Bolthole Index

Los Angeles County, California

Building permits, zoning and land rules in La Habra Heights, California

La Habra Heights, California adopts its own zoning in Article 7 of its municipal code1, and its Building & Safety office, run on a contract basis, reviews plans and issues building permits2. Los Angeles County's unincorporated-area rules do not apply inside city limits. We could not confirm who issues septic permits in the city, so ask City Hall at (562) 694-6302 before you plan a system2.

At a glance

Zoning
City-adopted, Article 7 of the municipal code; main district is R-A13
Building permit
Issued by the city's Building & Safety office, not the county24
Second units on R-A lots
Prohibited by the city code; state ADU law may limit that56
Septic permit
Not confirmed for the city; ask City Hall2
Owner-builder
Owners who sign a permit application still need a building permit7
Property tax
Los Angeles County effective rate 0.7%8

Who to call

Building permits

City of La Habra Heights Building & Safety (Community Development)

Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, grading and encroachment permit applications, plan review and inspections inside city limits

(562) 694-6302

1245 N Hacienda Road, La Habra Heights, CA 90631

Zoning

City of La Habra Heights Community Development (planning, code enforcement, building & safety)

Planning and zoning questions, code enforcement and the general plan inside city limits

(562) 694-6302

1245 North Hacienda Road, La Habra Heights, CA 90631

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in La Habra Heights, California?

Yes, plan on a building permit for new construction inside La Habra Heights. The city's municipal code includes Article 5, which covers the building, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, green building and wildland-urban interface codes4. California's statewide building standards apply on top of that9. Owner-builders are not exempt from permits: an owner who signs a permit application still goes through the permit and inspection process7. We could not confirm the city's own fee schedule or exemption list, so ask the Building & Safety counter what a small project such as a shed or fence needs.

Who issues building permits in La Habra Heights, and how do you reach them?

The City of La Habra Heights issues its own building permits through Building & Safety, which the city runs on a contractual basis2. The office reviews plans, issues permits and enforces the building codes2. Applications for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, grading and encroachment permits are posted on the city's page, and the city asks applicants to allow 5-10 days for processing and approval2. Call (562) 694-6302 ext. 220 to schedule inspections2. City Hall is at 1245 N Hacienda Road2. Los Angeles County Public Works handles building permits only for unincorporated land, so do not go to the county counter for a parcel inside city limits.

Does La Habra Heights have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

La Habra Heights adopts and administers its own zoning in Article 7, the Development Code and Zoning Ordinance1. Chapter 7.3 sets out the districts: R-A, OS-C, OS-R, OS-RP, PF, MFR and I, plus SPO and IO overlays3. R-A (residential-agricultural) is the district for single-family lots. On R-A lots, the code prohibits second units5. It allows guest-houses without kitchens up to 640 sq ft, and a detached guest-house needs 43,560 sq ft of lot area and 20 ft from the residence5. California's ADU law applies statewide and may limit a local ban, so confirm with the city before relying on either answer6. The MFR multifamily zone has a 1 acre minimum lot10. We could not confirm R-A lot size or setbacks, or the city's rules on RVs and tiny homes; ask the Community Development planning staff at (562) 694-630211.

How do septic permits work in La Habra Heights?

We could not confirm who issues septic or cesspool permits for parcels inside La Habra Heights city limits, or whether the city requires a sewer connection. Because the county's septic program rules cover unincorporated land and the city's role is unconfirmed, ask City Hall's Building & Safety counter first, then the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health. California requires permits for new and replacement onsite wastewater systems statewide12. Septic is a separate approval from the city's building permit, so settle it before you sign a contract on an unsewered lot.

Building a home in La Habra Heights: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zone district in Chapter 7.3 of the city code and ask Community Development what your lot can hold3.
  2. Confirm the septic or sewer path with the city and Los Angeles County Environmental Health; we could not confirm it.
  3. If you plan to divide land, read Article 9 of the city code, since land divisions are regulated by the city13 and by California's Subdivision Map Act14.
  4. Submit building permit plans to Building & Safety and allow 5-10 days for processing2.
  5. Call (562) 694-6302 ext. 220 to schedule inspections2.

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

Land outside La Habra Heights city limits falls under Los Angeles County's unincorporated rules; see the Los Angeles County page for that answer. Inside the city, check the zone district, septic path and any road or driveway encroachment permit before you buy. Los Angeles County's effective property tax rate is 0.7%8, and its median property tax bill is $5,438 a year15.

Watch-outs

  • The city code prohibits second units on R-A lots, but California ADU law may override that, so confirm with the city before buying for a rental unit5.
  • We could not confirm septic, well, RV or tiny-home rules inside city limits; ask City Hall at (562) 694-6302 before you buy2.
  • Building & Safety is open Monday through Thursday only2.

Sources

  1. Chapter 7.3: Zone Districts - City of La Habra Heights, CA (eCode360) (La Habra Heights), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of La Habra Heights Building & Safety (Community Development) (lhhcity.org)
  3. Chapter 7.3: Zone Districts - City of La Habra Heights, CA (eCode360) (La Habra Heights), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of La Habra Heights, CA code of ordinances (eCode360) table of contents (La Habra Heights), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 7.3: Zone Districts - City of La Habra Heights, CA (eCode360) (La Habra Heights), quoted and re-checked
  6. Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook March 2026 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Owner-Builder Responsibilities (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Approved Building Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 7.3: Zone Districts - City of La Habra Heights, CA (eCode360) (La Habra Heights), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of La Habra Heights Community Development (planning, code enforcement, building & safety) (lhhcity.org)
  12. 2023 OWTS Policy (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of La Habra Heights, CA code of ordinances (eCode360) table of contents (La Habra Heights), quoted and re-checked
  14. California Government Code Section 66424 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 La Habra Heights

La Habra Heights’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings inside La Habra Heights city limits, under the city's municipal code Article 5.

