Claremont · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Claremont

Claremont limits fence heights by setback area and limits the height and size of accessory buildings on single-family lots. A home business needs a permit that is renewed each year.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: fences are limited to 3 feet in front and street-side setbacks and 6 feet in rear and interior side setbacks.
Accessory buildings: On single-family lots, accessory buildings are limited to one story, 15 feet and the main house's height, and 300 square feet outside RR districts.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit from the Director, renewed each year; kennels, welding, vehicle services and on-site beauty services are not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

Claremont code City rule: fences are limited to 3 feet in front and street-side setbacks and 6 feet in rear and interior side setbacks.

All 5 Claremont rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Claremont code On single-family lots, accessory buildings are limited to one story, 15 feet and the main house's height, and 300 square feet outside RR districts.

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

Running a business from home

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit from the Director is required and must be renewed every year. Applies: Before any home occupation starts. § 16.327.010 · code text Prior to the initiation of any home occupation, a home occupation permit shall be obtained from the Director and must be renewed on an annual basis.
Businesses not allowed	Kennel; repair on the premises of major appliances and motorized garden tools; pest control; vehicle related services on the premises; welding; personal services such as beauty, hair, skin care, and nail services on the premises; any use requiring a hazardous materials permit from the Fire Department § 16.327.040 · code text The following uses are prohibited as home occupations as they are not compatible with a residential neighborhood because of their potential to create a nuisance or hazardous condition:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Claremont code The Building Official reviews it administratively as a nondiscretionary permit. The permit can be issued once the Building Official finds the application meets all checklist requirements.

All 5 Claremont rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Claremont code No more than 2 inches of clearance between the ground and the bottom of the enclosure. Bottom clearance may be up to 4 inches.

All 20 Claremont rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Claremont code Beehives are allowed only in the Open Space (O) District, with a special use and development permit. Hives must be at least 300 feet from all public streets.

All 8 Claremont rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
Floodplain permit	All construction or development, including placing manufactured homes, needs a development permit to check for flood-prone areas. § 15.46.061 · code text A development permit shall be obtained for all proposed construction or other development in the community, including the placement of manufactured homes, so that it may be determined whether such construction or other development is within flood-prone areas.

Building on a hillside

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
Height on hillside lots	At most 25 feet high. Applies: Hillside District, all slope-density areas (SD-1, SD-2 and SD-3). § 16.010.020 · code text \| Maximum height \| 25 ft. \| 25 ft. \| 25 ft. \|

Outdoor lighting

Claremont code At most 14 feet above adjacent grade. At most 8 feet above the second-story floor.

All 6 Claremont rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
How long a sale may last	No more than 3 days in a row. § 16.157.020 · code text During any one calendar year, two occasional sales shall be permitted each for a period not to exceed three consecutive days.
Sales per year	2 sales per calendar year. Applies: Each sale may last no more than 3 days in a row. § 16.157.020 · code text During any one calendar year, two occasional sales shall be permitted each for a period not to exceed three consecutive days.

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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Claremont code Projects with 4 or fewer units are exempt from inclusionary housing. Rebuilt units damaged or destroyed by fire or natural catastrophe are exempt if use and unit count stay the same.

All 11 Claremont rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	50% of the required spaces must be covered. Applies: Senior housing, independent living. § 16.136.010 · code text One space for each studio unit or bedroom, 50 percent of which shall be covered, plus one guest space for every five units.
Guest parking	1 guest space for every 5 units. Applies: Senior housing, independent living. § 16.136.010 · code text One space for each studio unit or bedroom, 50 percent of which shall be covered, plus one guest space for every five units.
Spaces per apartment or condo	1 space for each studio unit or bedroom. Applies: Senior housing, independent living. § 16.136.010 · code text One space for each studio unit or bedroom, 50 percent of which shall be covered, plus one guest space for every five units.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Claremont code A false alarm prevention payment applies, set by City Council resolution. An alarm permit is required. The appropriate fee may be set by City Council resolution.

All 3 Claremont rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
When carts must come back	Remove receptacles within 12 hours after they are emptied. § 8.08.220 · code text No person shall place any solid waste receptacles in any public street or alley at any place or in any manner other than as provided in this chapter or at any time other than on the day established by the City Manager for the collection of such materials on the particular route, or on the preceding night, or permit such a receptacle to remain thereon for more than 12 hours after it has been emptied.
When carts may go to the curb	Not before the night before the collection day § 8.08.220 · code text No person shall place any solid waste receptacles in any public street or alley at any place or in any manner other than as provided in this chapter or at any time other than on the day established by the City Manager for the collection of such materials on the particular route, or on the preceding night, or permit such a receptacle to remain thereon for more than 12 hours after it has been emptied.

Other Claremont rules on this

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

Noise and vibration limits (§ 16.154.020)
Leaf blower rules (Ch. 8.24)
Transportation impact fee (Ch. 16.200)
Fire facilities impact fee (§ 16.203.010)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Claremont?

A home business needs a permit from the Director, renewed each year; kennels, welding, vehicle services and on-site beauty services are not allowed.

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

Claremont's code: All construction or development, including placing manufactured homes, needs a development permit to check for flood-prone areas. (§ 15.46.061).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Claremont?

Claremont's code: At most 25 feet high. (Hillside District, all slope-density areas (SD-1, SD-2 and SD-3).) (§ 16.010.020).

What are the garage sale rules in Claremont?

Claremont's code: 2 sales per calendar year. (Each sale may last no more than 3 days in a row.) (§ 16.157.020); No more than 3 days in a row. (§ 16.157.020).

Can I run a family child care home in Claremont?

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

Claremont's code: 50% of the required spaces must be covered. (Senior housing, independent living.) (§ 16.136.010); 1 guest space for every 5 units. (Senior housing, independent living.) (§ 16.136.010).

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

Claremont's code: Remove receptacles within 12 hours after they are emptied. (§ 8.08.220); Not before the night before the collection day (§ 8.08.220).

General information, not legal advice.

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