Orange Cove · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Orange Cove

Orange Cove limits fence, hedge and wall heights by yard and keeps corner, driveway and alley sight areas clear. Its accessory structure height rule applies only in its multiple-family districts R-2-A and R-3-A.

Ask about building on your lot in Orange Cove See coverage

Key points

Fence heights: Front yard fences: at most 3 feet, or 4 feet for open wire mesh; on side and rear lines of interior lots, 6 feet.
Accessory height: In the R-2-A and R-3-A multiple-family districts, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet to plate height.

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

Fences and walls

Orange Cove code Front yard fences: at most 3 feet, or 4 feet for open wire mesh; on side and rear lines of interior lots, 6 feet.

All 7 Orange Cove rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory buildings can be at most 1 story or 12 feet to plate height. Applies: R-2-A medium density multiple-family residential district. § 17.19.050 · code text Accessory buildings erected in this district shall not exceed one story, or twelve feet to plate height. Accessory buildings can be at most 1 story or 12 feet to plate height. Applies: R-3-A high density multiple-family residential district. § 17.24.050 · code text Accessory buildings erected in this district shall not exceed one story or twelve feet to plate height.

RV and boat parking

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours on the street. Applies: Applies to utility trailers no longer than 20 feet, parked in front of the property they serve; other trailers may not park on the street. § 10.32.032 · code text it shall be lawful for any person to park or detach a utility trailer no longer than twenty feet in length on the street in the city for a period of no more than seventy-two hours for any lawful purpose related to the real property adjacent to the right-of-way where the utility trailer is parked.

Pets, chickens and bees

Orange Cove code No, except as part of an existing agricultural operation. Horses, cows, goats, sheep and similar animals are not household pets or an accessory home use, unless otherwise lawfully permitted.

All 4 Orange Cove rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. § 17.48.110 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 17.48.060.
Building in a floodway	Fill and new development are not allowed unless a professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 17.48.250 · 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 must be at least 2 feet above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 17.48.200 · code text elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone; the base flood elevation is set by a method in the code. § 17.48.200 · code text In an A zone, elevated to a minimum of two feet above the base flood elevation, as determined by the community. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in all flood zones other than A and AO. § 17.48.200 · code text In all other zones, elevated to a minimum of two feet above the base flood elevation.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Orange Cove code Changes that do not add floor area are exempt. Additions to a single-family home that do not create a new unit are exempt.

All 3 Orange Cove rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	Construction is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Applies: Monday to Friday; June 1 to September 15 work may start after 6:00 a.m.; unless a permit says otherwise. § 7.27.604 · code text Unless otherwise expressly provided by permit, construction activities are only permitted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Construction hours on weekends and holidays	Construction is allowed only from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applies: Saturday and Sunday; unless a permit says otherwise. § 7.27.604 · code text Unless otherwise expressly provided by permit, construction activities are only permitted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Quiet hours	Quiet hours are 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Applies: Friday and Saturday nights. § 7.27.602 · code text No person shall make, or cause or suffer or permit to be made or caused, on any premises owned or occupied by him/her, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on any Friday or Saturday, or between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of any other day, any sporting, business, or social event, race, or other activity in such manner as to disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Applies: All days other than Friday and Saturday. § 7.27.602 · code text No person shall make, or cause or suffer or permit to be made or caused, on any premises owned or occupied by him/her, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on any Friday or Saturday, or between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of any other day, any sporting, business, or social event, race, or other activity in such manner as to disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.

Garage and yard sales

Orange Cove code Each permit allows a sale of no more than 3 days in a row. A permit is required; the fee is set by city council resolution.

All 4 Orange Cove 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)

Trash and recycling carts

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Required collection service	Garbage and rubbish collection is compulsory and universal. § 8.20.010 · code text The maintenance of the public health, safety and sanitation requires and it is the purpose and intention of this ordinance to make the collection of garbage and rubbish within the city compulsory and universal;
Where carts are kept	Between collections, keep the can in a place the garbage collector can reach and where it is not a nuisance. § 8.20.030 · code text All persons occupying premises where garbage is produced or accumulated shall provide and keep in a place accessible to the garbage collector, and where it will not constitute a nuisance, a water-tight galvanized can for receiving and holding all of the garbage that accumulates on the premises between the times of successive collection.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Orange Cove?

In the R-2-A and R-3-A multiple-family districts, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet to plate height.

What are the rules for building in an Orange Cove flood zone?

Orange Cove's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. (§ 17.48.110); The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest nearby ground. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM.) (§ 17.48.200).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Orange Cove?

Orange Cove's code: Construction is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday; June 1 to September 15 work may start after 6:00 a.m.; unless a permit says otherwise.) (§ 7.27.604); Quiet hours are 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Friday and Saturday nights.) (§ 7.27.602).

Can I run a family child care home in Orange Cove?

California law sets this for every city, including Orange Cove: 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 Orange Cove?

Orange Cove's code: Garbage and rubbish collection is compulsory and universal. (§ 8.20.010); Between collections, keep the can in a place the garbage collector can reach and where it is not a nuisance. (§ 8.20.030).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Orange Cove property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Orange Cove

Orange Cove Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Orange Cove

Buying & selling in Orange Cove

Foreclosure & auctions in Orange Cove

Orange Cove overview

Zoning districts in Orange Cove