Rancho Mirage · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on where the fence stands on the parcel, and accessory height depends on director approval.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 36 inches in the required front and street-side setbacks and to 6 feet elsewhere on the parcel (city rule).
Accessory height: Detached accessory structures are limited to 12 feet, or 16 feet with the director's written approval and a 10-foot setback plus extra setback.
Barred businesses: The city bars home businesses such as barber shops, massage parlors, vehicle repair, animal breeding, and medical or dental offices.

Each rule below is marked Rancho Mirage 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 Mirage code Fences are limited to 36 inches in the required front and street-side setbacks and to 6 feet elsewhere on the parcel (city rule).

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Rancho Mirage code Detached accessory structures are limited to 12 feet, or 16 feet with the director's written approval and a 10-foot setback plus extra setback.

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

Running a business from home

Rancho Mirage code What Rancho Mirage's code adds
Businesses not allowed	Adult business; barber and beauty shop; businesses involving breeding, grooming, harboring, raising, or training dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises; carpentry and cabinet making, except a normal wood-working hobby operation; dance club/night club; fortune telling (psychic); massage parlor; medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini-storage; plant nursery; storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades; vehicle repair, upholstery, automobile detailing, and painting, except mobile minor repair or detailing at the customer's location; welding and machining; other similar uses determined by the director not to be incidental to or compatible with residential activities § 17.44.040 · code text The following list presents example commercial uses that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, are suitable only in nonresidential zoning districts, and are therefore prohibited:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Rancho Mirage code The building official issues all needed permits when the application meets the city's checklist and applicable laws. Administrative, non-discretionary expedited review. The permit is issued when the application meets the city-approved checklist.

All 3 Rancho Mirage rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Rancho Mirage code What Rancho Mirage's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	An abandoned, unfiltered or unmaintained pool, spa or similar water feature with polluted water is unlawful and a public nuisance. Applies: Pools, spas, ponds, reservoirs or similar man-made bodies of water not already regulated elsewhere in the city code. § 14.60.280 · code text It is unlawful and it shall be a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises or property in the city to maintain upon any such premises or property any swimming pool, spa or similar man-made feature, reservoir, pond, or such other body of water not already regulated by Municipal Code Section 8.16.170, which is abandoned, unattended, unfiltered, or not otherwise maintained resulting in the water becoming polluted.

Pets, chickens and bees

Rancho Mirage code Yes, up to 2 permanent hive colonies. Yes, up to 4 permanent hive colonies.

All 4 Rancho Mirage rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Rancho Mirage code What Rancho Mirage's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins in any special flood hazard area. § 15.28.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.28.070.
Building in a floodway	Fill, construction or other new development is banned unless a registered professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation. § 15.28.220 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in (the base) flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zone A. § 15.28.170 · code text In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation; such base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods in Section 15.28.150(B). The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than AO and A. § 15.28.170 · code text In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. (The state of California recommends the lowest floor be elevated at least two feet above the base flood elevation.)

Grading and erosion control

Rancho Mirage code You need a grading permit to stockpile or deposit more than 50 cubic yards of earth. Fill slopes may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical (2:1).

All 3 Rancho Mirage rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Rancho Mirage code Access roads may be no steeper than 15 percent grade on any part. Natural slopes over 25 percent must stay undisturbed.

All 4 Rancho Mirage rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Rancho Mirage code Noise may not exceed 55 dBA. Noise may not exceed 50 dBA.

All 6 Rancho Mirage rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

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

Rancho Mirage code 2 covered spaces for each unit. 2 spaces within an enclosed garage.

All 9 Rancho Mirage rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Rancho Mirage code Alarms must have a device that limits the audible sound to no longer than 30 minutes. The service charge is $25.

All 5 Rancho Mirage rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Rancho Mirage code What Rancho Mirage's code adds
When carts must come back	Receptacles may be visible from the street for 12 hours after the scheduled pickup, then must be screened again. § 8.12.090 · code text A receptacle may be viewed from a public street or place twelve hours prior to the scheduled pickup and twelve hours thereafter.
When carts may go to the curb	Receptacles may be visible from the street starting 12 hours before the scheduled pickup. § 8.12.090 · code text A receptacle may be viewed from a public street or place twelve hours prior to the scheduled pickup and twelve hours thereafter.
Where carts are kept	Screen receptacles from view from any public street or public place. § 8.12.090 · code text All receptacles shall be screened from view from any public street or public place.

Historic homes

Rancho Mirage code 50 years. An application is required for major exterior alterations.

All 7 Rancho Mirage rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Rancho Mirage rules on this

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

Outdoor lighting shielding and glare (§ 17.18.050)
Development impact fees for new homes (Ch. 3.29)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Rancho Mirage?

The city bars home businesses such as barber shops, massage parlors, vehicle repair, animal breeding, and medical or dental offices.

What are the rules for building in a Rancho Mirage flood zone?

Rancho Mirage's code: You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins in any special flood hazard area. (§ 15.28.130); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in flood zone A.) (§ 15.28.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Rancho Mirage?

California law sets this for every city, including Rancho Mirage: 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 Rancho Mirage?

Rancho Mirage's code: Receptacles may be visible from the street for 12 hours after the scheduled pickup, then must be screened again. (§ 8.12.090); Receptacles may be visible from the street starting 12 hours before the scheduled pickup. (§ 8.12.090).

General information, not legal advice.

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Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — full text

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Rancho Mirage overview

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