South Gate · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in South Gate

South Gate sets its own limits on corner fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Its fence rule covers fences and hedges near street corners.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: South Gate limits detached accessory buildings in residential zones to 10 feet high, at least 5 feet from any property line.
Corner fences: Within 75 feet of a street corner, South Gate limits fences and hedges within 20 feet of street lines to 4 feet, unless transparent.
Home businesses: South Gate requires a permit for a home business and allows no customers or non-resident employees for a general home occupation.

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

Fences and walls

South Gate code What South Gate's code adds
Corner visibility	At most 4 feet above sidewalk level within 75 feet of any street corner; see-through fences are exempt. Applies: Fences and hedges along or within 20 feet of street lines, near a street corner. § 5.12.010 · code text All fences and hedges now constructed, planted and maintained, or hereafter constructed, or planted on lots of land along or within twenty feet of and parallel to street lines in the city of South Gate, shall not be of a greater height than four feet from sidewalk level where such fences or hedges are constructed, planted and maintained within seventy-five feet of any street corner.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

South Gate code South Gate limits detached accessory buildings in residential zones to 10 feet high, at least 5 feet from any property line.

All 7 South Gate rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

South Gate code South Gate requires a permit for a home business and allows no customers or non-resident employees for a general home occupation.

All 4 South Gate rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

South Gate code No parking for motor homes, converted buses, commercial or similar vehicles over 20 feet long or 10,000 pounds. No parking for motor homes, trailers, trailer coaches and similar vehicles over 90 inches wide.

All 4 South Gate rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

South Gate code What South Gate's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves and issues all permits when the application is complete and meets the city checklist. Applies: EV charging stations; not energized until city approval. Electronic signatures may replace wet signatures for electronic submittals. § 9.14.050 · code text When an applicant uses electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature. An inspection is required. Applies: After the charging station is installed. § 9.14.050 · code text An inspection of the station(s) shall be required and performed by the Building Official.

Tree removal

South Gate code No permit needed to remove dead branches, limbs or trees once the tree inspector confirms they are dead. A civil penalty equal to the tree's full restitution value plus labor and materials to install the public tree.

All 7 South Gate rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

South Gate code No opening larger than 6 inches in any dimension, except doors or gates. The wall or enclosure may not offer ladder-like access.

All 5 South Gate rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

South Gate code What South Gate's code adds
Noise limit at homes	No more than 50 dBA (Leq). Applies: Residential properties, any zone, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Brief increases allowed: +5 dBA for 30 minutes up to +20 dBA for 2 minutes hourly. § 11.34.080 · code text II \| Residential Properties (in any zone) \| 50 dBA \| 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. No more than 40 dBA (Leq). Applies: Residential properties, any zone, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Brief increases allowed: +5 dBA for 30 minutes up to +20 dBA for 2 minutes hourly. § 11.34.080 · code text II \| Residential Properties (in any zone) \| 40 dBA \| 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Garage and yard sales

South Gate code 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Up to 3 days in a row, or 2 two-day weekends in a row.

All 5 South Gate rules on garage and yard sales, 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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

South Gate code Housing assisted with in-lieu fees stays affordable a minimum of 55 years. City council resolution sets the amount; it adjusts annually in July based on the CPI-U.

All 4 South Gate rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

South Gate code One driveway space, at most 12 feet wide. Parking outside the approved driveway surface is prohibited.

All 17 South Gate rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

South Gate code What South Gate's code adds
Alarm permit	A permit is required. The application and renewal fee is set by city council resolution. § 7.66.040 · code text The permittee shall pay a permit application or renewal fee, as established by resolution of the city council.
When a permit can be revoked	The permit can be revoked after more than 10 responses within a 12-month period. Applies: Responses by the department that did not require police services. § 7.66.070 · code text An alarm system has experienced within a twelve-month period more than ten responses by the department which did not require police services.

Signs on homes

South Gate code Up to 12 square feet in sign area. Up to 6 feet high.

All 13 South Gate rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

South Gate code What South Gate's code adds
Sorting organics and green waste	Only organic waste goes in the green container. Compostable plastics are also allowed. Applies: Three-container organic waste collection service. § 14.06.03.020 · code text The green container shall be used for the collection of organic waste only; provided, however, that compostable plastics may be placed in the green container as authorized by 14 CCR Section 18984.1(a)(1)(A). Only organic waste goes in the green container. Compostable plastics are also allowed. Applies: Two-container service with a green container and a gray container. § 14.06.03.030 · code text Except as noted in subsection (B)(2) of this section, the green container shall be limited to the collection of organic waste only, and the contents thereof shall be transported to a facility that specifically recovers source separated organic waste.

Other South Gate rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in South Gate?

Within 75 feet of a street corner, South Gate limits fences and hedges within 20 feet of street lines to 4 feet, unless transparent.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in South Gate?

South Gate's code: The Building Official approves and issues all permits when the application is complete and meets the city checklist. (EV charging stations; not energized until city approval. Electronic signatures may replace wet signatures for electronic submittals.) (§ 9.14.050); An inspection is required. (After the charging station is installed.) (§ 9.14.050).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in South Gate?

South Gate's code: No more than 50 dBA (Leq). (Residential properties, any zone, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Brief increases allowed: +5 dBA for 30 minutes up to +20 dBA for 2 minutes hourly.) (§ 11.34.080); No more than 40 dBA (Leq). (Residential properties, any zone, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Brief increases allowed: +5 dBA for 30 minutes up to +20 dBA for 2 minutes hourly.) (§ 11.34.080).

Can I run a family child care home in South Gate?

California law sets this for every city, including South Gate: 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 South Gate?

South Gate's code: A permit is required. The application and renewal fee is set by city council resolution. (§ 7.66.040); The permit can be revoked after more than 10 responses within a 12-month period. (Responses by the department that did not require police services.) (§ 7.66.070).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in South Gate?

South Gate's code: Only organic waste goes in the green container. Compostable plastics are also allowed. (Three-container organic waste collection service.) (§ 14.06.03.020); Only organic waste goes in the green container. Compostable plastics are also allowed. (Two-container service with a green container and a gray container.) (§ 14.06.03.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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