Corona · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Corona

Corona sets distance rules for detached accessory buildings and limits home business employees. It also has a chapter on landscaping, fences, walls and hedges.

Ask about building on your lot in Corona See coverage

Key points

Home businesses: A home business may have at most one full-time employee outside the resident family; commercial cannabis activity is not allowed.
Accessory buildings: City rule: detached accessory buildings need a 4-foot side and rear setback without fire-resistive walls, or 2 feet with them.
Fences: Corona regulates landscaping, fences, walls and hedges in Chapter 17.70 of its code.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Corona code What Corona's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 4 feet from a side or rear lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings without fire-resistive walls. § 17.66.010 · code text Detached accessory buildings without fire resistive walls shall be at least four feet from a side or rear lot line. At least 2 feet from a side or rear lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings with fire-resistive walls. § 17.66.010 · code text Detached accessory buildings with fire resistive walls shall be permitted at least two feet from a side or rear lot line; provided, however, that any area three feet or less shall be poured with a minimum of two inches or concrete and finished to provide proper drainage.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the main home. § 17.66.010 · code text Detached accessory buildings shall be at least five feet from the primary unit. Accessory buildings shall be separated by five feet.

Running a business from home

Corona code What Corona's code adds
Employees	No more than 1 full-time employee besides the resident family. Applies: Home occupations. § 5.28.080 · code text there shall be no more than one full-time employee at the residence or dwelling out of which the home occupation massage business is conducted other than the members of the resident family
Permit	A home occupation massage permit and the needed business license are required. Applies: Massage therapists who give massages from their home. § 5.28.080 · code text A massage therapist who holds a current, valid massage therapist or massage practitioner certification issued by the California Massage Therapy Council may conduct massages pursuant to a home occupation massage permit
Businesses not allowed	Cannabis storefront retailer; cannabis non-storefront retailer; cannabis manufacturing; cannabis distribution; cannabis testing laboratory; cannabis microbusiness; cannabis cultivation; any type of commercial cannabis activity § 17.80.040 · code text The following uses or similar uses shall be prohibited as home occupations:

Lot splits under SB 9

Corona code Two lots of about equal area; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot. Each new home may be no more than 800 square feet.

All 18 Corona rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Corona code What Corona's code adds
EV charger permit	You may submit permit applications and documents electronically. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 15.66.020 · code text The guidelines shall be consistent with California Government Code § 65850.7 and will allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and associated documentation.
Solar permit process	You may submit permit applications and documents electronically. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.68.020 · code text The guidelines shall be consistent with California Government Code Section 65850.5 and will allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and associated documentation.

Swimming pools

Corona code All fences and walls must be in place and approved by the Building Inspector before the pool is filled. The pool barrier must be at least 5 feet high at every point.

All 5 Corona rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Corona code Yes; up to 4 chickens. Yes; up to 6 chickens.

All 7 Corona rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Corona code What Corona's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area. § 18.16.020 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in § 18.12.020.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered engineer or architect certifies no flood-level rise. § 18.20.050 · code text No encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development shall be allowed unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge;
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in special flood hazard areas. § 18.20.010 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the BFE. At least the FIRM depth number, in feet, above highest adjacent grade; at least 2 feet if no number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zone AH, AO or VO; the lowest floor includes the basement. § 18.20.010 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure in Zone AH, AO or VO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Grading and erosion control

Corona code All work needing a grading permit must have an approved erosion control plan. Needed when the City Engineer finds erosion or sediment from a project could harm adjacent properties.

All 6 Corona rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Corona code What Corona's code adds
Grading and retaining walls	Grading 40-44.9% of a site allows 100% of allowable density, falling to 10% when 85% or more is graded. Applies: Hillside areas with slopes over 25%. § 17.59.150 · code text 40-44.9% \| 100%
When hillside rules apply	Slopes over 25%. Applies: Development must cluster on the gentlest parts of the site where possible, with density limits by share of site graded. § 17.59.150 · code text Development in hillside areas with greater than 25% slope shall be clustered on the most gently sloping portions of the site, to the extent possible, according to the following density limitations of the underlying General Plan land use plan designation.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Corona code Set by City Council resolution, amended from time to time, based on city findings. Park area to be dedicated times fair market value.

