Coalinga · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Coalinga

Coalinga sets fence heights by yard and limits the height and total size of detached accessory structures on residential lots. It also has a section on home occupations.

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Key points

Fence height: Front-setback fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet with an open design in residential districts; side and rear, 5 to 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Detached residential accessory structures are limited to 18 feet and 1,000 square feet combined, unless the Community Development Director approves more.
Home businesses: Coalinga regulates home occupations in Section 9-5.113 of its code.

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

Fences and walls

Coalinga code Front-setback fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet with an open design in residential districts; side and rear, 5 to 6 feet.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Coalinga code Detached residential accessory structures are limited to 18 feet and 1,000 square feet combined, unless the Community Development Director approves more.

All 7 Coalinga rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Coalinga code What Coalinga's code adds
Parking on the street	Vehicles may stay parked for less than 72 hours. Applies: Any vehicle, including RVs, boats and trailers, on a public street or public parking facility. Moving less than 1/2 mile does not count. § 4-4.722.2 · code text No person who owns or has possession or control of a vehicle, including but not limited to a recreational vehicle, camper, fifth-wheel trailer, boat or trailer, shall park or leave the vehicle standing on a public street, way or any public parking facility within the City for a period of seventy-two (72) hours or more. Once moved, it may not be parked again within 1/2 mile of the first spot for 48 hours. Applies: Applies to RVs, campers, fifth-wheel trailers, boats and trailers on public streets. § 4-4.722.2 · code text A recreational vehicle, camper, fifth-wheel trailer, boat or trailer that is parked or left on a public street, way or any public parking facility, once moved, shall not be re-parked or returned to any location within one-half (½) mile of the location where such recreational vehicle, camper, fifth-wheel trailer, boat or trailer was first parked sooner than forty-eight (48) hours following the time that the recreational vehicle, boat or trailer is first moved.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Coalinga code The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City's checklist. Electronic submittal is allowed.

All 6 Coalinga rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Coalinga code What Coalinga's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 9-8.401 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 9-8.302.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new building, substantial improvement and other encroachments are banned unless a registered engineer or architect certifies no base-flood rise. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 9-8.506 · code text Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement and other new development, are prohibited unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided, demonstrating that encroachments will not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number, in feet. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 9-8.501 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. Lowest floor at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number given. § 9-8.501 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone. § 9-8.501 · code text In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation, said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods on Section 9-8.403(a)(2) of this chapter. Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in all other flood zones. § 9-8.501 · code text In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

Outdoor lighting

Coalinga code No more than 1 foot-candle. one-half footcandle

All 3 Coalinga rules on outdoor lighting, 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)

Group homes and residential care

Coalinga code No parking space may be more than 150 feet from the unit it serves. At least 10 percent of required spaces must be designated for handicapped use.

All 6 Coalinga rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Coalinga code Maximum 2 square feet. Maximum 32 square feet per sign.

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

Trash and recycling carts

Coalinga code Subscribe to the City curbside garbage and recycling collection program within 7 days of occupying the residential dwelling unit. Separate green waste and place it in appropriate City-approved containers.

All 4 Coalinga rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Coalinga rules on this

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

Home occupations (§ 9-5.113)
Animals allowed on residential lots (§ 9-5.104)
Limit on dogs and cats per home (§ 6-1.33)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Coalinga?

Coalinga regulates home occupations in Section 9-5.113 of its code. Coalinga also has a related rule: Home occupations (§ 9-5.113).

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

Coalinga's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 9-8.401); Lowest floor above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number, in feet. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM.) (§ 9-8.501).

Can I run a family child care home in Coalinga?

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

General information, not legal advice.

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