Highland · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Highland

Highland sets its own limits for fences and detached accessory buildings in residential districts, and has its own rules for home-based businesses. Front-yard fence height depends on how open the upper part is.

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Key points

Fence height: Highland limits front-yard fences to 4 ft, or 5 ft if 90% open above 3 ft; side, rear and street side yards 6 ft.
Accessory buildings: Highland limits detached accessory buildings to 20 ft, no taller than the main structure, and 1,000 sq ft without a staff review permit.
Home businesses: Highland has city standards for home-based businesses and a home-based business license chapter.

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

Fences and walls

Highland code Highland limits front-yard fences to 4 ft, or 5 ft if 90% open above 3 ft; side, rear and street side yards 6 ft.

All 5 Highland rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Highland code Highland limits detached accessory buildings to 20 ft, no taller than the main structure, and 1,000 sq ft without a staff review permit.

All 5 Highland rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Highland code RVs may be parked or stored in the side yard and rear yard. Only on the paved front driveway or a paved surface in the side or rear yard.

All 11 Highland rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Review time	Permit issued the same day, or as soon after as practical. Applies: Applies to complete over-the-counter applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plans. § 15.80.030 · code text the same day for over-the-counter applications Permit issued within 1 to 3 business days, or as soon after as practical. Applies: Applies to complete electronic applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plans. § 15.80.030 · code text within one to three business days for electronic applications

Tree removal

Highland code Exempt: trees that the city engineer believes will damage existing public improvements. Exempt: trees needing maintenance or removal to protect existing power or communication lines or utility property.

All 9 Highland rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Grading and retaining walls	Grading is limited to what is minimally needed for custom building pads and entry access. Applies: Hillside lots with a 15.1% to 25% slope; grading must be contoured and mass grading is not appropriate. § 16.40.420 · code text The amount of grading allowed shall be based on what is minimally required to establish custom building pads and entry access.
When hillside rules apply	Hillside rules apply to lots with an average slope of 10% or more. Applies: Except lots in tentative tracts approved before these rules were adopted. § 16.40.420 · code text These regulations shall apply to any lot or parcel of land with an average slope of 10 percent or greater as defined by these guidelines (with an exemption for lots contained within an approved tentative tract that was approved before the adoption date of these regulations).

Park and impact fees for new homes

Highland code No fee for adding less than 500 square feet to a home, if no units are added. No fee for remodeling an existing building for the same type of occupancy.

All 5 Highland rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Applies: Every day, including weekends and holidays; power tools, pile drivers, pneumatic hammers, compressors and other listed equipment outside the industrial zone. § 8.50.050 · code text between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on any day in all other zones
Leaf blowers and equipment	Allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., any day. Applies: Gas or electric leaf blowers outside the industrial zone. § 8.50.050 · code text between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on any day in all other zones
Quiet hours	10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Applies: Listed noisy activities, such as power tools, leaf blowers and loading near homes, outside the industrial zone. § 8.50.050 · code text between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on any day in all other zones

Outdoor lighting

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Light at the property line	No more than 0.5 foot-candles of light. Applies: On any adjacent property. § 16.48.080 · code text No operation, activity, sign, or lighting fixture shall create illumination which exceeds 0.5 foot candles minimum maintained on any adjacent property, whether the illumination is direct or indirect light from the source.
Shielding	All lights must point downward and must not cause glare on neighboring properties. § 16.48.080 · code text All lighting shall be designed to project downward and shall not create glare on adjacent properties.

Garage and yard sales

Highland code 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Each sale may last 3 days in a row, or 2 weekends in a row of 2 days each.

All 4 Highland 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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Exemptions	Rebuilding dwelling units destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or another act of nature is exempt. § 16.50.030 · code text This chapter shall not apply to the reconstruction of any dwelling units that were destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or other act of nature.
Fee instead of units	The City Council sets the fee by resolution; the code states no figure. Applies: The developer may choose it in place of all or some inclusionary units; it is paid when the building permit is issued. § 16.50.050 · code text The amount of the fee shall be calculated using the fee schedule established by resolution of the city council.

