Lake Forest · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lake Forest

Lake Forest limits fence heights by yard, and sets its own SB 9 lot-split standards and construction hours. Accessory structures and swimming pools have separate city chapters.

Ask about building on your lot in Lake Forest See coverage

Key points

Fences: Fences are limited to 3.5 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks.
Home businesses: Home businesses are limited to 20% of the home's floor area and 2 customers or clients at a time; only residents may work there.
Lot splits: SB 9 lot splits: each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area and at least 1,200 square feet.
RV parking: Non-commercial RVs: up to 72 hours on residential streets; other vehicles over 22 feet and trailers may not park on public streets.
Construction hours: Construction is allowed 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and not on Sundays or City holidays.
Residential care: Residential care facilities that need the city license must be at least 300 feet from another residential care facility.

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

Fences and walls

Lake Forest code Fences are limited to 3.5 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks.

All 9 Lake Forest rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
Space used	No more than 20% of the home's floor area. § 9.146.060 · code text No more than 20% of the floor area of the dwelling unit may be used for the home occupation; any business use of the dwelling unit that exceeds 20% constitutes a primarily commercial use and is prohibited in all residential zones.
Customer visits	No more than 2 customers or clients at a time. Applies: At the home at any one time. § 9.146.060 · code text No more than two customers or clients may be at the dwelling unit at a time.
Employees	Only residents of the home can work in the business. § 9.146.060 · code text Only the residents of the dwelling unit may be engaged in the home occupation.
Businesses not allowed	Sale of goods not produced on the premises § 9.146.060 · code text There shall be no sale of goods not produced on the premises.

Lot splits under SB 9

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. Applies: Applies to each lot created by the split. § 7.50.050 · code text Each of the resulting lots must be between 60% and 40% of the original lot area.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to each lot created by the split. § 7.50.050 · code text The resulting lots must each be at least 1,200 square feet.
Standards	The lot must be in a single-family residential zone. Applies: Applies to the zone of the lot to be split. § 7.50.050 · code text The lot to be split is in a single-family residential zone. Each new lot must border a public street with at least 12.5 feet of frontage. Applies: Applies to lot access. § 7.50.050 · code text Each resulting lot must adjoin a public street right-of-way with frontage of at least twelve and one-half (12.5) feet. No more than 2 homes of any kind, including an ADU or JADU, per new lot. Applies: Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split. § 7.50.050 · code text No more than two dwelling units of any kind may

RV and boat parking

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
Parking on the street	RVs may park for up to 72 hours. Applies: Non-commercial RVs on residential streets; other vehicles over 22 feet long, trailers and similar oversized vehicles may not park on public streets. § 12.16.070 · code text recreational vehicles, as defined by this Code, excluding recreational vehicles that are being used for commercial purposes as defined in subsection (C)(1), parked in a residential area as defined in subsection C for a maximum of 72 hours Only temporarily, while actually loading or unloading. Applies: Oversized vehicles (over 22 feet long, trailers and similar) loading or unloading people or property on a public street. § 12.16.070 · code text vehicles temporarily parked for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading persons or property

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
EV charger permit	Approved with all needed permits when the application meets the checklist and safety standards; no energizing before City approval. Applies: Applies to EV charging station permit applications. § 8.74.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Solar permit process	Staff issue a nondiscretionary permit when a complete application meets the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems, unless the Director decides a use permit is warranted. § 8.72.070 · code text Unless the Director determines a use permit is warranted, City staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter.

Pets, chickens and bees

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
Large animals	Livestock need a strong fence; wire fences need 3 tight barbed wires, one at least 4 feet up, or equal. § 10.12.090 · code text Every owner, keeper, custodian or harborer of livestock shall erect and/or maintain a fence as herein described to contain and confine all livestock kept or maintained on his or her premises. Animals may not run loose or graze on public land, highways or others' land without written consent. § 10.12.080 · code text No person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any animal shall cause or permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such animal to be placed, staked or to graze or be upon the land of another without the written consent of the owner or other authorized person, or upon public lands or highways or to allow any such animal to run at large.

Building in a flood zone

Lake Forest code A development permit is needed before construction or development begins; plans may show structures, fill, storage, drainage and elevations. No fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development unless analyses show no flood level increase.

