La Mirada · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in La Mirada
La Mirada's city code controls fence finishes, accessory structure height and setbacks, and home businesses. Setbacks depend on the type of structure, and a home business needs a permit and a business license.
Key points
- Accessory structures: City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet; enclosed or solid-roofed ones and pools must be 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.
- Home businesses: City code limits a home business to one room, with no customer activity on the premises and only residents working there.
- Fence approval: City code requires planning division approval of the finish, materials, color and texture of all interior neighborhood fences and walls before construction.
Each rule below is marked La Mirada code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Permit |
|
|---|
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
La Mirada code City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet; enclosed or solid-roofed ones and pools must be 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.
All 10 La Mirada rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
La Mirada code City code limits a home business to one room, with no customer activity on the premises and only residents working there.
All 6 La Mirada rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
La Mirada code At least 4 feet from side and rear property lines. At least 20 feet from the front property line.
All 8 La Mirada rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
|
|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
La Mirada code No higher than the city's maximum legal building height, using the most restrictive rule. Expedited permit. You may apply in person or online through the electronic submittal system.
All 4 La Mirada rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
La Mirada code No openings larger than 50 square inches. A rectangular opening may be larger than 50 square inches only if no horizontal side is over 4 inches.
All 4 La Mirada rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Building in a floodway |
|
|---|---|
| Height of the lowest floor |
|
Noise and construction hours
La Mirada code 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
All 5 La Mirada rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
| When lights must be off |
|
|---|---|
| Shielding |
|
Garage and yard sales
La Mirada code 2 days in a row. Yes; the city council sets a fee to cover permit, enforcement and program costs.
All 4 La Mirada 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 |
Group homes and residential care
La Mirada code A Conditional Use Permit is required. Permitted by right in any residential zone.
All 4 La Mirada rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
La Mirada code Silence the alarm within 30 minutes after the Alarm Officer notifies you, or it counts as a false alarm An automatic shut-off device that silences the alarm within 15 minutes after activation may be used instead of responding
All 4 La Mirada rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
La Mirada code At most 2 signs per parcel, 10 square feet combined, 4 feet high; exempt from the sign chapter Put up no earlier than 60 days before the election; remove within 10 days after; exempt from sign chapter
All 7 La Mirada rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
|
|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
|
| Where carts are kept |
|
Other La Mirada rules on this
La Mirada's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Farm animal overlay zone (Ch. 21.30) — farm animal overlay zones only
- Beekeeping not allowed (§ 6.14.010)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in La Mirada?
City code requires planning division approval of the finish, materials, color and texture of all interior neighborhood fences and walls before construction.
What are the rules for building in a La Mirada flood zone?
La Mirada's code: Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 21.32.150); Lowest floor above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number.) (§ 21.32.150).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in La Mirada?
La Mirada's code: Aimed and shielded so it is not a nuisance to neighboring homes. (Single-family homes; an option instead of motion sensors or turning lights off 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.) (§ 21.70.070); 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Single-family homes: lights must be motion-activated, off in these hours, or shielded so they do not bother neighbors.) (§ 21.70.070).
Can I run a family child care home in La Mirada?
California law sets this for every city, including La Mirada: 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 Mirada?
La Mirada's code: Remove containers from the place of collection before 10 p.m. on the day they are emptied (Residential householders) (§ 6.08.520); Do not put containers out earlier than sunset on the day before collection (Residential householders; containers go at the curb in front of the premises (or the side street curb on a corner)) (§ 6.08.520).
General information, not legal advice.
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