Rolling Hills Estates · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Rolling Hills Estates
Rolling Hills Estates sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and the overlay district, and lots in the H overlay district get extra room for a stable or barn.
Key points
- Fence height: Fences are limited to 24 inches in front yards and street-side yards, and 72 inches in rear and side setbacks (city rule).
- Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings are limited to 16 feet and 500 square feet in total; detached garages for required parking are exempt from the size limit.
- Home businesses: A home business may use at most 1 room of the home and no other building, and only resident family members may work there.
Each rule below is marked Rolling Hills Estates code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Rolling Hills Estates code Fences are limited to 24 inches in front yards and street-side yards, and 72 inches in rear and side setbacks (city rule).
All 4 Rolling Hills Estates rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Rolling Hills Estates code Accessory buildings are limited to 16 feet and 500 square feet in total; detached garages for required parking are exempt from the size limit.
Running a business from home
Rolling Hills Estates code A home business may use at most 1 room of the home and no other building, and only resident family members may work there.
All 4 Rolling Hills Estates rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Rolling Hills Estates code Each new lot must be at least 40% of the original lot's area. At least 15 feet wide.
All 7 Rolling Hills Estates rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Rolling Hills Estates code Administrative review; a building or other ministerial permit; only 1 inspection. You may submit by email and online.
All 4 Rolling Hills Estates rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
Rolling Hills Estates code Besides doors and gates, no openings over 50 square inches, unless rectangular and no more than 4 inches wide. Posts at least 3 by 3 inches, no more than 10 feet apart, embedded at least 18 inches.
All 12 Rolling Hills Estates rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
|
|---|
Grading and erosion control
Rolling Hills Estates code Import/export over 10 and up to 20 cubic yards, or cut/fill over 1 and up to 3 feet deep. Imports or exports over 20 cubic yards, cuts or fills over 3 feet, or grading on slopes 35% or more.
All 4 Rolling Hills Estates rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
Rolling Hills Estates code No fee for replacing existing legal homes on the same lot, unit for unit, of the same type. No fee for rehabilitating or remodeling existing legal homes.
All 6 Rolling Hills Estates rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Rolling Hills Estates code Power construction tools are allowed 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; no construction at any time on Sundays and holidays.
All 6 Rolling Hills Estates rules on noise and construction hours, 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 |
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
|
|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
|
| Where carts are kept |
|
Historic homes
Rolling Hills Estates code The planning commission may suspend action on a permit application for up to 180 days The planning commission considers architectural design, arrangement, texture, materials, color and other pertinent factors
All 6 Rolling Hills Estates rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Rolling Hills Estates rules on this
Rolling Hills Estates's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Permit to keep more horses (§ 17.36.030) — lots in the H district only
- Animals allowed on residential lots (Ch. 17.46)
- Outdoor light fixtures in front yards (§ 17.06.365) — front yards and street-side yards
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules for building in a Rolling Hills Estates flood zone?
Rolling Hills Estates's code: Before any construction or development permit is issued, the city decides whether the site is flood-prone. (§ 15.28.300).
Can I run a family child care home in Rolling Hills Estates?
California law sets this for every city, including Rolling Hills Estates: 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 Rolling Hills Estates?
Rolling Hills Estates's code: Remove containers no later than 8:00 p.m. on the regular collection day (regular collection day) (§ 8.20.080); Not before 4:00 p.m. on the day before the regularly scheduled collection day (§ 8.20.080).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Rolling Hills Estates property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question