Belmont · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Belmont
Belmont's own code sets limits on keeping animals on residential lots and covers Protected Trees, pool covers and rooftop solar and EV charger permits. Its most concrete local limits are on animals, with lot-size and zone conditions for livestock and pygmy goats.
Key points
- Animal limit: Belmont allows at most 20 adult animals per property; with 5 or more, coops, pens and stables must stay out of required setbacks.
- Livestock: Belmont allows 2 horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats on a lot of at least 1 acre, plus 1 per additional half acre.
- Pygmy goats: With a city permit, up to 2 pygmy goats are allowed in listed zones; the pen must be at least 100 square feet.
- Solar and EV: Belmont gives small rooftop solar expedited review; walk-in solar and EV charger permits issue over the counter or within 1 business day.
- Tree removal: Belmont regulates removal of Protected Trees; emergencies and fire hazards that cannot be reasonably mitigated are the listed exceptions.
- Pool covers: Belmont requires covers on all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encourages them on existing pools.
Each rule below is marked Belmont code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Solar panels and EV chargers
Belmont code Belmont gives small rooftop solar expedited review; walk-in solar and EV charger permits issue over the counter or within 1 business day.
All 3 Belmont rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Belmont code Belmont regulates removal of Protected Trees; emergencies and fire hazards that cannot be reasonably mitigated are the listed exceptions.
Swimming pools
| Maintenance and empty pools |
|
|---|
Pets, chickens and bees
Belmont code Belmont allows at most 20 adult animals per property; with 5 or more, coops, pens and stables must stay out of required setbacks. Belmont allows 2 horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats on a lot of at least 1 acre, plus 1 per additional half acre. With a city permit, up to 2 pygmy goats are allowed in listed zones; the pen must be at least 100 square feet.
All 9 Belmont rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Belmont code A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered professional engineer certifies no base flood elevation increase.
All 6 Belmont rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
| When a grading permit is needed |
|
|---|---|
| Steepest cut or fill slope |
|
Noise and construction hours
Belmont code 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
All 8 Belmont rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| How long an alarm may sound |
|
|---|---|
| Alarm permit |
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Other Belmont rules on this
Belmont's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Development impact fees (Ch. 17, Art. III)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the pool fence and setback rules in Belmont?
Belmont requires covers on all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encourages them on existing pools.
What are the grading rules in Belmont?
Belmont's code: More than 50 cubic yards of combined excavation and fill. (A permit is also needed for a cut or fill deeper than 2 feet, or grading or vegetation removal over 2,000 square feet.) (§ 9-22); No steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. (Unless an approved geotechnical or engineering geology report shows a steeper slope is stable.) (§ 9-34).
Can I run a family child care home in Belmont?
California law sets this for every city, including Belmont: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Belmont?
Belmont's code: The alarm must stop sounding within 10 minutes. (§ 18-51); A valid alarm permit is required to install, possess, operate or use an alarm; lacking one is a misdemeanor. (§ 18-56).
General information, not legal advice.
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