Lancaster · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Lancaster
Lancaster's city code sets fence heights by setback and limits accessory structure height, coverage and setbacks by size. A home business needs a city business license, and many business types are not allowed at home.
Key points
- Fence height: Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in front setbacks and 6 feet in side or rear setbacks; director's review may allow 25% more.
- Accessory structures: Detached accessory structures are limited to 8 feet if 120 sq ft or less, otherwise one story or 12 feet; detached garages 20 feet.
- Home businesses: Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.
Each rule below is marked Lancaster code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Front yard height |
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|---|---|
| Side and rear yard height |
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Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Lancaster code Detached accessory structures are limited to 8 feet if 120 sq ft or less, otherwise one story or 12 feet; detached garages 20 feet.
All 11 Lancaster rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Lancaster code Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.
All 7 Lancaster rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
| Standards |
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|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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|---|---|
| Solar permit process |
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Swimming pools
Lancaster code Besides doors and gates, no openings over 50 square inches, unless rectangular with no horizontal side over 4 inches. Wood pool fences: posts at least three by three inches, no more than ten (10) feet apart and embedded at least eighteen (18) inches; boards at least one-half inch thick on at least two rails of two by three inches
All 5 Lancaster rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Lancaster code 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
All 3 Lancaster 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 |
Group homes and residential care
| Distance between homes |
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|---|
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| How long an alarm may sound |
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|---|---|
| False alarm fees |
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| False alarms before a fee |
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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 Lancaster rules on this
Lancaster's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Animal keeping in residential zones (§ 17.08.180)
- Street parking limits for oversized vehicles (§ 10.04.055) — on public streets
- Flood damage prevention (Art. III, § 17.40.150 to § 17.40.200)
- Dust and wind erosion when grading (§ 8.16.030)
- Outdoor lighting in residential zones (§ 17.08.140)
- Development impact fees (Ch. 15.64)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in Lancaster?
Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in front setbacks and 6 feet in side or rear setbacks; director's review may allow 25% more.
Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Lancaster?
Lancaster's code: Only lots in a single-family zone: RR-2.5, RR-1, SRR, R-15,000, R-10,000 or R-7,000. (Applies to urban lot splits (SB 9).) (§ 16.17.050).
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Lancaster?
Lancaster's code: Administrative approval after a complete checklist application; only 1 inspection is required. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.45.040); Expedited approval and all needed permits when the application meets the checklist; no energizing before final inspection and approval. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 15.46.040).
Can I run a family child care home in Lancaster?
California law sets this for every city, including Lancaster: 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)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Lancaster?
Lancaster's code: At least 500 feet from another group home. (Applies to unlicensed group homes and unlicensed group facilities.) (§ 5.44.120).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Lancaster?
Lancaster's code: An alarm must stop or reset within 30 minutes of starting. (§ 5.38.020); A service charge, set by city council resolution, applies to each sheriff response to a false alarm. (Applies after the first two false alarms.) (§ 5.38.100).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Lancaster?
Lancaster's code: Containers must go back to storage within 12 hours after they are emptied. (§ 13.16.040); Not before six p.m. the day before collection day (Residential premises) (§ 13.16.040).
General information, not legal advice.
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