Paramount · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Paramount
In Paramount, fence and wall height in R zones depends on location: required front yards allow much lower fences than the area behind them. Home businesses need a permit and a business license and may use only part of the main building.
Key points
- Front-yard fences: City rule: walls, fences or hedges in any required front yard in an R zone are limited to 42 inches.
- Fences behind: City rule: behind the required front yard in R zones, fences and walls are limited to 8 feet, with some exceptions.
- Permit: City rule: a home occupation needs a home occupation permit and a business license, applied for with the City Clerk.
- Space used: City rule: a home occupation may use no more than 1 room (25% of total floor area) or 100 square feet, whichever is less.
- Main building only: City rule: only the main building may be used; no part of the garage, any other building or outside space.
- Employees: City rule: no employees or assistants may work on the premises except members of the resident family.
Each rule below is marked Paramount code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Paramount code City rule: walls, fences or hedges in any required front yard in an R zone are limited to 42 inches. City rule: behind the required front yard in R zones, fences and walls are limited to 8 feet, with some exceptions.
All 4 Paramount rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Space used |
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|---|---|
| Employees |
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| Permit |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
Paramount code The Building Official issues all permits when the application meets the City checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted. Apply in person; electronic filing and electronic signatures are not accepted.
All 5 Paramount rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
| Setback from property lines |
|
|---|
Pets, chickens and bees
| Bees |
|
|---|
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|---|
| Height of the lowest floor |
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Park and impact fees for new homes
| Exemptions |
|
|---|
Noise and construction hours
Paramount code Construction is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The noise limit is 62 decibels.
All 6 Paramount rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
Paramount code Each sale may last up to 2 days in a row. A Planning Director permit is required with proof of residence; post it where it can be seen from the street.
All 5 Paramount rules on garage and yard sales, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| 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 |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Parking spaces required for homes
Paramount code 20-foot by 20-foot minimum interior size. 20-foot by 20-foot minimum interior size.
All 8 Paramount rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Paramount code Separate designated materials and place them in the designated black, blue, brown and green containers. Carts must be out on the designated collection day, before collection starts in the district
All 4 Paramount rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Paramount rules on this
Paramount's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Two-unit homes and urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 17.08.130) — single-family zones only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Paramount?
City rule: a home occupation needs a home occupation permit and a business license, applied for with the City Clerk. City rule: a home occupation may use no more than 1 room (25% of total floor area) or 100 square feet, whichever is less. City rule: only the main building may be used; no part of the garage, any other building or outside space. City rule: no employees or assistants may work on the premises except members of the resident family.
What are the pool fence and setback rules in Paramount?
Paramount's code: At least 5 feet from any exterior property line or building on the lot; not in any front yard. (Applies in any zone.) (§ 17.44.310).
Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Paramount?
Paramount's code: No; beehives and bees are not allowed anywhere in the city. (Applies within city limits.) (§ 6.44.010).
What are the rules for building in a Paramount flood zone?
Paramount's code: Any construction or development needs a development permit before it starts. (Within any special flood hazard area.) (§ 15.32.130); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone and all other flood zones; the lowest floor includes the basement.) (§ 15.32.170).
Can I run a family child care home in Paramount?
California law sets this for every city, including Paramount: 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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