Bolthole Index

Los Angeles County, California

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Claremont, California

The City of Claremont, California adopts its own zoning code and its own Building Division requires permits for new buildings, additions and accessory structures12. Los Angeles County zoning does not govern land inside city limits1. New homes must connect to public sewer where it is available, so septic is the exception here3. We could not confirm who permits septic or wells inside the city.

At a glance

Zoning
Claremont's own zoning code applies inside city limits1
Building permit
Required for new buildings, additions and accessory structures; issued by the city Building Division2
Certificate of occupancy
Required before new or enlarged buildings are occupied4
Septic
Sewer connection is the default where a public sewer is available3
Minimum lot (RS single-family)
8,000 to 20,000 sq ft depending on the district5
Minimum lot (RR rural residential)
35,000 sq ft or 1 acre depending on the district67
Owner-builder
State law allows an owner-builder exemption on conditions8
RVs and tiny homes
Not confirmed; ask the Planning Division9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Claremont Building Division

Building permits, plan check and inspections inside Claremont city limits

(909) 399-5471

buildingapplications@claremontca.gov

207 Harvard Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711

Online permits →

Zoning

City of Claremont Planning Division

Zoning code, zoning maps and planning permits inside Claremont city limits

(909) 399-5470

207 Harvard Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711

Septic permits

LA County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

Septic plan review and soil evaluations for unincorporated Los Angeles County; ask whether it covers a parcel inside Claremont

(626) 430-5380

5050 Commerce Drive, Baldwin Park, CA 91706

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Claremont means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Claremont have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Claremont adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, so land inside city limits follows the city's code and not Los Angeles County's1. The Planning Division administers the zoning code9.

The rules depend on the district. In the RS single-family districts, the minimum lot is 20,000, 13,000, 10,000 or 8,000 square feet depending on the district5. The main dwelling in an RS district may be no more than 25 feet high, and accessory buildings no more than 15 feet10. In the RS (10,000) district the front setback is 25 feet and the rear setback is 8 feet11. A main dwelling in an RS (20,000), (13,000) or (10,000) district must have at least 1200 square feet of floor area, and 1000 square feet in RS (8,000)12.

The rural residential (RR) districts are larger: the RR (35,000) district requires 35,000 square feet and the RR (1 acre) district requires 1 acre67. Lot coverage in RR districts is capped at 20 percent, and accessory buildings count toward it13. We could verify only the RS and RR districts; other districts, such as the historic and village districts, need a call to the Planning Division14.

Do you need a building permit in Claremont, and who issues it?

Inside Claremont, the city's Building Division handles building permits, not Los Angeles County. The city lists building permits as required for constructing a building or structure, including accessory structures2. Cosmetic work such as painting does not need one2.

Before a new or enlarged building can be occupied, the building official must issue a certificate of occupancy; alterations to existing single-family homes are the exception4. State law lets an owner build or improve a structure on their own property under conditions, and the owner must file an Owner-Builder Declaration when the permit is issued815. Whether Claremont adds its own owner-builder conditions we could not confirm; ask the Building Division at (909) 399-54712.

The building permit fee schedule is set by city council resolution, and we could not confirm the current amounts; the Building Division can quote them2.

How do septic permits work inside Claremont?

Septic is the exception in Claremont, not the rule. Where a public sanitary sewer lies within 200 lineal feet of a parcel and has capacity, new construction that increases occupancy or adds bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens must connect3. A home on a failed septic system must connect to an available public sewer immediately16.

The city's planning commission may exempt the first dwelling on a residential parcel where sewers are unavailable or connection would cause unusual hardship, and in that case the city engineer or a designee approves the septic design and location17.

We could not confirm which health agency permits septic systems inside city limits. Los Angeles County Environmental Health's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program reviews septic plans, soil evaluations and percolation test data for unincorporated land18; ask both it and the Building Division who covers an address in Claremont. Well rules inside the city are also unconfirmed.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Claremont?

We could not confirm Claremont's rules on living in a recreational vehicle, camping on private land or occupying a tiny home. Call the Planning Division at (909) 399-5470 before parking a trailer or buying land for one9.

