Santa Monica · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Monica

Santa Monica sets its own limits on fences, hedges, accessory buildings and home businesses. Limits differ inside the Downtown Community Plan Area, and the city lists businesses that may not run from a home.

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Key points

Fence height: Outside Downtown, front-setback hedges, fences and walls are limited to 42 inches; side and rear setback fences and walls, 8 feet.
Accessory height: Carports, gazebos and similar structures are limited to 14 feet; accessory buildings over 1 story or 14 feet, 24 feet and 650 sq ft.
Home businesses: A home business may have at most 6 client visits in 24 hours, and only residents may be employees, with listed exceptions.

Each rule below is marked Santa Monica 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 Monica code Outside Downtown, front-setback hedges, fences and walls are limited to 42 inches; side and rear setback fences and walls, 8 feet.

All 7 Santa Monica rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Santa Monica code Carports, gazebos and similar structures are limited to 14 feet; accessory buildings over 1 story or 14 feet, 24 feet and 650 sq ft.

All 19 Santa Monica rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Santa Monica code A home business may have at most 6 client visits in 24 hours, and only residents may be employees, with listed exceptions.

All 9 Santa Monica rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Santa Monica code Vehicles over 8 feet wide or high, or 20 feet long: no street parking 9 p.m.-6 a.m. without a permit. No parking from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. without a permit.

All 3 Santa Monica rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Monica code Up to 5 feet above the District height limit. Up to 7 feet above the District height limit.

All 7 Santa Monica rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Santa Monica code No opening larger than 4 inches in any direction. At least five feet above adjacent grade

All 6 Santa Monica rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Santa Monica code Yes, no more than 2 hives. At least 5 feet from all property lines.

All 6 Santa Monica rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Santa Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
Floodplain permit	Building any structure, including manufactured homes, needs a floodplain development permit. Applies: Within any special flood hazard area. § 7.68.130 · code text No person shall develop or erect any structures, including manufactured homes, within any special flood hazard area without first obtaining a floodplain development permit.
Building in a floodway	No new development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood level no more than 1 foot anywhere. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 7.68.200 · 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 foot at any point within the City. Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood-level rise. Applies: Inside an adopted regulatory floodway. § 7.68.200 · 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.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone (no base flood elevations on the FIRM). § 7.68.150 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 7.68.120(c).

Park and impact fees for new homes

Santa Monica code Uses the fee schedule on the payment date; paid in full at occupancy or final inspection, whichever comes last. Amounts set in the code, with an automatic annual adjustment; the City Council may revise them by resolution.

All 5 Santa Monica rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Santa Monica code 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All 11 Santa Monica rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

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 Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
Parking	Same parking requirements as any permitted housing type in the District. Applies: Applies to facilities serving 6 or fewer persons. § 9.31.270 · code text Residential Facilities for six or fewer persons shall be subject to the same parking requirements as any permitted housing type in the District in which they are located.
Homes for 6 or fewer	Treated as residential use; only the requirements of any permitted use of the same housing type in the District apply. Applies: Applies to facilities serving 6 or fewer persons. § 9.31.270 · code text Residential Facilities for six or fewer persons shall be treated as a residential use and subject only to the same requirements as any permitted residential use of the same housing type in the District in which they are located.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Santa Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
False alarm fees	Set by resolution of the City Council. Applies: For two or more false alarms within a fiscal year. § 3.56.050 · code text The amount of the fine and any associated late fees may be established by resolution of the City Council.
False alarms before a fee	A fine starts with the second false alarm in a fiscal year. Applies: Within a fiscal year. § 3.56.050 · code text A subscriber shall pay a false alarm response fine to the City upon the occurrence of two or more false alarms received from the subscriber's alarm system within a fiscal year.
Alarm permit	Registration and a fee are required; the amount is not stated. § 3.56.030 · code text No subscriber shall operate an alarm system without having first registered such alarm system with the Santa Monica Police Department and paid the required registration fee.

Signs on homes

Santa Monica code Noncommercial signs, unless they are temporary signs or prohibited signs. Up to 2 signs of 8 square feet, or 1 of 16 plus a window sign of at most 4.

All 3 Santa Monica rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Historic homes

Santa Monica code Certificate of appropriateness or certificate of economic hardship. Certificate of exemption, certificate of administrative approval, or certificate of appropriateness.

All 3 Santa Monica rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Santa Monica's code: Building any structure, including manufactured homes, needs a floodplain development permit. (Within any special flood hazard area.) (§ 7.68.130); Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone (no base flood elevations on the FIRM).) (§ 7.68.150).

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

California law sets this for every city, including Santa Monica: 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)).

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica's code: Same parking requirements as any permitted housing type in the District. (Applies to facilities serving 6 or fewer persons.) (§ 9.31.270); Treated as residential use; only the requirements of any permitted use of the same housing type in the District apply. (Applies to facilities serving 6 or fewer persons.) (§ 9.31.270).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica's code: Set by resolution of the City Council. (For two or more false alarms within a fiscal year.) (§ 3.56.050); A fine starts with the second false alarm in a fiscal year. (Within a fiscal year.) (§ 3.56.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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