Calexico · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Calexico

Calexico sets its own limits on fence heights, detached accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the zone, the yard and the distance from a driveway.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: R-zone fences are limited to 6 feet, and to 36 inches within 15 feet of where a driveway meets the street.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit from the planning director before it opens; non-resident employees, garage use and onsite sales need director approval.
Accessory structures: In R zones, the city sets 5-foot and 10-foot limits for detached accessory structures in an interior side or rear yard.

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

Fences and walls

Calexico code City rule: R-zone fences are limited to 6 feet, and to 36 inches within 15 feet of where a driveway meets the street.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Calexico code In R zones, the city sets 5-foot and 10-foot limits for detached accessory structures in an interior side or rear yard.

All 3 Calexico rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Calexico code A home business needs a permit from the planning director before it opens; non-resident employees, garage use and onsite sales need director approval.

All 5 Calexico rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Solar permit process	Apply in person or electronically, with the permit processing and inspection fees. Electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 17.11.1150 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's planning department in person or by electronic submittal, together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. The planning department approves a complete application and issues all required permits or authorizations. Applies: Applies when the application and documents are complete and meet the code and checklist requirements. § 17.11.1170 · code text Upon the director's determination that an application is complete, the city's planning department shall approve the application and, in conjunction with any other city departments, issue all required permits or authorizations.

Swimming pools

Calexico code The fence must completely enclose the pool and meet the pool barrier rules in the state Health and Safety Code. The pool fence must be at least 5 feet high.

All 5 Calexico rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Calexico code Yes, up to 6. Yes, up to 9.

All 11 Calexico rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development begins in a special flood, flood-erosion or mudslide hazard area. § 15.54.110 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards, areas of flood-related erosion hazards or areas of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) established in Section 15.54.060.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new buildings and other development are not allowed unless an engineer or architect certifies no rise in flood levels. § 15.54.180 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development unless certification to a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes and other structures in special flood hazard areas; nonresidential buildings may be floodproofed instead. § 15.54.140 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure, shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Lowest floor above highest nearby ground, at least the FIRM depth number in feet, or 2 feet if none. Applies: New or substantially improved homes and other structures in zone AO or VO. § 15.54.140 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in zone AO or VO shall have the lowest floor, including basement elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Exemptions	Same-parcel replacement of a home lost to fire or other disaster is exempt if you apply within 6 months. Applies: Development impact fees; claim the exemption no later than the building permit application. § 3.32.050 · code text The following shall be exempted from payment of the development impact fees of this chapter: A. City buildings or structures; B. The replacement on the same parcel of a dwelling or dwellings destroyed by fire or other calamity, provided that the application for a building permit to replace such dwelling is filed with the inspector within six months after destruction of the dwelling.

Noise and construction hours

Calexico code Outdoor construction work is allowed only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outdoor construction work is allowed only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All 5 Calexico rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Signs	Sale signs may go only on the sale property, total 4 square feet or less, and only during sale times. § 5.54.060 · code text The permitted signs shall not exceed a total of four square feet in area.

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

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	Every alarm system must shut off automatically after 15 minutes. Applies: All local alarm systems. § 5.70.050 · code text All local alarm systems shall be installed with an automatic fifteen-minute shutoff.
False alarm fees	A service fee applies to false alarms, at a rate the city council sets. Applies: Any and all false alarms. § 5.70.070 · code text For any and all false alarms there shall be a service fee at a rate determined by the city council by ordinance or resolution.

Signs on homes

Calexico code What Calexico's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	No sign may be posted more than 90 days before the election, event, or subject matter. § 17.01.1114 · code text No sign shall be posted more than ninety days prior to the election or event or subject matter to which it pertains. Signs must be removed within 30 days after the election, event, or subject matter. § 17.01.1114 · code text All signs shall be removed within thirty days following the election, event, or subject matter to which they pertain.
Signs that need no permit	Noncommercial signs, including election signs, need no permit from city staff. Applies: Allowed in any district, subject to the listed limits. § 17.01.1114 · code text Noncommercial signs are permitted (without the requirement of seeking a permit from city personnel) in any district subject to the following limitations:

Trash and recycling carts

Calexico code Containers must be removed by the owner or user immediately after collection. Containers may go out only on the days set for solid waste collection.

All 6 Calexico rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Calexico rules on this

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

Parking trailers and RVs on the street (§ 10.24.045) — public streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Calexico's code: Apply in person or electronically, with the permit processing and inspection fees. Electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 17.11.1150); The planning department approves a complete application and issues all required permits or authorizations. (Applies when the application and documents are complete and meet the code and checklist requirements.) (§ 17.11.1170).

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

Calexico's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development begins in a special flood, flood-erosion or mudslide hazard area. (§ 15.54.110); 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.) (§ 15.54.140).

What are the garage sale rules in Calexico?

Calexico's code: Sale signs may go only on the sale property, total 4 square feet or less, and only during sale times. (§ 5.54.060).

Can I run a family child care home in Calexico?

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

Calexico's code: Every alarm system must shut off automatically after 15 minutes. (All local alarm systems.) (§ 5.70.050); A service fee applies to false alarms, at a rate the city council sets. (Any and all false alarms.) (§ 5.70.070).

What signs may I put up at my home in Calexico?

Calexico's code: No sign may be posted more than 90 days before the election, event, or subject matter. (§ 17.01.1114); Signs must be removed within 30 days after the election, event, or subject matter. (§ 17.01.1114).

General information, not legal advice.

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