Imperial County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Imperial County

Imperial County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It sets limits for accessory buildings and home businesses and has its own chapter on fences.

Ask about building on your lot in Imperial County See coverage

Key points

Accessory buildings: In the R-1 to R-4 zones of unincorporated Imperial County, detached accessory buildings are limited to 35 ft.
Home businesses: Imperial County home businesses are single-person uses by the occupant, need a planning director permit, and may not be barber shops or car repair.
Fences: Imperial County has a county chapter on fences (Title 9, Div. 4, Ch. 3).

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

Imperial County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Imperial County have their own codes and their own pages.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Imperial County code In the R-1 to R-4 zones of unincorporated Imperial County, detached accessory buildings are limited to 35 ft.

All 7 Imperial County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Imperial County code Imperial County home businesses are single-person uses by the occupant, need a planning director permit, and may not be barber shops or car repair.

All 4 Imperial County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Owner occupancy	The applicant signs an affidavit to live in one unit as principal residence for at least 3 years from approval. Applies: Does not apply to a community land trust or qualified nonprofit corporation. § 90813.08 · code text The applicant for an Urban Lot Split shall sign an affidavit, in the form approved by the County Counsel, stating that the applicant intends to occupy one of the housing units on the newly created lots as its principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the Urban Lot Split.
Parking	1 parking space per unit. Applies: Not required within 1/2 mile walk of a qualifying transit stop, or within 1 block of a car-share parking area. § 90813.10 · code text One parking space shall be required per unit constructed on a parcel created pursuant to the procedures in this chapter, except that no parking may be required where;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Imperial County code A dedicated 208/240-volt circuit of at least 40 amperes for a future EV charger. 3% of the parking spaces provided must be ready for future EV chargers.

All 4 Imperial County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Setback from property lines	5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Pools are not allowed in the front yard. § 90501.16 · code text The distance between the swimming pool and the rear yard property line shall be five feet and four feet to the side yard. 4 feet from the side property line. § 90501.16 · code text The distance between the swimming pool and the rear yard property line shall be five feet and four feet to the side yard.

Building in a flood zone

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Building in a floodway	No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other development unless certified to cause no rise in flood levels. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 91605.06 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered engineer or licensed architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments 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 least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone. § 91605.00 · code text In an A zone, elevated to at least two feet above the base flood elevation; said base flood elevation; said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods in Section 91604.02(B) of this ordinance. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than A and AO. § 91605.00 · code text In all other zones, elevated at least two feet above the base flood elevation.

Grading and erosion control

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Grading without a permit	No permit for isolated, self-contained grading with no public danger or harm to neighbors, or digging under a building permit. Applies: Work outside the grading permit chapter. § 91011.00 · code text This Chapter does not apply to performing the following work: 1. Grading in an isolated, self-contained area, provided there is no danger to the public, and that such grading will not adversely affect adjoining properties. 2. Cemetery graves. 3. Excavation authorized by a valid building permit. 4. Construction of irrigation and drainage appurtenances. 5. Agricultural land leveling.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Exemptions	No fee: rebuilding after fire, casualty or demolition with no added units or space; a home replacing a mobilehome. Applies: County development impact fees; the replaced mobilehome must have been permitted and must leave the property. § 4.32.110 · code text The following types of construction shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
Fee per home	$452.00 per single-family home. Applies: Countywide parks and recreation development impact fee. § 4.32.070 · code text \| Single-family \| $452.00 \| $354.00 per multifamily unit. Applies: Countywide parks and recreation development impact fee. § 4.32.070 · code text \| Multifamily \| 354.00 \| $303.00 per mobilehome. Applies: Countywide parks and recreation development impact fee, for mobilehomes on a private lot or in a park. § 4.32.070 · code text \| Mobilehome (private lot or park) \| 303.00 \|

Noise and construction hours

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Noise limit at homes	50 dB one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Applies: R-1 zones; measured at or beyond the property line. § 90702.00 · code text 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. \| 50 45 dB one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Applies: R-1 zones; measured at or beyond the property line. § 90702.00 · code text 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. \| 45 55 dB one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Applies: R-2 zones; measured at or beyond the property line. § 90702.00 · code text 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. \| 55 50 dB one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Applies: R-2 zones; measured at or beyond the property line. § 90702.00 · code text 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. \| 50

Garage and yard sales

Imperial County code A sale may last no more than 2 days in a row. No special use permit is needed.

All 9 Imperial County 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)

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Alarm permit	Required. Permit fee $75, renewal $50. Reissue after revocation: $100, then $150, $250 and $300 within the original 2-year period. § 8.04.070 · code text Alarm permit: $75.00
When a permit can be revoked	Revoked if false alarms exceed 2 in 30 days, 3 in 90, 4 in 180, or 5 in 1 year. Applies: The sheriff revokes the permit; counted since the latest issue or reissue. § 8.04.120 · code text Two false alarms in any thirty (30) day period;

Other Imperial County rules on this

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

Fences (Title 9, Div. 4, Ch. 3)
Keeping large and medium animals on residential lots (§ 90502.13) — low density residential zone
Keeping animals on homes in the limited agriculture zone (§ 90507.11) — limited agriculture zone, residential uses

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Imperial County?

Imperial County has a county chapter on fences (Title 9, Div. 4, Ch. 3). Imperial County also has a related rule: Fences (Title 9, Div. 4, Ch. 3).

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Imperial County?

Imperial County's code: The applicant signs an affidavit to live in one unit as principal residence for at least 3 years from approval. (Does not apply to a community land trust or qualified nonprofit corporation.) (§ 90813.08).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Imperial County?

Imperial County's code: 5 feet from the rear property line. (Pools are not allowed in the front yard.) (§ 90501.16); 4 feet from the side property line. (§ 90501.16).

What are the rules for building in an Imperial County flood zone?

Imperial County's code: The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone.) (§ 91605.00); The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than A and AO.) (§ 91605.00).

What are the grading rules in Imperial County?

Imperial County's code: No permit for isolated, self-contained grading with no public danger or harm to neighbors, or digging under a building permit. (Work outside the grading permit chapter.) (§ 91011.00).

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

Imperial County's code: $452.00 per single-family home. (Countywide parks and recreation development impact fee.) (§ 4.32.070); $354.00 per multifamily unit. (Countywide parks and recreation development impact fee.) (§ 4.32.070).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Imperial County?

Imperial County's code: 50 dB one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (R-1 zones; measured at or beyond the property line.) (§ 90702.00); 45 dB one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (R-1 zones; measured at or beyond the property line.) (§ 90702.00).

Can I run a family child care home in Imperial County?

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

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Imperial County?

Imperial County's code: Required. Permit fee $75, renewal $50. Reissue after revocation: $100, then $150, $250 and $300 within the original 2-year period. (§ 8.04.070); Revoked if false alarms exceed 2 in 30 days, 3 in 90, 4 in 180, or 5 in 1 year. (The sheriff revokes the permit; counted since the latest issue or reissue.) (§ 8.04.120).

General information, not legal advice.

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More on Imperial County

Imperial County Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Imperial County

Buying & selling in Imperial County

Imperial County overview

Zoning districts in Imperial County