Corcoran · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Corcoran

Corcoran sets fence heights by yard in its residential districts and sets home business limits on visitors and workers. In the R-1 and RA districts, fences over 6 feet need a permit.

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Key points

Fence height: R-1 front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 if the top foot is at least 50% open; side and rear, 7 feet.
Accessory structures: City rule: in the RA zone, accessory structures over 7 feet tall need a 10-foot side and rear setback; shorter ones may go anywhere.
Home businesses: A home business meeting the city standards needs only a business license, with at most 4 visitors a day and only residents working.

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

Fences and walls

Corcoran code R-1 front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 if the top foot is at least 50% open; side and rear, 7 feet.

All 9 Corcoran rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Corcoran code What Corcoran's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: RA zone accessory structures taller than 7 feet. Structures under 7 feet may go anywhere. Not allowed in the front yard. § 11-7-15 · code text May be placed anywhere if less than 7 feet maximum height. Taller than 7 feet must comply with 10 foot setback.

Running a business from home

Corcoran code A home business meeting the city standards needs only a business license, with at most 4 visitors a day and only residents working.

All 7 Corcoran rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Corcoran code What Corcoran's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 9-9-7-3 · 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 9-9-6-2 of this chapter.
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. § 9-9-8-6 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Corcoran 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. § 9-9-8-6 · 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 (1') at any point within the city of Corcoran.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 9-9-8-1 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. 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. § 9-9-8-1 · 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 feet (2') 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 on the FIRM. § 9-9-8-1 · code text elevated at least two feet (2') 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 with no base flood elevations on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone). § 9-9-8-1 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation;

Garage and yard sales

Corcoran code What Corcoran's code adds
How long a sale may last	Up to 3 days in a row, on any days of the week, including weekends. Applies: RA, R-1, RM and PO zones. § 11-17-6 · code text Commonly referred to as "garage sales"/"yard sales", such sales may be conducted on any three (3) consecutive days during the week, including weekends, and unsold possessions shall be removed from public view and stored within the premises.
Sales per year	No more than 2 sales per year. Applies: RA, R-1, RM and PO zones. § 11-17-6 · code text The sale of personal possessions in outdoor areas of a dwelling within an RA, R-1, RM, or PO zoning district shall be limited to no more than two (2) such sales per year.

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)

Signs on homes

Corcoran code What Corcoran's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	Up to 40 square feet in total area. Applies: Applies to political signs, no more than 60 days before the election and removed within 10 days after. § 11-16-3 · code text Political Sign: Limited to forty (40) square feet in total area. Political signs may not be posted more than sixty (60) days preceding the election, and shall be removed within ten (10) days after the election.
For-sale and open-house signs	One open house sign, not exceeding 3 square feet. Applies: Applies on premises for sale, lease or rent, only when a salesperson is present. § 11-16-3 · code text One "open house" sign not exceeding three (3) square feet in area on the particular premises which is for sale, lease or rent, and posted only when a salesperson is present.

Trash and recycling carts

Corcoran code Separate green waste from all other solid waste and put it only in a green waste container. By 12:00 midnight on the day of collection

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

Other Corcoran rules on this

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

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Corcoran?

City rule: in the RA zone, accessory structures over 7 feet tall need a 10-foot side and rear setback; shorter ones may go anywhere.

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

Corcoran's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 9-9-7-3); Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 9-9-8-1).

What are the garage sale rules in Corcoran?

Corcoran's code: No more than 2 sales per year. (RA, R-1, RM and PO zones.) (§ 11-17-6); Up to 3 days in a row, on any days of the week, including weekends. (RA, R-1, RM and PO zones.) (§ 11-17-6).

Can I run a family child care home in Corcoran?

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

What signs may I put up at my home in Corcoran?

Corcoran's code: Up to 40 square feet in total area. (Applies to political signs, no more than 60 days before the election and removed within 10 days after.) (§ 11-16-3); One open house sign, not exceeding 3 square feet. (Applies on premises for sale, lease or rent, only when a salesperson is present.) (§ 11-16-3).

General information, not legal advice.

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