Corning · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Corning
Corning limits fence heights by yard and requires a building permit for fences. It also limits home businesses and sets limits for barns and similar buildings in the agricultural combining district.
Key points
- Fence height: Fences are limited to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in rear and side yards; new fences need a building permit.
- Home businesses: A home business needs a city permit, may use at most 25% of the floor space, and may employ no one outside the family.
- Barns and stables: City rule: in the agricultural combining district, barns and stables need a 20-foot side and rear setback and 30 feet from the main building.
Each rule below is marked Corning code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Corning code Fences are limited to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in rear and side yards; new fences need a building permit.
All 3 Corning rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Side and rear setback |
|
|---|---|
| Distance from the house |
|
Running a business from home
Corning code A home business needs a city permit, may use at most 25% of the floor space, and may employ no one outside the family.
All 4 Corning rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Corning code The smaller new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot area. Each unit may be at most 800 square feet.
All 16 Corning rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Corning code Yes, with a permit; no more than 175 birds in total per property. At least 25 feet away.
All 4 Corning rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Corning code A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. No construction or grading may limit floodway capacity or increase the base-flood surface elevation by more than one-half foot with equal encroachment on both sides, or more than three inches with encroachment on one side only; all structures must be outside the floodway.
All 8 Corning rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
Corning code No more than 3 days in a row. A city permit is required before holding a yard sale.
All 4 Corning rules on garage and yard sales, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| 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 |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Group homes and residential care
| Homes for 7 or more |
|
|---|---|
| Where allowed |
|
Parking spaces required for homes
Corning code A single-car garage must be at least 200 square feet; a two-car garage at least 400 square feet. 0.5 spaces per unit.
All 5 Corning rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Signs on homes
| Signs that need no permit |
|
|---|---|
| For-sale and open-house signs |
|
Other Corning rules on this
Corning's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Draining a swimming pool (§ 13.12.050)
- Traffic impact fee on new homes (§ 13.19.050)
- Park development fee on new lots (Ch. 3.40) — lots created by a parcel or subdivision map only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Corning?
City rule: in the agricultural combining district, barns and stables need a 20-foot side and rear setback and 30 feet from the main building.
Can I run a family child care home in Corning?
California law sets this for every city, including Corning: 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)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Corning?
Corning's code: A conditional use permit is required. (Applies to large licensed residential care facilities in all zones that permit residential uses.) (§ 17.68.020); Allowed in all zones that permit residential uses. (Applies to small licensed residential care facilities and unlicensed residential care facilities.) (§ 17.68.020).
What signs may I put up at my home in Corning?
Corning's code: Temporary political signs on private property need no sign permit. (§ 17.67.040); No permit needed: one sign, one display surface up to 16 square feet per side, per street frontage. (Applies to property for sale, rent or lease.) (§ 17.67.040).
General information, not legal advice.
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