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San Clemente, California: what can you build or do?

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

Last reviewed 2026-10-14

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  Yes. San Clemente approves ADUs and junior ADUs in any residential zone with just a building permit. On a single-family lot you can have one attached ADU, one new detached ADU (up to 850 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms, and 16 ft tall), one converted detached structure, and one junior ADU of up to 500 sq ft.Allowed with a permit
• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  Only if your lot is in one of San Clemente's mapped STLU Allowed Areas (confirm with the Planning Division that your zone allows them too). Rentals of 29 days or less need an STLU zoning permit, are limited to one rental contract at a time and to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 (max 10), and short-term rentals are capped at 20% of homes in each allowed area.Restricted
• Fences
  In San Clemente's residential zones, fences, walls and hedges can be up to 3 ft 6 in tall in the front yard setback and 6 ft in side and rear yards. On a corner lot, the 5 ft closest to the street-side lot line is limited to 3 ft 6 in. Fences up to 6 ft (masonry under 42 in) don't need a building permit, and barbed wire and razor wire are banned.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  Sheds are allowed in all San Clemente residential zones. A one-story shed of 120 sq ft or less (with walls no taller than 8 ft) doesn't need a building permit. In the rear half of the lot, a shed of 450 sq ft or less can go up to the side and rear property lines, 5 ft from the house. Detached accessory structures are limited to 15 ft tall.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  You can't burn brush, yard waste or trash at your home in San Clemente: the South Coast AQMD bans residential burning. Backyard fire pits are allowed with limits. Gas fire pits need Building Department approval and 3 ft of clearance. Wood-burning pits need a spark arrester, must be 3 ft from combustible construction at a house, and are banned in fire-risk areas. No wood fires are allowed when winds exceed 8 mph with humidity under 25%, or on red flag days.Restricted
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes, with a Home Occupation Permit and a City business license. Only residents of the home can work in the business, it can use no more than 20% of the home's floor area, and no signs or direct sales to customers on site are allowed (arts and self-improvement lessons are an exception).Allowed with a permit
• Swimming Pools
  Pools, spas and hot tubs are permitted accessory uses in San Clemente's residential zones and need a building permit. They can't go in the front or street-side setback without a Minor Exception Permit. A new pool must be fully enclosed by a barrier separating it from the house, plus have a second drowning-prevention feature. Pool equipment must be 5 ft from property lines and soundproofed.Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Coast or Creeks
  On San Clemente's mapped coastal bluff lots, new development must be set back at least 25 ft from the bluff edge, or behind a stringline drawn between the neighboring houses. On coastal canyon lots the setback is 30% of lot depth and at least 15 ft from the canyon edge. Exceptions, drainpipes into canyons and most new landscaping in these areas need California Coastal Commission approval. The city code we reviewed doesn't explain how coastal development permits work here, so ask the Planning Division which coastal permit your project needs.Allowed with board review
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  San Clemente's municipal code doesn't provide for private docks, piers or floats. The city's shoreline is open ocean beach with no harbor, and the code we reviewed covers only the municipal pier and beach use. Motorized watercraft can't be launched from any beach in the city without written Marine Safety approval.Not specifically regulated

We couldn't download San Clemente's ordinance text for the other 1 topics yet, so we don't cover them rather than guess.