Santa Clarita · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. The number of enclosed accessory structures allowed depends on parcel size, and more need a minor use permit.
Key points
- Fence height: Fences are limited to 42 inches in required yards next to a street and 6 feet along interior side or rear lot lines.
- Accessory height: In the UR2, UR3, UR4 and UR5 zones, accessory structures are limited to 20 feet or the main home's height, whichever is less.
- Home businesses: Every home business needs a home occupation permit (city rule).
Each rule below is marked Santa Clarita 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 Clarita code Fences are limited to 42 inches in required yards next to a street and 6 feet along interior side or rear lot lines.
All 6 Santa Clarita rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Santa Clarita code In the UR2, UR3, UR4 and UR5 zones, accessory structures are limited to 20 feet or the main home's height, whichever is less.
All 6 Santa Clarita rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Permit |
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|---|
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
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|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
Santa Clarita code Apply electronically with electronic signatures. The Building Official approves and issues a permit when the application meets the checklist. No higher than the maximum legal building height.
All 3 Santa Clarita rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Santa Clarita code Scrub oak is not on the protected oak tree list. Routine maintenance needs no oak tree permit: insect spraying, limited watering, fertilizing, deadwooding, ground aeration and pruning per the rules.
All 7 Santa Clarita rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Santa Clarita code None up to 15,000 square feet; 3 on 15,000-20,000 square feet, rising to 7; 8 per acre over 1 acre. At least 50 feet.
All 7 Santa Clarita rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Santa Clarita code Digs under 2 feet deep, or with no cut slope both over 5 feet high and steeper than 2:1. Fill under 3 feet deep, up to 50 cubic yards, with slopes no steeper than 2:1.
All 4 Santa Clarita rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
Santa Clarita code Grading over 100 cubic yards must meet the Hillside Development rules. 100 to under 1,500 cubic yards of grading: hillside review by the Director.
All 4 Santa Clarita rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Santa Clarita code 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; no Sunday hours.
All 5 Santa Clarita rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
| Light at the property line |
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|---|---|
| Shielding |
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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
| How long an alarm may sound |
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|---|---|
| False alarm fees |
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| False alarms before a fee |
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Trash and recycling carts
Santa Clarita code Arrange collection of garbage, recyclables and organic waste through City-franchised services; recyclables only may use a third-party recycler. maintain separate garbage, organics and recycling containers
All 7 Santa Clarita rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Historic homes
Santa Clarita code A minor use permit is required. A minor use permit is required.
All 14 Santa Clarita rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Santa Clarita rules on this
Santa Clarita's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Two-unit developments and urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 17.57.025) — single-family zones
- Floodplain management (Ch. 10.06)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Santa Clarita?
Every home business needs a home occupation permit (city rule).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Santa Clarita?
Santa Clarita's code: Lights must aim down, cut-off design; lens may not hang below the housing or be seen from public rights-of-way. (§ 17.51.050); Lights may not light other properties and must aim down to prevent off-site glare. (§ 17.51.050).
Can I run a family child care home in Santa Clarita?
California law sets this for every city, including Santa Clarita: 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)).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Santa Clarita?
Santa Clarita's code: An audible alarm must stop or automatically reset within 30 minutes of being activated. (§ 11.05.040); A service charge set by City Council resolution applies to each police response after the first 2 false alarms. (§ 11.05.140).
General information, not legal advice.
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