Hawthorne · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Hawthorne

Hawthorne limits fences and hedges near street intersections and sets a size limit for household storage sheds. The city also has its own chapter on home occupations.

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Key points

Intersections: Hawthorne limits fences, hedges and shrubs to 30 inches above the nearest curb within 35 ft of a street intersection.
Storage sheds: Hawthorne limits storage rooms and tool sheds for household items to 120 sq ft.
Home businesses: Hawthorne has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17-24c).

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

Fences and walls

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 30 inches above the nearest curb within 35 feet of where the extended curb lines meet. Applies: For fences, signposts, hedges, shrubs and trees at or near street intersections. § 12.20.010 · code text No person owning or in possession of real property located at or near the intersection of any streets shall erect, construct, install, plant, grow or maintain on such property any fence, signpost, hedge, shrubbery or tree in excess of thirty inches in height above the nearest curb, when such fence, signpost, hedge, shrubbery or tree is nearer than thirty-five feet to the point where the adjacent curblines, extended, intersect;

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 120 square feet. Applies: For storage rooms and tool sheds for normal household items. § 17.21.160 · code text Storage rooms and tool sheds for customary household related items shall be limited to a maximum of 120 square feet.

Lot splits under SB 9

Hawthorne code Each new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 8 Hawthorne rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed unless hitched to a vehicle able to move it normally. Applies: Trailers on any street or public place; exceptions for loading, unloading or a disabled vehicle. § 10.69.010 · code text No person shall park any trailer or semitrailer upon any highway, street, alley, public way or public place in the city unless the trailer or semitrailer is at all times while so parked attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer or semitrailer in a normal manner upon the highway, street, alley, public way or public place.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Hawthorne code The building official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted.

All 3 Hawthorne rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Hawthorne code No hive or swarm within 200 feet of any home, hospital, school, church, office, store, restaurant or other dwelling. A special permit from the director of animal services or of licensing and code enforcement is required.

All 3 Hawthorne rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
Floodplain permit	All proposed construction or development needs a development permit so the city can check flood risk. § 15.48.100 · code text A development permit shall be obtained for all proposed construction or other development in the community, including the placement of manufactured homes, so that it may be determined whether such construction or other development is within flood-prone areas.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Hawthorne code What Hawthorne's code adds
How the park fee is set	The fee amount is set by City Council resolution and paid before the building permit is issued. Applies: Development impact fee for public improvements, on all development permits. § 17.07.020 · code text The City Council shall, in a council resolution, set forth the specific amount of the fee, describe the benefit and impact area on which the development fee is imposed, list the specific public improvements to be financed, describe the estimated costs of these facilities, describe the reasonable relationship between this fee and the various types of new developments and set forth time for payment.

Noise and construction hours

Hawthorne code Construction is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Construction is allowed only from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

All 10 Hawthorne rules on noise and construction hours, 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)

Trash and recycling carts

Hawthorne code Put organic materials in the container designated for them by the authorized hauler. Within 12 hours after collection.

All 6 Hawthorne rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Hawthorne rules on this

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

Home occupations (Ch. 17-24c)
Erosion and sediment control before a building or grading permit (§ 8.50.160)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne limits fences, hedges and shrubs to 30 inches above the nearest curb within 35 ft of a street intersection.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne limits storage rooms and tool sheds for household items to 120 sq ft.

Can I run a business from my home in Hawthorne?

Hawthorne has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17-24c). Hawthorne also has a related rule: Home occupations (Ch. 17-24c).

What are the rules for building in a Hawthorne flood zone?

Hawthorne's code: All proposed construction or development needs a development permit so the city can check flood risk. (§ 15.48.100).

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

Hawthorne's code: The fee amount is set by City Council resolution and paid before the building permit is issued. (Development impact fee for public improvements, on all development permits.) (§ 17.07.020).

Can I run a family child care home in Hawthorne?

California law sets this for every city, including Hawthorne: 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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