La Mesa · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in La Mesa
La Mesa's own rule on home businesses sets an annual business license fee for an office kept in a residence. The fee applies to home offices that offer personal services only.
Key points
- License fee: La Mesa charges a business license fee of $35 a year for each office kept in a residence for business purposes.
- Who pays: The fee covers La Mesa home offices offering personal services only, with no merchandise sales or orders and no paid employees.
Each rule below is marked La Mesa code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Running a business from home
| Permit |
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Lot splits under SB 9
La Mesa code 1 parcel may not be smaller than 40% of the original parcel's area. Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet.
All 9 La Mesa rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Swimming pools
La Mesa code No more than 4 inches between a hard surface and the bottom of the barrier. No more than 2 inches between earth and the bottom of the barrier.
All 13 La Mesa rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
La Mesa code Hives at least 100 feet from the outer edge of the traveled part of a public road. Hives at least 600 feet from any dwelling other than the keeper's own.
All 3 La Mesa rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
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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Grading and erosion control
| Grading without a permit |
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Noise and construction hours
La Mesa code Construction work is allowed 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturdays 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays only with a special permit.
All 3 La Mesa 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
La Mesa code No parking space may be located within required front yards. Paved areas may not exceed 50% of the lot area between the front property line and front setback line.
All 4 La Mesa rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Where carts are kept |
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|---|
Historic homes
La Mesa code A Certificate of Appropriateness is required. A 30-day permit hold and a possible landmark designation procedure apply.
Other La Mesa rules on this
La Mesa's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Permit for rooftop solar on a home (§ 14.30.020)
- Park improvement fee on new homes (§ 9.20.050)
- Regional traffic fee on new homes (Ch. 14.28)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in La Mesa?
La Mesa charges a business license fee of $35 a year for each office kept in a residence for business purposes. The fee covers La Mesa home offices offering personal services only, with no merchandise sales or orders and no paid employees.
What are the rules for building in a La Mesa flood zone?
La Mesa's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 7.19.130); Lowest floor at least the FIRM depth number plus 1 foot above the highest adjacent grade. (New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone.) (§ 7.19.170).
What are the grading rules in La Mesa?
La Mesa's code: Digs or fills under 3 feet deep, no slope steeper than 2:1, and 100 cubic yards or less per lot. (All tests must be met; the work must not block or alter a drainage course.) (§ 14.05.020).
Can I run a family child care home in La Mesa?
California law sets this for every city, including La Mesa: 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 Mesa?
La Mesa's code: Store refuse and garbage so it cannot blow off the lot or attract rodents or insects. (Storage area screened from view from public ways and adjoining lots.) (§ 7.20.070).
General information, not legal advice.
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