Buena Park · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Buena Park
Buena Park sets fence heights by yard and zone, with lower limits in front yards and vision clearance areas. The city limits accessory structure size and keeps home businesses to one room with no business traffic.
Key points
- Fence height: Buena Park single-family zones: fence limits are 7 feet in side and rear yards; 6 feet in front yards if set back 20 feet.
- Accessory structures: In single-family zones, Buena Park limits non-habitable accessory structures to 600 square feet or 50% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.
- Home business: Buena Park home businesses may use at most one room, not a garage or accessory building; only occupants of the dwelling may work there.
Each rule below is marked Buena 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
Buena Park code Buena Park single-family zones: fence limits are 7 feet in side and rear yards; 6 feet in front yards if set back 20 feet.
All 10 Buena Park rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Buena Park code In single-family zones, Buena Park limits non-habitable accessory structures to 600 square feet or 50% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.
All 3 Buena Park rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Buena Park code Buena Park home businesses may use at most one room, not a garage or accessory building; only occupants of the dwelling may work there.
All 5 Buena Park rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Buena Park code No more than 2 days in a row. No more than 7 days in a row.
All 3 Buena Park rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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Pets, chickens and bees
Buena Park code At least 100 feet from the front property line and 30 feet from any other property line. No more than 2 horses, mules, cows, goats, sheep or similar large animals in any combination.
All 7 Buena Park rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Height of the lowest floor |
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Park and impact fees for new homes
| Exemptions |
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Noise and construction hours
Buena Park code Loud construction machinery is allowed only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loud construction machinery is allowed 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays.
All 4 Buena Park rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
| Hours |
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|---|---|
| How long a sale may last |
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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 |
Group homes and residential care
Buena Park code Keep garages and driveways free; each occupant and manager may park only one vehicle at home or within 300 feet. A valid permit is required.
All 4 Buena Park rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Buena Park code A permit application is required, with a fee set by city council resolution. The fee is $25, in addition to the permit fee set by city council resolution.
All 3 Buena Park rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Buena Park code Temporary signs advertising property for sale, lease or rental, located on the property offered, are exempt from a permit. The maximum height is 8 feet above grade.
All 11 Buena Park rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Sorting organics and green waste |
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|---|---|
| When carts must come back |
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| Where carts are kept |
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Other Buena Park rules on this
Buena Park's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 19.348.090)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Buena Park?
Buena Park's code: Administrative, ministerial review; the permit is issued when the application meets the EV charging permit checklist. (§ 15.71.060); Electronic submittal is available. (§ 15.71.050).
What are the rules for building in a Buena Park flood zone?
Buena Park's code: The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes and other structures in special flood hazard areas; nonresidential buildings may be floodproofed instead.) (§ 18.220.010); Lowest floor above highest nearby ground, at least the FIRM depth number in feet, or 2 feet if none. (New or substantially improved homes and other structures in Zones AE, AH or AO.) (§ 18.220.010).
What are the garage sale rules in Buena Park?
Buena Park's code: A yard sale may last no more than 2 days in a row in any 6-month period. (Each lot in residential use in any residential zone.) (§ 19.448.070); Yard sales may run only from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. (Any residential zone.) (§ 19.448.070).
Can I run a family child care home in Buena Park?
California law sets this for every city, including Buena 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)).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Buena Park?
Buena Park's code: Source separate all solid waste into the appropriate green, blue or gray container. (§ 8.12.110); Remove containers from the place of collection before 10 p.m. on the day they are emptied. (§ 8.12.190).
General information, not legal advice.
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