Cathedral City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Cathedral City

Cathedral City sets setbacks and height limits for accessory structures and limits home businesses. A fence or hedge in a right-of-way needs a permit.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Detached accessory structures must be at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines and 10 feet from other buildings.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business needs a permit, may use at most 25% of the main building, and may employ only the resident.
Fences: City rule: a hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way needs a permit, unless Section 14.16.440 provides otherwise.

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

Fences and walls

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
Permit	Yes. A permit is required, except as another section of the code provides. Applies: For a hedge, fence or similar structure planted, built or kept in a public right-of-way. § 14.16.420 · code text No hedge, fence or similar structure, except as provided in Section 14.16.440, shall be planted, erected or maintained in a right-of-way without a permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Cathedral City code Detached accessory structures must be at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines and 10 feet from other buildings.

All 5 Cathedral City rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Cathedral City code City rule: a home business needs a permit, may use at most 25% of the main building, and may employ only the resident.

All 6 Cathedral City rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Cathedral City code Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot's area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 13 Cathedral City rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Cathedral City code Only for loading, unloading or cleaning, for up to 36 hours in a row. Cannot be parked again within ½ mile until 48 hours after it was moved.

All 3 Cathedral City rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review by the chief building official; the permit can issue once the application meets all checklist requirements. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 8.64.050 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the chief building official as a nondiscretionary permit.
Review time	Same day for complete over-the-counter applications; 1 to 3 business days for complete electronic applications. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 8.60.060 · code text The building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit on the same day of receipt of a complete over-the-counter application or within one to three business days of receipt of a complete electronic application which meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Cathedral City code The pool must be fully enclosed by buildings, fences or walls. At least 5 feet high.

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

Pets, chickens and bees

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
Large animals	RE zone only: at most 3 total, at least 60 feet from property lines and 40 feet from the home. Applies: Pigs, horses, cows, goats, sheep and similar animals. § 9.100.030 · code text such animals may be kept in an RE zone not to exceed a total combination of three and providing all of them are kept at least sixty feet from any property line and forty feet from the residence of the property in which they are kept.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
Parkland per 1,000 residents	The park standard is 3 net acres of usable parkland. Applies: For each 1,000 people living in a new subdivision. § 9.106.040 · code text The public interest, convenience, health, welfare, and safety require that three net acres of useable parkland for each one thousand persons residing within a subdivision shall be devoted to parks.

Noise and construction hours

Cathedral City code Construction is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Construction is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

All 9 Cathedral City rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
How long a sale may last	A garage sale may last 48 hours, starting at 7 a.m. on the first day. § 5.35.050 · code text Each garage sale permit granted under this chapter shall be active for forty-eight hours, starting at seven a.m. on the date the garage sale is designated to begin and expiring forty-eight hours thereafter.
Permit	A garage sale permit is required and must be posted where it can be seen from the street. § 5.35.050 · code text A maximum of four garage sale permits each calendar year may be granted for any one location.
Sales per year	A location may have no more than 4 garage sale permits. Applies: Per location, per calendar year; at least 90 days between 2 permits. § 5.35.050 · code text A maximum of four garage sale permits each calendar year may be granted for any one location.

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

Cathedral City code $100 fine. $150 fine.

All 10 Cathedral City rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Cathedral City code Remove the sign within 10 days after the event. 1 sign per street frontage, no more than 2 per lot. No permit needed.

All 9 Cathedral City rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
Sorting organics and green waste	Put organic waste into the proper containers. § 6.04.210 · code text Deposit or cause to be deposited all solid waste, including gray container waste, non-organic recyclables, and organic waste generated or accumulated on the premises into the proper containers in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
When carts must come back	Remove containers from the right-of-way within 24 hours after collection. § 6.04.210 · code text Containers placed in a public right-of-way for collection shall be removed from the right-of-way within twenty-four hours after collection.
When carts may go to the curb	Containers may go out no more than 24 hours before the normal collection time. § 6.04.210 · code text no person shall place a container in a public right-of-way for collection by the appropriate solid waste franchisee more than twenty-four hours prior to the normal collection time.
Where carts are kept	Containers must not be visible from the public right-of-way. Applies: Except while a container is placed for collection. § 6.04.210 · code text Except during the time a container is placed for collection, no container shall be visible from the public right-of-way.

Historic homes

Cathedral City code What Cathedral City's code adds
Changing a historic home	A certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation committee is required. Applies: Within or upon a historic site: moving, or altering in any way that affects a structure's exterior appearance. § 8.62.200 · code text The moving, demolition or alteration of an existing structure in any manner which affects the exterior appearance of the structure;
Demolishing an older or historic home	A certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation committee is required. Applies: Demolition of a structure within or upon a historic site. § 8.62.200 · code text No person may undertake any of the following within or upon a historic site without a certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation committee:

Other Cathedral City rules on this

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

Floodplain management rules (Ch. 8.24)
Outdoor lighting and dark-sky standards (Ch. 9.89)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Cathedral City?

City rule: a hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way needs a permit, unless Section 14.16.440 provides otherwise.

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

Cathedral City's code: Same day for complete over-the-counter applications; 1 to 3 business days for complete electronic applications. (Small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 8.60.060); Administrative, nondiscretionary review by the chief building official; the permit can issue once the application meets all checklist requirements. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 8.64.050).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Cathedral City?

Cathedral City's code: The park standard is 3 net acres of usable parkland. (For each 1,000 people living in a new subdivision.) (§ 9.106.040).

What are the garage sale rules in Cathedral City?

Cathedral City's code: A location may have no more than 4 garage sale permits. (Per location, per calendar year; at least 90 days between 2 permits.) (§ 5.35.050); A garage sale permit is required and must be posted where it can be seen from the street. (§ 5.35.050).

Can I run a family child care home in Cathedral City?

California law sets this for every city, including Cathedral City: 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 Cathedral City?

Cathedral City's code: Put organic waste into the proper containers. (§ 6.04.210); Remove containers from the right-of-way within 24 hours after collection. (§ 6.04.210).

What rules apply to a historic home in Cathedral City?

Cathedral City's code: A certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation committee is required. (Within or upon a historic site: moving, or altering in any way that affects a structure's exterior appearance.) (§ 8.62.200); A certificate of appropriateness from the historic preservation committee is required. (Demolition of a structure within or upon a historic site.) (§ 8.62.200).

General information, not legal advice.

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Cathedral City Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Cathedral City

Property taxes in Cathedral City

Cathedral City overview

Zoning districts in Cathedral City