Huntington Beach · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach sets its own height, size and setback limits for accessory structures and its own rules for home businesses. A detached garage may be taller when it matches the main dwelling and has no living space.
Key points
- Accessory structures: Huntington Beach limits accessory structures to 15 ft, set at least 5 ft from the rear property line.
- Home businesses: Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.
Each rule below is marked Huntington Beach code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Huntington Beach code Huntington Beach limits accessory structures to 15 ft, set at least 5 ft from the rear property line.
All 10 Huntington Beach rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Huntington Beach code Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.
All 8 Huntington Beach rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Huntington Beach code At most 800 square feet and 1 bedroom. At most 1,600 square feet and 2 bedrooms.
All 14 Huntington Beach rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Huntington Beach code Motor vehicles over 22 feet long or 84 inches wide may not park on any public street or alley. Not allowed, regardless of size, except with a permit from the Police Chief.
All 5 Huntington Beach rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Huntington Beach code The Building Official approves the application and issues all required permits. Administrative approval and all required permits.
All 3 Huntington Beach rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
| Maintenance and empty pools |
|
|---|
Pets, chickens and bees
Huntington Beach code No beehive may be kept within 200 feet of the beekeeper's own home. Not within 25 feet of another's home, church, school, hospital or food business; no roosters over 4 months old.
All 5 Huntington Beach rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Huntington Beach code The lowest floor, including a basement, must be 1 foot above the base flood elevation. 1 foot above the FIRM depth number over the highest nearby natural grade; at least 3 feet if none given.
All 3 Huntington Beach rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Huntington Beach code Cuts up to 50 cubic yards: under 2 feet, or no slope over 5 feet high and steeper than 2:1. No permit for basement and footing digs below finished grade under a valid building permit.
All 3 Huntington Beach rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Huntington Beach code 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and federal holidays.
All 11 Huntington Beach 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 |
Group homes and residential care
| Parking |
|
|---|---|
| Where allowed |
|
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Huntington Beach code An alarm may not sound for longer than 15 consecutive minutes. The fine amount is set by resolution of the City Council.
All 5 Huntington Beach rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Huntington Beach code 8 square feet total for all signs combined on a property. The maximum height is 42 inches.
All 10 Huntington Beach rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Huntington Beach code Carts must be out of view from the street again by 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Not before noon on the day preceding collection
All 3 Huntington Beach rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Huntington Beach rules on this
Huntington Beach's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Traffic impact fee (§ 17.65.050)
- Fire facilities impact fee (§ 17.74.040)
- Park impact fee on new homes (§ 17.76.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a family child care home in Huntington Beach?
California law sets this for every city, including Huntington Beach: 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)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Huntington Beach?
Huntington Beach's code: Garage and driveway spaces must stay available for parking. Each resident and the house manager may park only one vehicle. (Applies to unlicensed group homes (no care or supervision) with an operator's permit; parking is at the home or on a street within 500 feet.) (§ 5.110.050); An operator's permit is required in RL, RM, RMH, RH, RMP, Specific Plan Residential and Specific Plan Mixed Use zones. (Applies to unlicensed group homes (no care or supervision).) (§ 5.110.030).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Huntington Beach property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question