Placentia · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Placentia
Placentia sets fence heights by yard and material, with separate wall rules in Specific Plan 10. Home occupations may not make direct sales on the premises.
Key points
- Fence heights: Required front yards: solid fences at most 3 feet, wrought iron 6 feet; side and rear yards, 6 to 8 feet.
- Accessory setbacks: In the Specific Plan 6 area, patio covers and accessory structures need a 5-foot rear yard setback.
- Home businesses: A home occupation is limited to 1 room, with no employees other than residents; its permit comes before the city business license.
Each rule below is marked Placentia code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Placentia code Required front yards: solid fences at most 3 feet, wrought iron 6 feet; side and rear yards, 6 to 8 feet.
All 5 Placentia rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Side and rear setback |
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|---|
Running a business from home
| Space used |
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|---|---|
| Employees |
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| Permit |
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| Businesses not allowed |
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RV and boat parking
Placentia code In the street side, interior side or rear yard. On a paved area outside the required building setback next to a public street (alleys excluded).
All 11 Placentia rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Tree removal
Placentia code Make a written request to public works; only dead, diseased, irreparably injured or hazardous trees qualify. Director approval, with a tree survey plan and certified arborist report.
Pets, chickens and bees
Placentia code No more than 10 chickens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks, geese, rabbits or similar animals. At least 100 feet from another person's home.
All 3 Placentia rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
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 |
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|---|---|
| How the park fee is set |
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Noise and construction hours
| Noise limit at homes |
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|---|
Garage and yard sales
| Hours |
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|---|
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 |
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Placentia code Silence the alarm within 30 minutes after the alarm officer notifies you. An automatic shut-off device may silence the alarm within 15 minutes of activation, in place of responding to a notice.
All 4 Placentia rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Placentia code Remove within 90 days of placement, and no more than 7 days after the advertised event. No more than 3 temporary signs on the same property, total area no more than 30 square feet.
All 5 Placentia rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
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|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
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Other Placentia rules on this
Placentia's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- SB 9 urban lot split (§ 22.80.021)
- SB 9 two-unit homes (§ 23.13.010) — single-family zones only
- Permit for an EV charger (Ch. 20.60)
- Grading permits (Ch. 20.40)
- Construction and grading hours (§ 23.81.170)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Placentia?
In the Specific Plan 6 area, patio covers and accessory structures need a 5-foot rear yard setback.
Can I run a business from my home in Placentia?
A home occupation is limited to 1 room, with no employees other than residents; its permit comes before the city business license.
What are the rules for building in a Placentia flood zone?
Placentia's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts. (Within any special flood hazard area.) (§ 21.16.010); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes and other structures in flood hazard areas; nonresidential buildings may be floodproofed instead.) (§ 21.20.010).
What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Placentia?
Placentia's code: The fee is set in the city's impact fee schedule; fees or park land are a condition of map approval. (Subdivisions.) (§ 5.02.070).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Placentia?
Placentia's code: The noise limit is 55 dB(A). (Noise Zone 1, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., measured on another property, for more than 30 minutes in any hour.) (§ 23.76.050); The noise limit is 50 dB(A). (Noise Zone 1, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., measured on another property, for more than 30 minutes in any hour.) (§ 23.76.050).
What are the garage sale rules in Placentia?
Placentia's code: Garage sales may run only from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (§ 23.81.030).
Can I run a family child care home in Placentia?
California law sets this for every city, including Placentia: 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 Placentia?
Placentia's code: Remove containers before 12:00 p.m. on the day after collection. (Residential collection.) (§ 8.04.110); Not before 4:00 p.m. on the day before scheduled collection. (Residential collection.) (§ 8.04.110).
General information, not legal advice.
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