All 5 Lake Forest rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
Grading without a permit	Excavation not exceeding 50 cubic yards on any one site, with less than two feet in vertical depth, or without a cut slope greater than five feet in vertical height and steeper than 2:1; fills less than one foot deep with a slope flatter than 5:1 and not exceeding 50 cubic yards on any one lot, or fills less than three feet deep not exceeding 50 cubic yards on any one lot. Applies: only if the City Engineer finds no unauthorized pollutant discharge; fill must not obstruct a drainage course, and the three-foot fill must not support structures § 8.30.030 · code text An excavation which does not exceed 50 cubic yards on any one site and which: a. Is less than two feet in vertical depth; or b. Does not create a cut slope greater than five feet in vertical height and steeper than two horizontal to one vertical (2:1). Excavation for basements and footings of a structure under a valid building permit. Applies: Only if the City Engineer finds no unauthorized pollutant discharge; not fill made from it or unsupported cuts over 5 feet. § 8.30.030 · code text An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, mobilehome, retaining wall, or other structure authorized by a valid building permit or construction permit.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Lake Forest code Condominium conversions of existing multifamily buildings more than 5 years old are exempt. 5 acres per 1,000 estimated residents.

All 5 Lake Forest rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Lake Forest code Construction is allowed 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and not on Sundays or City holidays.

All 6 Lake Forest rules on noise and construction hours, 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)

Group homes and residential care

Lake Forest code Residential care facilities that need the city license must be at least 300 feet from another residential care facility.

All 3 Lake Forest rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Lake Forest code 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep interior; 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep exterior 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep exterior

All 22 Lake Forest rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	1 sign with a sign face no larger than 4 square feet Applies: Private property, with the property owner's consent § 9.164.090 · code text One temporary noncommercial sign with a sign face no larger than four square feet located on a private property at any time with the property owner's consent 1 sign with a sign face no larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches Applies: In a window on private property, with the property owner's consent § 9.164.090 · code text one temporary noncommercial sign with a sign face no larger than eight and one-half (8.5) inches by 11 inches in a window located on private property with the property owner's consent at any time.

Trash and recycling carts

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
When carts must come back	By 10 p.m. on normal collection day § 16.04.005 · code text solid waste containers shall be removed from the street or right-of-way location by ten p.m. on normal collection day.
When carts may go to the curb	Not before six p.m. on the day before normal collection day § 16.04.005 · code text no person shall place a container adjacent to a street or public right-of-way for collection service before six p.m. on the day before normal collection day.
Where carts are kept	In a suitable place readily accessible to the collector Applies: Between the time of 2 successive collections § 16.04.000 · code text to keep in a suitable place readily accessible to the collector, containers capable of holding without spilling all solid waste, including recyclable solid waste and green waste, which would ordinarily accumulate on the premises between the time of two successive collections.

Other Lake Forest rules on this

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

Accessory uses and structures in the R1 district (§ 9.44.060) — single-family district
Accessory uses and structures in the RS district (§ 9.48.060) — residential single-family district
Pools, spas and pool equipment (§ 9.144.080.4)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Lake Forest?

Home businesses are limited to 20% of the home's floor area and 2 customers or clients at a time; only residents may work there.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Lake Forest?

SB 9 lot splits: each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area and at least 1,200 square feet.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Lake Forest?

Non-commercial RVs: up to 72 hours on residential streets; other vehicles over 22 feet and trailers may not park on public streets.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Lake Forest?

Lake Forest's code: Staff issue a nondiscretionary permit when a complete application meets the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter. (Small residential rooftop solar systems, unless the Director decides a use permit is warranted.) (§ 8.72.070); Approved with all needed permits when the application meets the checklist and safety standards; no energizing before City approval. (Applies to EV charging station permit applications.) (§ 8.74.040).

What are the grading rules in Lake Forest?

Lake Forest's code: Excavation not exceeding 50 cubic yards on any one site, with less than two feet in vertical depth, or without a cut slope greater than five feet in vertical height and steeper than 2:1; fills less than one foot deep with a slope flatter than 5:1 and not exceeding 50 cubic yards on any one lot, or fills less than three feet deep not exceeding 50 cubic yards on any one lot. (only if the City Engineer finds no unauthorized pollutant discharge; fill must not obstruct a drainage course, and the three-foot fill must not support structures) (§ 8.30.030); Excavation for basements and footings of a structure under a valid building permit. (Only if the City Engineer finds no unauthorized pollutant discharge; not fill made from it or unsupported cuts over 5 feet.) (§ 8.30.030).

Can I run a family child care home in Lake Forest?

California law sets this for every city, including Lake Forest: 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 Lake Forest?

Lake Forest's code: 1 sign with a sign face no larger than 4 square feet (Private property, with the property owner's consent) (§ 9.164.090); 1 sign with a sign face no larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches (In a window on private property, with the property owner's consent) (§ 9.164.090).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Lake Forest?

Lake Forest's code: By 10 p.m. on normal collection day (§ 16.04.005); Not before six p.m. on the day before normal collection day (§ 16.04.005).

General information, not legal advice.

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