Brea · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Brea

Brea sets residential fence heights with lower limits in front yards and on reversed corner lots, and separate rules in the HR Hillside Residential Zone. Home businesses must stay inside the home or garage.

Ask about building on your lot in Brea See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Brea limits residential fences to 7 feet; in required front yards, solid ones to 36 inches, open ones to four and a half feet.
Hillside zone: In the HR Hillside Residential Zone, Brea limits accessory structures to 12 feet, with 5-foot setbacks from rear and side pad edges.
Home business: Brea home businesses must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area or garage, and only residents of the dwelling may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Brea code Brea limits residential fences to 7 feet; in required front yards, solid ones to 36 inches, open ones to four and a half feet.

All 6 Brea rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Brea code In the HR Hillside Residential Zone, Brea limits accessory structures to 12 feet, with 5-foot setbacks from rear and side pad edges.

All 4 Brea rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Brea code What Brea's code adds
Space used	Only inside the enclosed living area of the home or the garage. § 20.36.010 · code text A home occupation shall be conducted only within the enclosed living area of the dwelling unit or the garage.
Customer visits	No traffic from salespeople, service vehicles, delivery people, messengers or others beyond what is normal for a home. § 20.36.010 · code text There shall be no traffic to or from the premises by salesmen, service vehicles, delivery persons, messengers or others beyond the amount of such traffic incidental to residential uses.
Employees	Only the residents of the home may work in the business. § 20.36.010 · code text Only the residents of the dwelling unit may engage in the home occupation.

Lot splits under SB 9

Brea code Each new lot must be at least 40% of the existing lot. At most 800 square feet.

All 15 Brea rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Brea code What Brea's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves applications meeting the checklists and issues all needed permits; electronic submittal and signatures are accepted. Applies: Electric vehicle charging stations; the station may not be used until the city approves it. § 14.08.040 · code text The Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and any additional application documentation required by this chapter.

Tree removal

Brea code Maintenance such as pruning is exempt, as long as the tree is not destroyed. Immediate removal is allowed.

All 14 Brea rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Brea code What Brea's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. Applies: Areas of special flood hazard. § 18.216.030 · 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 § 18.212.010.
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: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 18.220.060 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1-30 and AE on the community’s flood insurance rate map, 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 1 (one) foot at any point within the city. 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. § 18.220.060 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development are prohibited, 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: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 18.220.010 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 Zones on the community’s flood insurance rate map, elevated to or above the base flood elevation; At least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number in feet on the FIRM. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the FIRM gives a depth number. § 18.220.010 · code text In an AO zone on the community’s flood insurance rate map, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified; At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the FIRM gives no depth number. § 18.220.010 · code text or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified; At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone with no base flood elevations on the FIRM. § 18.220.010 · code text In an A zone on the community’s flood insurance rate map, without BFE’s specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under subparagraph 18.216.020.C.;

Building on a hillside

Brea code No grading on slopes over 30%. No steeper than 2 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical.

All 4 Brea rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Brea code What Brea's code adds
Noise limit at homes	No more than 55 dB(A). Applies: Outdoors at another home, Noise Zone 1, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., over 30 minutes an hour; 5 dB(A) less for impact, tone, speech, music. § 8.20.050 · code text 1 \| 55 dB(A) \| 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. No more than 50 dB(A). Applies: Outdoors at another home, Noise Zone 1, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., over 30 minutes an hour; 5 dB(A) less for impact, tone, speech, music. § 8.20.050 · code text 1 \| 50 dB(A) \| 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. No more than 45 dB(A). Applies: Indoors in another home, Noise Zone 1, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., over 5 minutes an hour; 5 dB(A) less for impact, tone, speech, music. § 8.20.060 · code text 1 \| 45 dB(A) \| 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.

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

Brea code The alarm must be silenced within 30 minutes after notification. An automatic shut-off device must silence the alarm within 15 minutes after activation, instead of a personal response.

All 4 Brea rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Brea code What Brea's code adds
For-sale and open-house signs	One sign, up to 6 square feet. Applies: R-2 and R-3 multiple family zones. Non-illuminated, only about the sale, lease or rental of that property. § 20.28.330 · code text One (1) non-illuminated sign, not to exceed six (6) square feet in area, pertaining only to the sale, lease or rental of the particular building, property or premises upon which such sign is displayed.

Trash and recycling carts

Brea code Remove receptacles before 10:00 p.m. on the day they are emptied. Keep containers within the building or another approved location.

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

Historic homes

Brea code Plan review is required. The Planning Commission reviews the work in a public hearing.

All 4 Brea rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Brea rules on this

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

No hogs or pigs (§ 6.00.040)
No beekeeping (§ 8.32.010)
Local pool and spa safety rules (§ 15.220.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Brea?

Brea home businesses must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area or garage, and only residents of the dwelling may work there.

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

Brea's code: The Building Official approves applications meeting the checklists and issues all needed permits; electronic submittal and signatures are accepted. (Electric vehicle charging stations; the station may not be used until the city approves it.) (§ 14.08.040).

What are the rules for building in a Brea flood zone?

Brea's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (Areas of special flood hazard.) (§ 18.216.030); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 18.220.010).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Brea?

Brea's code: No more than 55 dB(A). (Outdoors at another home, Noise Zone 1, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., over 30 minutes an hour; 5 dB(A) less for impact, tone, speech, music.) (§ 8.20.050); No more than 50 dB(A). (Outdoors at another home, Noise Zone 1, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., over 30 minutes an hour; 5 dB(A) less for impact, tone, speech, music.) (§ 8.20.050).

Can I run a family child care home in Brea?

California law sets this for every city, including Brea: 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 Brea?

Brea's code: One sign, up to 6 square feet. (R-2 and R-3 multiple family zones. Non-illuminated, only about the sale, lease or rental of that property.) (§ 20.28.330).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Brea property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Brea

Brea Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Brea

Buying & selling in Brea

Property taxes in Brea

Brea overview

Zoning districts in Brea