Chico · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Chico

Chico sets its own height, size and setback limits for accessory structures and limits fences in required setbacks. A home business that may not meet the city's operating standards needs an administrative use permit.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Accessory structures are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with a use permit; a detached garage, to 700 square feet per unit.
Fence height: Fences and walls in required setbacks are limited to 6 feet; front yards and corner parcels follow Section 19.60.060.
Home businesses: A proposed home business that the Director believes does not meet the operating standards needs an administrative use permit.

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

Fences and walls

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences or walls up to 6 feet above finished grade may stand in required setbacks. Applies: Not on corner parcels or in front yards. Those follow the separate fencing and screening rules. § 19.60.090 · code text Fences or walls 6 feet or less in height above the finished grade of the site; except on corner parcels and within front yards, in compliance with Section 19.60.060-A- 1 -d (Fencing and screening);

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Chico code Accessory structures are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with a use permit; a detached garage, to 700 square feet per unit.

All 13 Chico rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Permit	An administrative use permit may be applied for. Applies: When the Director believes a proposed home business does not meet the chapter's operating standards. § 19.20.070 · code text An applicant for a proposed home occupation which the Director believes does not meet the operating standards of this chapter may apply for an administrative use permit in compliance with Chapter 19.25 of these Regulations.

Tree removal

Chico code Director must issue a removal permit if a tree is dead, dying, diseased, a danger, or blocks utilities or development. Yes, a permit from the director is required.

All 3 Chico rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Grading without a permit	Digging and fill on developed lots of 1 acre or less need no grading permit. Applies: Single-family zoned lots; no change to drainage that affects neighbors, and no rare or endangered plants or animals. § 16.28.010 · code text Excavations and fills made on developed lots of one acre or less and zoned for single- family residential use, provided that no drainage courses or patterns are obstructed or altered in a manner which would affect adjoining properties, and no rare or endangered plants or animal species exist in or inhabit the area to be excavated or filled; No permit for permitted basement, footing or wall digs under 5 feet unsupported, or for health-permitted wells or septic. § 16.28.010 · code text Excavations below finished grade for basements, footings of a building, retaining walls or other structures authorized by a building permit issued pursuant to this code and which will have an unsupported height of less than five feet after the completion of such building, retaining wall or other structure;

Park and impact fees for new homes

Chico code What Chico's code adds
How the park fee is set	The council sets the fee: a basic park facility fee plus a Bidwell Park land acquisition fee. Applies: Residential property: a new building, an addition or alteration, or a change of use. § 3.85.515 · code text The amount of the park facility fee assessed and levied upon the owner of residential property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter incident to the construction of a new building on the property, construction of alterations or additions to an existing building on the property or a change in the use of an existing building on the property shall be established by resolution of the city council and shall be equal to the sum of a basic park facility fee and a Bidwell Park land acquisition fee determined and calculated from the most current version of the Development Impact Fee Program fee schedule.

Noise and construction hours

Chico code The noise limit is 70 dBA. The noise limit is 60 dBA.

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

Outdoor lighting

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Shielding	Lights must be shielded or recessed, aimed down and away from neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. Applies: Parking and security lighting needs full cutoff fixtures unless otherwise authorized. § 19.60.050 · code text Exterior lighting shall be architecturally integrated with the character of all structures, energy-efficient, and shielded or recessed so that direct glare and reflections are confined, to the maximum extent feasible, within the boundaries of the site.

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

Chico code What Chico's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	Alarms that cause a sound heard off the premises continuously for more than 10 minutes may not be installed. § 5.40.050 · code text No property or burglary alarm which, when activated, causes an audible sound to be heard off the premises continuously for more than ten (10) minutes shall be installed on privately owned premises in the city.

Signs on homes

Chico code Up to 4 square feet in area. Up to 3 feet high.

All 6 Chico rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Chico code Remove recycling receptacles from the front yard or public right-of-way the same day collection is provided. Receptacles may go out no more than 12 hours before the collection day.

All 4 Chico rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Historic homes

Chico code A resource may qualify if it achieved significance within the past 50 years. A certificate of appropriateness or certificate of demolition approved by the board is required.

All 3 Chico rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Chico rules on this

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

Keeping pets, dogs, bees and other animals at home (§ 19.76.040)
SB 9 two-unit projects and urban lot splits (§ 19.76.220)
Parking RVs, boats and trailers on city streets (§ 10.20.200) — city streets only
Where solar panels go and how they are screened (§ 19.60.100) — new development only
Floodplain building standards (Ch. 16.37)
Building permit details in a flood zone (§ 16.10.065)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Chico?

Fences and walls in required setbacks are limited to 6 feet; front yards and corner parcels follow Section 19.60.060.

Can I run a business from my home in Chico?

A proposed home business that the Director believes does not meet the operating standards needs an administrative use permit.

What are the grading rules in Chico?

Chico's code: Digging and fill on developed lots of 1 acre or less need no grading permit. (Single-family zoned lots; no change to drainage that affects neighbors, and no rare or endangered plants or animals.) (§ 16.28.010); No permit for permitted basement, footing or wall digs under 5 feet unsupported, or for health-permitted wells or septic. (§ 16.28.010).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Chico?

Chico's code: The council sets the fee: a basic park facility fee plus a Bidwell Park land acquisition fee. (Residential property: a new building, an addition or alteration, or a change of use.) (§ 3.85.515).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Chico?

Chico's code: Lights must be shielded or recessed, aimed down and away from neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. (Parking and security lighting needs full cutoff fixtures unless otherwise authorized.) (§ 19.60.050).

Can I run a family child care home in Chico?

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

Chico's code: Alarms that cause a sound heard off the premises continuously for more than 10 minutes may not be installed. (§ 5.40.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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