Murrieta · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Murrieta

Murrieta sets its own size limits for accessory structures and its own home-business rules. Fences, hedges and walls have a separate city chapter.

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Key points

Accessory size: Murrieta limits each detached accessory structure to 1,000 sq ft, and all together to 40% of the required rear yard.
Home businesses: Murrieta home businesses need a city business license, may have at most 1 non-resident employee, and see 1 customer per 2 hours.
Fences: Fences, hedges and walls fall under the city's own chapter, Ch. 16.22.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Murrieta code Murrieta limits each detached accessory structure to 1,000 sq ft, and all together to 40% of the required rear yard.

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

Running a business from home

Murrieta code Murrieta home businesses need a city business license, may have at most 1 non-resident employee, and see 1 customer per 2 hours.

All 8 Murrieta rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed on any street except up to 48 hours before or after a recreational trip. Applies: Self-propelled RVs; stricter posted rules still apply. § 10.32.180 · code text Self-propelled recreational vehicles as defined by Section 18019 of the Health and Safety Code shall not be parked on any street except for a period not longer than forty-eight (48) hours prior to a recreational trip or forty-eight (48) hours after a recreational trip unless more restrictive parking regulations exist.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
EV-ready new homes	1 Level 2 or higher EV charger (EVSE) per enclosed garage. Applies: One- and two-family homes, and multifamily homes with private garages. § 16.44.115 · code text Installation of one Level 2 or greater EVSE per enclosed garage
Solar permit process	Administrative approval and all required permits once a complete application meets the checklist; this does not cover utility grid connection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 15.62.050 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Tree removal

Murrieta code No tree removal permit is needed. The director may waive any requirement of the chapter.

All 4 Murrieta rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before development in flood hazard, flood-erosion or mudflow areas, including fill, storage and watercourse changes. § 15.56.120 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard, areas of flood-related erosion hazard or areas of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) established in Section 15.56.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered professional engineer or architect certifies no flood level increase. § 15.56.200 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new 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	At least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved structures; nonresidential buildings may floodproof instead. § 15.56.150 · code text New construction and substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated a minimum one foot above the base flood elevation (i.e. finish floor elevation one foot above base flood elevation). At least 1 foot higher than the FIRM depth number in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zone AO with a depth number on the FIRM. § 15.56.150 · code text New construction and substantial improvement in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as a minimum one foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zone AO with no depth number on the FIRM. § 15.56.150 · code text New construction and substantial improvement in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as a minimum one foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Grading and erosion control

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
Erosion control plan	Every grading plan needs an erosion and sediment control plan; no permitted grading until the city engineer approves it. § 15.52.390 · code text All grading plans, regardless of the date of submittal, shall include an erosion and sediment control plan designed to limit erosion of all disturbed portions of the property and to minimize the transport of soil onto downgrade perimeters, curbs, gutters, streets, drainage inlets, private and public stormwater conveyance systems, environmentally sensitive areas, adjacent properties and watercourses in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Subarticle 6 of the Grading Manual.
Grading without a permit	Excavation for basements, footings, retaining walls, septic systems or wells under a building permit (not the fill, and not over 2 feet unsupported height when done); excavation of 50 cubic yards or less that is under 2 feet deep or makes no cut slope over 5 feet high and steeper than 2:1; fill under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5:1, or under 3 feet deep and not supporting structures, 50 cubic yards or less per lot and not blocking a drainage course Applies: Not for work in open space, waterways, wetlands or floodplains § 15.52.040 · code text An excavation below the existing finished grade for recompaction within the building zone (within five (5) feet of footings) or for basements and footings for a building, mobile home, retaining wall, septic system, well, or structure authorized by a building permit.

Building on a hillside

Murrieta code A geotechnical and soils report by a registered geotechnical engineer, detailed enough to support the design, is required. At most 30 feet.

All 10 Murrieta rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Murrieta code No more than 40 dB. No more than 45 dB.

All 4 Murrieta rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
When lights must be off	No curfew; these lights may stay on all night. Applies: Class II lighting (walkways, private roads, parking, security) in the Palomar dark sky zone. § 16.18.110 · code text All Class II lighting may remain on all night. Off from 11:00 p.m. to sunrise. Applies: Class III decorative lighting (flag poles, trees, fountains, building walls) in the Palomar dark sky zone. § 16.18.110 · code text All Class III lighting shall be off between eleven (11:00) p.m. and sunrise.
Shielding	Fully shielded and aimed to minimize light spill into the night sky and onto neighbors. Applies: Palomar dark sky zone (30 miles around the Palomar Observatory); holiday decorations are exempt. § 16.18.110 · code text When lighting is allowed by this section, it shall be fully shielded and shall be focused to minimize the spill light into the night sky and onto adjacent properties.

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

Murrieta code All garage and driveway spaces must stay available for parking. 6 or fewer occupants, not counting a house manager, and never more than 7.

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

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Murrieta code 15 minutes Ringing alarm: deactivate within 30 minutes after notice. Older alarms get a timing device if not deactivated within 30 minutes.

All 6 Murrieta rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Murrieta code At most 120 days per calendar year Remove not later than 14 days after the date of the event

All 8 Murrieta rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Murrieta rules on this

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

Fences, hedges and walls (Ch. 16.22)
Animal keeping (§ 16.44.040)
Public facilities impact fee (§ 16.36.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Murrieta?

Fences, hedges and walls fall under the city's own chapter, Ch. 16.22. Murrieta also has a related rule: Fences, hedges and walls (Ch. 16.22).

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

Murrieta's code: Administrative approval and all required permits once a complete application meets the checklist; this does not cover utility grid connection. (Small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 15.62.050).

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

Murrieta's code: A development permit is needed before development in flood hazard, flood-erosion or mudflow areas, including fill, storage and watercourse changes. (§ 15.56.120); At least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved structures; nonresidential buildings may floodproof instead.) (§ 15.56.150).

What are the grading rules in Murrieta?

Murrieta's code: Excavation for basements, footings, retaining walls, septic systems or wells under a building permit (not the fill, and not over 2 feet unsupported height when done); excavation of 50 cubic yards or less that is under 2 feet deep or makes no cut slope over 5 feet high and steeper than 2:1; fill under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5:1, or under 3 feet deep and not supporting structures, 50 cubic yards or less per lot and not blocking a drainage course (Not for work in open space, waterways, wetlands or floodplains) (§ 15.52.040); Every grading plan needs an erosion and sediment control plan; no permitted grading until the city engineer approves it. (§ 15.52.390).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Murrieta?

Murrieta's code: Fully shielded and aimed to minimize light spill into the night sky and onto neighbors. (Palomar dark sky zone (30 miles around the Palomar Observatory); holiday decorations are exempt.) (§ 16.18.110); No curfew; these lights may stay on all night. (Class II lighting (walkways, private roads, parking, security) in the Palomar dark sky zone.) (§ 16.18.110).

Can I run a family child care home in Murrieta?

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

General information, not legal advice.

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