Carson · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Carson

Carson sets its own limits on fences and walls in residential zones, on the spacing of accessory buildings, and on home businesses.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: fences, walls and hedges in residential zones are limited to 6 feet, measured from the higher finished grade on either side.
Accessory buildings: An accessory building must be at least 6 feet from the main house if one story, and 10 feet if two stories.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business is limited to one room, and only members of the resident family may work in it.

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

Fences and walls

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet above finished grade. Applies: Fences, walls and hedges in residential zones, measured from the higher finished grade on either side. § 9126.3 · code text A fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet above the finished grade at each point along the fence, wall or hedge.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main home. Applies: One-story accessory buildings. § 9126.27 · code text Between a main residential building and any one (1) story accessory building, there shall be a separation of at least six (6) feet. At least 10 feet from the main home. Applies: Two-story accessory buildings. § 9126.27 · code text Between any combination of main residential building, recreation building or two (2) story accessory building, there shall be a separation of at least ten (10) feet.

Running a business from home

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room in the home. § 9128.4 · code text Not more than one (1) room in the dwelling is used for the home occupation.
Employees	Only members of the resident family may be employed. § 9128.4 · code text No persons, other than members of the resident family, are employed in such occupation.
Businesses not allowed	Sale of goods on the premises § 9128.4 · code text No sale of goods is made on the premises.

Lot splits under SB 9

Carson code Neither new lot can be smaller than 40% of the original lot's area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 10 Carson rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Parking on the street	Prohibited. Applies: Oversized vehicles on any public street, alley or other public place, except as the chapter allows. § 3255.2 · code text No person shall park or leave standing any oversized vehicle on any public street, highway, alley, or other public way or public place in the City of Carson, except as provided for in this chapter.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Carson code What Carson's code adds
EV charger permit	You can apply online through the electronic submittal system; permit fees follow the applicable code or a City Council-adopted fee. Applies: Installing EV charging stations or charging equipment. § 8400.2 · code text The application for permit shall meet the requirements of section 8400.1 and may be submitted electronically through the online submittal system maintained by the Building Official.

Swimming pools

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	A poorly run or kept pool that breeds mosquitoes can be treated as a public nuisance, with notice and abatement. Applies: Pools that are a breeding place for mosquitoes. § 5603 · code text Pursuant to authority provided in Article 6, Chapter 10, Part 2, Division 3 of Title 4 of the Government Code of the State of California, and other applicable law, the City hereby establishes a procedure which may be utilized for abatement of public nuisances consisting of improperly operated or maintained swimming pools that provide a breeding place for mosquitos. The owner must fix the nuisance within 25 days of the notice date, or attend a hearing to show cause. Applies: After a notice to abate a pool that breeds mosquitoes. § 5604 · code text The notice to abate shall require the owner to abate the public nuisance within twenty-five (25) days from the date of the notice

Building in a flood zone

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Building in a floodway	No construction or development, including fill, in Zone A unless development combined raises the base flood at most 1 foot. Applies: Until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 8600.30 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zone A 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 one (1) foot at any point within lands under the jurisdiction of the City of Carson.

Outdoor lighting

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Shielding	Lighting must be aimed away from adjoining and nearby homes. § 9147.1 · code text All lighting of buildings, landscaping, parking lots and similar facilities shall be directed away from all adjoining and nearby residential property.

Garage and yard sales

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Permit	A permit is required. § 4601 · code text No yard sale shall be conducted without a permit issued by the Administrative Services General Manager or his designated agent.
Signs	1 sign, 15 by 20 inches max; up at most 2 days early; removed by 6 p.m. the last day. Applies: Only in the front or side yard of the sale premises, at least 5 feet from the front property line. § 4606 · code text No sign or other form of advertisement shall be exhibited for more than two (2) days prior to the day each sale period is to commence, and shall be removed by 6:00 p.m. on the termination day of each period. One (1) sign only, not exceeding fifteen (15) by twenty (20) inches in size, may be placed in the front or side yard of the premises where the sale is conducted.

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Carson code What Carson's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	Conversion is allowed only if the same type and number of spaces are provided elsewhere on the lot. Applies: A garage, carport, or parking space required for a dwelling is converted; adequate access to the replacement spaces is required. § 9162.27 · code text Any garage, carport or parking space required for a dwelling may be converted to additional living area or any other permitted nonparking use; provided, that at least the same type of parking shelter or area and number of spaces as lawfully exist at the time of such conversion are provided elsewhere on the lot and adequate access is provided thereto.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Carson code What Carson's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	An audible alarm must stop or automatically reset within 30 minutes of being activated. § 4902 · code text An audible alarm shall terminate its operation or the audible alarm shall automatically reset within thirty (30) minutes of its being activated.

Trash and recycling carts

Carson code What Carson's code adds
When carts must come back	Do not leave containers at the place of collection after 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Applies: Residential householders. § 5265 · code text No person shall leave such containers or bundles at the place of collection after 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection in the district.
When carts may go to the curb	Do not put containers out before 6:00 p.m. on the day before collection. Applies: Residential householders. § 5265 · code text No person shall place such containers or bundles for collection prior to 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the day on which collection is scheduled to commence in the district.

Other Carson rules on this

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

Animals allowed at each home (§ 9122.3)
Unnecessary noise on private premises (§ 4101)
Development impact fees (Art. 11)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Carson?

City rule: fences, walls and hedges in residential zones are limited to 6 feet, measured from the higher finished grade on either side.

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

An accessory building must be at least 6 feet from the main house if one story, and 10 feet if two stories.

Can I run a business from my home in Carson?

City rule: a home business is limited to one room, and only members of the resident family may work in it.

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

Carson's code: You can apply online through the electronic submittal system; permit fees follow the applicable code or a City Council-adopted fee. (Installing EV charging stations or charging equipment.) (§ 8400.2).

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

Carson's code: No construction or development, including fill, in Zone A unless development combined raises the base flood at most 1 foot. (Until a regulatory floodway is adopted.) (§ 8600.30).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Carson?

Carson's code: Lighting must be aimed away from adjoining and nearby homes. (§ 9147.1).

What are the garage sale rules in Carson?

Carson's code: A permit is required. (§ 4601); 1 sign, 15 by 20 inches max; up at most 2 days early; removed by 6 p.m. the last day. (Only in the front or side yard of the sale premises, at least 5 feet from the front property line.) (§ 4606).

Can I run a family child care home in Carson?

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

How many parking spaces does a home need in Carson?

Carson's code: Conversion is allowed only if the same type and number of spaces are provided elsewhere on the lot. (A garage, carport, or parking space required for a dwelling is converted; adequate access to the replacement spaces is required.) (§ 9162.27).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Carson?

Carson's code: An audible alarm must stop or automatically reset within 30 minutes of being activated. (§ 4902).

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

Carson's code: Do not leave containers at the place of collection after 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection. (Residential householders.) (§ 5265); Do not put containers out before 6:00 p.m. on the day before collection. (Residential householders.) (§ 5265).

General information, not legal advice.

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