Calistoga · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Calistoga

Calistoga sets its own height, setback and yard-coverage limits for accessory structures and requires a permit for home businesses. It also has a chapter on fences, hedges and walls.

Ask about building on your lot in Calistoga See coverage

Key points

Accessory height: R-1 and R-1-10 accessory structures are limited to 15 feet at a 5-foot setback, plus 2 feet per added foot, up to 25 feet.
Home businesses: A home business needs a city home occupation permit; auto repair, carpentry, welding, medical offices and firearm dealing are among the uses not allowed.
Fences: Calistoga regulates fences, hedges and walls in Chapter 17.52 of its code.

Each rule below is marked Calistoga 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

Calistoga code R-1 and R-1-10 accessory structures are limited to 15 feet at a 5-foot setback, plus 2 feet per added foot, up to 25 feet.

All 9 Calistoga rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Calistoga code What Calistoga's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: Allowed in R-R, RR-H, R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP and residential PD districts, and for a legal home in a commercial or industrial zone. § 17.43.020 · code text In the event a residence is located in a commercial or industrial zoning classification and is a legal nonconforming use or legally established in accordance with the provisions of this title, a home occupation permit may be issued.
Businesses not allowed	Automotive and other vehicle repair, including mobile repair services (body or mechanical), upholstery, painting, or storage; carpentry or cabinet making; welding and machine operations; medical offices, clinics or laboratories; animal hospitals and grooming facilities; contractor's storage yards or junk yards; escort services; dancing, martial arts or exercise studios which serve more than two persons during any four-hour period; day care for greater than seven children; dealing in or with firearms; and other uses similar in nature determined incompatible with or detrimental to residential activities by the Director of Planning and Building § 17.43.050 · code text The following uses, either by operation or nature, are not considered to be incidental to or compatible with residential activities and therefore shall not be permitted as home occupations:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Calistoga code What Calistoga's code adds
EV charger permit	Allowed as an accessory use in any zoning district. Applies: Battery charging stations. § 17.38.070 · code text Zero-emission vehicles – battery charging station shall be an allowed accessory use in any zoning district.

Pets, chickens and bees

Calistoga code Yes; hens only, no roosters; the number allowed depends on the zoning district. At least 5 feet.

All 4 Calistoga rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Calistoga code What Calistoga's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. § 18.16.010 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in CMC § 18.12.020.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in A zones and all other flood zones. § 18.20.010 · code text Residential construction, new or substantial improvement, shall have the lowest floor, including basement:
When a remodel must meet flood rules	Flood rules apply to work costing 50% or more of the building's market value before construction starts. § 18.08.290 · code text means any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other proposed new development of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction" of the improvement.

Building on a hillside

Calistoga code What Calistoga's code adds
Height on hillside lots	Additions to main buildings may be at most 25 feet tall unless a use permit allows more. Applies: RR-H hillside district; heights of new main buildings are set by use permit. § 17.15.040 · code text The height limits of additions to primary buildings shall be 25 feet unless a greater height is approved by a use permit.
When hillside rules apply	New lots may not average over 30% slope; an existing lot over 30% may have only 1 home. Applies: RR-H hillside district. § 17.15.080 · code text No average slope for an individual lot shall exceed 30 percent.

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

Calistoga code What Calistoga's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	1 space per dwelling. Applies: Studio or one-bedroom dwellings in a multifamily dwelling. § 17.36.130 · code text One space per studio or one-bedroom dwelling in a multifamily dwelling. 2 spaces per dwelling. Applies: Multifamily dwellings with 2 or more bedrooms. § 17.36.130 · code text Two spaces per dwelling for all one-family dwellings and multifamily dwellings with two or more bedrooms.
Spaces for a single-family home	2 spaces per dwelling. Applies: One-family dwellings. § 17.36.130 · code text Two spaces per dwelling for all one-family dwellings and multifamily dwellings with two or more bedrooms.

Other Calistoga rules on this

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

Fences, hedges and walls (Ch. 17.52)
Draining a pool into the sewer (§ 13.08.340)
Protected trees and fencing during site work (Ch. 19.01)
Garage and yard sales (§ 5.04.320) — residential property
Erosion control plans in erosion hazard areas (§ 19.08.050) — erosion hazard areas only
Night-time noise limits (§ 8.20.010)
Gas leaf blower ban (§ 8.21.020)
Development impact fees (§ 3.28.040)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Calistoga?

Calistoga regulates fences, hedges and walls in Chapter 17.52 of its code. Calistoga also has a related rule: Fences, hedges and walls (Ch. 17.52).

Can I run a business from my home in Calistoga?

A home business needs a city home occupation permit; auto repair, carpentry, welding, medical offices and firearm dealing are among the uses not allowed.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Calistoga?

Calistoga's code: Allowed as an accessory use in any zoning district. (Battery charging stations.) (§ 17.38.070).

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

Calistoga's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. (§ 18.16.010); The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in A zones and all other flood zones.) (§ 18.20.010).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Calistoga?

Calistoga's code: New lots may not average over 30% slope; an existing lot over 30% may have only 1 home. (RR-H hillside district.) (§ 17.15.080); Additions to main buildings may be at most 25 feet tall unless a use permit allows more. (RR-H hillside district; heights of new main buildings are set by use permit.) (§ 17.15.040).

Can I run a family child care home in Calistoga?

California law sets this for every city, including Calistoga: 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)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Calistoga?

Calistoga's code: 1 space per dwelling. (Studio or one-bedroom dwellings in a multifamily dwelling.) (§ 17.36.130); 2 spaces per dwelling. (Multifamily dwellings with 2 or more bedrooms.) (§ 17.36.130).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Calistoga property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Calistoga

Calistoga Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Calistoga

Buying & selling in Calistoga

Calistoga overview

Zoning districts in Calistoga