Culver City · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Culver City
Culver City sets fence heights by setback and sightline in residential zones and limits home businesses in visits and workers. It lists home business uses that are not allowed.
Key points
- Fence height: Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in side and rear setbacks.
- Home businesses: Home businesses get no client visits, except lessons, tutoring and office uses, limited to 3 car visits a day; only residents may work there.
Each rule below is marked Culver City code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Culver City code Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in side and rear setbacks.
All 7 Culver City rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Culver City code Home businesses get no client visits, except lessons, tutoring and office uses, limited to 3 car visits a day; only residents may work there.
All 5 Culver City rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
| Permit |
|
|---|
Building on a hillside
Culver City code At most 2 stories and 27 feet. At most 2 stories and 30 feet.
All 4 Culver City rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
| Construction hours on weekdays |
|
|---|---|
| Construction hours on weekends and holidays |
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Outdoor lighting
| Fixture height |
|
|---|---|
| Shielding |
|
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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
| Spaces per apartment or condo |
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|---|---|
| Spaces for a single-family home |
|
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Culver City code A fee according to the fee schedule set by City Council resolution. A fee according to the fee schedule set by City Council resolution.
All 6 Culver City rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
| Other temporary signs |
|
|---|
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
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|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
|
Historic homes
Culver City code At least 50 years old. A Certificate of Appropriateness or Certificate of Exemption is required before exterior alterations.
All 8 Culver City rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Culver City rules on this
Culver City's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- SB 9 urban lot splits and two-unit homes (§ 15.10.940)
- Building in a floodway (§ 15.03.080)
- Park land acquisition impact fee (§ 15.06.310)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Culver City?
Culver City's code: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays. Emergency work needs a Building Official permit. Home repairs and routine maintenance do not count as construction.) (§ 9.07.035); 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Saturdays. Emergency work needs a Building Official permit. Home repairs and routine maintenance do not count as construction.) (§ 9.07.035).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Culver City?
Culver City's code: Lights must be shielded, recessed or both, and aimed down and away from neighbors and public rights-of-way. (§ 17.300.040); At most 15 feet. (Freestanding light poles and fixtures in residential and mixed-use projects.) (§ 17.300.040).
Can I run a family child care home in Culver City?
California law sets this for every city, including Culver City: 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 Culver City?
Culver City's code: No minimum required parking. (Applies to every use, including apartments and condos. A Comprehensive Plan may set a minimum.) (§ 17.320.020); No minimum required parking for any use. (Applies to all uses including homes. A Comprehensive Plan may set a minimum.) (§ 17.320.020).
What signs may I put up at my home in Culver City?
Culver City's code: A temporary sign may be up for at most 30 consecutive days and 60 cumulative days per calendar year. (Applies to temporary signs, unless the chapter says otherwise.) (§ 17.330.040).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Culver City?
Culver City's code: By midnight on the day of collection (§ 5.01.050); Put containers out no earlier than sunset on the day before collection day. (§ 5.01.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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