An accessory dwelling unit is the route the city's code does address: in the RR rural residential districts, an accessory second unit needs an accessory second permit19. California law requires local agencies to approve an ADU application ministerially and to tell the applicant within 15 business days whether the application is complete20.

Building a home in Claremont: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district of the parcel and its lot size, setbacks and height limits with the Planning Division9.
  2. Ask the city whether a public sewer is within 200 lineal feet, because that decides whether a septic system is possible at all3.
  3. Apply for a building permit through the Building Division2.
  4. Build with inspections requested through the Building Division2.
  5. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before moving in4.

Land divisions in the city also trigger sewer requirements: a division creating four or more additional parcels must provide public sanitary sewers for all of them21.

What stays with Los Angeles County, and what to check before you buy in Claremont

The county's rules apply to unincorporated land, not parcels inside Claremont; for land outside the city, see the Los Angeles County page. The county Department of Public Health is the office to ask about septic and wells18.

County figures give a rough picture: Los Angeles County's median property tax bill is $5,438 per year at an effective rate of 0.7 percent2223, and the typical home value is $888,42624. Conventional septic drain fields are rated poorly in the county, with only 6.6 percent of soils rated not limited, so expect a site evaluation or an engineered system if sewer is unavailable25.

Watch-outs

  • Claremont's code lists sewer connection as the default, so a parcel without a nearby sewer line may need a planning commission exemption before any septic system is allowed17.
  • Do not use the county Building and Safety or Regional Planning counters for a parcel inside Claremont; the city's Building and Planning Divisions handle those requests29.
  • Claremont's drive-through restaurant zoning amendment takes effect in October 2026; ask the Planning Division whether any amendment touches your parcel14.
  • We could not confirm Claremont's short-term rental, floodplain, driveway and RV rules; ask the Planning Division at (909) 399-54709.

Sources

  1. Chapter 16.001 RS Single-Family Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Claremont Building Division (claremontca.gov)
  3. Chapter 13.02 Connection Requirements, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 16.403 Certificates of Occupancy, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 16.001 RS Single-Family Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 16.007 RR Rural Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 16.007 RR Rural Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  8. California Business and Professions Code Section 7044 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Claremont Planning Division (claremontca.gov)
  10. Chapter 16.001 RS Single-Family Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 16.001 RS Single-Family Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 16.001 RS Single-Family Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 16.007 RR Rural Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 16.001 RS Single-Family Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  15. California Contractors State License Board - Owner-Builder Overview (2026 county census)
  16. Chapter 13.02 Connection Requirements, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 13.02 Connection Requirements, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  18. LA County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)
  19. Chapter 16.007 RR Rural Residential Districts, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  20. Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook March 2026 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Chapter 13.02 Connection Requirements, City of Claremont Municipal Code (Claremont), quoted and re-checked
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Claremont

Claremont’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings, moved buildings, and enlarged or altered buildings inside Claremont city limits, before occupancy or use

    • Exception: the certificate requirement does not apply to alterations of existing single-family residences (§ 16.403.010).
    • Certificate confirms compliance with all laws and ordinances and the Title 16 zoning provisions (§ 16.403.020).
    • Building official may require bonds to secure unfinished work under a temporary certificate of occupancy (§ 15.04.020.d).
    • Connection to public sanitary sewers is required before a certificate of occupancy is issued for new structures that increase occupancy (Ch. 13.02).
    “no building hereafter erected, moved, enlarged, or altered shall be occupied or used until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the building official, except this section shall not apply to alterations of existing single-family residences.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Claremont city limits; Title 16 (Zoning) of the Claremont Municipal Code governs use and development of land within the city.

