La Habra · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in La Habra
La Habra's city code sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses in residential zones. Fence height depends on the yard and the street next to it, and a home business needs a permit.
Key points
- Fence height: In residential zones, city code limits fences to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
- Accessory buildings: City code limits accessory buildings in residential zones to 2 stories or 35 feet; 2-story ones must be 5 feet from interior lines.
- Home businesses: A home business needs a permit from the planning director, and city code allows at most 2 persons besides resident immediate family.
Each rule below is marked La Habra code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
La Habra code In residential zones, city code limits fences to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
All 5 La Habra rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
La Habra code City code limits accessory buildings in residential zones to 2 stories or 35 feet; 2-story ones must be 5 feet from interior lines.
All 6 La Habra rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Employees |
|
|---|---|
| Permit |
|
Solar panels and EV chargers
La Habra code Administrative approval through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. You may apply by email, the Internet or fax. Electronic signatures are accepted.
All 3 La Habra rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
La Habra code At least 10 feet from any property line. No more than 2 mature cattle, goats, horses or other equines, pigs, sheep or other livestock.
All 7 La Habra rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
|
|---|---|
| Height of the lowest floor |
|
Noise and construction hours
| Noise limit at homes |
|
|---|
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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
La Habra code The term may be longer if the subsidy program requires a longer term. Projects that propose no residential units are exempt.
All 6 La Habra rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
La Habra code At least 2 parking spaces on the same lot, each in a private garage Garage inside size at least 20 feet wide and 20 feet long
All 13 La Habra rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
La Habra code Fee is set by city council resolution for each false alarm after the first 3 3 false alarms per calendar year before a fee applies
All 4 La Habra rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
La Habra code Up to 4 square feet per sign Up to 5 feet overall height
All 13 La Habra rules on signs on homes, 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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Other La Habra rules on this
La Habra's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Parcel maps for urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 17.12.070)
- Two-unit housing developments (SB 9) (§ 18.24.060) — single-unit zones only
- Development fee on new homes (Ch. 15.52)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in La Habra?
A home business needs a permit from the planning director, and city code allows at most 2 persons besides resident immediate family.
What are the rules for building in a La Habra flood zone?
La Habra's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.64.120); Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in Zone A, with the base flood elevation set by an approved method.) (§ 15.64.240).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in La Habra?
La Habra's code: Noise above 55 dB(A) may last no more than 30 minutes in any hour. (Outdoor noise measured on another home's property, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) (§ 9.32.050); Noise above 50 dB(A) may last no more than 30 minutes in any hour. (Outdoor noise measured on another home's property, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) (§ 9.32.050).
Can I run a family child care home in La Habra?
California law sets this for every city, including La Habra: 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 La Habra?
La Habra's code: Containers must be removed before twelve noon on the day following collection (§ 8.04.120); Not before four p.m. on the day prior to scheduled collection (§ 8.04.120).
General information, not legal advice.
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