Calaveras County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Calaveras County

In unincorporated Calaveras County, the county code limits home businesses and a detached accessory structure built on a lot without a main use. Home businesses also need a separate county business license.

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Key points

Home businesses: County code: home businesses are limited to 33% of all structures' floor area, 3 customers at a time and 1 employee besides residents.
Accessory structures: On a lot without a main use, one unplumbed, unwired detached accessory structure is allowed; the county sets 120 and 576 square foot limits.

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

Calaveras County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Calaveras County have their own codes and their own pages.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
Size or lot coverage	One detached accessory structure of at most 120 square feet. Applies: On a lot without a permitted main use, and only if it has no plumbing or electricity. § 17.16.030 · code text A maximum of one detached accessory structure with a maximum size of one hundred twenty square feet plus one detached accessory structure with a maximum size of five hundred seventy-six square feet may be allowed on a lot without a permitted main use provided neither is plumbed or electrified. One detached accessory structure of at most 576 square feet. Applies: On a lot without a permitted main use, and only if it has no plumbing or electricity. § 17.16.030 · code text A maximum of one detached accessory structure with a maximum size of one hundred twenty square feet plus one detached accessory structure with a maximum size of five hundred seventy-six square feet may be allowed on a lot without a permitted main use provided neither is plumbed or electrified.

Running a business from home

Calaveras County code County code: home businesses are limited to 33% of all structures' floor area, 3 customers at a time and 1 employee besides residents.

All 6 Calaveras County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Calaveras County code Over-the-counter permit; no electrical plan check. Apply in person or electronically through the building official's online system.

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

Swimming pools

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from any property line. Applies: Pools and spas over 18 inches deep, measured from the inside wall of the water area. § 17.16.130 · code text The inside wall of the water-containing portion of any swimming pool or spa shall be located a minimum of five feet from any property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
Bees	Allowed only with the landowner's or public agency's permission. Applies: Beehives kept on another person's land or a public right-of-way. § 5.08.030 · code text No apiary shall be located or kept upon the land of another or on a public right-of-way without first obtaining the permission of the landowner, person entitled to possession of the land or the public agency having or administering such public right-of-way to place said apiary thereon.
Large animals	Livestock may not be kept on another's land without written consent, or on public lands or highways, or run loose. Applies: Livestock control. § 6.10.070 · code text No person having or having charge, care, custody or control of any livestock shall cause or permit either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such animal to be placed, staked, or to graze or be upon the land of another without the written consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of the land, or upon public lands or highways, or to allow any such animal to run at large.

Building in a flood zone

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. Applies: The application must include plans showing proposed fill, grading, drainage, the floodway location when applicable, and elevations. § 15.06.043 · 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 15.06.032.
Building in a floodway	No new development or fill is allowed unless all development together raises the base flood no more than 1 foot. Applies: Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, in zones A1-30 and AE. § 15.06.056 · 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 County of Calaveras. Fill, new buildings and other development are not allowed unless a civil engineer certifies no rise in flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 15.06.056 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement and other development are prohibited, 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	The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.06.051 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated two feet above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be 2 feet higher than the FIRM depth number, above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone that has a depth number on the FIRM. § 15.06.051 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height two feet above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least four feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 4 feet above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 15.06.051 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height two feet above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least four feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation, as the county determines it. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, where the FIRM shows no base flood elevation. § 15.06.051 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated two feet above the base flood elevation; as determined under subsection 15.06.042C..

Grading and erosion control

Calaveras County code A grading permit is needed for 50 cubic yards or more of material. No permit is needed under 50 cubic yards, or for small shallow fills or cuts under 1 acre.

All 3 Calaveras County rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
Exemptions	No fees apply to rebuilding homes or businesses damaged or destroyed in a disaster declared by the governor. Applies: Reconstruction after a natural disaster. § 15.07.060 · code text No fee may be applied by a local agency to the reconstruction of any residential, commercial or industrial development project that is damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster as declared by the governor.

Noise and construction hours

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
Noise limit at homes	60 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Applies: Residential land use. Limit is 5 dBA lower for pure tone noise, but never below ambient plus 5 dBA. § 9.02.030 · code text \| Land Use Type* \| 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.** \| 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. \| \| Residential \| 60 \| 50 \| The noise limit is 60 dBA. Applies: Residential land, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; 5 dBA lower for pure tones, but never below background plus 5 dBA. § 9.02.030 · code text Residential \| 60 \| 50 The noise limit is 50 dBA. Applies: Residential land, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; 5 dBA lower for pure tones, but never below background plus 5 dBA. § 9.02.030 · code text Residential \| 60 \| 50

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Calaveras County code 1 space per unit. 2 spaces per unit.

All 4 Calaveras County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Calaveras County code Special-event signs, including garage-sale and open-house signs, are exempt from permit requirements. Exempt from permit requirements.

All 7 Calaveras County rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Calaveras County rules on this

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

Outdoor lighting, glare and light trespass (§ 17.16.100)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Calaveras County?

On a lot without a main use, one unplumbed, unwired detached accessory structure is allowed; the county sets 120 and 576 square foot limits.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Calaveras County?

Calaveras County's code: At least 5 feet from any property line. (Pools and spas over 18 inches deep, measured from the inside wall of the water area.) (§ 17.16.130).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Calaveras County?

Calaveras County's code: Allowed only with the landowner's or public agency's permission. (Beehives kept on another person's land or a public right-of-way.) (§ 5.08.030).

What are the rules for building in a Calaveras County flood zone?

Calaveras County's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (The application must include plans showing proposed fill, grading, drainage, the floodway location when applicable, and elevations.) (§ 15.06.043); The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.06.051).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Calaveras County?

Calaveras County's code: 60 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Residential land use. Limit is 5 dBA lower for pure tone noise, but never below ambient plus 5 dBA.) (§ 9.02.030); The noise limit is 60 dBA. (Residential land, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; 5 dBA lower for pure tones, but never below background plus 5 dBA.) (§ 9.02.030).

Can I run a family child care home in Calaveras County?

California law sets this for every city, including Calaveras County: 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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