Sierra Madre · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. A home business that meets all standards gets ministerial review; others may qualify for discretionary review.

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Key points

Fence height: R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones: fences at most 42 inches in the required front yard, 6 feet on interior side or rear lines.
Accessory structures: Single-story detached accessory structures of 600 sq ft or less are limited to 15 feet; larger or 2-story ones follow main-building standards.
Home businesses: Under ministerial review, a home business may use 25% of the home's floor area or 400 sq ft, whichever is greater.

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

Fences and walls

Sierra Madre code R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones: fences at most 42 inches in the required front yard, 6 feet on interior side or rear lines.

All 8 Sierra Madre rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Sierra Madre code Single-story detached accessory structures of 600 sq ft or less are limited to 15 feet; larger or 2-story ones follow main-building standards.

All 8 Sierra Madre rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Sierra Madre code Under ministerial review, a home business may use 25% of the home's floor area or 400 sq ft, whichever is greater.

All 6 Sierra Madre rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Sierra Madre code 2 lots of about equal area; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot. At least 1,200 square feet.

All 9 Sierra Madre rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Sierra Madre code Not within 15 feet of the front property line. 1 trailer may be stored on a lot, but not in a required front or side yard.

All 5 Sierra Madre rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
EV charger permit	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the fees; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Installing, altering or replacing an EV charging station. § 15.62.050 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal. Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the building official approves when the application meets health and safety requirements and the checklist. Applies: EV charging stations with no specific, adverse impacts on public health or safety. § 15.62.060 · code text The director shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of permit applications for electric vehicle charging stations.
Solar permit process	Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.38.080 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. Such an inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request for such an inspection.
Review time	3 business days. Applies: After the building department finds the application complete. § 15.38.080 · code text Upon the building department's determination that the application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system permit is complete, the building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days.

Tree removal

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Protected trees affected by a small home lot development permit. § 17.58.070 · code text Prior to the removal or substantial trimming of any protected tree, the applicant must obtain a permit and pay all accompanying fees. Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Protected trees in the R-C Residential Canyon Zone. § 17.30.250 · code text No protected tree shall be removed or substantially trimmed, except as authorized by Chapter 12.20 (Tree Preservation and Protection).

Swimming pools

Sierra Madre code A solid fence or wall 6 feet high (on slopes, up to 8 inches above or below). Yes, a permit is required.

All 4 Sierra Madre rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Sierra Madre code Allowed, but no hive within 200 feet of any home other than the beekeeper's. Up to 24 of any one kind or mix of fowl, rabbits and similar small animals.

All 3 Sierra Madre rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Sierra Madre code Compacted fill slopes may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. Fill slopes may be no steeper than 2½ horizontal to 1 vertical.

All 3 Sierra Madre rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Sierra Madre code Cut slopes for a building pad may be at most 20 feet high. Fill slopes may be at most 9 feet deep at any point.

All 7 Sierra Madre rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
How the park fee is set	Land value plus 20% toward off-site improvements. Applies: Paid instead of land when General Plan designates no park or recreation facility there. An addition over 50% of a home's floor area also pays. § 16.44.050 · code text the subdivider shall, in lieu of dedicating land, pay a fee equal to the value of that land, plus twenty percent toward costs of the off-site improvements of the recreation land, prescribed for dedication in Section 16.44.040 and in an amount determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 16.44.070
Parkland per 1,000 residents	The city standard is 3 acres of parkland for each 1,000 residents. § 16.44.030 · code text It is found and determined that the public interest, convenience, health, welfare and safety require that three acres of property for each one thousand persons residing within this city be devoted to neighborhood and community park and recreational purposes.

Noise and construction hours

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
Noise limit at homes	No more than 6 dba above the local background noise. Applies: Machines or devices on residential property, measured at any point outside the property plane. § 9.32.030 · code text No person shall produce, suffer or allow to be produced by any machine or device, or any combination of same, on residential property, a noise level more than 6 dba above the local ambient at any point outside of the property plane. No more than 6 dba above the local background noise. Applies: Multi-residential property, measured 3 feet from any wall, floor or ceiling inside any unit on the same property. § 9.32.030 · code text No person shall produce, suffer or allow to be produced by any machine, device, or any combination of same, on multi-residential property, a noise level which exceeds 6 dba above the local ambient three feet from any wall, floor, or ceiling inside any dwelling unit on the same property, open or closed doors or windows, except within the dwelling unit in which the noise source or sources may be located.

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

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	Required parking spaces must be kept as parking spaces and not used for other purposes. § 17.68.010 · code text Parking spaces required hereby shall be continuously maintained as parking spaces and shall not be used for other purposes.

Signs on homes

Sierra Madre code One nameplate of at most 1 square foot, with the occupant's name and address. One unlighted freestanding sign, at most 6 square feet.

All 7 Sierra Madre rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
When carts must come back	Within 12 hours after it has been emptied. § 8.12.090 · code text No person shall place or cause to be placed any garbage or refuse receptacle on any sidewalk, street, road, highway or alley, at any time other than on the days established for the collection of garbage or refuse on the particular route or before four p.m. on the day immediately prior to such collection, or permit such receptacle to remain thereat for more than twelve hours after it has been emptied.
When carts may go to the curb	Not before four p.m. on the day immediately prior to collection § 8.12.090 · code text No person shall place or cause to be placed any garbage or refuse receptacle on any sidewalk, street, road, highway or alley, at any time other than on the days established for the collection of garbage or refuse on the particular route or before four p.m. on the day immediately prior to such collection, or permit such receptacle to remain thereat for more than twelve hours after it has been emptied.

Historic homes

Sierra Madre code Subject to the demolition provisions. Owners must submit plans to the commission, reviewed against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, to qualify for benefits.

All 5 Sierra Madre rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's code: Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. (Small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.38.080); Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the fees; electronic signatures are accepted. (Installing, altering or replacing an EV charging station.) (§ 15.62.050).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's code: Yes, a permit is required. (Protected trees affected by a small home lot development permit.) (§ 17.58.070); Yes, a permit is required. (Protected trees in the R-C Residential Canyon Zone.) (§ 17.30.250).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's code: Land value plus 20% toward off-site improvements. (Paid instead of land when General Plan designates no park or recreation facility there. An addition over 50% of a home's floor area also pays.) (§ 16.44.050); The city standard is 3 acres of parkland for each 1,000 residents. (§ 16.44.030).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's code: No more than 6 dba above the local background noise. (Machines or devices on residential property, measured at any point outside the property plane.) (§ 9.32.030); No more than 6 dba above the local background noise. (Multi-residential property, measured 3 feet from any wall, floor or ceiling inside any unit on the same property.) (§ 9.32.030).

Can I run a family child care home in Sierra Madre?

California law sets this for every city, including Sierra Madre: 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)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's code: Required parking spaces must be kept as parking spaces and not used for other purposes. (§ 17.68.010).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre's code: Within 12 hours after it has been emptied. (§ 8.12.090); Not before four p.m. on the day immediately prior to collection (§ 8.12.090).

General information, not legal advice.

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