    • Confirmed only from the eCode360 table of contents, which lists Article 5 as the building, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, green building and WUI code (§ 5.1.10 to § 5.4.40).
    • The adopting ordinance and the state code editions it incorporates were not opened in this research.
    “article 5 building, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, green building and wildland-urban interface (wui) code (§ 5.1.10 – § 5.4.40)”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside La Habra Heights city limits: the city adopts and administers its own zoning in Article 7 (Development Code and Zoning Ordinance) of its municipal code.

    • Zone districts are set out in Chapter 7.3 of Article 7; the zone chapter's use permissions are conditional on the zone and the permit type shown in the code.
    • Dimensional standards for the R-A district were not located in Chapter 7.3 and remain unknown (see those claims).
    “article 7 development code and zoning ordinance (§ 7.1.10 – § 7.28.090)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zone districts inside La Habra Heights city limits: R-A, OS-C, OS-R, OS-RP, PF, SPO/IO overlays, MFR, I.

    • Chapter 7.3 lists the zone districts and their primary, accessory, conditional, temporary and prohibited uses; the zoning map (exhibit 7-1) is referenced but was not opened.
    • Overlay SPO applies to parcels with R-A, OS-RP or OS-R base zones; the IO overlay uses an R-A base.
    “this chapter establishes the zone districts and specifies the primary uses, accessory uses, conditional uses, temporary uses and prohibited uses within each zone district.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    MFR (multifamily residential) zone inside La Habra Heights city limits; not the main single-family R-A district.

    • Table 7-a also sets minimum lot width and depth of 135 ft (corner) and 165 ft (interior).

    minimum lot size: >= 1 acre

    “minimum lot size 1 acre minimum lot width 135 ft. (corner); 165 ft. (interior) minimum lot depth 135 ft. (corner); 165 ft. (interior)”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    MFR (multifamily residential) zone inside La Habra Heights city limits; not the main single-family R-A district.

    minimum front yard setback: >= 20 ft · minimum side yard setback (interior): >= 5 ft · minimum side yard setback (street): >= 10 ft · minimum rear yard setback: >= 20 ft

    “minimum front yard setback 20 ft. minimum side yard setback (interior) 5 ft. minimum side yard setback (street) 10 ft. minimum rear yard setback 20 ft.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    MFR (multifamily residential) zone inside La Habra Heights city limits; not the main single-family R-A district.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 65 %

    “table 7-a minimum density (units per acre) 20 maximum density (units per acre) 24 minimum lot size 1 acre minimum lot width 135 ft. (corner); 165 ft. (interior) minimum lot depth 135 ft. (corner); 165 ft. (interior) maximum lot coverage 65% maximum building height 35 ft. minimum front yard setback 20 ft. minimum side yard setback (interior) 5 ft. minimum side yard setback (street) 10 ft. minimum rear yard setback 20 ft.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    MFR (multifamily residential) zone inside La Habra Heights city limits; not the main single-family R-A district.

    maximum building height: <= 35 ft

    “table 7-a minimum density (units per acre) 20 maximum density (units per acre) 24 minimum lot size 1 acre minimum lot width 135 ft. (corner); 165 ft. (interior) minimum lot depth 135 ft. (corner); 165 ft. (interior) maximum lot coverage 65% maximum building height 35 ft. minimum front yard setback 20 ft. minimum side yard setback (interior) 5 ft. minimum side yard setback (street) 10 ft. minimum rear yard setback 20 ft.”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Second units on R-A (residential-agricultural) zoned single-family lots inside La Habra Heights city limits.

    • The city code lists the reasons (sewage disposal, rural street design, transportation, housing use) in the same section.
    • Accessory dwelling state law (Gov. Code § 65852.2) was not analyzed in this research and may limit or override this local prohibition; check with the city before relying on it.
    • R-A accessory uses also allow guest-houses without kitchens up to 640 sq ft; detached guest-houses need 43,560 sq ft of lot area and must sit 20 ft from the residence (§ 7.3.20(b)(4)).
    “second units on r-a zoned single-family lots are prohibited within the city for the reasons set forth below”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed — Accessory dwelling units in the MFR (multifamily residential) zone inside La Habra Heights city limits only; does not apply to R-A single-family lots.
      “property in the mfr zone may be used for accessory uses indicated in this section in conjunction with lawfully established multifamily residences. 1. accessory dwelling units.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions inside La Habra Heights city limits, under municipal code Article 9 (Subdivisions).

    • Confirmed only from the table of contents. Article 9 (§ 9.1.10 to § 9.14.150) was not opened, so procedures and thresholds are unknown.
    “article 9 subdivisions (§ 9.1.10 &ndash; § 9.14.150)”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — New residential construction inside La Habra Heights city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit eligibility inside La Habra Heights city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside La Habra Heights city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new homes inside La Habra Heights city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside La Habra Heights city limits.
16 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 La Habra Heights publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Los Angeles County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Los Angeles County: county rules, score and offices