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

Upland's own Municipal Code (Chapter 17.13) caps fences and walls at 3.5 ft in front and street-side setbacks and 6 ft elsewhere on residential lots (8 ft in industrial zones), measured from adjacent finished grade.

Upland's Development Code (Ch. 17.13) sets design and height standards but does not itself state a fence-permit trigger; under the California Building Code adopted by Upland, a building permit is generally required for fences over 7 ft and retaining walls over 4 ft.

Upland's Development Code sets the height and design standards, but cost-sharing for a shared boundary fence is governed by California Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act), which presumes adjoining owners split reasonable costs equally after 30 days' written notice.

Upland's fence chapter measures a fence-on-wall combination from the base of the wall (Section 17.13.030(C)); under the adopted California Building Code, retaining walls over 4 ft (footing to top) or supporting a surcharge require a building permit.

Upland Section 17.13.060(A) requires fences and walls to be built of decorative masonry, ornamental steel or iron, or wood and to complement the home's architecture; prohibited materials include chain-link (residential), barbed/razor wire, and scrap metal.

The City of Upland requires a building permit to construct or install an in-ground or above-ground residential swimming pool or spa. The city builds on the 2025 California Building and Residential Codes adopted in Title 15 of the Municipal Code, and permits are issued through the Building and Safety Division.

Upland enforces California's Swimming Pool Safety Act through its building code. A new pool or spa must have at least one approved drowning-prevention feature; an enclosure barrier must be at least 60 inches high with no gap allowing a 4-inch sphere to pass, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching.

Above-ground pools in Upland are treated as swimming pools under state law and generally require a building permit and an approved safety barrier. Small prefabricated pools that are shallow and low-volume may be exempt from a permit under the California Residential Code, but the state safety-feature rules still apply once a pool holds water deeper than 18 inches.

For new pools and spa remodels, Upland enforces the state requirement to provide at least one of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features before final permit sign-off: an isolation fence, mesh fencing, a safety cover, exit/pool alarms, self-latching doors, or an approved alternative.

California law treats hot tubs and spas holding water over 18 inches deep as swimming pools, so Upland's building permit and safety-feature requirements apply. A key state exemption: a hot tub or spa equipped with an approved locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is excused from the barrier requirements.

The City of Upland regulates ADUs and JADUs under Municipal Code Chapter 17.37, adopted as Ordinance No. 1993 on April 14, 2025, implementing California ADU law (Gov. Code 66310-66342). JADUs are capped at 500 square feet. In July 2025 HCD found several Upland provisions non-compliant with state law, so where the city ordinance conflicts, state standards control.

Converting a garage into living space in Upland is treated as an ADU or JADU under Municipal Code Chapter 17.37 and requires City permits. Under California ADU law, which Upland implements, the City cannot require replacement of off-street parking lost when a garage is converted to an ADU. A JADU is capped at 500 square feet.

Under Upland Municipal Code Chapter 17.19 (Accessory Uses and Structures), detached sheds and similar accessory structures generally may not exceed 10 percent of the lot or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less, and may not be used for human habitation. A one-story tool/storage shed up to 120 square feet is exempt from a building permit, but zoning setbacks still apply.

In the City of Upland, carports are accessory structures governed by Municipal Code Chapter 17.19 and the parking standards in Chapter 17.11. Detached garages and carports are excluded from the general 10%/1,000-square-foot accessory-structure size cap. Carports providing required parking must meet space dimensions and may not be placed in the front yard except as a permitted driveway/parking area.

The City of Upland has no separate 'tiny home' zoning category. A tiny house on a permanent foundation is regulated as an ADU under Municipal Code Chapter 17.37 and must meet ADU and Building Code standards. A tiny house on wheels (an RV/movable structure) cannot be used as a permanent dwelling under the accessory-structure rules.

Upland follows the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District's outdoor fire rules. A permanent fire ring or portable outdoor fireplace fueled only by propane or natural gas needs no permit but must sit at least 15 feet from any structure. Wood- or charcoal-burning recreational fires require a permit and must be at least 25 feet from structures.

Open residential burning is prohibited in Upland. South Coast AQMD bans all residential burning in the San Bernardino Valley, and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (Upland's fire agency) echoes that 'ALL RESIDENTIAL BURNING IS PROHIBITED.' Only propane/natural-gas recreational fires and permitted recreational wood fires are allowed; trash burning is never permitted.

Under Upland Municipal Code Chapter 12.24, the City maintains, trims and repairs trees in the public right-of-way — except for watering. The adjacent property owner must water parkway trees and trim away low suckers/shoots that interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Per Upland Municipal Code Section 12.24.100, no tree may be removed from a parkway or parking strip — except on Euclid Avenue — without a permit issued by the City Manager. Final authority for removing all City trees rests with the City Manager.

The City of Upland is its own water utility and adopts staged conservation rules in UMC Chapter 13.16. Excessive runoff and unrepaired leaks are always prohibited; in shortage stages, sprinkler watering is limited to two days per week by odd/even address, with restricted hours.