Brisbane · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Brisbane
Brisbane sets one fence limit for all required setbacks, which the city may lower where visibility is affected. The city limits small accessory buildings in setbacks, and home businesses need a permit.
Key points
- Fence height: Brisbane limits fences in required setbacks, front included, to 6 feet, or as low as 3 feet where visibility would be affected.
- Small structures: Brisbane limits sheds, gazebos and greenhouses in the rear or interior side setback to 8 feet and 120 square feet.
- Home business: Brisbane home businesses need a home occupation permit from the planning director.
Each rule below is marked Brisbane code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Brisbane code Brisbane limits fences in required setbacks, front included, to 6 feet, or as low as 3 feet where visibility would be affected.
All 5 Brisbane rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Brisbane code Brisbane limits sheds, gazebos and greenhouses in the rear or interior side setback to 8 feet and 120 square feet.
All 6 Brisbane rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Permit |
|
|---|
Lot splits under SB 9
Brisbane code At most 2 lots of about equal area; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.
All 15 Brisbane rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
|
|---|
Also in Brisbane's code: No RV or trailer parking on residential streets (§ 10.24.236) — on public streets in residential zones. This page does not summarize it yet.
Solar panels and EV chargers
Brisbane code At least 1 Level 2 and 1 Level 1 EV Ready circuit. Only 1 Level 2 EV Ready circuit.
All 9 Brisbane rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
|
|---|---|
| Height of the lowest floor |
|
Grading and erosion control
Brisbane code No permit: digging 5 cubic yards or less per site, under 2 feet deep, with no cut slope over 2:1. No permit: fill under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5:1, 5 cubic yards or less, not blocking drainage.
All 3 Brisbane rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Brisbane code Construction is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. Construction is allowed only from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
All 8 Brisbane rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
Brisbane code Outdoor lights must be off no later than 10:00 p.m. Outdoor lighting must have a color temperature of 3,000 Kelvin or less.
All 5 Brisbane rules on outdoor lighting, 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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Brisbane code Affordable in perpetuity. Affordable in perpetuity.
All 10 Brisbane rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Brisbane code Recycling receptacles may not stay at the curb longer than 12 hours after the scheduled collection. Recycling receptacles may not be put at the curb earlier than 12 hours before the scheduled collection.
All 3 Brisbane rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Brisbane rules on this
Brisbane's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Keeping horses (§ 17.32.130) — use permit needed; not allowed in the listed residential zones
- Permit to keep extra dogs, cats, fowl or rabbits (§ 6.14.030)
- No RV or trailer parking on residential streets (§ 10.24.236) — on public streets in residential zones
- Permit to remove or severely trim a private tree (§ 12.12.050)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Brisbane?
Brisbane home businesses need a home occupation permit from the planning director.
What are the rules for building in a Brisbane flood zone?
Brisbane's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. (Applies in areas of special flood hazards.) (§ 15.56.071); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.56.081).
Can I run a family child care home in Brisbane?
California law sets this for every city, including Brisbane: 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)).
General information, not legal advice.
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