not from any other portion of the fee, and shall be subject to the requirements of chapter 18.24 of this Code.

Outdoor lighting

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Shielding	No direct light above the horizontal line through the fixture's lowest light-emitting part; minimize light trespass onto neighbors. Applies: New structures or additions valued over $5,000, including single-family homes. § 19.06.010 · code text All outdoor lighting shall be designed to minimize the trespass of light onto adjacent properties, walkways, residential buildings, hospitals and other uses that may be sensitive to light. In addition, all lighting shall not emit any direct light above a horizontal plane through the lowest direct-light-emitting part of the luminaire.

Garage and yard sales

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Permit	Only when the city manager decides a temporary event permit is needed. § 5.80.090 · code text Whenever the city manager deems a temporary event permit to be necessary, the operator of the proposed sales event will be required to obtain such permit.

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

Barstow code $50.00 charge. $75.00 charge.

All 7 Barstow rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Barstow code What Barstow's code adds
Required collection service	utilize the services of the authorized collector for the collection of solid waste and recyclables § 6.20.340 · code text each residential householder and commercial/industrial business owner shall utilize the services of the authorized collector for the collection of solid waste and recyclables from the residential or commercial/industrial premises held or occupied by such householder or owner and shall pay for such services the fees set by the collector and authorized by the city council.
When carts must come back	Before 10:00 p.m. on the day the containers are emptied. § 6.20.570 · code text all containers and receptacles shall be removed from the place of collection prior to 10:00 p.m. of the day the containers have been emptied.
When carts may go to the curb	Not before sunset on the day before collection § 6.20.570 · code text No person shall place any such container for collection earlier than sunset of the day preceding the day designated for collection
Where carts are kept	A storage location not visible from any public right-of-way, excluding alleys. § 6.20.570 · code text Such containers shall be removed to a storage location which is not visible from any public right-of-way, excluding alleys.

Other Barstow rules on this

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

Floodplain management and building in flood hazard areas (Ch. 15.16)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Barstow sets a 24-foot rule for garages on corner or reverse corner lots that face a side street property line.

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

Barstow's code: Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the permit fee; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small home solar systems eligible for fast review.) (§ 15.10.030); Plan check within 3 business days. (Applies to complete applications; incomplete ones get a written correction notice within the same time.) (§ 15.10.040).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Barstow?

Barstow's code: No direct light above the horizontal line through the fixture's lowest light-emitting part; minimize light trespass onto neighbors. (New structures or additions valued over $5,000, including single-family homes.) (§ 19.06.010).

What are the garage sale rules in Barstow?

Barstow's code: Only when the city manager decides a temporary event permit is needed. (§ 5.80.090).

Can I run a family child care home in Barstow?

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

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

Barstow's code: utilize the services of the authorized collector for the collection of solid waste and recyclables (§ 6.20.340); Before 10:00 p.m. on the day the containers are emptied. (§ 6.20.570).

General information, not legal advice.

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Barstow Municipal Code — full text

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Barstow overview

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