Dana Point · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Dana Point

Dana Point sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and the side that faces a neighbor; accessory height depends on location and structure type.

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Key points

Fence height: Dana Point limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard, and side and rear yard fences to 6 feet facing a neighbor.
Accessory structures: Dana Point limits detached accessory structures in a setback area to 12 feet; qualifying detached garages with sloped hip or gable roofs, 18 feet.
Home businesses: Dana Point allows a home business in one room, with no outside employees and at most 10 business vehicle trips a day.

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

Fences and walls

Dana Point code Dana Point limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard, and side and rear yard fences to 6 feet facing a neighbor.

All 8 Dana Point rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Dana Point code Dana Point limits detached accessory structures in a setback area to 12 feet; qualifying detached garages with sloped hip or gable roofs, 18 feet.

All 4 Dana Point rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home. Applies: The room used for the business. § 9.07.030 · code text No more than one room of the residence shall be used for business purposes.
Customer visits	No more than 10 vehicle trips per day. Applies: Business-related vehicle trips. § 9.07.030 · code text The business shall generate no more than 10 vehicle trips per day.
Employees	No outside employees. Only people who live in the home may take part. § 9.07.030 · code text Only persons residing in the residence shall be involved in the business; no outside employees shall be permitted.
Businesses not allowed	Actual retail sales on the premises, except sales by phone or mail § 9.07.030 · code text No actual retail sales shall be conducted on the premises other than sales by phone or mail.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
EV charger permit	Charging stations that meet the city's adopted checklist get an expedited administrative permit review. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 8.33.010 · code text the Building Official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative permit review; electronic submittal and electronic signatures are allowed. Applies: Applies to small rooftop solar PV systems. § 8.22.019 · code text the Building Official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for small rooftop solar PV systems

Swimming pools

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Permit	Yes. Work started without a permit pays double the permit fee, except urgent emergency work. Applies: Applies to installing, altering or repairing a pool, spa or hot tub system or any part of it. § 8.18.014 · code text Every applicant for a permit to install, alter, or repair a swimming pool, spa or hot tub system or part thereof, shall state in writing on the application form provided the work proposed to be done.

Pets, chickens and bees

Dana Point code No, keeping bees is not allowed. No, keeping poultry is not allowed.

All 8 Dana Point rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Grading without a permit	Digs under 1 foot and fills, each 25 cubic yards or less per lot, not blocking drainage; permitted basement digs. Applies: Fills under 1 foot on slopes flatter than 5:1, or under 3 feet, structure-free. Basement digs at most 5 feet unsupported. Director may decide otherwise. § 8.01.060 · code text A fill less than one foot in depth placed on natural grade with a slope flatter than five horizontal to one vertical (5:1), which does not exceed 25 cubic yards on any one lot and does not obstruct a drainage course.
Rainy-season limits	No rainy-season grading over 200 cubic yards per site unless the Director approves or waives an erosion control system. Applies: Applies to any single grading site under permit. § 8.01.380 · code text No grading work in excess of 200 cubic yards will be allowed during the rainy season on any single grading site under permit unless an erosion control system has been approved or waived by the Director.

Building on a hillside

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Soils or geology report	A detailed geotechnical report must be prepared and included in the project. Applies: Applies to projects on slopes steeper than 25% (4:1). § 9.05.180 · code text A detailed geotechnical report which includes recommendations to avoid geologic impacts of the proposed development shall be prepared and incorporated into all projects or development proposals on slopes exceeding 25% or 4:1.
When hillside rules apply	Hillside rules apply on slopes over 25% (4:1). Applies: Projects on these slopes need a detailed geotechnical report and must consider the hillside Urban Design Guidelines. § 9.05.180 · code text A detailed geotechnical report which includes recommendations to avoid geologic impacts of the proposed development shall be prepared and incorporated into all projects or development proposals on slopes exceeding 25% or 4:1.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Parkland per 1,000 residents	At most 5 acres per 1,000 residents. Applies: The most park land a subdivision may be asked to dedicate, at .005 acre per person. § 7.36.025 · code text Five thousandths (.005) of an acre per person.
When the fee applies	Land dedication applies to subdivisions of 51 or more lots, or smaller ones likely to be split to that total. § 7.36.035 · code text such subdivision, nevertheless, shall be deemed to contain 51 or more lots or parcels for purposes of land dedication requirements provided for by this Chapter where the advisory board, based on all available evidence determines that one or more lots within the subdivision are likely to be further subdivided

Noise and construction hours

Dana Point code No more than 55 dB(A) for more than 30 minutes in any hour. No more than 50 dB(A) for more than 30 minutes in any hour.

All 6 Dana Point rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Dana Point code Sales only from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No more than 2 days in a row.

All 4 Dana Point 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

Dana Point code A 4-car garage with at least 40 ft by 20 ft interior floor space, plus 1 additional stall per duplex. Required parking is only for that project or residence; not to be leased, sold or used by others.