Parking spaces required for homes

Highland code Parking must be provided within an enclosed garage. At least 1 parking space must be covered, in a garage or carport.

All 17 Highland rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Alarm permit	A permit is required before installing or using an alarm system. Applies: Not required for motor vehicle alarm systems. § 8.04.020 · code text No person shall install or use an alarm system without first applying for and receiving an alarm system permit (not applicable to motor vehicle alarm systems).
When a permit can be revoked	The permit can be revoked after 4 or more false alarms. Applies: Within a 365-day period. § 8.04.120 · code text Four or more false alarms within a 365-day period;

Signs on homes

Highland code One temporary political sign per candidate per parcel. Signs larger than 6 square feet are not permitted.

All 11 Highland rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Highland code What Highland's code adds
Sorting organics and green waste	Yard waste must be placed in a separate container. § 8.12.170 · code text Any yard waste must be placed in a separate container, as specified by the public works subcommittee.
When carts must come back	Remove containers within 12 hours after collection. § 8.12.170 · code text Containers shall be removed from the street or right-of-way location within 12 hours after collection.
When carts may go to the curb	Do not put containers out more than 24 hours before the normal collection time. § 8.12.170 · code text No container shall be placed adjacent to a street or public right-of-way for collection service more than 24 hours prior to the normal collection time.
Where carts are kept	A suitable place defined by the city's codes or general plan, generally out of direct view of the street. § 8.12.160 · code text The suitable place shall be the location defined by the city's development code, zoning code or general plan, and generally out of direct view from the adjoining public street.

Other Highland rules on this

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

Home-based business standards (§ 16.44.140)
Home-based business license (Ch. 5.12)
Animal keeping standards (§ 16.44.040)
Private swimming pools: placement and standards (§ 16.44.230)
Building in a flood hazard area (Ch. 16.76)
Erosion and sediment control near hillsides (§ 16.64.070) — areas in or next to mountains and hillsides

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Highland?

Highland has city standards for home-based businesses and a home-based business license chapter. Highland also has a related rule: Home-based business standards (§ 16.44.140); Home-based business license (Ch. 5.12).

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

Highland's code: Permit issued the same day, or as soon after as practical. (Applies to complete over-the-counter applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plans.) (§ 15.80.030); Permit issued within 1 to 3 business days, or as soon after as practical. (Applies to complete electronic applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plans.) (§ 15.80.030).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Highland?

Highland's code: Hillside rules apply to lots with an average slope of 10% or more. (Except lots in tentative tracts approved before these rules were adopted.) (§ 16.40.420); Grading is limited to what is minimally needed for custom building pads and entry access. (Hillside lots with a 15.1% to 25% slope; grading must be contoured and mass grading is not appropriate.) (§ 16.40.420).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Highland?

Highland's code: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Every day, including weekends and holidays; power tools, pile drivers, pneumatic hammers, compressors and other listed equipment outside the industrial zone.) (§ 8.50.050); 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning. (Listed noisy activities, such as power tools, leaf blowers and loading near homes, outside the industrial zone.) (§ 8.50.050).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Highland?

Highland's code: All lights must point downward and must not cause glare on neighboring properties. (§ 16.48.080); No more than 0.5 foot-candles of light. (On any adjacent property.) (§ 16.48.080).

Can I run a family child care home in Highland?

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

Does Highland require affordable units in new housing?

Highland's code: Rebuilding dwelling units destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or another act of nature is exempt. (§ 16.50.030); The City Council sets the fee by resolution; the code states no figure. (The developer may choose it in place of all or some inclusionary units; it is paid when the building permit is issued.) (§ 16.50.050).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Highland?

Highland's code: A permit is required before installing or using an alarm system. (Not required for motor vehicle alarm systems.) (§ 8.04.020); The permit can be revoked after 4 or more false alarms. (Within a 365-day period.) (§ 8.04.120).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Highland?

Highland's code: Yard waste must be placed in a separate container. (§ 8.12.170); Remove containers within 12 hours after collection. (§ 8.12.170).

General information, not legal advice.

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