Glendale · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Glendale
Glendale sets fence limits for street setbacks in its F overlay zone. It also requires a permit to run a business from home.
Key points
- Fence height: In the F overlay zone, Glendale limits fences and gates in street setbacks to 42 inches, at least 5 feet from the curb.
- Home businesses: Glendale requires a home occupation permit from the director of community development, granted for at most 5 years.
Each rule below is marked Glendale code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Front yard height |
|
|---|---|
| Side and rear yard height |
|
Running a business from home
| Permit |
|
|---|
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
|
|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
Glendale code Not allowed in the street front setback, except over a building already there and up to 1 foot beyond it. Not allowed in the street side setback, except over a building already there and 1 foot beyond it.
All 11 Glendale rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Glendale code Yes; no more than 12 chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, pheasants, rabbits or hares in any combination. Horses are allowed.
All 3 Glendale rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
| Steepest cut or fill slope |
|
|---|
Building on a hillside
| Soils or geology report |
|
|---|---|
| Grading and retaining walls |
|
Park and impact fees for new homes
Glendale code New housing projects where 100% of units are affordable pay no impact fees. Affordable units in new for-sale housing projects pay no impact fees.
All 3 Glendale rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Glendale code Outdoor construction is allowed only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Construction is allowed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
All 8 Glendale rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Glendale code Affordable units stay rented to qualified low income households for at least 55 years. Ownership projects are exempt but must sign a covenant to pay the in-lieu fee if units are rented before sale.
All 3 Glendale rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
Glendale code May be unenclosed. May be unenclosed.
All 17 Glendale rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| Alarm permit |
|
|---|
Signs on homes
Glendale code Temporary signs other than temporary banners need no permit. Political campaign signs need no permit.
All 8 Glendale rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Historic homes
Glendale code Permits and any CEQA review first; then design review by the historic preservation commission or the community development director. Permit and any CEQA review required. Review by the director of community development.
All 4 Glendale rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Glendale rules on this
Glendale's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- SB 9 two-unit projects and lot splits (§ 30.34.110)
- Pool barriers, upkeep and draining (Ch. 8.72)
- Permit to remove or cut indigenous oak, bay and sycamore trees (Ch. 12.44) — oak, bay and sycamore trees only
- Building in a flood hazard area (Ch. 8.20)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in Glendale?
In the F overlay zone, Glendale limits fences and gates in street setbacks to 42 inches, at least 5 feet from the curb.
Can I run a business from my home in Glendale?
Glendale requires a home occupation permit from the director of community development, granted for at most 5 years.
What are the grading rules in Glendale?
Glendale's code: Slopes may be as steep as 1 horizontal to 1 vertical (100% slope). (Only for a contoured transition from a cut face to natural ground, with approval of the city engineer or building official.) (§ 15.12.067).
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Glendale?
Glendale's code: Cut slopes may be at most 50 feet high. (Up to 100 feet if the bottom of the cut is at least 40 feet from the nearest downhill street.) (§ 15.12.090); A geologist or soils engineer's report must show the cut slope is stable without special measures. (Cut slopes; the city engineer or building official must approve the report.) (§ 15.12.090).
Can I run a family child care home in Glendale?
California law sets this for every city, including Glendale: 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 Glendale?
Glendale's code: Yes. The fee is set by ordinance or resolution. (Direct alarm: a line from the premises to police or fire facilities.) (§ 8.12.150).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Glendale property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question