Rancho Cucamonga · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga sets its own rules for fences, accessory structures and home businesses on residential lots. Fence height depends on the yard, and accessory limits depend on the type of structure.
Key points
- Fence height: Front-yard fences: at most 3 ft, or 6 ft if the top 3 ft is 90% open; rear and interior side yards, 6 ft.
- Sheds and garages: Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.
- Home businesses: Every home business needs a city home occupation permit, then a city business license once the permit is approved.
Each rule below is marked Rancho Cucamonga code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Rancho Cucamonga code Front-yard fences: at most 3 ft, or 6 ft if the top 3 ft is 90% open; rear and interior side yards, 6 ft.
All 6 Rancho Cucamonga rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Rancho Cucamonga code Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.
All 24 Rancho Cucamonga rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Permit |
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RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
Rancho Cucamonga code All parking spaces must be EV Installed. 15% of parking spaces must be EV Ready, and another 5% EV Installed.
All 6 Rancho Cucamonga rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Rancho Cucamonga code Exempt: fruit- or nut-bearing trees. Exempt: trees the public works director finds will damage existing public improvements.
All 14 Rancho Cucamonga rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Swimming pools
| Pool barrier |
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|---|
Building on a hillside
Rancho Cucamonga code A geologic and soils report is required. Grading allowed if landforms keep their natural character; contour grading, limited cut and fill or split levels may be required.
All 3 Rancho Cucamonga rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
| How the park fee is set |
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Outdoor lighting
| Fixture height |
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|---|---|
| Shielding |
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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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
Rancho Cucamonga code 1 per 3 units, in addition to the unit spaces. 1 per 5 units, in addition to the unit spaces.
All 8 Rancho Cucamonga rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| False alarm fees |
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|---|---|
| False alarms before a fee |
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Signs on homes
Rancho Cucamonga code No permit needed: up to 6 square feet, up to 8 feet high, not above the roofline. No permit needed: one sign per dwelling unit or rentable room, up to 1 square foot, attached to the building.
All 7 Rancho Cucamonga rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Rancho Cucamonga code Each occupant must use an authorized collector for solid waste and pay the fees. Put organics in the containers designated for refuse, recyclables and organics collection, provided by the authorized collector.
All 5 Rancho Cucamonga rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Historic homes
Rancho Cucamonga code More than 50 years old, or on the inventory of historic resources. A certificate of appropriateness is required.
All 10 Rancho Cucamonga rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Rancho Cucamonga rules on this
Rancho Cucamonga's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Number of animals by zone (§ 17.88.020)
- SB 9 urban lot splits (§ 17.36.030)
- Building in a flood hazard area (§ 19.12.050)
- Yard sales: days, hours and items (§ 17.92.040)
- Erosion control during grading (§ 15.12.140)
- Noise standards for homes (§ 17.66.050)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Rancho Cucamonga?
Every home business needs a city home occupation permit, then a city business license once the permit is approved.
What are the pool fence and setback rules in Rancho Cucamonga?
Rancho Cucamonga's code: An enclosure meeting the California Swimming Pool Safety Act must separate the pool or spa from the home. (The first required drowning prevention measure for a new pool or spa, or a remodel of an existing one.) (§ 15.12.070).
What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Rancho Cucamonga?
Rancho Cucamonga's code: Set by city council resolution. (Development impact fees.) (§ 3.68.050).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Rancho Cucamonga?
Rancho Cucamonga's code: Lights must point downward or toward buildings and be fully shielded. (§ 17.58.050); No higher than 12 feet. (On residential properties.) (§ 17.58.050).
Can I run a family child care home in Rancho Cucamonga?
California law sets this for every city, including Rancho Cucamonga: 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 Rancho Cucamonga?
Rancho Cucamonga's code: A service charge set by city council resolution applies. (Each third and later police response to a false alarm at the premises in a fiscal year.) (§ 8.26.020); A service charge applies starting with the third police response to a false alarm in a fiscal year. (§ 8.26.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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