Coachella · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Coachella

Coachella sets fence and wall heights by yard and material and limits the height and size of accessory structures in residential zones. Only members of the resident family may work in a home business.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: side and rear yard fences are limited to 6 feet, and walls and hedges along front property lines to 30 inches.
Accessory height: City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and one story unless zone standards differ; 17 feet in the S-N zone.
Accessory size: City rule: a rear-yard accessory structure in a residential zone is limited to 400 square feet or 30% of the house, whichever is greater.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business may use at most 25% of the home's ground floor, and only resident family members may work in it.

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

Fences and walls

Coachella code City rule: side and rear yard fences are limited to 6 feet, and walls and hedges along front property lines to 30 inches.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Coachella code City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and one story unless zone standards differ; 17 feet in the S-N zone. City rule: a rear-yard accessory structure in a residential zone is limited to 400 square feet or 30% of the house, whichever is greater.

All 8 Coachella rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the home's ground floor area. Applies: All work must be inside the home. § 17.58.010 · code text All such operations shall be carried on within the dwelling, and not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the ground floor area of the dwelling shall be so used.
Employees	Only members of the resident family may be employed. § 17.58.010 · code text Employment shall be limited to members of the resident family only.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Solar permit process	City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit after a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 17.110.060 · code text Unless the planning manager determines a use permit is warranted, city staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter.

Building in a flood zone

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 15.56.150 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.56.070.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood-level rise. Applies: Inside an adopted regulatory floodway. § 15.56.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Coachella shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. No new development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood level no more than 1 foot anywhere. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 15.56.220 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within zones A1-30 and AE, 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 foot at any point within the city of Coachella.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.56.170 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated two feet above the base flood elevation. Lowest floor 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone with no base flood elevations on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone). § 15.56.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated two feet above base flood elevation; as determined under Section 15.56.140(C).

Park and impact fees for new homes

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
How the park fee is set	Set by the city's facilities study, using formulas based on housing density and a fee for each home. Applies: Applies to all development impact fees, not only parks. § 4.45.020 · code text Formulas based on the density of residential unit development and the square footage of commercial and industrial building development, to determine the amount of fees payable for each such type of development;
Parkland per 1,000 residents	3 acres per 1,000 residents. Applies: Quimby Act parkland standard in the 2006 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. § 4.45.060 · code text parkland dedication in-lieu fee as allowed under the Quimby Act of three acres per thousand population

Noise and construction hours

Coachella code 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All 6 Coachella rules on noise and construction hours, 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

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	Keep required parking, loading spaces and driveways in good condition and available for use while the use continues. § 17.54.010 · code text All required parking and loading spaces and driveways shall be maintained in good condition and available for its intended use as long as the use for which it was required continues to operate or exist. Garage entry doors must stay operable, and the required parking area cannot be reduced. Applies: Applies when a garage is required or provided to meet required parking. § 17.54.010 · code text When a garage is specifically required, or provided to meet required parking, entry doors shall be maintained in an operable condition at all times and no structural alteration or permanent obstruction shall be permitted within the required parking area that would reduce the number of required parking spaces.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Coachella code The city bills the cost the police chief reports, or a lesser share the city manager finds equitable, reasonable and legal. A license is required to install or use an operative alarm system or audible alarm.

All 6 Coachella rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Historic homes

Coachella code What Coachella's code adds
Changing a historic home	No work until the planning commission files a certificate of approval. It decides within 45 days of the application. Applies: Applies to a structure subject to a historic application. § 15.48.230 · code text No person may do any work upon a structure which is subject to an application until the planning commission has filed its certificate of approval. The commission may stay a demolition or exterior alteration up to 120 days, then extend once up to 60 days. Applies: Applies after proceedings begin to designate a historic site or district. § 15.48.170 · code text the planning commission may, upon its own motion or upon the application of any interested person, issue an order staying any proposed or threatened demolition or alteration of the exterior or any structure within or upon such proposed site.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Coachella?

City rule: a home business may use at most 25% of the home's ground floor, and only resident family members may work in it.

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

Coachella's code: City staff issue a building or other nondiscretionary permit after a complete application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 17.110.060).

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

Coachella's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.56.150); Lowest floor 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.56.170).

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

Coachella's code: Set by the city's facilities study, using formulas based on housing density and a fee for each home. (Applies to all development impact fees, not only parks.) (§ 4.45.020); 3 acres per 1,000 residents. (Quimby Act parkland standard in the 2006 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.) (§ 4.45.060).

Can I run a family child care home in Coachella?

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

Coachella's code: Keep required parking, loading spaces and driveways in good condition and available for use while the use continues. (§ 17.54.010); Garage entry doors must stay operable, and the required parking area cannot be reduced. (Applies when a garage is required or provided to meet required parking.) (§ 17.54.010).

What rules apply to a historic home in Coachella?

Coachella's code: No work until the planning commission files a certificate of approval. It decides within 45 days of the application. (Applies to a structure subject to a historic application.) (§ 15.48.230); The commission may stay a demolition or exterior alteration up to 120 days, then extend once up to 60 days. (Applies after proceedings begin to designate a historic site or district.) (§ 15.48.170).

General information, not legal advice.

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