Santa Fe Springs · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Fe Springs

Santa Fe Springs sets its own rules for accessory buildings in multiple-family zones and for home businesses. A home business that is only a business phone or mailing address needs only Director approval.

Ask about building on your lot in Santa Fe Springs See coverage

Key points

Accessory height: In multiple-family residential zones, accessory buildings other than accessory dwelling units are limited to 16 feet (city rule).
Home businesses: Only resident family members may work in a home business, with no customer traffic; most need Planning Commission approval.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Santa Fe Springs code In multiple-family residential zones, accessory buildings other than accessory dwelling units are limited to 16 feet (city rule).

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

Running a business from home

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Customer visits	The business may not create foot or vehicle traffic. § 155.635 · code text The use shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Employees	No employees other than members of the resident family. § 155.635 · code text No employment of help other than members of the resident family.
Permit	Approval by the Director of Planning and Development. Applies: Businesses that use the home only as a business phone or mailing address. § 155.635 · code text Such uses which consist solely of a business phone and/or mailing address shall only require approval by the Director of Planning and Development Planning Commission approval is required. Applies: All other home occupations. § 155.635 · code text all other such uses shall require Planning Commission approval.
Businesses not allowed	industrial homework prohibited by state law § 155.635 · code text The use shall not be a category of industrial homework which is prohibited by state law.

RV and boat parking

Santa Fe Springs code Allowed on any property the trailer owner owns or occupies, in any zone, except required front yards and street-side yards. No.

All 8 Santa Fe Springs rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Fe Springs code Administrative, nondiscretionary permit for a complete checklist application; only one inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Electronic submittal is available; electronic signatures are accepted.

All 3 Santa Fe Springs rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Pools must always be kept from breeding mosquitoes; abandoned or out-of-service pools must be emptied and kept dry. Applies: Owners and operators of property with a swimming pool. § 94.16 · code text All owners of property that contain a swimming pool and all operators of a swimming pool shall at all times properly maintain and operate the swimming pool in a manner that does not allow the swimming pool to become a breeding place for mosquitos, including emptying and keeping dry a swimming pool that is abandoned and/or not in service.

Building in a flood zone

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 151.45 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards established in § 151.07.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered engineer or architect certifies no flood-level rise. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 151.24 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in special flood hazard areas other than Zone AO. § 151.20 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Lowest floor above the highest adjacent grade by at least the FIRM depth number, in feet. Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in Zone AO with a FIRM depth number; the lowest floor includes the basement. § 151.20 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified. Lowest floor at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in Zone AO with no FIRM depth number; the lowest floor includes the basement. § 151.20 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

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

Santa Fe Springs code At least 1 space per unit must be enclosed or covered Required parking area must be used exclusively for vehicle parking and may not be reduced or encroached upon

All 7 Santa Fe Springs rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	30 minutes § 91.04 · code text An audible alarm shall terminate its operation or the audible alarm shall automatically reset within 30 minutes of its being activated.
False alarm fees	Service charge set by City Council resolution, billed to the alarm owner and payable within 30 days Applies: Each police response to a false alarm, or a response needing no service other than deactivation § 91.08 · code text Such service charge shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

Trash and recycling carts

Santa Fe Springs code What Santa Fe Springs's code adds
When carts must come back	Remove receptacles by 6:00 a.m. on the day after collection § 50.058 · code text no person shall leave or permit any solid waste receptacle to remain on the curb, parkway, street, alley or any other area near any residence after 6:00 a.m. on the day following collection.
When carts may go to the curb	Not earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day before regular collection § 50.058 · code text No person shall place, or permit any collection receptacle to be, on the curb, parkway, street, alley or any other area near any residence earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding regular collection

Other Santa Fe Springs rules on this

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

SB 9 two-unit housing development (§ 155.660)
Grading that needs no use permit (§ 155.627)
Permitted noise levels (§ 155.424)
Light and glare (§ 155.432)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Santa Fe Springs?

Only resident family members may work in a home business, with no customer traffic; most need Planning Commission approval.

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

Santa Fe Springs's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 151.45); Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in special flood hazard areas other than Zone AO.) (§ 151.20).

Can I run a family child care home in Santa Fe Springs?

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

Santa Fe Springs's code: 30 minutes (§ 91.04); Service charge set by City Council resolution, billed to the alarm owner and payable within 30 days (Each police response to a false alarm, or a response needing no service other than deactivation) (§ 91.08).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Santa Fe Springs?

Santa Fe Springs's code: Remove receptacles by 6:00 a.m. on the day after collection (§ 50.058); Not earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day before regular collection (§ 50.058).

General information, not legal advice.

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