McFarland · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in McFarland

McFarland sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits and home-business permits for its residential and estate zones. Fence limits depend on the yard.

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Key points

Fence height: McFarland limits fences in R and E zones to 4 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear or side yards.
Accessory buildings: McFarland limits detached accessory buildings in R and E zones to 2 stories or 35 ft; in rear or side setbacks, 120 sq ft.
Home businesses: City rule: home businesses in R-1 and R-2 zones need a home occupation permit.

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

Fences and walls

McFarland code McFarland limits fences in R and E zones to 4 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear or side yards.

All 5 McFarland rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

McFarland code McFarland limits detached accessory buildings in R and E zones to 2 stories or 35 ft; in rear or side setbacks, 120 sq ft.

All 7 McFarland rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Permit	A conditional use permit (CUP) and a home occupation permit are required. § 17.153.070 · code text Resident seeking a home occupation addition to their home shall apply for a conditional use permit (CUP) and home occupation permit. A home occupation permit can be granted only in the R-1 and R-2 zones. § 17.153.020 · code text A home occupation permit may only be granted in the R-1 and R-2 zones.

RV and boat parking

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Parking on the street	A trailer or semi-trailer not hitched to a vehicle may not park, except in areas set by city council resolution. Applies: Applies in residential districts and other areas. Does not apply while actively loading or unloading. § 10.10.230 · code text No person shall stop, stand or park a trailer or semi-trailer which is uncoupled from a motor vehicle in any other residential district, or any other area, except those areas established by the city council through resolution.

Solar panels and EV chargers

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. § 15.10.040 · code text Applicants may submit the required permit application and documents by electronic submittal. The building official must approve and issue any required nondiscretionary permits if the application meets the approved checklist and standards. Applies: Applies when the charging station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 15.10.050 · code text If the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards, and the proposed charging station does not pose any specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety, the building official must approve the application and issue any required, nondiscretionary permits.

Building in a flood zone

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins. Applies: Applies in special flood hazard areas. § 15.12.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.12.070.
Building in a floodway	Fill, construction or other new development is banned unless a registered professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation. § 15.12.220 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor, including basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in all flood zones. § 15.12.170 · code text Residential construction, new or substantial improvement, shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation in all zones.

Park and impact fees for new homes

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Exemptions	Exempt: changes or additions to a home, except for any extra rooms created. § 16.48.030 · code text Any alteration or addition to a residential structure, except to the extent that additional rooms are created; Exempt: rebuilding a destroyed or demolished home with a permit within 5 years, except added units or guest rooms. § 16.48.030 · code text Any replacement or reconstruction of an existing residential structure that has been destroyed or demolished provided that the building permit for reconstruction is obtained within five years after the building was demolished except to the extent that additional units or guest rooms are created;

Noise and construction hours

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	Construction is allowed from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. Applies: Building, demolition, repair, grading or digging within 1,000 feet of a home; emergencies and city manager night permits (up to 3 days, extendable) excepted. § 9.14.050 · code text he or she may grant a permit for such work to be done between the hours of nine p.m. and six a.m.
Construction hours on weekends and holidays	Construction is allowed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Applies: Building, demolition, repair, grading or digging within 1,000 feet of a home; emergencies and city manager night permits (up to 3 days, extendable) excepted. § 9.14.050 · code text he or she may grant a permit for such work to be done between the hours of nine p.m. and six a.m.

Garage and yard sales

McFarland code You need a permit and fee for each garage sale; the city council sets the fee. A single permit fee may be charged for a neighborhood sale that funds a neighborhood civic program.

All 3 McFarland rules on garage and yard sales, 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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

McFarland code 15 units or more 15 units or more

All 4 McFarland rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Signs on homes

McFarland code Up to 12 square feet. Up to 6 feet high.

All 6 McFarland rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

McFarland code What McFarland's code adds
Required collection service	You must subscribe to recyclables service and solid waste service, at least once every week. Applies: Unless the owner is authorized to haul its own recyclables. § 8.12.030 · code text Owners of occupied premises in the city shall subscribe to recyclables service and solid waste service at last once every week from the city, the recyclables franchisee or solid waste franchisee unless an owner is authorized to collect, transport and deliver for recycling, processing, marketing and disposal diversion its recyclable materials in accordance with Section 8.12.020(B)(4).

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in McFarland?

City rule: home businesses in R-1 and R-2 zones need a home occupation permit.

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

McFarland's code: Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 15.10.040); The building official must approve and issue any required nondiscretionary permits if the application meets the approved checklist and standards. (Applies when the charging station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 15.10.050).

What are the rules for building in a McFarland flood zone?

McFarland's code: You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins. (Applies in special flood hazard areas.) (§ 15.12.130); The lowest floor, including basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in all flood zones.) (§ 15.12.170).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in McFarland?

McFarland's code: Construction is allowed from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. (Building, demolition, repair, grading or digging within 1,000 feet of a home; emergencies and city manager night permits (up to 3 days, extendable) excepted.) (§ 9.14.050); Construction is allowed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. (Building, demolition, repair, grading or digging within 1,000 feet of a home; emergencies and city manager night permits (up to 3 days, extendable) excepted.) (§ 9.14.050).

Can I run a family child care home in McFarland?

California law sets this for every city, including McFarland: 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 McFarland?

McFarland's code: You must subscribe to recyclables service and solid waste service, at least once every week. (Unless the owner is authorized to haul its own recyclables.) (§ 8.12.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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