Inyo County · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Inyo County
Inyo County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It sets limits for fences, detached accessory buildings and home businesses in residential districts.
Key points
- Fence height: Inyo County limits fences to three and one-half feet in the required front yard and corner street side yard; most other yards 6 ft.
- Accessory buildings: Inyo County limits detached accessory buildings to 20 ft unless the zoning district's own rules provide otherwise.
- Home businesses: In R, RR and OS districts, Inyo County home businesses may have at most 15 round trips daily and 1 full-time-equivalent nonresident employee.
Each rule below is marked Inyo County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Inyo County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Inyo County have their own codes and their own pages.
Fences and walls
Inyo County code Inyo County limits fences to three and one-half feet in the required front yard and corner street side yard; most other yards 6 ft.
All 3 Inyo County rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Inyo County code Inyo County limits detached accessory buildings to 20 ft unless the zoning district's own rules provide otherwise.
All 4 Inyo County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Inyo County code In R, RR and OS districts, Inyo County home businesses may have at most 15 round trips daily and 1 full-time-equivalent nonresident employee.
All 3 Inyo County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
| Standards |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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Swimming pools
| Setback from property lines |
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Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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| Building in a floodway |
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| Height of the lowest floor |
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Outdoor lighting
Inyo County code Lights must be full cutoff, aimed down and fully shielded, with no light above the horizontal. May be unshielded if bulbs are hidden from off-site view by frosted or semi-translucent glass with an opaque top.
All 5 Inyo County rules on outdoor lighting, 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 |
Trash and recycling carts
| Sorting organics and green waste |
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|---|---|
| Where carts are kept |
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Other Inyo County rules on this
Inyo County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Keeping animals on small residential lots (§ 18.78.310) — residential zones on small lots
- Fire mitigation fee (Ch. 14.20)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Inyo County?
Inyo County's code: Only parcels in a single-family residential zone, not on listed hazard or resource sites, with stated exceptions. (Urban lot split; excluded: prime farmland, wetlands, high or very high fire hazard zones, hazardous waste sites, earthquake fault zones, flood hazard areas.) (§ 16.25.040).
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Inyo County?
Inyo County's code: Electronic submittal is allowed. (§ 14.30.035).
What are the pool fence and setback rules in Inyo County?
Inyo County's code: At least 3 feet from any fence or building wall; not in a required front yard. (Swimming pools in any district.) (§ 18.78.140).
What are the rules for building in an Inyo County flood zone?
Inyo County's code: A development permit is required before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 14.28.130); At least the FIRM depth number, in feet, above the highest nearby grade. (New or substantially improved homes in Zone AO when the FIRM gives a depth number.) (§ 14.28.170).
Can I run a family child care home in Inyo County?
California law sets this for every city, including Inyo 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)).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Inyo County?
Inyo County's code: Place yard and tree trimmings in a container or tie them securely in bundles. Store grass clippings like garbage. (§ 7.08.020); Keep garbage on the premises, in a covered, watertight, metal or other impervious container. (§ 7.08.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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