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

Whittier's Zoning Code sets fence height and placement, but cost-sharing for a shared boundary fence is governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the statewide Good Neighbor Fence Act. Adjoining owners are presumed equally responsible for a dividing fence, with 30 days' written notice required before incurring costs.

The City of Whittier's own Zoning Code limits residential fences and walls, not Los Angeles County. Interior side and rear yard fences may reach about six feet, while front-yard fences must be non-view-obscuring and much lower, with permitted height scaling by lot width under the City's pre-approved palette.

The City of Whittier requires a building permit for a fence or block wall 18 inches or more in height, and for retaining walls of any height. This city threshold is far stricter than the California Building Code, which only requires a permit for fences over 7 feet.

The City of Whittier requires a building permit for a retaining wall of any height, the strictest of its fence-related triggers. In the city's hillside areas, the Zoning Code further limits the vertical height of cuts or fills retained by walls to 20 feet from toe to top.

Whittier directs front-yard and street-side fences to its City pre-approved design palette administered by Community Development. Palette-compliant fences earn over-the-counter approval, while non-conforming materials and designs are referred to the Planning Commission.

A swimming pool in the City of Whittier requires a building permit. The City's Building & Safety guidance directs applicants to first submit four copies of the site/plot plan and two copies of the engineer-stamped pool plans to the Planning Division for location and equipment approval, then obtain the permit at the Building & Safety counter.

Whittier adopts the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (WMC Ch. 15.12), so a residential pool must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high. California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (HSC 115922-115928) layers on a 60-inch enclosure standard and a requirement to choose at least two of seven drowning-prevention features at construction.

Beyond the barrier, Whittier's adopted 2021 ISPSC (WMC Ch. 15.12) and California's Swimming Pool Safety Act require anti-entrapment drain covers and drowning-prevention features. For new residential pools, HSC 115922 mandates at least two of seven approved safety features verified at the City building inspection.

Above-ground pools in Whittier are governed by the same adopted 2021 ISPSC (WMC Ch. 15.12) and State Pool Safety Act. Where the pool wall itself serves as the barrier, any ladder or steps must be removable, lockable, or secured, or the access point must be enclosed by a compliant 48-inch barrier.

Spas and hot tubs in Whittier fall under the same adopted 2021 ISPSC (WMC Ch. 15.12). A spa or hot tub equipped with a listed, lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is generally exempt from the perimeter barrier requirement; otherwise the 48-inch barrier and gate rules apply.

The City of Whittier permits ADUs in zones that allow residential uses under Municipal Code Section 18.10.020(I), implementing California Gov. Code 66310-66342. Detached new-construction ADUs are limited to 1,200 sq ft (1,500 sq ft on lots 20,000 sq ft+) and 16 ft height; ministerial approval within 60 days.

Whittier allows converting a garage to an ADU or junior ADU under Municipal Code Sec. 18.10.020(I), and per state law, off-street parking spaces lost to a garage conversion do not have to be replaced. Junior ADUs (up to 500 sq ft) must be entirely within the existing single-family residence or attached garage and carry owner-occupancy and deed-restriction requirements.

In the City of Whittier, a one-story detached storage shed of 120 sq ft or less needs no building permit (location reviewed by Planning). Under zoning Section 18.10.030, sheds under 120 sq ft may not exceed 12 ft in height, and detached non-dwelling accessory buildings are allowed in the rear one-third of the lot.

Whittier has no standalone 'tiny home' ordinance. A permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an ADU under Municipal Code Sec. 18.10.020(I) (a manufactured home qualifies as an ADU). The city also allows one detached 'accessory living area' under Sec. 18.10.020(H), but it may have NO kitchen and may not be used as a rental or permanent residence.

Whittier treats a carport as a covered parking structure under its zoning code. Carports must satisfy residential building-location and yard rules in Municipal Code Sec. 18.10.030 (no structures in required yards except as allowed; 5 ft minimum between buildings). A carport may also be converted to an ADU under Sec. 18.10.020(I), with no parking replacement required.

Whittier adopts the Los Angeles County Fire Code (Title 32) by reference under Municipal Code Section 15.15.010, which incorporates California Fire Code recreational-fire rules. Backyard fire pits should be a contained appliance kept at least 25 feet from structures, constantly attended, and never used to burn trash. Whittier contracts fire protection to LA County Fire.

Open burning of trash, leaves, brush, or debris is effectively banned in Whittier. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 prohibits residential open burning anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin, and the LA County Fire Code adopted at Municipal Code Section 15.15.010 bars open burning that creates a hazard. Only contained recreational and cooking fires are allowed.

Under Whittier Municipal Code Section 12.40.040, no person may cut, trim, prune, plant, remove, or injure any tree on a street, park, alley, or public place without a permit from the City's director (Parks, Recreation and Community Services). Permits are issued per the City's Parkway Tree Manual and are valid for no more than 30 days.

Removing a public/parkway tree in Whittier requires a permit under WMC 12.40.040. For a hazardous private tree overhanging the public right-of-way, Section 12.40.100 lets the director order removal only after 10-day written notice; a dead tree verified by the City arborist may be removed with no notice. The City posts 30-day notice before removing a healthy parkway tree.

Whittier homes are served by the City's own water division or by Suburban Water Systems. Under WMC 13.24.010 the public works director may restrict watering hours in an emergency. Suburban, serving much of the area, limits irrigation to three days weekly by even/odd address and bans watering from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or within 48 hours of rain.