    • Claremont city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Title 16). County zoning does not govern land inside city limits.
    • Only Chapters 16.001 (RS) and 16.007 (RR) were opened; the zoning map and the other districts (HC, RM, AV, CV) were not opened.
    “no building, structure or land shall be used, and no building or structure shall be erected or altered in the rs districts except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts within Claremont city limits

    • Opened: RS single-family districts (Ch. 16.001) and RR rural residential districts (Ch. 16.007).
    • Search results also list HC Historical Claremont (16.004), RM Medium Density (16.013), AV Arbol Verde (16.019) and CV Claremont Village (16.060) chapters; these were not opened and are not verified here.
    • Ord. 2026-03 is listed on the chapter pages as amending zoning for drive-through restaurant facilities, effective 10-22-26; it is not one of the RS or RR district standards quoted in this record.
    “the rs single-family residential districts are intended to provide for individual homes on separate lots, each for the occupancy of one family, at various minimum lot sizes”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Main dwelling units in the RS single-family districts inside Claremont city limits

    • Minimum floor area per main dwelling unit is district-specific; the RR chapter (16.007.040) states no minimum floor area in the text opened here.

    minimum floor area per main dwelling unit RS (20,000): >= 1200 sq ft · minimum floor area per main dwelling unit RS (13,000): >= 1200 sq ft · minimum floor area per main dwelling unit RS (10,000): >= 1200 sq ft · minimum floor area per main dwelling unit RS (8,000): >= 1000 sq ft

    “g. minimum floor area per main dwelling unit 1. rs (20,000) district – 1200 sq. ft. 2. rs (13,000) district – 1200 sq. ft. 3. rs (10,000) district – 1200 sq. ft. 4. rs (8,000) district – 1000 sq. ft.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family lots in the RS (20,000), RS (13,000), RS (10,000) and RS (8,000) single-family districts inside Claremont city limits (main single-family residential zone)

    • Existing lots not meeting these standards are governed by Chapter 16.400 (nonconformities).
    • Maximum lot sizes also apply in the RS districts under § 16.001.040.b (not quoted here).
    • Blaisdell Ranch / RUD and other general development plans are not covered by this claim.
    • Amended by Ord. 2025-04 (adopted 5/13/2025) per the chapter history stamp; the amendment is cited on the RR chapter.

    minimum lot area RS (20,000): 20000 sq ft · minimum lot width RS (20,000): 90 ft · minimum lot depth RS (20,000): 120 ft · minimum lot area RS (13,000): 13000 sq ft · minimum lot width RS (13,000): 90 ft · minimum lot depth RS (13,000): 120 ft · minimum lot area RS (10,000): 10000 sq ft · minimum lot width RS (10,000): 75 ft · minimum lot depth RS (10,000): 100 ft · minimum lot area RS (8,000): 8000 sq ft · minimum lot width RS (8,000): 65 ft · minimum lot depth RS (8,000): 100 ft

    “2. rs (13,000) district a. size – 13,000 sq ft. b. width – 90 ft. c. depth – 120 ft.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Main dwellings on lots in the RS (20,000), RS (13,000), RS (10,000) and RS (8,000) single-family districts inside Claremont city limits

    • Description, clarification and exceptions to minimum setbacks are in Chapter 16.130 (not opened).
    • Garage or carport parking entrances and driveways are also subject to Chapter 16.136 (not opened).
    • Corner-lot street-side setbacks: 15 ft if reversed corner lot; 10 ft if standard corner lot (all RS districts).

    front setback RS (20,000): 15 ft (18.5 ft for a garage or carport vehicle entrance directly facing the street) · front setback RS (13,000): 30 ft · front setback RS (10,000): 25 ft · front setback RS (8,000): 25 ft · rear setback (all RS districts): 8 ft · interior side setback (RS 13,000, 10,000, 8,000 and 20,000 when not adjacent to slope): 8 ft (RS (20,000) lot adjacent to slope: 5 ft from property line or 8 ft from mid-point of slope, whichever is greater)

    “3. rs (10,000) district a. front – 25 ft. b. interior side – 8 ft. c. street side if reversed corner lot – 15 ft. d. street side if standard corner lot – 10 ft. e. rear – 8 ft.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the RR (35,000) and RR (1 acre) rural residential districts inside Claremont city limits

    • Accessory building floor area counts toward this lot-coverage limit (§ 16.007.010.b).
    • Uncovered outdoor recreation courts, uncovered patios, walkways, driveways, pools and uncovered decks no more than three feet above grade are excluded.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent

