Imperial Beach · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach sets its own limits for fences and accessory buildings and allows home businesses in residential zones under set conditions. Fences near street corners must stay low for visibility.
Key points
- Fence height: Imperial Beach limits fences to 4 ft in front yards and a reversed corner lot's street side yard; 6 ft elsewhere.
- Accessory buildings: Imperial Beach allows accessory buildings up to 100 sq ft on a side or rear lot line with no roof runoff onto the neighbor.
- Home businesses: Imperial Beach allows home businesses in any residential zone if the listed conditions are met, with at most 2 people employed on site.
Each rule below is marked Imperial Beach code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Imperial Beach code Imperial Beach limits fences to 4 ft in front yards and a reversed corner lot's street side yard; 6 ft elsewhere.
All 3 Imperial Beach rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Side and rear setback |
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Running a business from home
| Employees |
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| Permit |
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Lot splits under SB 9
Imperial Beach code Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Each unit may be no more than 800 square feet of floor area, not counting parking.
All 15 Imperial Beach rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Imperial Beach code On the RV owner's property, or someone else's with the fee owner's written permission if the RV owner lives there. Not in the required front-yard setback for the zone.
All 5 Imperial Beach rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Imperial Beach code Electronic submittal is allowed, and electronic signatures are accepted. The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City's checklist and laws.
All 3 Imperial Beach rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
Imperial Beach code No opening wider than 4 inches. The fence or wall must not give ladder-like access into the pool, spa or hot tub area.
All 6 Imperial Beach rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Imperial Beach code Yes, up to 3 hen chickens. The hen enclosure must be at least 15 feet from any property line.
All 3 Imperial Beach rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Imperial Beach code An erosion and sediment control plan is required. A grading permit is needed for more than 50 cubic yards.
All 3 Imperial Beach rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Imperial Beach code 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
All 4 Imperial Beach rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
| Shielding |
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|---|
Garage and yard sales
Imperial Beach code Each sale may last no more than 5 days in a row. A garage sale license from the city is required.
All 4 Imperial Beach rules on garage and yard sales, 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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
| Spaces per apartment or condo |
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Home alarm permits and false alarms
Imperial Beach code A service charge applies to each false alarm, in the amount in the City's Master Fee Schedule. 2 false alarms are allowed in any 30-day period. A service charge applies to each one beyond that.
All 5 Imperial Beach rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
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|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
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Historic homes
| Mills Act tax incentive |
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Other Imperial Beach rules on this
Imperial Beach's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Building in a flood hazard area (Ch. 15.50)
- Regional transportation fee (§ 15.48.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Imperial Beach?
Imperial Beach allows accessory buildings up to 100 sq ft on a side or rear lot line with no roof runoff onto the neighbor.
Can I run a business from my home in Imperial Beach?
Imperial Beach allows home businesses in any residential zone if the listed conditions are met, with at most 2 people employed on site.
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Imperial Beach?
Imperial Beach's code: Outdoor lights must be shielded or aimed so beams do not shine directly on neighboring homes. (§ 19.56.060).
Can I run a family child care home in Imperial Beach?
California law sets this for every city, including Imperial 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)).
How many parking spaces does a home need in Imperial Beach?
Imperial Beach's code: 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit. Vertical mixed-use gets a 25% reduction, and shared parking may reduce it further. (Multiple-family residential in the C/MU-1, C/MU-2 and C/MU-3 zones.) (§ 19.48.035).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Imperial Beach?
Imperial Beach's code: Do not leave receptacles on the street after 8:00 p.m. on collection day. (§ 8.36.110); Do not put refuse out before 6:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled collection day. (§ 8.36.110).
What rules apply to a historic home in Imperial Beach?
Imperial Beach's code: Eligible if privately owned, paying property tax, and registered on the National or California Register of Historic Places. (The property is privately owned, not exempt from property taxes typically assessed in Imperial Beach, and officially registered.) (§ 15.56.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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