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Laguna Beach · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach sets fence limits by yard and lot type and caps structure height in the residential/hillside protection zone. Home businesses need a Home Occupation Permit, and grading needs a permit above a soil-volume threshold.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Fences and walls are limited to 4 feet in non-corner front yards, 3 in corner-lot front yards, and 6 in side and rear yards.
  • Structure height: Any structure in the residential/hillside protection zone is limited to 25 feet at any point, from natural or finished grade, whichever is more restrictive.
  • Home business: A home business may use at most half of the home's living area and needs a Home Occupation Permit and a Business License.
  • Grading permit: A grading permit is needed to disturb more than 20 cubic yards of soil, or where the building official decides one is needed.
  • Pool fences: Pool fences must be at least 4 feet high, solid wall or chain link, with self-latching gates kept closed when not in use.
  • Home noise: Noise Zone I homes: 60 dBA, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; 50 dBA, 10 p.m.–7 a.m.; a higher ambient level is the standard.

Each rule below is marked Laguna Beach code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Laguna Beach code Fences and walls are limited to 4 feet in non-corner front yards, 3 in corner-lot front yards, and 6 in side and rear yards.

All 4 Laguna Beach rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Laguna Beach code Any structure in the residential/hillside protection zone is limited to 25 feet at any point, from natural or finished grade, whichever is more restrictive.

All 3 Laguna Beach rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Laguna Beach code A home business may use at most half of the home's living area and needs a Home Occupation Permit and a Business License.

All 22 Laguna Beach rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Laguna Beach code Administrative, nondiscretionary review. The building division issues all needed permits when the application meets the city's checklist. Administrative, nondiscretionary review. A permit is issued when the application meets the checklist and standard plan; only 1 inspection.

All 6 Laguna Beach rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Laguna Beach code Replacing or repairing existing construction is exempt. Yes. Removal needs approval by a majority vote of the city council.

All 7 Laguna Beach rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Laguna Beach code Pool fences must be at least 4 feet high, solid wall or chain link, with self-latching gates kept closed when not in use.

All 7 Laguna Beach rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Laguna Beach code Yes, with a permit. Yes. No number limit is stated.

All 4 Laguna Beach rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Laguna Beach code What Laguna Beach's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A floodplain development building permit is needed before construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area.
    § 25.38.042 · code text
    A floodplain development building permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 25.38.031.
Building in a floodway
  • No new development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood level no more than 1 foot anywhere.
    Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted.
    § 25.38.056 · code text
    Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city of Laguna Beach.
  • Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood-level rise.
    Applies: Inside an adopted regulatory floodway.
    § 25.38.056 · code text
    Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Laguna Beach shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor
  • Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.
    § 25.38.050 · code text
    In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.
  • Lowest floor above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number, in feet.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM.
    § 25.38.050 · code text
    In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified.
  • Lowest floor at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM.
    § 25.38.050 · code text
    elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified.
  • Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone (no base flood elevation on the FIRM).
    § 25.38.050 · code text
    In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 25.38.041(C).
  • At or above base flood elevation adjusted for sea level rise over the building's expected life, at least 75 years.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in V zones.
    § 25.38.050 · code text
    In V zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation adjusted to reflect sea level rise as specified in Section 25.38.041(C)(2) for the expected life of the development (minimum of seventy-five years).

Grading and erosion control

Laguna Beach code A grading permit is needed to disturb more than 20 cubic yards of soil, or where the building official decides one is needed.

All 8 Laguna Beach rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Laguna Beach code What Laguna Beach's code adds
Grading and retaining walls
  • Grading and land reshaping are limited to the lot coverage area.
    Applies: Residential/hillside protection zone; except grading for public safety and required access.
    § 25.15.010 · code text
    Grading and terrain alteration, except as required for public safety purposes and required access, are restricted to the lot coverage area.

Noise and construction hours

Laguna Beach code Noise Zone I homes: 60 dBA, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; 50 dBA, 10 p.m.–7 a.m.; a higher ambient level is the standard.

All 5 Laguna Beach rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Laguna Beach code Off by 12 a.m. (midnight). Off by 12 a.m. (midnight).

All 5 Laguna Beach rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
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)

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Laguna Beach code Fee set by resolution of the city council Increased fee set by resolution of the city council

All 5 Laguna Beach rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Laguna Beach code What Laguna Beach's code adds
Signs that need no permit
  • Temporary election signs on private property, with the property owner's permission
    Applies: Private property
    § 25.54.014 · code text
    Temporary election signs posted on private property, subject to the permission of the property owner;
  • Street address numerals
    Applies: When not part of the business name
    § 25.54.014 · code text
    Street address numerals, when not part of the business name;

Trash and recycling carts

Laguna Beach code Container contents are limited to items designated by the franchisee's recycling and organic waste program By six a.m. the day following collection

All 5 Laguna Beach rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Historic homes

Laguna Beach code Administrative Design Review, with Heritage Committee review and recommendation Design review permit, with Heritage Committee review and recommendation

All 5 Laguna Beach rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Laguna Beach rules on this

Laguna Beach's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Laguna Beach flood zone?

Laguna Beach's code: A floodplain development building permit is needed before construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 25.38.042); Lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 25.38.050).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Laguna Beach?

Laguna Beach's code: Grading and land reshaping are limited to the lot coverage area. (Residential/hillside protection zone; except grading for public safety and required access.) (§ 25.15.010).

Can I run a family child care home in Laguna Beach?

California law sets this for every city, including Laguna Beach: 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)).

What signs may I put up at my home in Laguna Beach?

Laguna Beach's code: Temporary election signs on private property, with the property owner's permission (Private property) (§ 25.54.014); Street address numerals (When not part of the business name) (§ 25.54.014).

General information, not legal advice.

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