Rancho Palos Verdes · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. A fence or wall in a rear or side setback next to another parcel or a city viewing station needs a permit, with listed exceptions.
Key points
- Front-yard fences: In residential zones, fences, walls and hedges in the front yard setback are limited to 42 inches (city rule).
- Accessory height: Accessory structures are limited to 12 feet; detached garages, chimneys, treehouses and flagpoles may be exempt if they do not significantly block views.
- Home businesses: A home business needs a permit from the director and may have at most 1 employee who does not live there (city rule).
Each rule below is marked Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Palos Verdes code In residential zones, fences, walls and hedges in the front yard setback are limited to 42 inches (city rule).
All 3 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Rancho Palos Verdes code Accessory structures are limited to 12 feet; detached garages, chimneys, treehouses and flagpoles may be exempt if they do not significantly block views.
Running a business from home
Rancho Palos Verdes code A home business needs a permit from the director and may have at most 1 employee who does not live there (city rule).
All 3 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Rancho Palos Verdes code Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Up to 800 square feet of floor area.
All 15 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Rancho Palos Verdes code Vehicles over 22 feet long, 8 feet high, 7 feet wide, or 10,000+ pounds need a permit for street parking. No more than 72 hours in a row.
All 5 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Rancho Palos Verdes code A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits the city requires. Must not extend into a setback area.
All 5 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Rancho Palos Verdes code 2 large animals, plus 1 more per extra 5,000 square feet of lot area, up to 4 in total. No permit is needed for the allowed number of large animals.
All 3 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Rancho Palos Verdes code Development permits for all development, substantial improvements or damage, and manufactured homes are reviewed for flood-prone areas. Use flood-resistant materials and utility equipment below 1 foot above the effective base flood elevation.
All 3 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
Rancho Palos Verdes code Each bulb may give no more than 2,200 lumens. Up to 16,000 lumens total per lot or parcel.
All 6 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →
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
Rancho Palos Verdes code Audible alarms must automatically stop within 15 minutes. A fee set by city council resolution applies for each false alarm.
All 3 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
| Other temporary signs |
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Trash and recycling carts
Rancho Palos Verdes code Containers may not be left at the place of collection after 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Containers may go out no earlier than 4:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled collection.
All 4 Rancho Palos Verdes rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Rancho Palos Verdes rules on this
Rancho Palos Verdes's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Grading permit (§ 17.76.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a family child care home in Rancho Palos Verdes?
California law sets this for every city, including Rancho Palos Verdes: 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)).
What signs may I put up at my home in Rancho Palos Verdes?
Rancho Palos Verdes's code: Up to 3 yard signs per property, each up to 5 square feet. No permit. Not illuminated. (Yard signs on residential properties. Maximum height 5 feet for inverted L signs and 3 feet for other yard signs.) (§ 17.75.100).
General information, not legal advice.
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