Mission Viejo · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo limits large vehicles on public streets, reviews rooftop solar and EV charger permits against a city checklist, and requires livestock to be fenced in.

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Key points

Large vehicles: Vehicles over 25 feet or 10,000 pounds may not park on public streets except for loading, service or emergency repairs, up to 72 hours.
Rooftop solar: Mission Viejo issues small rooftop solar permits the same day over the counter or within 1 to 3 business days for complete electronic applications.
Livestock: Mission Viejo requires livestock to be confined by a good, strong and substantial fence, and zoning requirements also apply.

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

RV and boat parking

Mission Viejo code What Mission Viejo's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles over 25 feet long or 10,000 pounds may not park on public streets. Applies: Except while loading or unloading, serving a property on the block, or making emergency repairs, up to 72 hours. § 12.08.060 · code text No person shall park and leave standing upon any public street or highway within the city limits of the City of Mission Viejo any motor vehicle of a length in excess of 25 feet
Parking on the street	Up to 72 hours in a row. Applies: Vehicles over 25 feet or 10,000 pounds, only while loading, unloading, serving a property on the block or making emergency repairs. § 12.08.060 · code text Prohibited vehicles may be parked on public streets and highways while loading or unloading persons and/or property; or when such vehicle is parked in connection with, or in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which such vehicle is parked; or to perform repairs of an emergency nature on the motor vehicle itself, for a maximum of 72 consecutive hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Mission Viejo code Mission Viejo issues small rooftop solar permits the same day over the counter or within 1 to 3 business days for complete electronic applications.

All 5 Mission Viejo rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Mission Viejo code What Mission Viejo's code adds
Large animals	Livestock must be kept in by a good, strong fence; zoning rules also apply. § 10.01.296 · code text Every owner, keeper, custodian or harborer of livestock shall erect and/or maintain a fence as herein described to contain and confine, consistent with zoning requirements, and confine all livestock kept or maintained on his or her premises.

Building in a flood zone

Mission Viejo code What Mission Viejo's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 9.100.410 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards established in section 9.100.320.
Building in a floodway	No encroachments, including fill and new construction, unless a registered engineer or architect certifies no flood level rise. Applies: Applies in designated floodways, for flood levels during the base flood discharge. § 9.100.550 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels 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 structures in special flood hazard areas. Nonresidential structures may be floodproofed instead. § 9.100.510 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

Grading and erosion control

Mission Viejo code What Mission Viejo's code adds
Grading without a permit	Excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a permitted building, mobile home, retaining wall or other structure. Applies: Excludes unsupported height over 5 feet after completion, and fill from it unless waived. Director may require a minimum-fee permit or soil report. § 8.10.300 · code text (a) An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, mobile home, retaining wall, or other structure authorized by a valid building permit or construction permit.
Rainy-season limits	No rainy-season grading over 200 cubic yards unless the director approves or waives an erosion control system. Applies: Any single grading site under permit. § 8.10.1310 · code text No grading work in excess of 200 cubic yards will be allowed during the rainy season on any single grading site under permit unless an erosion control system has been approved or waived by the director.

Noise and construction hours

Mission Viejo code 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturdays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; not allowed on Sundays or city holidays.

All 5 Mission Viejo 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

Mission Viejo code Each resident and house manager may park only 1 vehicle, at the home or on a street within 300 feet. Group home permit required. 6 or fewer residents, not counting a house manager, and never more than 7 in total.

All 4 Mission Viejo rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Mission Viejo code 1 off-street guest parking space for every 3 units, unless the planning commission approves another requirement. 2 covered spaces within an enclosed garage.

All 6 Mission Viejo rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Mission Viejo code What Mission Viejo's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	The alarm may sound no longer than 15 minutes after activation. Applies: Alarm system protecting a residential premises. § 5.03.1530 · code text All audible systems shall, after activation, limit the generation of the audible sound to a maximum of 15 minutes when the alarm system is protecting a residential premises

Signs on homes

Mission Viejo code Up to 4 feet wide, 4 feet high and 4 square feet in total, including post; no sign permit needed. Up to 15 square feet in total, unless the director approves more for the event.

All 13 Mission Viejo rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Mission Viejo code Green waste goes in the green waste container, or in bundles tied securely and no heavier than 80 pounds. Remove containers by 8:00 p.m. on the day of regular collection.

All 4 Mission Viejo rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Mission Viejo rules on this

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

Development fees for new construction (Ch. 9.94) — parcels in a fee benefit area only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Mission Viejo?

Vehicles over 25 feet or 10,000 pounds may not park on public streets except for loading, service or emergency repairs, up to 72 hours.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Mission Viejo?

Mission Viejo requires livestock to be confined by a good, strong and substantial fence, and zoning requirements also apply.

What are the rules for building in a Mission Viejo flood zone?

Mission Viejo's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 9.100.410); The lowest floor, including basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved structures in special flood hazard areas. Nonresidential structures may be floodproofed instead.) (§ 9.100.510).

What are the grading rules in Mission Viejo?

Mission Viejo's code: Excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a permitted building, mobile home, retaining wall or other structure. (Excludes unsupported height over 5 feet after completion, and fill from it unless waived. Director may require a minimum-fee permit or soil report.) (§ 8.10.300); No rainy-season grading over 200 cubic yards unless the director approves or waives an erosion control system. (Any single grading site under permit.) (§ 8.10.1310).

Can I run a family child care home in Mission Viejo?

California law sets this for every city, including Mission Viejo: 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)).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Mission Viejo?

Mission Viejo's code: The alarm may sound no longer than 15 minutes after activation. (Alarm system protecting a residential premises.) (§ 5.03.1530).

General information, not legal advice.

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Mission Viejo Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Mission Viejo

Property taxes in Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo overview

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