Bolthole Index

Los Angeles County, California

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Whittier, California

Whittier, California adopts its own zoning code (Title 18 of the city code)1, and the city's Community Development Department handles planning and building standards at City Hall2. Los Angeles County's rules for unincorporated land do not apply inside city limits. Septic approvals in Los Angeles County run through the county Department of Public Health; ask whether your address falls under that program3.

At a glance

Zoning
Whittier's own zoning code (Title 18)1
Building permits
City Building & Safety Division, Community Development Department2
R-E minimum new lot
15,000 sq ft4
R-E height limit
30 ft5
Septic
LA County Public Health plan approval; confirm for city addresses3
RV living on streets
Prohibited on city streets and public property6
Owner-builder
California allows it; you pull the permits yourself7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Whittier Community Development Department (Planning and Building & Safety)

Zoning administration, building permits, plan check and inspections inside Whittier city limits

(562) 567-9320

13230 Penn Street, 2nd Floor, Whittier, CA 90602

Septic permits

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

Septic (onsite wastewater) plan approval for unincorporated Los Angeles County; ask whether it covers a specific Whittier address

(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 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Whittier 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.

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

Yes. Whittier applies Title 18 of its city code to land inside Whittier city limits1. The rules differ by district, so check your parcel's zone first.

In the R-E Single-Family Residential Estate zone, no new lot may be created with less than 15,000 square feet4. Whittier's R-E lots need a front yard of at least 25 feet, side yards of 10 feet and a rear yard of 10 feet8. Buildings in R-E may not exceed 30 feet in height5, and buildings including accessory structures may cover at most 40 percent of the lot9.

In the R-2 Light Multiple Residential zone, new lots need at least 7,000 square feet10, and buildings may reach 35 feet11. Other zones are in Title 18 of the city code1; we did not review them.

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

Building permits inside Whittier come from the city, not Los Angeles County. The city's Building & Safety Division enforces minimum building standards2, and California's statewide building code applies to residential construction12. Whittier's own permit thresholds and fees were not confirmed, so call the Community Development Department before starting work, including small projects.

An owner-builder who signs a building permit application takes responsibility for the whole project, must pull all building permits, and must pass inspections7. State law lets owners build or improve structures on their own property without a contractor license, with conditions13.

For land outside city limits, see the Los Angeles County page.

How do septic permits work in Whittier?

Los Angeles County's Department of Public Health reviews and approves septic (onsite wastewater) systems under its Local Agency Management Program, for unincorporated areas and contracted cities3. Anyone installing or repairing a septic system must submit an application and receive plan approval before work begins14. State policy requires local septic permitting to stay consistent with the statewide OWTS policy15.

We could not confirm whether the county program covers a specific address inside Whittier or whether the lot must connect to a sewer. Ask Whittier's Building & Safety Division and the county's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program16 before you buy or design anything that depends on septic.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Whittier?

On Whittier's streets and public property, no. Whittier's code bars using any street or public place as a permanent or temporary place of habitation, and vehicle dwelling is barred overnight on city streets6. Camping in public areas and parks is also unlawful, except in designated RV and mobile home parks17.

We did not review Whittier's rules for an RV parked on a private lot. California's statewide position is that RVs are not meant to be permanent dwellings, and generally may be occupied only in mobilehome or special occupancy parks unless a local ordinance says otherwise18. Ask the Planning counter before you plan to live in an RV or tiny home on your lot.

Building a home in Whittier: the steps, in order

  1. Look up your parcel's zone and read its development standards in Title 181.
  2. Call the Community Development Department to confirm what planning approval and building permits your project needs2.
  3. If the lot is in a mapped flood hazard area, plan for a lowest floor at or above base flood elevation19.
  4. Settle sewer or septic with the county program before design is final16.
  5. Apply for building permits and schedule inspections with the city2.

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

Los Angeles County's zoning, building permit and unincorporated-land rules apply only outside city limits; the county page covers those Los Angeles County. Septic and well approvals are county health matters. The county Drinking Water Program permits wells in Los Angeles County except in Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon20.

