Before You Build in Inglewood, CA: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Any wall or fence over 4 feet tall in Inglewood needs a fence permit before construction, backed by a site plan and materials description plus a fee from the Master Fee Schedule. Fences under that height, and temporary construction-site fencing, are exempt from the permit requirement entirely.

Inglewood caps residential front-yard fences at 4 feet, rising to 5 feet if the open portion above 2 feet is ornamental metal, and rear and side yard fences behind the front building line can go up to 8 feet. Corner lots follow the same 4-foot street-side limit as front yards.

Inglewood follows California Civil Code regarding shared boundary fences. Adjoining property owners share equal responsibility for maintaining boundary fences. The finished side of a fence must face the neighboring property.

Building permits are required for pool construction in Inglewood. Plans must show pool location, dimensions, distances from property lines, electrical, plumbing, and structural engineering. Building and Safety Division handles permits.

Inglewood requires all swimming pools to be enclosed by a fence or barrier at least 5 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Pool barriers must comply with California Building Code requirements.

Inglewood bans converting a garage or required parking space into a bedroom, office, storage room, or any other habitable use. IMC § 12-40.1 requires every garage and required parking space to stay available for vehicles at all times and bars renting the space out for anything else. The only exception is converting a garage into a permitted accessory dwelling unit.

Inglewood allows one accessory dwelling unit and one junior ADU per single-family lot, and internal or attached ADUs equal to 25 percent of unit count on multifamily lots, under Municipal Code Article 35. Detached ADUs top out at one thousand square feet and one story or sixteen feet in height, and the Economic and Community Development Director must act on a complete application within sixty days.

Inglewood exempts small detached tool and storage sheds from building permits under an amended Building Code Section 105.2, but only if the structure stays under 120 square feet, tops out at 7 feet (10 feet if portable), sits outside required setbacks, skips plumbing and electrical, and is spaced 10 feet from other accessory structures.

No one may cut, disfigure, relocate or remove a protected tree in Inglewood without a Tree Removal and Cutting Permit from the Parks, Recreation and Library Services Department, filed with the Master Fee Schedule inspection fee before any work begins.

Inglewood requires property owners to maintain trees so they do not obstruct sidewalks, streets, or traffic signs. Trees must provide at least 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets.

Inglewood follows state water conservation mandates and local watering schedules. Outdoor watering is typically limited to specific days and times. Runoff onto sidewalks and streets is prohibited.