Holtville · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Holtville

Holtville sets its own fence heights and setback rules for accessory structures, and has its own chapter on home occupations. Front-yard fence height depends on whether the fence is open or closed.

Ask about building on your lot in Holtville See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Holtville limits front-yard fences to 4 ft if open or 30 inches if closed; side and rear lot lines 6 ft.
Accessory structures: A detached Holtville accessory structure in the rear yard may be closer than 5 ft to the rear line with 1-hour fire walls.
Home businesses: Holtville has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17.46).

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

Fences and walls

Holtville code Holtville limits front-yard fences to 4 ft if open or 30 inches if closed; side and rear lot lines 6 ft.

All 4 Holtville rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Holtville code A detached Holtville accessory structure in the rear yard may be closer than 5 ft to the rear line with 1-hour fire walls.

All 4 Holtville rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Holtville code The barrier must block access by anyone other than the owners or occupants. At least 5 feet high.

All 6 Holtville rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Coop setback	At least 20 feet from any home. Applies: Applies to chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks and other fowl or poultry. § 7.12.040 · code text Any such rabbits, hamsters, chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks or other fowl or poultry must be kept or maintained not less than 20 feet distant from any building or structure used for human dwelling purposes.
Pet limit	No more than 3 cats over 4 months old per residence. § 7.12.080 · code text It is unlawful to keep more than three cats over four months of age at any one residence. No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old per residence. § 7.12.070 · code text It is unlawful to keep more than three dogs over four months of age at any one residence.

Building in a flood zone

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is required before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 17.42.150 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before beginning any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in HMC § 17.42.070.
Building in a floodway	No new building or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: Zones A1-A30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; measured at any point in the city. § 17.42.220 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1 – A30 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 Holtville. No fill, construction, substantial improvement or development unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level rise. Applies: Inside an adopted regulatory floodway. § 17.42.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Holtville shall prohibit encroachments, 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-A30 flood zones. § 17.42.170 · code text In AE, AH, A1 – A30 Zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. At least the flood map depth number, in feet, above the highest nearby grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the flood map gives a depth number. § 17.42.170 · 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. At least 2 feet above the highest nearby grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the flood map gives no depth number. § 17.42.170 · code text 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 with no base flood elevation on the flood map. § 17.42.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under HMC § 17.42.140(C).

Park and impact fees for new homes

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Exemptions	No fee: rebuilding the same space after a fire or catastrophe; remodels or replacements adding no units; home accessory uses. Applies: Rebuilds must be ready within 2 years; accessory uses with significant impact pay; claim before the building permit is issued or lose it. § 3.40.080 · code text The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Holtville code What Holtville's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	1.50 spaces. Applies: Studio or efficiency units. § 17.52.050 · code text Studio or efficiency unit One bedroom unit Two bedroom unit Three or more bedroom unit \| 1.50 spaces 1.50 spaces 1.75 spaces 2.00 spaces 1.50 spaces. Applies: One-bedroom units. § 17.52.050 · code text Studio or efficiency unit One bedroom unit Two bedroom unit Three or more bedroom unit \| 1.50 spaces 1.50 spaces 1.75 spaces 2.00 spaces 1.75 spaces. Applies: Two-bedroom units. § 17.52.050 · code text Studio or efficiency unit One bedroom unit Two bedroom unit Three or more bedroom unit \| 1.50 spaces 1.50 spaces 1.75 spaces 2.00 spaces 2.00 spaces. Applies: Units with three or more bedrooms. § 17.52.050 · code text Studio or efficiency unit One bedroom unit Two bedroom unit Three or more bedroom unit \| 1.50 spaces 1.50 spaces 1.75 spaces 2.00 spaces

Signs on homes

Holtville code One unlighted sign per building or business establishment, up to 8 square feet. The maximum height is 6 feet.

All 4 Holtville rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Holtville rules on this

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

Home occupations (Ch. 17.46)
Noise limit above background level (§ 17.10.150)
No glare beyond the lot (§ 17.10.130)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Holtville?

Holtville has a city chapter on home occupations (Ch. 17.46). Holtville also has a related rule: Home occupations (Ch. 17.46).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Holtville?

Holtville's code: At least 20 feet from any home. (Applies to chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks and other fowl or poultry.) (§ 7.12.040).

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

Holtville's code: A development permit is required before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 17.42.150); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-A30 flood zones.) (§ 17.42.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Holtville?

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

How many parking spaces does a home need in Holtville?

Holtville's code: 1.50 spaces. (Studio or efficiency units.) (§ 17.52.050); 1.50 spaces. (One-bedroom units.) (§ 17.52.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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Holtville overview

Zoning districts in Holtville