Taft · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Taft

Taft sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, and some businesses, such as vehicle repair and hairdressing, may not run from a home.

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Key points

Fence height: Taft limits residential fences to 40 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in interior side and rear yards.
Accessory buildings: Taft limits detached accessory buildings in residential districts to 15 feet, and no higher than the main structure.
Home businesses: Taft requires a home occupation permit, customer services by appointment only, and only resident family members as employees.

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

Fences and walls

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 40 inches. Applies: Residential districts: required front yard, and street side yard of a reversed corner lot; only the first 24 inches may be solid. § 6-11-9 · code text In any required front yard or street side yard of a reversed corner lot, a wall or fence shall not exceed forty inches (40") in height.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet, measured from adjacent grade. Applies: Residential districts: interior side, rear or street side yards, not extending into the front yard or a reversed corner lot's street side yard. § 6-11-9 · code text A wall or fence not more than six feet (6') in height, as measured from the adjacent grade on the same parcel may be maintained along any interior side yard, rear yard or street side yard; provided, that such wall or fence does not extend into the required front yard or the street side yard of a reverse corner lot.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet, and no higher than the main building. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in residential districts. § 6-11-3 · code text Accessory buildings shall have a maximum height of fifteen feet (15'); provided, however, that the accessory building is no higher than the main structure.
Side and rear setback	Never closer than 30 inches to an interior side or rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory structures in residential districts; sides closer than 5 feet to those lines need 1-hour firewalls. § 6-11-3 · code text In no case, however, shall an accessory structure be located closer than thirty inches (30") to an interior side property line or to a rear property line.

Running a business from home

Taft code Taft requires a home occupation permit, customer services by appointment only, and only resident family members as employees.

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

RV and boat parking

Taft code In the side yard, rear yard, or a parking area next to an alley. No.

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

Solar panels and EV chargers

Taft code The panel array may not exceed the zone district's height limit. Administrative review and approval by the building official, limited to health and safety requirements.

All 5 Taft rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Taft code Yes, only with a conditional use permit; hives at least 400 feet from streets, schools, parks and others' homes. Up to 4 adult poultry or small animals, plus 4 per extra 10,000 square feet, up to 20 total.

All 7 Taft rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 5-12-4-3 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 5-12-3-2 of this chapter.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: In zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; the 1-foot limit applies at any point in the city. § 5-12-5-6 · 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 (1') at any point within the city of Taft. No fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development unless certified to cause no flood level increase. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway, during the base flood discharge. § 5-12-5-6 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Taft 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	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 5-12-5-1 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Above the highest adjacent grade, at least as high as the FIRM depth number in feet. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when a depth number is given. § 5-12-5-1 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet (2') above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when no depth number is given. § 5-12-5-1 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet (2') above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, with no base flood elevations on the FIRM. § 5-12-5-1 · 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 subsection 5-12-4-2(C) of this chapter.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Taft code The land that would be dedicated times its fair market value, set by agreement, appraisal or county assessor input. 5 acres per 1,000 residents.

All 3 Taft rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Quiet hours	10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Applies: No radios, instruments, TVs, loudspeakers or similar devices plainly audible 50 feet away. § 8-16-2 · code text The operation of any such sound production or reproduction device, radio receiving set, musical instrument, drum, phonograph, television set, machine, loud speaker and sound amplifier, or similar machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure, or vehicle in which it is located.

Outdoor lighting

Taft code What Taft's code adds
Light at the property line	No more than 1/2 foot-candle. Applies: On any adjacent property. § 6-13-8 · code text No operation, activity, sign or lighting fixture shall create illumination which exceeds one-half (1/2) foot-candle on any adjacent property, whether or not the illumination is from a direct or indirect light source.
Shielding	Lights must point downward and not create glare on neighboring properties. § 6-13-8 · code text All lighting shall be designated to project downward and shall not create glare on adjacent properties.

Garage and yard sales

Taft code No more than 3 consecutive days. An application is required for each sale; there is no fee.

All 7 Taft 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)

Signs on homes

Taft code Up to 6 square feet. Up to 12 square feet.

All 16 Taft rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Taft code What Taft's code adds
When carts must come back	Not later than 6:00 a.m. on the day following collection § 3-2-16 · code text nor be allowed to remain within the public place later than 6:00 a.m. on the day following such collection
When carts may go to the curb	Containers may not be placed out earlier than 4:00 a.m. on the day before collection day. Applies: Waste collected by the franchise hauler. § 3-2-16 · code text no such Container shall be placed within any public place earlier than 4:00 a.m. on the day preceding the day for the collection of waste

Other Taft rules on this

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

Urban lot splits and two-unit developments (SB 9) (§ 6-11-43) — single-family zones
Private swimming pools at homes (§ 6-12-28) — residential lots

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Taft?

Taft limits residential fences to 40 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in interior side and rear yards.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Taft?

Taft limits detached accessory buildings in residential districts to 15 feet, and no higher than the main structure.

What are the rules for building in a Taft flood zone?

Taft's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 5-12-4-3); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 5-12-5-1).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Taft?

Taft's code: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (No radios, instruments, TVs, loudspeakers or similar devices plainly audible 50 feet away.) (§ 8-16-2).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Taft?

Taft's code: Lights must point downward and not create glare on neighboring properties. (§ 6-13-8); No more than 1/2 foot-candle. (On any adjacent property.) (§ 6-13-8).

Can I run a family child care home in Taft?

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

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Taft?

Taft's code: Not later than 6:00 a.m. on the day following collection (§ 3-2-16); Containers may not be placed out earlier than 4:00 a.m. on the day before collection day. (Waste collected by the franchise hauler.) (§ 3-2-16).

General information, not legal advice.

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