San Diego County · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in San Diego County
San Diego County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. There it sets limits on fences, detached accessory buildings, rooftop solar and pool safety features, and fence height depends on the yard and the fence type.
Key points
- Front fences: Front-yard fences are limited to 42 inches, except open wire, iron or rail fences on lots of 1 acre or more in certain zones.
- Rear and side: Rear and interior side yard fences and walls, solid or open, are limited to 72 inches.
- Accessory setbacks: Detached accessory building walls must be at least 3 feet and eaves 2 feet from interior side and rear lot lines.
- Accessory size: Detached accessory buildings with any part in a required setback are limited to 1,000 square feet combined.
- New pools: A new pool at a single-family home or duplex needs a permit, a permanent enclosure from neighbors and one more listed safety feature.
- Rooftop solar: Rooftop solar on single- or two-family homes up to 38.4 kW AC or 30 kW thermal gets streamlined permitting with an online platform.
Each rule below is marked San Diego County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
San Diego County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in San Diego County have their own codes and their own pages.
Fences and walls
San Diego County code Front-yard fences are limited to 42 inches, except open wire, iron or rail fences on lots of 1 acre or more in certain zones. Rear and interior side yard fences and walls, solid or open, are limited to 72 inches.
All 4 San Diego County rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
San Diego County code Detached accessory building walls must be at least 3 feet and eaves 2 feet from interior side and rear lot lines. Detached accessory buildings with any part in a required setback are limited to 1,000 square feet combined.
All 6 San Diego County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
San Diego County code Rooftop solar on single- or two-family homes up to 38.4 kW AC or 30 kW thermal gets streamlined permitting with an online platform.
All 3 San Diego County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
San Diego County code A new pool at a single-family home or duplex needs a permit, a permanent enclosure from neighbors and one more listed safety feature.
All 10 San Diego County rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
San Diego County code A development permit is required for all construction or other development, including placing manufactured homes. No building, fill, additions, stored vehicles or materials, or other uses that raise flooding, without an engineer's No Rise Certification.
All 5 San Diego County rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
| Grading without a permit |
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|---|
Building on a hillside
San Diego County code Encroachment may not exceed 10% of the steep slope area over 25% grade. New on-site access roads: at most 300 feet or one-third of the parcel depth, whichever is less.
All 3 San Diego County 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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|---|---|
| Parkland per 1,000 residents |
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Noise and construction hours
San Diego County code 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Not allowed on Sundays or holidays, except 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for unpaid work at your own home.
All 13 San Diego County rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
San Diego County code Off from 2 hours after sunset or 30 minutes after closing, whichever is later, until 1 hour before sunrise. Off between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise.
All 12 San Diego County 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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
San Diego County code Required parking spaces must be marked, maintained and permanently available for their intended use 0.2 parking space per dwelling unit
All 5 San Diego County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
San Diego County code $50 $100
All 5 San Diego County rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
San Diego County code 1 sign per house, up to 2 square feet Temporary civic, political, patriotic, religious or charitable displays are permitted without a permit
All 6 San Diego County rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Other San Diego County rules on this
San Diego County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Height of fences (§ 4630)
- Keeping bees and hives (§ 62.901 and following) — unincorporated county
- Limits on keeping roosters (§ 62.692)
- Animals allowed by zone (animal schedule) (§ 3100) — unincorporated county
- Living in or storing a trailer coach on your property (§ 52.203) — unincorporated county
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the grading rules in San Diego County?
San Diego County's code: No permit: digs or fills under 8 feet moving up to 200 cubic yards; permitted basement, footing, pool, septic digs. (Not in or affecting a watercourse; fill over 8 feet unsupported is not exempt; slope, setback and erosion rules still apply.) (§ 87.202).
What park or impact fees apply to a new home in San Diego County?
San Diego County's code: Fees follow the Board of Supervisors fee schedule in effect when paid, and may include an automatic increase. (Park Impact Fees set by Board of Supervisors resolution or ordinance.) (§ 810.111); 3 acres of park land per 1,000 people. (Subdivisions give land or pay a Park In-Lieu Fee.) (§ 810.106).
Can I run a family child care home in San Diego County?
California law sets this for every city, including San Diego County: 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)).
General information, not legal advice.
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