Porterville · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Porterville

Porterville sets fence heights by yard and lets the Zoning Administrator allow 8-foot side and rear fences with a building permit. Many home businesses are not allowed, including engine and vehicle repair, fix-it and welding shops, animal grooming and healing arts.

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Key points

Fence heights: Required front yard: solid fences at most 3.5 feet, at least 50% open fences or hedges 4 feet; side and rear yards, 7 feet.
Accessory limits: Residential detached accessory structures: at most 18 feet, or 24 feet if stepped back; 1,200 square feet total unless the Zoning Administrator approves more.
Home businesses: Home occupations need zoning conformance approval and may have at most 6 patrons a day, with no employees who live elsewhere.

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

Fences and walls

Porterville code Required front yard: solid fences at most 3.5 feet, at least 50% open fences or hedges 4 feet; side and rear yards, 7 feet.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Porterville code Residential detached accessory structures: at most 18 feet, or 24 feet if stepped back; 1,200 square feet total unless the Zoning Administrator approves more.

All 9 Porterville rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Porterville code Home occupations need zoning conformance approval and may have at most 6 patrons a day, with no employees who live elsewhere.

All 11 Porterville rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Porterville code Administrative, nondiscretionary review. The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the City checklist. Electronic submittal accepted. Only 1 inspection where feasible.

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

Swimming pools

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Setback from property lines	Water's edge at least 5 feet from any lot line or building; not in required front yard or landscaped areas. Applies: Applies to swimming pools in any zoning district. § 300.12 · code text Swimming pools located in any zoning district shall not be located in the required front yard, required landscaped areas or closer than five (5) feet from the water’s edge to any lot line or building.

Pets, chickens and bees

Porterville code No. Honeybees are banned, except the number needed to pollinate crops on the property while pollination is needed. Yes, up to 3 hens.

All 10 Porterville rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Porterville code What Porterville'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. § 7-141.3 · 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 7-140.2 of this article.
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. § 7-142.7 · code text 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 (1') at any point within the city of Porterville. 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. § 7-142.7 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Porterville 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 AE, AH and A1-30 flood zones. § 7-142.1 · 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 flood map depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the flood map gives a depth number. § 7-142.1 · 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 At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the flood map gives no depth number. § 7-142.1 · code text or elevated at least two feet (2') 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 base flood elevation on the flood map. § 7-142.1 · 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 subsection 7-141.2C of this article. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: One allowed option for new or substantially improved homes in some unnumbered A zones. § 7-142.1 · code text A height of at least two feet (2') above the highest adjacent grade 18 inches above the highest top of curb across the front of the lot. Applies: One allowed option for new or substantially improved homes in some unnumbered A zones. § 7-142.1 · code text Eighteen inches (18") above the highest top of curb elevation across the front of the lot

Building on a hillside

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Soils or geology report	A geologic and soils report is required. Applies: Hillside development permit applications. § 501.03 · code text A geologic and soils report prepared by a licensed professional, in sufficient detail to substantiate and support the design concepts presented in the application as submitted.
Grading and retaining walls	No grading except the house pad and access to it. Applies: Hillside sites with an average slope of 26% or steeper. § 501.06 · code text Twenty six percent (26%) and steeper: No grading shall be allowed other than house pad and access to pad. Retaining walls no higher than 6 feet in total height. Applies: Walls holding back a cut or fill slope in hillside development. § 501.06 · code text The cumulative height of any retaining wall built to retain a cut slope or fill slope shall not exceed six feet (6') in height.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Exemptions	Expansion of existing development is not charged. Applies: The park impact fee on new development. § 19-43 · code text A park impact fee is hereby established on issuance of certificate of occupancy for new development, excluding expansion of existing development, in the city.
How the park fee is set	Set by city council resolution. Applies: Park impact fee on new development, paid before the certificate of occupancy. § 19-43 · code text The city council shall, in a council resolution, set forth the specific amount of the fee

Noise and construction hours

Porterville code 55 dBA maximum level indoors. 45 dBA maximum level indoors.

All 8 Porterville rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Light at the property line	No more than ½ foot-candle. Applies: Light cast onto residentially zoned property or any property with homes. § 306.07 · code text No light, combination of lights, or activity shall cast light onto a residentially zoned property, or any property containing residential uses, exceeding one-half foot-candle.
Shielding	Lights must deflect away from neighboring properties and streets; no floodlight glare into other property or streets. § 306.07 · code text Lights shall be placed to deflect light away from adjacent properties and public streets, and to prevent adverse interference with the normal operation or enjoyment of surrounding properties. Direct or sky-reflected glare from floodlights shall not be directed into any other property or street.

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Porterville code Required parking may not be in a required front or street-facing side yard. For this rule, the required front yard setback is 20 feet.

All 10 Porterville rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Required collection service	Every property owner must receive city disposal service and pay the billing. Applies: The council sets the minimum service level by resolution. § 13-5 · code text It shall be mandatory for every property owner within the city to receive city disposal service and billing therefor, except those industrial businesses whose volume of waste might exceed what services the city could offer.

Other Porterville rules on this

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

Parking and storing RVs, boats and trailers (§ 304.11)
Grading on hillside sites (§ 501.06) — hillside development only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Porterville?

Porterville's code: Water's edge at least 5 feet from any lot line or building; not in required front yard or landscaped areas. (Applies to swimming pools in any zoning district.) (§ 300.12).

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

Porterville's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 7-141.3); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 flood zones.) (§ 7-142.1).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Porterville?

Porterville's code: No grading except the house pad and access to it. (Hillside sites with an average slope of 26% or steeper.) (§ 501.06); Retaining walls no higher than 6 feet in total height. (Walls holding back a cut or fill slope in hillside development.) (§ 501.06).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Porterville?

Porterville's code: Set by city council resolution. (Park impact fee on new development, paid before the certificate of occupancy.) (§ 19-43).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Porterville?

Porterville's code: Lights must deflect away from neighboring properties and streets; no floodlight glare into other property or streets. (§ 306.07); No more than ½ foot-candle. (Light cast onto residentially zoned property or any property with homes.) (§ 306.07).

Can I run a family child care home in Porterville?

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

Porterville's code: Every property owner must receive city disposal service and pay the billing. (The council sets the minimum service level by resolution.) (§ 13-5).

General information, not legal advice.

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