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Fountain Valley · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley sets its own limits on fences and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, and some businesses may not run from a home.

Ask about building on your lot in Fountain Valley See coverage

Key points

  • Fence height: Fountain Valley limits fences to 3 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in side and rear yards.
  • Home businesses: Fountain Valley requires a home occupation permit in residential zones and does not allow uses that add 6 or more vehicle trips a day.

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

Fences and walls

Fountain Valley code Fountain Valley limits fences to 3 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in side and rear yards.

All 3 Fountain Valley rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Fountain Valley code Fountain Valley requires a home occupation permit in residential zones and does not allow uses that add 6 or more vehicle trips a day.

All 5 Fountain Valley rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Fountain Valley code No trailer parking on city streets; a police permit allows 36-hour periods for loading or short use, 8 monthly max. 24 hours per permit, no more than 3 periods per month per residence.

All 4 Fountain Valley rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Fountain Valley code What Fountain Valley's code adds
Solar permit process
  • Apply online; electronic signatures are accepted.
    Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar permit applicants.
    § 18.27.050 · code text
    Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by the Internet shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time
  • Same day.
    Applies: Applies to complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.
    § 18.27.060 · code text
    The building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications
  • Within 1 to 3 business days.
    Applies: Applies to complete electronic applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.
    § 18.27.060 · code text
    or within one to three business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Fountain Valley code No openings other than doors or gates. No outside projections that could serve as hand or foot holds for climbing.

All 13 Fountain Valley rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Fountain Valley code What Fountain Valley's code adds
Large animals
  • No livestock, fowl or other animals in any subdivision, except up to 3 dogs and/or cats and normal household pets.
    § 21.30.040 · code text
    The keeping or maintaining of livestock, fowl or other animals of any kind shall not be allowed in any subdivision except as provided below.
Pet limit
  • At most 3 dogs and/or cats over 6 months old.
    § 21.30.040 · code text
    A maximum of three dogs and/or cats over six months of age shall be allowed as an accessory use.
  • Other household pets are allowed if normal for a home and not kept for business.
    Applies: The pet type must clearly be normal and secondary to a home use; no commercial activity.
    § 21.30.040 · code text
    The keeping of other household pets shall be allowed of a type readily classifiable as being customarily incidental and accessory to an allowed principal residential use when no commercial activity is involved.

Noise and construction hours

Fountain Valley code What Fountain Valley's code adds
Noise limit at homes
  • Noise may not exceed 55 dB(A).
    Applies: Outdoors on another home's property, Noise Zone 1, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., for over 30 minutes in any hour; higher only for shorter periods.
    § 6.28.050 · code text
    1 | 55 dB(A) | 7 a.m. — 10 p.m.
  • Noise may not exceed 50 dB(A).
    Applies: Outdoors on another home's property, Noise Zone 1, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., for over 30 minutes in any hour; higher only for shorter periods.
    § 6.28.050 · code text
    1 | 50 dB(A) | 10 p.m. — 7 a.m.
  • Noise may not exceed 45 dB(A).
    Applies: Inside another home, Noise Zone 1, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., for over 5 minutes in any hour; higher only for shorter periods.
    § 6.28.060 · code text
    1 | 45 dB(A) | 10 p.m. — 7 a.m.

Outdoor lighting

Fountain Valley code What Fountain Valley's code adds
Shielding
  • Shield lights so the source and its reflection are not directly visible 5 or more feet past the property line.
    Applies: Where the light source is visible from outside the project; does not apply to single-family homes, traffic safety lighting or public street lighting.
    § 21.18.060 · code text
    Where the light source is visible from outside the project boundary, shielding shall be required to reduce glare so that neither the light source nor its image from a reflective surface shall be directly visible from any point five feet or more beyond the property line.

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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Fountain Valley code Projects that provide affordable housing equal to or better than the chapter's requirements are exempt. Accessory dwelling units are exempt.

All 7 Fountain Valley rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Group homes and residential care

Fountain Valley code Garage and driveway spaces stay free. Each resident and the house manager may park only one vehicle. A conditional use permit is required.

All 9 Fountain Valley rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Fountain Valley code 2 enclosed spaces, 450 sq. ft. maximum. 3 enclosed spaces, 650 sq. ft. maximum.

All 7 Fountain Valley rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Fountain Valley code The fee is set by resolution for each successive false alarm. The fee is set by city council resolution.

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

Signs on homes

Fountain Valley code What Fountain Valley's code adds
Signs that need no permit
  • Temporary non-commercial signs on residential property and real estate signs need no permit.
    § 21.24.100 · code text
    (d) Residential Property. Temporary non-commercial signs on residential property. (e) Real estate signs.

Trash and recycling carts

Fountain Valley code Organic and other organic waste may only be placed in the organic container. Remove containers no later than 9 p.m. on the day of collection.

All 4 Fountain Valley rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Fountain Valley rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Fountain Valley's code: Apply online; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small rooftop home solar permit applicants.) (§ 18.27.050); Same day. (Applies to complete over-the-counter applications that meet the checklist and standard plan.) (§ 18.27.060).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Fountain Valley?

Fountain Valley's code: Noise may not exceed 55 dB(A). (Outdoors on another home's property, Noise Zone 1, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., for over 30 minutes in any hour; higher only for shorter periods.) (§ 6.28.050); Noise may not exceed 50 dB(A). (Outdoors on another home's property, Noise Zone 1, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., for over 30 minutes in any hour; higher only for shorter periods.) (§ 6.28.050).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Fountain Valley?

Fountain Valley's code: Shield lights so the source and its reflection are not directly visible 5 or more feet past the property line. (Where the light source is visible from outside the project; does not apply to single-family homes, traffic safety lighting or public street lighting.) (§ 21.18.060).

Can I run a family child care home in Fountain Valley?

California law sets this for every city, including Fountain Valley: 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)).

What signs may I put up at my home in Fountain Valley?

Fountain Valley's code: Temporary non-commercial signs on residential property and real estate signs need no permit. (§ 21.24.100).

General information, not legal advice.

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More on Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Fountain Valley

Buying & selling in Fountain Valley

Foreclosure & auctions in Fountain Valley

Property taxes in Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley overview

Zoning districts in Fountain Valley

What you can build where in Fountain Valley