Bishop · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Bishop

Bishop's accessory rules set distances for garages and accessory buildings detached from the main building. A smaller distance applies to buildings far from the front property line that meet fire-resistance and drainage rules.

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Key points

Detached buildings: Bishop applies a 6-foot rule to garages and accessory buildings detached from the main building.
Smaller setback: A 3-foot rule applies if it is over 50 feet from the front line, 1-hour fire-resistive, and keeps roof drainage on the lot.

Each rule below is marked Bishop code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Bishop code What Bishop's code adds
Side and rear setback	3 feet from the line. Eaves may project 1 foot into the yard. Applies: Detached garages or accessory buildings more than 50 feet from the front property line, with 1-hour fire-resistive construction and roof drainage kept on the lot. § 17.28.110 · code text The garage or accessory building shall be three feet therefrom, and the eaves of the structure may project one foot into the yard.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main building. Applies: Garages or accessory buildings detached from the main building. § 17.28.110 · code text When a garage or an accessory building is detached from the main building, it shall be located a minimum of six feet therefrom and have a 24-foot turning radius in front of the entrance.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Bishop code The building official approves an application that meets the city's checklist and issues all needed permits. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted.

All 5 Bishop rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Bishop code What Bishop's code adds
Pool barrier	No opening in the pool fence may be wider than 9 inches. § 17.36.090 · code text Swimming pools in all commercial and residential districts shall be fenced with a fence a minimum of five feet in height and with no opening to exceed nine inches in width.
Barrier height	Pool fence at least 5 feet high. § 17.36.090 · code text Swimming pools in all commercial and residential districts shall be fenced with a fence a minimum of five feet in height and with no opening to exceed nine inches in width.
Gates	All gates to pool areas must meet the same specifications and be self-closing and latching. § 17.36.090 · code text All gates to swimming pool areas shall be of the same specifications and self-closing and latching.

Pets, chickens and bees

Bishop code What Bishop's code adds
Bees	No, keeping bees is not allowed. Applies: Citywide. § 6.08.110 · code text It is unlawful to keep or harbor any bees in the city, and any beehive used or occupied by bees is a nuisance, and it is unlawful to keep or maintain any such hive in the city.
Coop setback	At least 100 feet. Applies: Poultry or animal yards: from homes used by anyone except the keeper and family, public ways except alleys, and church or school buildings. § 6.08.100 · code text It is unlawful to maintain in the city any poultry or animal yard within 100 feet of any building used for residential purposes by anyone other than the one maintaining such poultry or animal yard, or their immediate family, or within 100 feet of any public way, other than an alley, or within 100 feet of any church or school building.

Building in a flood zone

Bishop code What Bishop's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 15.20.150 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 15.20.070.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood by at most 1 foot. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 15.20.220 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city. No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered civil engineer certifies no increase in base flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 15.20.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.20.170 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. At least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number in feet on the FIRM. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the FIRM gives a depth number. § 15.20.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the FIRM gives no depth number. § 15.20.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone with no base flood elevations on the FIRM. § 15.20.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under section 15.20.140C.

Noise and construction hours

Bishop code After 7:00 a.m. and before 10:00 p.m. Blowers and power fans must be muffled; combustion engines need a muffler that deadens the noise.

All 3 Bishop rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
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)

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Bishop code What Bishop's code adds
False alarm fees	The fee is $25.00. Applies: Third response and each later response within 6 months of the last response. § 8.24.150 · code text a fee of $25.00 shall be charged
Alarm permit	The chief of police issues an alarm permit on a completed application. Applies: To the person owning, using or possessing the alarm system. § 8.24.060 · code text Alarm system permits shall be issued by the chief of police upon the receipt of the completed application

Other Bishop rules on this

Bishop's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Parcel maps for SB 9 urban lot splits (Ch. 16.14)
Two-unit housing developments (SB 9) (Ch. 17.21)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Bishop?

Bishop applies a 6-foot rule to garages and accessory buildings detached from the main building. A 3-foot rule applies if it is over 50 feet from the front line, 1-hour fire-resistive, and keeps roof drainage on the lot.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Bishop?

Bishop's code: Pool fence at least 5 feet high. (§ 17.36.090); All gates to pool areas must meet the same specifications and be self-closing and latching. (§ 17.36.090).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Bishop?

Bishop's code: At least 100 feet. (Poultry or animal yards: from homes used by anyone except the keeper and family, public ways except alleys, and church or school buildings.) (§ 6.08.100); No, keeping bees is not allowed. (Citywide.) (§ 6.08.110).

What are the rules for building in a Bishop flood zone?

Bishop's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.20.150); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.20.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Bishop?

California law sets this for every city, including Bishop: 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 Bishop?

Bishop's code: The fee is $25.00. (Third response and each later response within 6 months of the last response.) (§ 8.24.150); The chief of police issues an alarm permit on a completed application. (To the person owning, using or possessing the alarm system.) (§ 8.24.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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