Rialto · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rialto

Rialto sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, the fence type and whether the yard faces a street.

Ask about building on your lot in Rialto See coverage

Key points

Fence height: On interior lots, solid front-yard fences are limited to 3½ feet, open fences and hedges to 6 feet; side and rear yards, 6 feet.
Yard coverage: Accessory buildings may cover at most 25% of a rear yard; in single-family zones, all buildings together at most 30% of the lot.
Home businesses: Every home business needs a home occupation permit (city rule).

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

Fences and walls

Rialto code On interior lots, solid front-yard fences are limited to 3½ feet, open fences and hedges to 6 feet; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

All 7 Rialto rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Rialto code Accessory buildings may cover at most 25% of a rear yard; in single-family zones, all buildings together at most 30% of the lot.

All 4 Rialto rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required; it is valid only for that person, business and home. § 5.68.130 · code text A home occupation permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be valid only for the person to whom it is issued and as to the specific occupation and residence for which it is issued.

Lot splits under SB 9

Rialto code Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 8 Rialto rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Rialto code Every EV charging station needs a permit, obtained from building and safety by the owner or the owner's agent. Administrative expedited review; a complete application is checked against the checklist and standards.

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

Swimming pools

Rialto code Openings no wider than 4 inches. Wire mesh openings no larger than 2 inches.

All 12 Rialto rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins in any special flood hazard area. § 18.75.130 · 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 18.75.070.
Building in a floodway	Fill, construction or other new development is banned unless a registered professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 18.75.220 · 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	Lowest floor: above the highest adjacent ground, at least 1 foot higher than the flood map depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number. § 18.75.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least one foot higher than the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map shows no depth number. § 18.75.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least one foot higher than the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone. § 18.75.170 · code text In an A zone, elevated one foot above the base flood elevation; said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods in Section 18.75.150(B) of this chapter. The lowest floor must be 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than A and AO. § 18.75.170 · code text In all other zones, elevated one foot above the base flood elevation.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Exemptions	Exempt: changes to an existing building that add no density, use, occupancy, car trips or other impacts. Applies: Development impact fees; claim the exemption in writing with the application. § 3.33.090 · code text Alterations of an existing building where there are no increases in the existing density, use, occupancy or increases in vehicular trips, or any other impacts over and above those produced by the existing use; Exempt: replacing a destroyed or partly destroyed building with one of the same size and use, adding no impacts. Applies: Development impact fees; claim the exemption in writing with the application. § 3.33.090 · code text Replacement of a destroyed or partially destroyed building or structure with a new building or structure of the same size and use, provided that no additional impacts will be produced over and above those produced by the original use;

Noise and construction hours

Rialto code Construction is allowed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Construction is allowed from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

All 5 Rialto rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Permit	A permit is required; the city council sets the fee by resolution from time to time. § 5.69.050 · code text The fee for garage sale permits shall be set from time-to-time by resolution of the city council.

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

Rialto code An enclosed garage may not encroach into the required front yard setback. Parking spaces or structures may not encroach into the required front yard setback.

All 11 Rialto rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Rialto code A fee set by the city council by resolution applies. A fee plus a penalty, set by the city council by resolution, applies.

All 4 Rialto rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Rialto code What Rialto's code adds
Sorting organics and green waste	Deposit organic waste into the proper containers. § 8.08.210 · code text Deposit or cause to be deposited all solid waste, including gray container waste, non-organic recyclables, and organic waste generated or accumulated on the premises into the proper containers in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
When carts must come back	Remove containers from the right-of-way within 24 hours after collection. § 8.08.210 · code text Containers placed in a public right-of-way for collection shall be removed from the right-of-way within twenty-four hours after collection.
When carts may go to the curb	Not more than twenty-four hours before the normal collection time § 8.08.210 · code text no person shall place a container in a public right-of-way for collection by the appropriate solid waste franchisee more than twenty-four hours prior to the normal collection time.
Where carts are kept	Containers must not be visible from the public right-of-way. Applies: Except during the time a container is placed for collection. § 8.08.210 · code text Except during the time a container is placed for collection, no container shall be visible from the public right-of-way.

Other Rialto rules on this

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

Grading permit (§ 11.12.050)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Rialto?

Every home business needs a home occupation permit (city rule).

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

Rialto's code: You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins in any special flood hazard area. (§ 18.75.130); Lowest floor: above the highest adjacent ground, at least 1 foot higher than the flood map depth number. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number.) (§ 18.75.170).

What are the garage sale rules in Rialto?

Rialto's code: A permit is required; the city council sets the fee by resolution from time to time. (§ 5.69.050).

Can I run a family child care home in Rialto?

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

Rialto's code: Deposit organic waste into the proper containers. (§ 8.08.210); Remove containers from the right-of-way within 24 hours after collection. (§ 8.08.210).

General information, not legal advice.

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