La Cañada Flintridge · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in La Cañada Flintridge
La Cañada Flintridge's city code limits accessory structures on single-family lots and taxes home businesses. The home business license fee depends on how many hours a week the business operates.
Key points
- Accessory structures: City code limits accessory structures on single-family lots to 15 feet; more needs a variance or a height modification of up to 6 feet.
- Home businesses: City code requires an annual business license tax; a home occupation license fee applies to businesses run 20 hours a week or less.
Each rule below is marked La Cañada Flintridge 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
La Cañada Flintridge code City code limits accessory structures on single-family lots to 15 feet; more needs a variance or a height modification of up to 6 feet.
Running a business from home
| Permit |
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|---|
Lot splits under SB 9
La Cañada Flintridge code No new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. At most 800 square feet.
All 19 La Cañada Flintridge rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
La Cañada Flintridge code Not on a public street, highway or alley at any time, except with a city permit. Only with a city permit, up to 14 days in any calendar year.
All 4 La Cañada Flintridge rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Tree removal
La Cañada Flintridge code Removing an unprotected tree does not need a tree removal permit. Removing a dead tree, as the director determines, does not need a tree removal permit.
All 8 La Cañada Flintridge rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
La Cañada Flintridge code Up to 6 chickens or ducks, plus 3 more per 5,000 square feet over 15,000 square feet. Geese may replace chickens or ducks one for one, up to 3 geese.
All 8 La Cañada Flintridge rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
La Cañada Flintridge code A soils engineering report and a geology report are required. Grading over 50 cubic yards needs the director's review and approval.
All 8 La Cañada Flintridge rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
La Cañada Flintridge code 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time). 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
All 6 La Cañada Flintridge 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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
| Garage and covered spaces |
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|---|---|
| Spaces for a single-family home |
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Home alarm permits and false alarms
La Cañada Flintridge code Must stop or reset automatically within 30 minutes of being activated. A service charge applies, in an amount set by city council resolution.
All 3 La Cañada Flintridge rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Required collection service |
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|---|---|
| Sorting organics and green waste |
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Historic homes
| Mills Act tax incentive |
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Other La Cañada Flintridge rules on this
La Cañada Flintridge's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Floodplain management (Ch. 4.14)
- Grading review on hillside lots (§ 11.35.042) — hillside development only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in La Cañada Flintridge?
City code requires an annual business license tax; a home occupation license fee applies to businesses run 20 hours a week or less.
Can I run a family child care home in La Cañada Flintridge?
California law sets this for every city, including La Cañada Flintridge: 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 La Cañada Flintridge?
La Cañada Flintridge's code: At least 9 feet wide and 20 feet deep. (Each vehicle storage space of a single-family residence.) (§ 11.38.030); A garage or other enclosed structure with space for 2 vehicles on the same lot. (Every single-family residence.) (§ 11.38.030).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in La Cañada Flintridge?
La Cañada Flintridge's code: Single-family residences must take part in the green waste collection and recycling program. (§ 9.12.055); Plastic bags, paper bags and cardboard containers may not be used for green waste. (§ 9.12.055).
What rules apply to a historic home in La Cañada Flintridge?
La Cañada Flintridge's code: A property designated a historic resource and on the city register may have a Mills Act contract (property tax relief). (Property designated as a historic resource and listed on the city's official register.) (§ 11.90.040).
General information, not legal advice.
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