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Newport Beach, California: what can you build or do?

Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Newport Beach's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.

Last reviewed 2026-10-14

• Fences
  In Newport Beach's coastal zone, fences, walls and hedges can be up to 42 inches tall in the front setback and up to 6 feet in rear and interior side setbacks of residential lots. Waterfront setbacks are capped at 42 inches (Balboa Island bay fronts follow a 5-foot open-top rule), corner sight triangles at 30 inches, and barbed wire and electric fences aren't allowed in residential areas.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  A shed or other accessory structure no taller than 6 feet and no bigger than 150 square feet can go in a required side or rear setback, but not in a rear setback that backs onto an alley. Larger or taller sheds must meet your zoning district's setbacks, and our sources don't say when a building permit is needed.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  You can't burn brush, yard waste or trash at a Newport Beach home: the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Rule 444 bans residential burning and waste disposal by fire. Recreational fires and fires for cooking or warmth using natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal are exempt from the burn-permit system, but city fire code limits on fire pits weren't in the sources we reviewed.Restricted
• Home-Based Businesses
  Home occupations are allowed in Newport Beach's residential districts without a planning permit, but only household members may work there, clients come by appointment only, and no signs or outdoor storage can be visible from the property line. You'll need a city business license. Our zoning text is the 2010 version, so confirm the current rules.Allowed
• Swimming Pools
  Pools and spas are allowed but must have safety fencing, and one placed at existing grade and under 42 inches tall can sit in a front, side or rear setback (not one along an alley). Pool fencing in a front setback may exceed the normal 42-inch fence limit if it is at least 40% open or glass. We couldn't review the city's building code (Title 15), so the building-permit requirement here comes from state rules, which require a permit and at least two drowning-prevention features for a new home pool.Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Coast or Creeks
  Building on a Newport Beach lot on the bay, ocean, a bluff or a canyon needs a coastal development permit from the city under its Local Coastal Program. In shoreline hazard areas you must submit a coastal hazards report covering 75 years of erosion and sea level rise, and new seawalls are generally allowed only to protect existing homes. The required setback distances are in chapters we couldn't review, so ask the Planning Division for your lot's numbers.Allowed with board review
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  Private docks, piers and floats in Newport Harbor need a harbor permit and plan check from the city's Public Works Department under Municipal Code Title 17, and new docks or changes to a dock's size or layout also need state and federal permits. Extending a pier or float beyond the pierhead line is regulated by Section 17.35 and can require a Harbor Commission hearing.Allowed with a permit

We couldn't download Newport Beach's ordinance text for the other 3 topics yet, so we don't cover them rather than guess.