Santa Ana · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Ana

Santa Ana sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. A front-yard fence over 18 inches needs a permit, and a home business needs a permit from the zoning administrator.

Ask about building on your lot in Santa Ana See coverage

Key points

Fence height: In residential zones, front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet on arterial streets; other walls and fences, 8 feet.
Accessory setbacks: On interior lots, accessory buildings up to 15 feet high need a 3-foot setback; taller ones, 5-foot side and 10-foot rear yards.
Home businesses: A home business may use 1 room or 400 square feet, whichever is more restrictive, with at most 2 people in total (city rule).

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

Fences and walls

Santa Ana code In residential zones, front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet on arterial streets; other walls and fences, 8 feet.

All 4 Santa Ana rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Santa Ana code On interior lots, accessory buildings up to 15 feet high need a 3-foot setback; taller ones, 5-foot side and 10-foot rear yards.

All 5 Santa Ana rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Santa Ana code A home business may use 1 room or 400 square feet, whichever is more restrictive, with at most 2 people in total (city rule).

All 6 Santa Ana rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Santa Ana code Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot's area. New primary homes: over 500 and at most 800 square feet; a smaller existing home may expand to 800.

All 9 Santa Ana rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles over 22 feet long or 7 feet high may not park on streets, park roads or lots, 2–6 a.m. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles, including attached trailers. They also may not park within 50 feet of an intersection at any time. § 36-19 · code text Oversized Vehicle shall mean any vehicle, including any attached trailers, vehicles or loads thereon, that exceeds twenty-two (22) feet in length or seven (7) feet in height.
Parking on the street	Oversized, non-motorized and recreational vehicles may not park between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Applies: Applies on public streets, park roads and parking lots, except with a valid city permit, or where the City Manager allows it with posted signs. § 36-149 · code text It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing upon any public street, park road, or parking lot, any oversized vehicle, non-motorized vehicle, or recreational vehicle between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the Building Department issues the permit at an expedited rate when the application meets the checklist. § 8-2904 · code text An application for electric vehicle charging stations that meets the requirements of the checklist and required permitting documentation of all requirements shall be deemed complete, and the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit at an expedited rate.
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative approval; all required permits are issued once the application is confirmed complete and meets the checklist. § 8-2511 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits.

Swimming pools

Santa Ana code The fence or wall may have no openings or projections that could be used to climb it. Openings, holes or gaps may not let a 4-inch sphere pass through.

All 7 Santa Ana rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Santa Ana code Yes; at most 2 hives. Yes; 1 hive per 3,000 square feet of lot, up to 5 hives, whichever is less.

All 8 Santa Ana rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 7-15 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 7-7.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new buildings and other development are not allowed unless a civil engineer certifies no rise in flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 7-22 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. No new development or fill is allowed unless all development together raises the base flood no more than 1 foot. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 7-22 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one (1) foot at any point within the city.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 7-17 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be above the highest nearby ground, at least as high as the FIRM depth number. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 7-17 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 7-17 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an unnumbered A zone, where the FIRM shows no base flood elevation. § 7-17 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under subsection 7-14(c).

Park and impact fees for new homes

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Parkland per 1,000 residents	The park standard is 2 acres for each 1,000 residents. Applies: The city standard behind park land dedication for subdivisions. § 34-202 · code text The requirement for dedication of land pursuant to this article is found to be necessary to promote the general standard of providing two (2) acres of property devoted to parks and recreational purposes for each thousand (1,000) persons residing within the City of Santa Ana.

Noise and construction hours

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Noise limit at homes	The outdoor noise limit is 55 dB(A). Applies: On other homes, Noise Zone 1, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., over 30 minutes per hour; 5 dB(A) lower for impact, tone, speech or music. § 18-312 · code text \| 1 \| 55 dB(A) \| 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. \| The outdoor noise limit is 50 dB(A). Applies: On other homes, Noise Zone 1, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., over 30 minutes per hour; 5 dB(A) lower for impact, tone, speech or music. § 18-312 · code text \| \| 50 dB(A) \| 10:00 p.m.— 7:00 a.m. \| The indoor noise limit is 45 dB(A). Applies: Inside other homes, Noise Zone 1, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., over 5 minutes per hour; 5 dB(A) lower for impact, tone, speech or music. § 18-313 · code text \| \| 45 dB(A) \| 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. \| The indoor noise limit is 55 dB(A). Applies: Inside other homes, Noise Zone 1, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., over 5 minutes per hour; 5 dB(A) lower for impact, tone, speech or music. § 18-313 · code text each of the above noise levels shall be reduced by five (5) dB(A).

Garage and yard sales

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Hours	Garage sales may run only from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applies: Only on the first weekend of March, June, September and December, plus extra weekends the city manager sets. § 41-193 · code text Garage sale activity shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Signs	No signs on poles, streetlights, traffic signs or right-of-way; post at most 1 week before; remove within 1 day after. § 41-193 · code text Such signs may not be posted anywhere earlier than one (1) week prior to the first date of the garage sale nor more than one (1) day after the last date of the garage sale.

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)

Group homes and residential care

Santa Ana code Keep garages and driveways free; each resident and manager may park only one vehicle, at home or within 500 feet. Valid Operator's Permit required.

All 6 Santa Ana rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Santa Ana code At least 1/2 of the off-street parking spaces must be in an enclosed garage At least 12 feet wide and 20 feet long

All 14 Santa Ana rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Santa Ana code Amount established by city council resolution No charge

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

Signs on homes

Santa Ana code For-sale, for-lease, or for-rent sign for one or more dwelling units At most 4 square feet

All 4 Santa Ana rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Required collection service	must subscribe to cart service Applies: Single-family premises with less than three (3) dwelling units § 16-31 · code text Single-family premises with less than three (3) dwelling units shall subscribe to cart service.

Other Santa Ana rules on this

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

When a grading permit is not needed (Sec. 8-183)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: Vehicles over 22 feet long or 7 feet high may not park on streets, park roads or lots, 2–6 a.m. (Applies to oversized vehicles, including attached trailers. They also may not park within 50 feet of an intersection at any time.) (§ 36-19).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: Expedited administrative approval; all required permits are issued once the application is confirmed complete and meets the checklist. (§ 8-2511); Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the Building Department issues the permit at an expedited rate when the application meets the checklist. (§ 8-2904).

What are the rules for building in a Santa Ana flood zone?

Santa Ana's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 7-15); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New homes and substantial improvements in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 7-17).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: The park standard is 2 acres for each 1,000 residents. (The city standard behind park land dedication for subdivisions.) (§ 34-202).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: The outdoor noise limit is 55 dB(A). (On other homes, Noise Zone 1, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., over 30 minutes per hour; 5 dB(A) lower for impact, tone, speech or music.) (§ 18-312); The outdoor noise limit is 50 dB(A). (On other homes, Noise Zone 1, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., over 30 minutes per hour; 5 dB(A) lower for impact, tone, speech or music.) (§ 18-312).

What are the garage sale rules in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: Garage sales may run only from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Only on the first weekend of March, June, September and December, plus extra weekends the city manager sets.) (§ 41-193); No signs on poles, streetlights, traffic signs or right-of-way; post at most 1 week before; remove within 1 day after. (§ 41-193).

Can I run a family child care home in Santa Ana?

California law sets this for every city, including Santa Ana: 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 Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: must subscribe to cart service (Single-family premises with less than three (3) dwelling units) (§ 16-31).

General information, not legal advice.

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