Montebello · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Montebello

Montebello sets its own fence heights, spacing for accessory buildings and home-business permits. Fence limits depend on the yard and on the fence type.

Ask about building on your lot in Montebello See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Montebello limits R-zone fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft behind it; approved wrought iron may reach 6 ft.
Building spacing: City rule: accessory buildings must stand 10 ft from the main building, or 5 ft with 1-hour fire-resistant construction.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business needs a home occupation permit and a business license.

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

Fences and walls

Montebello code Montebello limits R-zone fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft behind it; approved wrought iron may reach 6 ft.

All 3 Montebello rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet. Applies: Between main and accessory buildings; 5 feet is allowed with 1-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building. § 17.10.050 · code text The distance between main and accessory buildings shall be a minimum of ten feet or five feet with one-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building. At least 5 feet. Applies: With 1-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building; the space between buildings must be open from ground to sky. § 17.10.050 · code text The distance between main and accessory buildings shall be a minimum of ten feet or five feet with one-hour fire-resistant construction throughout the accessory building. The five-foot area between buildings shall be open from the ground to the sky.

Running a business from home

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit and a business license. § 17.59.030 · code text An application for a home occupation permit shall be filed with a business license application on a form prescribed by the city.

RV and boat parking

Montebello code Only in covered parking or on a paved area at the rear of the property. Allowed on a paved driveway only if the rear yard cannot be reached.

All 5 Montebello rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Solar permit process	Electronic submittal by email, internet or fax; electronic signatures accepted. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.72.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by e-mail, the internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all expedited solar energy system permit applicants. Administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when the checklist and standard plan are met; one inspection, plus possible fire inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.72.060 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. A separate fire inspection may be performed.
Review time	Within 3 business days. Applies: The application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.72.060 · code text the building department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within three business days.

Swimming pools

Montebello code No opening larger than 6 inches square, other than doors or gates. At least 5 feet high.

All 5 Montebello rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 15.40.140 · 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 15.40.080.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zone A. The city determines the base flood elevation. § 15.40.210 · code text In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation, as determined by this community. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than AO and A. § 15.40.210 · code text In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

Building on a hillside

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Soils or geology report	Soils and geology reports must be received before building inspections or approvals. Applies: Hillside areas: buildings on graded sites or where hazardous soil conditions exist. § 15.04.100 · code text No building inspections shall be made for approvals given thereto until the city engineer has certified compliance with the rough grading as detailed on the grading plan and has received the soils and geological reports.
Grading and retaining walls	Driveway slope may not exceed 20%. Applies: Driveways in hillside areas. § 15.04.100 · code text provided, that the maximum gradient thereof shall not exceed twenty percent.

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

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
When a permit can be revoked	The permit may be revoked after more than 6 false alarms in any consecutive 365-day period. § 8.24.170 · code text If the alarm system for which the alarm system permit is issued emits more than six false alarms during any consecutive three hundred and sixty-five day period; May be revoked after any 4 false alarms indicating a Penal Code Section 211 violation in any consecutive 365 days. § 8.24.170 · code text Any four false alarms indicating a violation of California Penal Code Section 211 within any consecutive three hundred sixty-five day period.

Signs on homes

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	Temporary election posters and posters for charitable causes must be on private property and removed after the event. Applies: Temporary election posters and posters for charitable causes; on private property. § 17.62.110 · code text Temporary election posters and posters for charitable causes are exempted from the preceding limitations, but must be placed on private property and must be removed after the event to which the poster is associated has ended.
For-sale and open-house signs	One nonilluminated sign; maximum 12 square feet. Applies: All R zones; pertaining only to sale or lease of the particular building or property. § 17.62.080 · code text One nonilluminated sign a maximum of twelve square feet in area pertaining only to the sale or lease of the particular building or property upon which it is displayed.

Trash and recycling carts

Montebello code What Montebello's code adds
Where carts are kept	Keep containers on private premises out of sight from the street. § 8.12.270 · code text Solid waste and recycling receptacles shall be kept at all times upon private premises out of sight from the street, except when placed at designated locations for collection.

Other Montebello rules on this

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

Keeping horses at home (§ 17.68.020)
Grading permits (Ch. 15.48)
Loud and raucous noise (§ 9.08.050)
Park fee for new homes (Ch. 17.77)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Montebello?

City rule: accessory buildings must stand 10 ft from the main building, or 5 ft with 1-hour fire-resistant construction.

Can I run a business from my home in Montebello?

City rule: a home business needs a home occupation permit and a business license.

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

Montebello's code: Electronic submittal by email, internet or fax; electronic signatures accepted. (Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.72.050); Administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when the checklist and standard plan are met; one inspection, plus possible fire inspection. (Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.72.060).

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

Montebello's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.40.140); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in flood zone A. The city determines the base flood elevation.) (§ 15.40.210).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Montebello?

Montebello's code: Driveway slope may not exceed 20%. (Driveways in hillside areas.) (§ 15.04.100); Soils and geology reports must be received before building inspections or approvals. (Hillside areas: buildings on graded sites or where hazardous soil conditions exist.) (§ 15.04.100).

Can I run a family child care home in Montebello?

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

Montebello's code: The permit may be revoked after more than 6 false alarms in any consecutive 365-day period. (§ 8.24.170); May be revoked after any 4 false alarms indicating a Penal Code Section 211 violation in any consecutive 365 days. (§ 8.24.170).

What signs may I put up at my home in Montebello?

Montebello's code: Temporary election posters and posters for charitable causes must be on private property and removed after the event. (Temporary election posters and posters for charitable causes; on private property.) (§ 17.62.110); One nonilluminated sign; maximum 12 square feet. (All R zones; pertaining only to sale or lease of the particular building or property.) (§ 17.62.080).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Montebello?

Montebello's code: Keep containers on private premises out of sight from the street. (§ 8.12.270).

General information, not legal advice.

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