Del Rey Oaks · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Del Rey Oaks

Del Rey Oaks requires a use permit for home businesses in the R-1 district and other districts that permit them.

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Key points

Use permit: City rule: a home business in an R-1 district, or another district that permits home businesses, needs a use permit.
Permit terms: These use permits are revocable, may carry conditions, and may be valid only for a specified term.

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

Running a business from home

Del Rey Oaks code What Del Rey Oaks's code adds
Permit	A use permit is required. It may be revocable, have conditions, or be valid for a set term. Applies: Home occupations in the R-1 district or other districts that allow them. § 17.48.010 · code text Use permits, revocable, conditional and/or valid for a specified term, may be issued for home occupations (as defined in Section 17.04.160), in an R-1 district or other district permitting same, pursuant to the following procedures and provisions.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Del Rey Oaks code What Del Rey Oaks's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan; only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.50.060 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. You may submit the application and documents by email or online. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications. § 15.50.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, or the Internet shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist and standard plan. § 15.50.060 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; complete electronic applications that meet the checklist and standard plan. § 15.50.060 · code text or within one to three business days for electronic applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Pets, chickens and bees

Del Rey Oaks code Yes, with a use permit; hives only in side or rear yards, behind solid screening at least 6 feet high. Yes, with a city use permit; up to 5 chickens; no roosters.

All 9 Del Rey Oaks rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Del Rey Oaks code What Del Rey Oaks's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 15.44.120 · 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 15.44.060.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood levels no more than 1 foot. Applies: Applies in Zones A1-30 and AE until a regulatory floodway is adopted. The limit applies at any point in the city. § 15.44.200 · 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 at any point within the City of Del Rey Oaks. No encroachments, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements, unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level rise. Applies: Applies within an adopted regulatory floodway, for flood levels during the base flood discharge. § 15.44.200 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, encroachments shall be prohibited, 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.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.44.150 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 Zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be at least the flood map's depth number, in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows a depth number. § 15.44.150 · 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 above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows no depth number. § 15.44.150 · 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 above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, where the flood map (FIRM) shows no base flood elevation. § 15.44.150 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under this subsection.

Grading and erosion control

Del Rey Oaks code What Del Rey Oaks's code adds
When a grading permit is needed	More than 100 cubic yards of digging or fill needs a grading permit. Also needed: digs or fills 3 feet or more beyond a 2:1 line from a property line; utility easement work; drainage channel changes. § 15.32.020 · code text An excavation or fill in excess of 100 cubic yards;
Grading without a permit	Basement and footing digs for a building, pool or underground structure under a valid building permit that includes their cost. Applies: Fill made with the dug material is not exempt. § 15.32.030 · code text An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, swimming pool or underground structure authorized by a valid building permit where the cost of such excavation is included in the building permit valuation.

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

Del Rey Oaks code At most 16 square feet. At most 80 square feet.

All 5 Del Rey Oaks rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Del Rey Oaks code Within 24 hours after collection Not more than 24 hours before the date of collection.

All 3 Del Rey Oaks rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Del Rey Oaks rules on this

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

Keeping boats and boat trailers in residential zones (§ 10.28.040) — residential zones only
Street parking of campers, trailers and RVs (§ 10.22.020) — on public streets
Loud and excessive noise (§ 8.20.010)
Regional traffic impact fee (§ 3.29.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Del Rey Oaks?

City rule: a home business in an R-1 district, or another district that permits home businesses, needs a use permit. These use permits are revocable, may carry conditions, and may be valid only for a specified term.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Del Rey Oaks?

Del Rey Oaks's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan; only 1 inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.50.060); You may submit the application and documents by email or online. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications.) (§ 15.50.050).

What are the rules for building in a Del Rey Oaks flood zone?

Del Rey Oaks's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.44.120); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.44.150).

What are the grading rules in Del Rey Oaks?

Del Rey Oaks's code: More than 100 cubic yards of digging or fill needs a grading permit. (Also needed: digs or fills 3 feet or more beyond a 2:1 line from a property line; utility easement work; drainage channel changes.) (§ 15.32.020); Basement and footing digs for a building, pool or underground structure under a valid building permit that includes their cost. (Fill made with the dug material is not exempt.) (§ 15.32.030).

Can I run a family child care home in Del Rey Oaks?

California law sets this for every city, including Del Rey Oaks: 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)).

General information, not legal advice.

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