Kerman · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Kerman
Kerman's city code sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses in residential zones. Fence height depends on the yard, and a home business needs a permit and a business license.
Key points
- Fence height: In residential zones, city code limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard and 7 feet in rear or side yards.
- Accessory structures: City code limits residential accessory structures to 12 feet unless the zoning code sets another height.
- Home businesses: City code limits a home business to 250 square feet or 15% of the home's floor area, whichever is smaller, inside the main residence.
Each rule below is marked Kerman code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Corner visibility |
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|---|---|
| Front yard height |
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| Side and rear yard height |
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Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Kerman code City code limits residential accessory structures to 12 feet unless the zoning code sets another height.
All 4 Kerman rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Kerman code City code limits a home business to 250 square feet or 15% of the home's floor area, whichever is smaller, inside the main residence.
All 6 Kerman rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Kerman code Required rear or side yard, at least 5 feet from rear line; not a corner lot's street side yard. No.
All 7 Kerman rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Kerman code 2 Level 2 EV ready spaces. 1 Level 2 EV ready space.
All 10 Kerman rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
Kerman code Up to 3 days in a row, and no more than 3 consecutive days in any month. A permit from the city clerk's office is required; a resident's sale at home needs no business license.
All 4 Kerman 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
Kerman code Do not store them within the required front yard. Parking may be in a garage, a carport, or any combination.
All 8 Kerman rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Kerman code The reimbursement is $50. seventy-four dollars and eighty-four cents
All 4 Kerman rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Kerman code Up to 32 square feet. Remove two weeks after the election. Occupant name, street number and street name signs, up to 2 square feet per unit.
Trash and recycling carts
| Required collection service |
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|---|---|
| Sorting organics and green waste |
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Other Kerman rules on this
Kerman's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Limit on dogs, cats and other animals per home (§ 6.04.130)
- Loud and unnecessary noise (Ch. 9.26)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in Kerman?
In residential zones, city code limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard and 7 feet in rear or side yards.
Can I run a family child care home in Kerman?
California law sets this for every city, including Kerman: 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 Kerman?
Kerman's code: Subscribe to and use the weekly mandatory recycling collection from the franchise hauler. (§ 8.12.160); Use the franchise hauler designated by the city. (§ 8.12.150).
General information, not legal advice.
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