All 5 Corona rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Corona code What Corona's code adds
Light at the property line	Glare may not be readily detectable at any lot line. Applies: Any boundary line of the lot. § 17.84.060 · code text Every use shall be so operated that it does not emit dust, odor, heat or glare in such quantities or degree as to be readily detectable on any boundary line of the lot on which the use is located.
Shielding	Aim light downward with minimal spill onto nearby homes, sensitive uses and open space. § 17.84.070 · code text All areas of exterior lighting shall be designed to direct light downward with minimal spillover onto adjacent residences, sensitive land uses and open space.

Garage and yard sales

Corona code A written permit application is required before the sale; the City Council may set a reasonable fee. No more than 3 permits per calendar year.

All 6 Corona rules on garage and yard sales, 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

Corona code What Corona's code adds
Guest parking	1 uncovered guest space for every 5 units. Applies: Applies to multi-family housing, all unit sizes. § 17.76.030 · code text a. Studio or single bedroom unit b. Two bedroom unit c. Three or more bedroom unit \| a. 2 covered spaces/unit, plus 1 uncovered guest space/5 units
Spaces per apartment or condo	2 covered spaces per unit. Applies: Applies to studio or single bedroom units. § 17.76.030 · code text a. Studio or single bedroom unit b. Two bedroom unit c. Three or more bedroom unit \| a. 2 covered spaces/unit, plus 1 uncovered guest space/5 units
Spaces for a single-family home	2 covered spaces within an enclosed garage. § 17.76.030 · code text Single-family \| 2 covered spaces within an enclosed garage

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Corona code After 30 minutes, the chief may have the alarm disconnected at the user's cost. Base assessment, set by ordinance of the City Council.

All 5 Corona rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Corona code Remove within 10 days after the date of the election. Real estate signs need no permit.

All 8 Corona rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Historic homes

Corona code A proposed historic district needs at least 75% of its contributing resources to be 50 years old or older. Plan review and approval is required.

All 8 Corona rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Corona rules on this

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

Landscaping, fences, walls and hedges (Ch. 17.70)
Noise and vibration standards (§ 17.84.040)
Loud and unnecessary noise (Ch. 9.24)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Corona?

Corona regulates landscaping, fences, walls and hedges in Chapter 17.70 of its code. Corona also has a related rule: Landscaping, fences, walls and hedges (Ch. 17.70).

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

City rule: detached accessory buildings need a 4-foot side and rear setback without fire-resistive walls, or 2 feet with them.

Can I run a business from my home in Corona?

A home business may have at most one full-time employee outside the resident family; commercial cannabis activity is not allowed.

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

Corona's code: You may submit permit applications and documents electronically. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.68.020); You may submit permit applications and documents electronically. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 15.66.020).

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

Corona's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area. (§ 18.16.020); Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in special flood hazard areas.) (§ 18.20.010).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Corona?

Corona's code: Slopes over 25%. (Development must cluster on the gentlest parts of the site where possible, with density limits by share of site graded.) (§ 17.59.150); Grading 40-44.9% of a site allows 100% of allowable density, falling to 10% when 85% or more is graded. (Hillside areas with slopes over 25%.) (§ 17.59.150).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Corona?

Corona's code: Aim light downward with minimal spill onto nearby homes, sensitive uses and open space. (§ 17.84.070); Glare may not be readily detectable at any lot line. (Any boundary line of the lot.) (§ 17.84.060).

Can I run a family child care home in Corona?

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

Corona's code: 1 uncovered guest space for every 5 units. (Applies to multi-family housing, all unit sizes.) (§ 17.76.030); 2 covered spaces per unit. (Applies to studio or single bedroom units.) (§ 17.76.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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