Blythe · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Blythe
Blythe limits the size of accessory structures by the size of the main home. The city also has a chapter on home-based businesses.
Key points
- Accessory size: Blythe limits accessory structures to the ground floor area of the primary dwelling unit, unless approved through the variance process.
- Home business: Blythe has a city chapter on home-based businesses (Ch. 17.30).
Each rule below is marked Blythe code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Size or lot coverage |
|
|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
Blythe code Approved administratively, with all needed permits issued, once the application meets the checklist, applicable laws and health and safety standards. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted.
All 4 Blythe rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Blythe code Yes: at most 9 poultry, fowl, rabbits or small animals in total, and at most 3 of each kind. Yes: at most 20 poultry, fowl, rabbits or small animals for each 10,000 square feet of lot area.
All 3 Blythe rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
| How long a sale may last |
|
|---|---|
| Sales per year |
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| Signs |
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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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
Blythe code At least 1 space per dwelling unit, in a garage or carport. 1 parking space per unit.
All 6 Blythe rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| Alarm permit |
|
|---|
Signs on homes
Blythe code No temporary sign may stay up more than 60 consecutive days. No re-posting within 90 days of removal.
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts may go to the curb |
|
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Other Blythe rules on this
Blythe's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Home-based businesses (Ch. 17.30)
- Parcel maps for urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 16.20.210)
- Two-unit housing on a single-family lot (SB 9) (Ch. 17.33A)
- Parking RVs and trailers on the street (§ 10.08.060) — on public streets
- Swimming pool fencing and safety (§ 15.04.030)
- Floodplain management rules for building (Ch. 17.29)
- Lighting on private property (Ch. 17.28)
- Development impact fee on new building (§ 3.34.020)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Blythe?
Blythe limits accessory structures to the ground floor area of the primary dwelling unit, unless approved through the variance process.
Can I run a business from my home in Blythe?
Blythe has a city chapter on home-based businesses (Ch. 17.30). Blythe also has a related rule: Home-based businesses (Ch. 17.30).
What are the garage sale rules in Blythe?
Blythe's code: Only 2 sales. (In any 12-month period at the address on the permit.) (§ 17.58.030); 1 sign of no more than 4 square feet. (During the sale.) (§ 17.58.040).
Can I run a family child care home in Blythe?
California law sets this for every city, including Blythe: 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 Blythe?
Blythe's code: An alarm user's permit is required. (§ 5.77.060).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Blythe?
Blythe's code: Not before five p.m. the day before collection; carts may stay out until eight p.m. on collection day (§ 8.24.150).
General information, not legal advice.
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