Perris · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Perris

Perris sets fence heights by yard in residential zones and requires a 6-foot decorative block wall where side or rear yards front public streets. Two-story accessory buildings are allowed only in the A1 and R-20,000 zones, up to 30 feet.

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Key points

Fence heights: Residential front yards: fences at most 5 feet, with the part over 3 feet at least 50 percent open; behind it, 6 feet.
Accessory buildings: Single-story accessory buildings: at most 20 feet tall, set back 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.
Home businesses: A home occupation may use 1 room or 25 percent of the dwelling, with 1 customer vehicle and 1 non-resident employee at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Perris code Residential front yards: fences at most 5 feet, with the part over 3 feet at least 50 percent open; behind it, 6 feet.

All 5 Perris rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Perris code Single-story accessory buildings: at most 20 feet tall, set back 5 feet from interior side and rear lines.

All 10 Perris rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Perris code A home occupation may use 1 room or 25 percent of the dwelling, with 1 customer vehicle and 1 non-resident employee at a time.

All 7 Perris rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Perris code 2 lots of about equal area; neither may be less than 40% of the original lot. Zoning standards are relaxed as needed to allow 2 units of at least 800 square feet.

All 19 Perris rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Perris code The building official approves applications meeting the city checklist, laws and safety standards, and issues all needed permits. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted.

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

Tree removal

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Exemptions	A mature tree shading a home's backyard is exempt; front yard trees, including the street tree, are not. Applies: Trees on private home lots. § 19.71.050 · code text A mature tree shading the backyard of a home is exempt from regulation, however, front yard trees, including the street tree, are not. Hazardous or nuisance trees are not protected. § 19.71.050 · code text Tree protection extends generally to all public trees and some private trees that contribute to the city's urban canopy cover and do not fall into the category of hazardous or nuisance trees.
Protected trees	Includes trees required by project approval and trees on sensitive land: open space, flood zones, conservation areas, future trails. Applies: Private property. § 19.71.050 · code text Protected privately owned trees include, but are not limited to, the following:

Pets, chickens and bees

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 4 dogs and 4 cats, each 4 months or older. Applies: Unless permitted as a kennel; applies to animals kept more than 30 days. § 8.02.040 · code text Unless permitted as a kennel it is unlawful for any person to keep within the city, in any private residence or on any other parcel, for a period longer than 30 days, more than: (1) Any four dogs, four months of age or older; and (2) Any four cats, four months of age or older.

Building in a flood zone

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 15.04.030 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 15.03.020.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: In Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; the 1-foot limit applies at any point in the city. § 15.05.060 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1—30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city. No fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level increase. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway, during the base flood discharge. § 15.05.060 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zones AE, AH and A1-30; the lowest floor includes any basement. § 15.05.010 · code text In AE, AH, A1—30 Zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Above the highest adjacent grade, at least as high as the FIRM depth number in feet. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a FIRM depth number; the lowest floor includes any basement. § 15.05.010 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no FIRM depth number; the lowest floor includes any basement. § 15.05.010 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone with no FIRM base flood elevations; the lowest floor includes any basement. § 15.05.010 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under section 15.04.020(3).

Noise and construction hours

Perris code 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

All 5 Perris rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Perris code What Perris's code adds
Permit	A permit is required; the fee is set by adopted resolution. § 5.32.040 · code text A permit fee established by adopted resolution shall be charged for each permit issued under this chapter.

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

Perris code Parking is the development code minimum, plus 1 space per outside employee and 1 per resident vehicle. No on-street parking. A large residential care permit is required, decided by the director of planning and community development.

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

Parking spaces required for homes

Perris code RV parking and maneuvering is limited to the carport or garage and a driveway no wider than the garage. Extra RV paving up to 20 feet wide beside the garage driveway, back to the rear of the house.

All 19 Perris rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Perris code What Perris's code adds
False alarm fees	Administrative fines, amounts set by city council resolution. Applies: More than 3 false alarms in a 12-month period (owner and tenant of the building). § 9.60.060 · code text The owner and tenant of a building with more than three false alarms in a 12-month period shall be subject to administrative fines.
False alarms before a fee	Up to 3 false alarms per 12 months before fines; 30-day adjustment period for a new, improved or replaced alarm. Applies: Owner and tenant of the building. § 9.60.060 · code text The owner and tenant of a building with more than three false alarms in a 12-month period shall be subject to administrative fines.

Signs on homes

Perris code Address identification sign; minimum character height 4 inches. Address identification sign; minimum character height 6 inches for each unit and 12 inches for each building or complex.

All 4 Perris rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Perris rules on this

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

Development impact fees (§ 19.68.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Perris?

Perris's code: Includes trees required by project approval and trees on sensitive land: open space, flood zones, conservation areas, future trails. (Private property.) (§ 19.71.050); A mature tree shading a home's backyard is exempt; front yard trees, including the street tree, are not. (Trees on private home lots.) (§ 19.71.050).

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

Perris's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.04.030); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in Zones AE, AH and A1-30; the lowest floor includes any basement.) (§ 15.05.010).

What are the garage sale rules in Perris?

Perris's code: A permit is required; the fee is set by adopted resolution. (§ 5.32.040).

Can I run a family child care home in Perris?

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

Perris's code: Administrative fines, amounts set by city council resolution. (More than 3 false alarms in a 12-month period (owner and tenant of the building).) (§ 9.60.060); Up to 3 false alarms per 12 months before fines; 30-day adjustment period for a new, improved or replaced alarm. (Owner and tenant of the building.) (§ 9.60.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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