How can I obtain Zoning information for my property?
What is the process for adding a single-story room to my home?
What is the process to add a second-story addition to my home?
Do I need a permit to place a shed in my backyard?
How high can fences be in residential areas?
How can I obtain a copy of a Zoning Map, General Plan, or other Community Development Department publication?
Can I run a business out of my home?
How do I go about obtaining a business license for a home based business?
How can I obtain demographic information?
How often does the City Council meet and how can I obtain a copy of the Agenda?
I live in a residential development that has a Homeowner's Association and would like to make some exterior modifications. What do I need to do?
The information I'm looking for is not here. How can I contact the Planning Division?
How can I obtain Zoning information for my property?
To obtain the Zoning designation and allowable uses for a property within the City, a property owner has the option of either reviewing the Zoning Map located on the City’s website at www.ci.cypress.ca.us, or contacting the Cypress Planning Division at (714) 229-6720 and requesting the zoning designation of the property. After determining the zoning of the subject property, the property owner may access the City’s Zoning Ordinance to obtain the development standards for their property. The City’s Zoning Ordinance can be found in the City’s Municipal Code (Appendix I) on the City’s website or may be purchased in hardcopy form at the Planning Counter at City Hall. For more information regarding zoning information, please call (714) 229-6720, or visit our offices located at 5275 Orange Avenue.
What is the process for adding a single-story room to my home?
The first step in the process of adding a room to your home is to review the development standards for the Zone in which you live. The development standards may be obtained by contacting the Cypress Planning Division at (714) 229-6720, or by viewing the Cypress Municipal Code on the City’s website at www.ci.cypress.ca.us. Development standards for residential zones are provided in Section 5 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which is located in Appendix 1 of the Cypress Municipal Code.
The second step in the process is to prepare building plans for the proposed project. Building plans shall consist of two (2) copies of each of the following: a site plan, existing/ proposed floor plan, and exterior building elevations. For a general description of the items required on each plan, refer to the website handout titled “Requirements for Adding a Single-Story Room Addition or Patio Cover”. The building plans shall be submitted to the Cypress Planning Division for review and approval prior to submittal for building permits.
What is the process to add a second-story addition to my home?
If you have a single-story home and wish to construct a second-story addition, you will be required to submit an application for a Staff Review Committee Permit to the Cypress Planning Division. A Staff Review Committee Permit application requires the payment of a $400.00 filing fee and the submittal of seven (7) copies of a site plan, floor plan, and exterior building elevations.
If you have an existing two-story home, and the addition will not exceed the existing height of your home, the addition may be approved over-the-counter by Planning staff. Over-the-counter approvals require the submittal of two (2) copies of the site plan, floor plan, and exterior elevations. To obtain assistance regarding what is required on the plans for second-story additions, you may contact the Planning Division at (714) 229-6720.
Do I need a permit to place a shed in my backyard?
Single-story sheds, playhouses, and similar pre-fabricated structures, less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet in floor area, do not require building permits. However, the placement of all sheds and/or pre-fabricated structures in side and rear yards shall comply with the minimum setback requirements for detached structures (typically five feet (5’) from all property lines). Sheds and other structures, exceeding one hundred twenty (120) square feet in floor area, shall require a building permit from the City. If you are not sure whether a structure requires a permit, you may contact the City’s Building Division at (714) 229-6730.
How high can fences be in residential areas?
Fences and block walls located along side and rear property lines, and not within a required front-yard setback area (i.e. a specific distance back from the street in which walls are limited to three feet six inches (3’-6”) in height), may be up to seven feet (7’) in height. For residential properties located adjacent to a commercial property, an eight feet (8’) high block wall is required. Fences in required front-yard setback areas shall not exceed three feet six inches (3’-6”) in height. Block wall fences in excess of three feet (3’) in height, or which retain more than eighteen inches (18”) of soil, require a building permit. Fences and block walls placed on property lines require approval of both property owners prior to issuance of a building permit.
How can I obtain a copy of a Zoning Map, General Plan, or other Community Development Department publication?
The following Publications are available through the Planning Division of the Community Development Department. For more information please call (714) 229-6720.
Can I run a business out of my home?
Yes, however there are specific regulations intended to prevent commercial activities from affecting residential neighborhoods. Essentially, home-based businesses, or Home Occupations, are limited to office purposes only, i.e. telephone, fax, and mail. Normal deliveries (i.e. Federal Express, United Parcel Service, etc.) are allowed, but deliveries of stock-in-trade are not. Signage is not allowed, and employees other than persons living at the residence are not allowed to be employed at the residence. Information regarding Home Occupations may be found in Section 4, Article 19 of the Cypress Zoning Ordinance (Appendix 1 of the Cypress Municipal Code).
How do I go about obtaining a business license for a home based business?
You begin by contacting the City's Business Licensing Division at (714) 229-6712,
or clicking on the following link: www.ci.cypress.ca.us/finance/business_licences.htm.
How can I obtain demographic information?
The City has a number of sources for demographic information. We have made some
basic demographic information available on the City’s web site which may be
accessed by clicking; www.ci.cypress.ca.us/about_cypress.
Additional information may be obtained by calling (714) 229-6720. You may also
wish to visit these sites: U.S. Census Bureau and the Center for Demographic
Research at Cal State Fullerton.
How often does the City Council meet and how can I obtain a copy of the Agenda?
The City Council meets the second and fourth Monday of every month. The most
recent meeting agenda, as well as the agendas for the last 3 pervious years,
are available online at: www.ci.cypress.ca.us. Information on individual agenda
items can be obtained by calling (714) 229-6685.
I live in a residential development that has a Homeowner's Association and would like to make some exterior modifications. What do I need to do?
The first thing to do is obtain the approval of your Homeowner's Association for your proposed project. Exterior modifications, such as patio covers, fencing, windows, or awnings, will likely require approval from the Association. The City normally cannot issue a permit for exterior modifications without written Homeowner Association consent. Please be sure you or your contractor bring any letters or plans approved by your Association to City Hall when obtaining building permits.
The information I'm looking for is not here. How can I contact the Planning Division? The Planning Division may be reached at (714) 229-6720.