Walnut · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Walnut
Walnut's fence rule on this page covers the R-2 zone, and its accessory-building setbacks cover the R-2 and R-3 zones. It also limits home occupations, protects oak and walnut trees, and sets weekday construction hours.
Key points
- Fence heights: R-2 zone: fences and walls at most 6 feet, but 3 feet in a required front yard or side yard next to a street.
- Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings in R-2 not part of the main building: at least 10 feet from it and 5 feet from a side line.
- Home businesses: Home occupations may use no more than 1 room or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less, and no part of the garage.
- Protected trees: A permit is required to cut, prune or remove an oak or walnut 6 inches or more around at 4.5 feet; deadwooding needs none.
- Pool barriers: Barriers for pools 2 feet deep or more must be at least 5 feet high; self-closing, self-latching devices at least 4 feet above grade.
- Construction hours: Construction, repair and demolition tools and equipment: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, never Saturdays, Sundays or holidays; listed exceptions apply.
Each rule below is marked Walnut code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Walnut code R-2 zone: fences and walls at most 6 feet, but 3 feet in a required front yard or side yard next to a street.
All 3 Walnut rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Walnut code Accessory buildings in R-2 not part of the main building: at least 10 feet from it and 5 feet from a side line.
All 5 Walnut rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Space used |
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|---|---|
| Employees |
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| Permit |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
Walnut code Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. The Building Official approves the application and issues all needed permits.
All 3 Walnut rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Walnut code A permit is required to cut, prune or remove an oak or walnut 6 inches or more around at 4.5 feet; deadwooding needs none.
Swimming pools
Walnut code Barriers for pools 2 feet deep or more must be at least 5 feet high; self-closing, self-latching devices at least 4 feet above grade.
Noise and construction hours
Walnut code Construction, repair and demolition tools and equipment: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, never Saturdays, Sundays or holidays; listed exceptions apply.
All 6 Walnut rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
Walnut code 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No more than 2 consecutive days.
All 5 Walnut rules on garage and yard sales, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| 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 |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Parking spaces required for homes
Walnut code Open parking spaces may not be in a required front setback. Required spaces must be in an enclosed garage; if 4 or more are there, the rest may be open.
All 13 Walnut rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Signs on homes
| Signs that need no permit |
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|---|
Trash and recycling carts
Walnut code Remove containers no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day after pickup. Put containers near the curb no sooner than 4:00 p.m. on the day before pickup.
All 5 Walnut rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Walnut rules on this
Walnut's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Horses and livestock on rural lots (§ 6.16.020) — rural overlay zone only
- Parking RVs on the street (Art. 3.38) — public streets
- Building in a flood hazard area (Ch. 2.32)
- Local grading standards (§ 2.04.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Walnut?
Home occupations may use no more than 1 room or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less, and no part of the garage.
Can I run a family child care home in Walnut?
California law sets this for every city, including Walnut: 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)).
What signs may I put up at my home in Walnut?
Walnut's code: No permit required for a for-sale, lease or exchange sign or an open house sign. (Residential zones.) (§ 6.92.070).
General information, not legal advice.
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