All 3 Dana Point rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	15 minutes. Applies: Applies when the alarm system protects a residential premises. § 11.60.018 · code text limit the generation of the audible sound to a maximum of 15 minutes when the alarm system is protecting a residential premises
False alarm fees	The costs of the Sheriff-Coroner's response, set by the City Council by resolution. Applies: Applies to the third and later false alarm at the same residence in a calendar year. § 11.60.020 · code text which costs shall be determined by the City Council by resolution
False alarms before a fee	The fee program starts with the third false alarm in a calendar year. Applies: Applies to the same residence or business. § 11.60.020 · code text the Sheriff-Coroner's response to three and subsequent false alarms at the same residence or business in a calendar year

Signs on homes

Dana Point code Remove within 10 days after the date of the election. A political sign still posted more than 14 days after the election is deemed abandoned.

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

Trash and recycling carts

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Required collection service	Subscribe to solid waste services with a franchisee, or get and keep a self-hauler permit. Applies: Applies to the owner, property manager, tenant or person in control of a residential premises. § 6.10.030 · code text the owner, property manager, tenant and/or person in charge or control of each residential premises and each commercial premises in the City shall either: (1) subscribe to solid waste handling services with a franchisee for said premises; or (2) obtain and maintain a permit as a self-hauler as set forth in this Chapter in connection with said premises. The requirement does not apply. Applies: Applies to residential premises where all dwelling units are vacant. § 6.10.030 · code text The provisions of subsection (a) above shall not apply in connection with any residential premises at which all dwelling units are vacant
When carts must come back	Remove containers within 12 hours after collection. § 6.10.040 · code text all containers so placed shall be removed from the street or right-of-way within 12 hours after collection
When carts may go to the curb	Not more than 24 hours before the normal collection time. § 6.10.040 · code text No bin, cart, rolloff box or other container shall be placed adjacent to or in a street or public right-of-way for collection service more than 24 hours prior to the normal collection time
Where carts are kept	Keep containers out of public view in a side or rear yard, or an enclosed area such as a garage. Applies: Applies to single-family dwellings. § 6.10.040 · code text All containers used for the collection of solid waste at single-family dwellings shall be stored out of public view in a side or rear yard or an enclosed area such as a garage except on the day designated for collection. Keep containers adjacent to the dwelling, at the point farthest from the closest street or roadway. Applies: Applies when the dwelling's design, fencing, or lack of an enclosed area does not allow hiding containers from public view. § 6.10.040 · code text containers shall be stored in an area adjacent to the dwelling at the point farthest from the closest street or roadway.

Other Dana Point rules on this

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

Street parking limits for wide vehicles and trailers (§ 12.08.050) — on public streets
Floodplain overlay district rules (Ch. 9.31)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Dana Point?

Dana Point allows a home business in one room, with no outside employees and at most 10 business vehicle trips a day.

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

Dana Point's code: Expedited administrative permit review; electronic submittal and electronic signatures are allowed. (Applies to small rooftop solar PV systems.) (§ 8.22.019); Charging stations that meet the city's adopted checklist get an expedited administrative permit review. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 8.33.010).

What are the grading rules in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: Digs under 1 foot and fills, each 25 cubic yards or less per lot, not blocking drainage; permitted basement digs. (Fills under 1 foot on slopes flatter than 5:1, or under 3 feet, structure-free. Basement digs at most 5 feet unsupported. Director may decide otherwise.) (§ 8.01.060); No rainy-season grading over 200 cubic yards per site unless the Director approves or waives an erosion control system. (Applies to any single grading site under permit.) (§ 8.01.380).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: Hillside rules apply on slopes over 25% (4:1). (Projects on these slopes need a detailed geotechnical report and must consider the hillside Urban Design Guidelines.) (§ 9.05.180); A detailed geotechnical report must be prepared and included in the project. (Applies to projects on slopes steeper than 25% (4:1).) (§ 9.05.180).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: At most 5 acres per 1,000 residents. (The most park land a subdivision may be asked to dedicate, at .005 acre per person.) (§ 7.36.025); Land dedication applies to subdivisions of 51 or more lots, or smaller ones likely to be split to that total. (§ 7.36.035).

Can I run a family child care home in Dana Point?

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

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: 15 minutes. (Applies when the alarm system protects a residential premises.) (§ 11.60.018); The costs of the Sheriff-Coroner's response, set by the City Council by resolution. (Applies to the third and later false alarm at the same residence in a calendar year.) (§ 11.60.020).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Dana Point?

Dana Point's code: Subscribe to solid waste services with a franchisee, or get and keep a self-hauler permit. (Applies to the owner, property manager, tenant or person in control of a residential premises.) (§ 6.10.030); The requirement does not apply. (Applies to residential premises where all dwelling units are vacant.) (§ 6.10.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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