County figures: Los Angeles County's effective property tax rate is 0.7 percent21, and the typical home value is about $888,42622. Also confirm flood status19 and whether any accessory dwelling unit you plan follows California's ministerial approval rules23.

Watch-outs

  • Whittier's building permit fees, thresholds and private-lot RV rules were not confirmed; ask the Community Development Department2.
  • Septic coverage for addresses inside Whittier was not confirmed; ask the county Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program16.
  • The R-E and R-2 standards here are only two of Whittier's districts; your parcel's zone may differ1.

Sources

  1. Whittier Code 18.12.030 R-E development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Whittier Community Development Department (Planning and Building & Safety) (cityofwhittier.org)
  3. Local Agency Management Program (LAMP), quoted and re-checked
  4. Whittier Code 18.12.030 R-E development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  5. Whittier Code 18.12.030 R-E development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  6. Whittier Code 10.48.070 Prohibited use of public property (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  7. Owner-Builder Responsibilities (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Whittier Code 18.12.030 R-E development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  9. Whittier Code 18.12.030 R-E development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  10. Whittier Code 18.18.030 R-2 development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  11. Whittier Code 18.18.030 R-2 development standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  12. Approved Building Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. California Business and Professions Code Section 7044 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov, quoted and re-checked
  15. Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy) (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. LA County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)
  17. Whittier Code 12.42.030 Camping in public areas prohibited (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  18. hcd.ca.gov (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Whittier Code 15.40.160 Flood construction standards (Whittier), quoted and re-checked
  20. State Small Water Systems and Wells, quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook March 2026 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 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 Whittier

Whittier’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Whittier city limits; Title 18 Zoning of the city code

    “all uses of property in the r-e zone shall comply with the following development standards:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-2 Light Multiple Residential zone inside Whittier city

    • Applies to lots created after the effective date of the ordinance; text says 'seven thousand feet'.

    minimum lot area: >= 7000 sq ft

    “each lot classified in zone r-2 created after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section shall have a minimum lot area of not less than seven thousand feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-E Single-Family Residential Estate zone inside Whittier city
      “no lot classified in the r-e zone shall be created after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section having a minimum lot area of less than fifteen thousand square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-E zone inside Whittier city

    • Interior side yards 10 ft; corner lot street side 25 ft; rear yard 10 ft.

    front yard: >= 25 ft · interior side yard: >= 10 ft · rear yard: >= 10 ft

    “each lot in the r-e zone shall maintain a front yard not less than twenty-five feet in depth.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-E zone inside Whittier city

    • Includes necessary accessory buildings.

    maximum building coverage: <= 40 percent of lot area

    “buildings, including necessary accessory buildings, may cover not to exceed forty percent of the lot area of any lot in an r-e zone.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-2 zone inside Whittier city

    • Chimneys may project 2 ft above; approving authority may limit second stories in single-story neighborhoods.

    maximum height: <= 35 ft

    “no building or structure located on a lot in zone r-2 shall have a height in excess of thirty-five feet;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Habitation in vehicles on streets and public property inside Whittier city; private-lot RV rules not reviewed

    • Does not apply to designated mobile home or RV parks.
    • Vehicle dwelling barred 8pm-7am on city streets and near parks/schools (12.42.040).
    “no person shall use or permit the use of any street, public property, or public place for a permanent or temporary place of habitation.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping on streets, alleys, public parking lots, public areas and parks inside Whittier city; private land not addressed

    • Exceptions: emergencies, city-approved events, designated mobile home/RV camping grounds and parks.
    “it shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia in the following areas, except as otherwise designated by the city manager or designee:”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Areas of special flood hazard inside Whittier city

    • Lowest floor elevated to or above base flood elevation; manufactured homes anchored per 15.40.190.
    “in all areas of special flood hazards the following standards are required:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Whittier city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Whittier city
  • Building code adopted — Whittier city building code
  • Inspections — Whittier city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Whittier city
16 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Whittier 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