Chino Hills · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Chino Hills

Chino Hills sets fence, wall and hedge heights by yard and zone, with extra limits for retaining walls on knolls, ridgelines and in Carbon Canyon. For home businesses, it lists uses that are not allowed.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards (6 with a minor exception) and 6 feet in side and rear yards.
Home businesses: Barber, hair and aesthetician services are limited to 1 customer at a time; clinics, massage, vehicle repair and welding are not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

Chino Hills code Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards (6 with a minor exception) and 6 feet in side and rear yards.

All 13 Chino Hills rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Chino Hills code Barber, hair and aesthetician services are limited to 1 customer at a time; clinics, massage, vehicle repair and welding are not allowed.

All 3 Chino Hills rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
Parking on the street	At most 3 days in a row, up to 12 days total per calendar month. Applies: RVs with an annual temporary parking permit on a city street; at least 15 feet from corners and fire hydrants. § 10.12.070 · code text Parking of a recreational vehicle with an annual temporary parking permit shall be allowed for a maximum of three consecutive days, up to twelve (12) days total per calendar month.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Chino Hills code The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City checklist; electronic filing allowed. The permit is issued the same day.

All 3 Chino Hills rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
Exemptions	Emergency removal may be authorized without following the chapter's usual requirements. Applies: A protected tree in a hazardous or dangerous condition that is an immediate threat to people or property. § 16.90.130 · code text Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, in the case of an emergency caused by a protected tree being in a hazardous or dangerous condition posing an immediate threat to person or property, the Director, Public Works Director, or any member of the Police Department or Fire Department (as that term is defined in Title 8 of this Code) may authorize removal of such a tree.
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree permit is required. Applies: Non-exempt protected trees in the city. § 16.90.040 · code text It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to destroy or remove any non-exempt protected trees within the City without a tree permit.

Pets, chickens and bees

Chino Hills code An Equestrian and Large Animal Use Permit (EUP) is required. No more than 3 dogs and cats in total, with at most 2 dogs.

All 3 Chino Hills rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Chino Hills code You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. No fill, construction, substantial improvement or development unless a registered professional engineer certifies no base flood elevation rise.

All 5 Chino Hills rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
Rainy-season limits	From October 15 to April 15, large clearing and major grading need Building Official approval. Applies: Clearing of more than 1 acre of connected land, and major grading of more than 1,000 cubic yards. § 16.54.080 · code text The Building Official shall only authorize the following between October 15th and April 15th when it is found that such projects comply with the provisions and are consistent with the purposes of this chapter:

Park and impact fees for new homes

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
How the park fee is set	The fee is the acres that would be dedicated times the appraised market value of similar park land. Applies: Subdivisions paying a fee instead of dedicating park land; the City orders the appraisals and the council sets the amount. § 83.041420 · code text the fee will be computed by multiplying the acreage of land that would otherwise be required to be dedicated pursuant to Section 83.041415 times the fair market value of similarly situated property within the City that is developable as park land, as established by periodic appraisal commissioned by the City.
Parkland per 1,000 residents	The park standard is 3.99 acres for each 1,000 residents. § 83.041415 · code text Accordingly, as of the effective date of this section, the City's park dedication standard is 3.99 aces per 1,000 population.

Noise and construction hours

Chino Hills code Construction work is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. Home owners or tenants may also work on their own property from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays.

All 6 Chino Hills rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Chino Hills code Garage sales may run only from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each sale may last up to 3 days in a row, or 2 back-to-back 2-day weekends.

All 4 Chino Hills rules on garage and yard sales, with the code text →

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

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
Guest parking	1 guest space for every 2 dwelling units. Applies: Apartments in the RM-1, RM-2, and RM-3 zoning districts. § 16.34.060 · code text 2 spaces per unit, with one space required to be covered, plus one guest for every 2 dwelling units, plus the following:
Spaces per apartment or condo	2 spaces per unit, 1 of which must be covered. Applies: Apartments in the RM-1, RM-2 and RM-3 zoning districts. § 16.34.060 · code text 2 spaces per unit, with one space required to be covered, plus one guest for every 2 dwelling units, plus the following:

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Chino Hills code What Chino Hills's code adds
False alarm fees	A service charge applies for each third and later police response to a false alarm. Council resolution sets the charge. Applies: During any fiscal year; paid by each person who possesses the premises. § 8.04.020 · code text A service charge shall be established by resolution of the City Council in order to defray city costs incurred in providing law enforcement services in response to a false alarm which shall be paid to the city, by each person who possesses the premises, for each third and subsequent police response made to those premises generated by a false alarm during any fiscal year.

Signs on homes

Chino Hills code Each sign up to 8 square feet and 5 feet high; up to 32 square feet in total per property. Place no more than 45 days before an election. Remove within 10 days after the election.

All 6 Chino Hills rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Chino Hills code Remove containers from the street or right-of-way within 12 hours after collection. Containers may go out no more than 24 hours before the normal collection time.

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

Other Chino Hills rules on this

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

SB 9 lot splits and two-unit projects (§ 16.10.150)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Chino Hills?

Chino Hills's code: Yes, a tree permit is required. (Non-exempt protected trees in the city.) (§ 16.90.040); Emergency removal may be authorized without following the chapter's usual requirements. (A protected tree in a hazardous or dangerous condition that is an immediate threat to people or property.) (§ 16.90.130).

What are the grading rules in Chino Hills?

Chino Hills's code: From October 15 to April 15, large clearing and major grading need Building Official approval. (Clearing of more than 1 acre of connected land, and major grading of more than 1,000 cubic yards.) (§ 16.54.080).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Chino Hills?

Chino Hills's code: The fee is the acres that would be dedicated times the appraised market value of similar park land. (Subdivisions paying a fee instead of dedicating park land; the City orders the appraisals and the council sets the amount.) (§ 83.041420); The park standard is 3.99 acres for each 1,000 residents. (§ 83.041415).

Can I run a family child care home in Chino Hills?

California law sets this for every city, including Chino Hills: 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 Chino Hills?

Chino Hills's code: 1 guest space for every 2 dwelling units. (Apartments in the RM-1, RM-2, and RM-3 zoning districts.) (§ 16.34.060); 2 spaces per unit, 1 of which must be covered. (Apartments in the RM-1, RM-2 and RM-3 zoning districts.) (§ 16.34.060).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Chino Hills?

Chino Hills's code: A service charge applies for each third and later police response to a false alarm. Council resolution sets the charge. (During any fiscal year; paid by each person who possesses the premises.) (§ 8.04.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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