    “e. maximum lot coverage – 20% calculation shall include all areas of the lot covered by any buildings including carports, covered patios, and covered decks, and balconies and decks more than three feet above grade.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Main residential structures in the RR (35,000) and RR (1 acre) rural residential districts inside Claremont city limits

    • Accessory buildings: 1 story or 15 feet, except with a special use and development permit (up to 18 feet), per § 16.007.040.i.2.
    • Height measurement and exceptions are in Chapter 16.130 (not opened).

    maximum height main residential structure (RR): <= 25 ft · maximum stories main residential structure (RR): <= 2 stories

    “a main residential structure shall have a height of no more than 25 feet and be no more than two stories.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory second units (ADUs) on lots zoned RR rural residential inside Claremont city limits

    • Requires an accessory second permit under Chapter 16.333 (Accessory Dwelling Units).
    • Chapter 16.333 states that where it conflicts with state ADU law (Gov. Code § 66310 et seq.), state law prevails.
    • Chapter 16.333 history stamp lists 2026-02 (7/14/2026); its development standards and permit procedures (§§ 16.333.050–.060) were not opened.
    • RR chapter history cites Ord. 2025-04 (5/13/2025) as the amending ordinance for this use.
    “i. accessory second units subject to approval of an accessory second permit pursuant to chapter 16.333, accessory second units.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Septic systems inside Claremont city limits where a planning commission exemption from sewer connection is granted

    • Only in exemption cases under § 13.02.040 does the code route septic design and location to the city engineer; the county or state health authority role for septic permits was not located in the opened pages.
    • Septic is not a general permitted alternative in the opened code; sewer connection is the default (see utility-connection-sewer).
    “approval of the proposed septic system design and location by the city engineer or his or her designee”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private on-site sanitation (septic) for homes inside Claremont city limits

    • Existing buildings on private systems must connect to public sewer within six months of availability (§ 13.02.020.a), with a planning commission exemption for unusual hardship (§ 13.02.020.d).
    • A failed septic system requires immediate connection to an available public sewer (§ 13.02.020.c).
    • New construction must connect before certificate of occupancy where sewers are available within 200 feet (§ 13.02.040).
    “all existing plumbed buildings experiencing failed septic systems shall connect to an available public sewer immediately upon such failure.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New homes and additions inside Claremont city limits where a public sanitary sewer is available to the parcel

    • 'Available sewers' means public sanitary sewers within 200 lineal feet of the nearest point of the parcel with capacity to accept its sewage (§ 13.02.010).
    • New construction that increases occupancy or adds bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens must connect before a certificate of occupancy (new structures) or before utility permission (remodels) (§ 13.02.040).
    • Planning commission may exempt the first dwelling on a residential parcel where sewers are unavailable or connection involves unusual hardship; conditions may include dry sewers and approval of a septic design by the city engineer (§ 13.02.040).
    • Plumbed buildings on private systems must connect within six months of availability, or immediately on septic failure (§ 13.02.020).
    • The Title 13 chapter opened does not address water-supply connection; water connection not verified.

    distance to public sanitary sewer defining availability: <= 200 lineal feet (capacity to accept the parcel's sewage required)

    “"available sewers" are public sanitary sewers within two hundred lineal feet of the nearest point of the parcel with respect to which availability is being determined, which sewers have the capacity to accept sewage discharged from that parcel.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions inside Claremont city limits after December 9, 1982

    • Sewer-availability requirement for land divisions under Title 13; Title 17 (Subdivision Ordinance, § 17.000.000 onward) exists in the code index but was not opened, so its map, lot and improvement rules are not verified here.
    • Divisions of more than five gross acres in annexation 52-a must connect to public sewers (§ 13.02.050).

    parcels created triggering full sewer requirement: >= 4 additional parcels (three or fewer additional parcels: sewers required when nearest sewer is within 200 ft plus 200 ft per additional parcel)

    “b. a division of land creating four or more additional parcels shall be required to provide public sanitary sewers for all parcels.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Claremont or Los Angeles County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Claremont city limits
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Claremont city limits
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Claremont city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Claremont city limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy on residential land inside Claremont city limits
10 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Claremont publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Los Angeles County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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