Chowchilla · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Chowchilla

Chowchilla sets fence heights by zone and yard, limits accessory structures placed in rear or side setbacks, and lists home businesses that are not allowed. Some fences and larger accessory structures need a building permit.

Ask about building on your lot in Chowchilla See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards and 7 feet outside them; masonry fences over 3 feet need a building permit.
Accessory structures: In Medium High Density zones, accessory structures in rear or side setbacks are limited to 120 square feet and a 12-foot roof peak.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit; barbershops, salons, massage, pet grooming, tattooing, vehicle repair and medical offices are among the uses not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

Chowchilla code Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards and 7 feet outside them; masonry fences over 3 feet need a building permit.

All 8 Chowchilla rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Maximum height	Roof ridge no higher than 12 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The roof ridge peak height shall be a maximum of twelve feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 120 square feet of floor area. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The floor area shall be a maximum one hundred twenty square feet. No more than 300 square feet of floor area. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium Density Residential Zone. § 18.12.120 · code text The floor area shall be a maximum three hundred square feet.
Side and rear setback	Walls at least 3 feet from rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The walls shall be at least three feet from rear and side lot lines. Roof eaves at least 2 feet from rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The roof eaves shall be at least two feet from rear and side lot lines.
No permit needed up to	Accessory structures over 120 square feet need a building permit. § 18.14.120 · code text Any accessory structure greater than one hundred twenty square feet shall first secure approval of a building permit.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from other structures. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area. § 18.14.120 · code text The accessory structure shall be separated from other structures by a minimum of ten feet.

Running a business from home

Chowchilla code A home business needs a permit; barbershops, salons, massage, pet grooming, tattooing, vehicle repair and medical offices are among the uses not allowed.

All 13 Chowchilla rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Chowchilla code Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 10 Chowchilla rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Chowchilla code An RV may park on the street for 72 hours or less. An RV may park on the street for 24 hours or less.

All 3 Chowchilla rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Chowchilla code Applications are reviewed and approved ministerially. Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of request, with a 2-hour inspection window.

All 3 Chowchilla rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Chowchilla code The pool yard fence must be at least 5 feet high. Gates must self-close and latch automatically; a child 3 feet 6 inches tall cannot open the latch from outside.

All 3 Chowchilla rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Chowchilla code Yes, up to 3 egg-laying hens. No more than 5 domestic animals in total.

All 6 Chowchilla rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Chowchilla code The fee equals the required acres times the fair market value per acre. The market price paid for the land.

All 5 Chowchilla rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Fixture height	At most 18 feet high. Applies: Freestanding lights in the R-L, R-M, R-MH and R-H zones. § 18.50.150 · code text Freestanding light fixtures, including freestanding parking lot light fixtures, shall not exceed eighteen feet in height measured from the top of a light fixture to the adjacent grade at the base of the support for that light fixture.
Shielding	Lights must be placed, aimed or shielded to limit light crossing property lines or going skyward. Applies: All zones; public street lights are excepted. § 18.50.150 · code text All lights and light fixtures, except public street lights, shall be located, aimed or shielded so as to minimize light trespassing across property boundaries or skyward. Must be fully shielded, with all light kept on the site. Applies: Mercury vapor lamps in the R-L, R-M, R-MH and R-H zones. § 18.50.150 · code text Mercury vapor lamps shall be a fully shielded fixture with all light directed on-site.

Garage and yard sales

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
How long a sale may last	No more than 3 days in a row. Applies: Each sale in the R-L, R-M, R-MH and R-H zones. § 18.60.090 · code text Commonly referred to as garage or yard sales, each sale shall be limited to three consecutive days and unsold possessions shall be removed from the public view and stored within the premises.
Sales per year	No more than 3 sales per year. Applies: In the R-L, R-M, R-MH and R-H zones. § 18.60.090 · code text The sale of personal possessions in outdoor areas or from the garage of a dwelling within an R-L, R-M, R-MH, or R-H zone district shall be limited to no more than three such sales per year.
Signs	All signs must be removed when the sale ends. § 18.60.090 · code text The driveway, yard, or other space used for the purposes of the sale shall be restored to its normal residential character at the conclusion of the sale, including removal of all signs.

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

Chowchilla code A garage or carport may become living space if 2 spaces remain, each at least 9 by 18 feet. 1 space per dwelling unit.

All 7 Chowchilla rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Chowchilla code An automatic shut-off device must silence the alarm within 30 minutes of activation. A service fee applies, set by council resolution.

All 3 Chowchilla rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Signs that need no permit	1 wall-mounted nameplate of up to 2 square feet, identifying the owner or address, needs no sign permit. Applies: Residence. § 18.56.040 · code text One nameplate per residence or business premises, mounted on a wall and not exceeding two square feet in area, identifying the owner and/or address of the property.

Trash and recycling carts

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Required collection service	You must subscribe to solid waste, organic waste, and segregated recyclable collection. Applies: Every person owning or occupying a residence or commercial establishment. § 8.04.060 · code text Every person owning or occupying a residence or commercial establishment shall subscribe to solid waste, organic waste, and segregated recyclable collection.
Sorting organics and green waste	Put food and other organic waste in the green container, recyclables in the blue, and other waste in the gray. Applies: Residential and commercial generators (SB 1383). § 8.04.065 · code text Generators shall place source separated organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; segregated recyclable materials in the blue container; and gray container waste in the gray container.

Other Chowchilla rules on this

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

Floodplain management rules for building (Ch. 15.60)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In Medium High Density zones, accessory structures in rear or side setbacks are limited to 120 square feet and a 12-foot roof peak.

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla's code: Lights must be placed, aimed or shielded to limit light crossing property lines or going skyward. (All zones; public street lights are excepted.) (§ 18.50.150); At most 18 feet high. (Freestanding lights in the R-L, R-M, R-MH and R-H zones.) (§ 18.50.150).

What are the garage sale rules in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla's code: No more than 3 sales per year. (In the R-L, R-M, R-MH and R-H zones.) (§ 18.60.090); All signs must be removed when the sale ends. (§ 18.60.090).

Can I run a family child care home in Chowchilla?

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

What signs may I put up at my home in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla's code: 1 wall-mounted nameplate of up to 2 square feet, identifying the owner or address, needs no sign permit. (Residence.) (§ 18.56.040).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla's code: You must subscribe to solid waste, organic waste, and segregated recyclable collection. (Every person owning or occupying a residence or commercial establishment.) (§ 8.04.060); Put food and other organic waste in the green container, recyclables in the blue, and other waste in the gray. (Residential and commercial generators (SB 1383).) (§ 8.04.065).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Chowchilla property

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

Ask your question

More on Chowchilla

Chowchilla Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Chowchilla

Buying & selling in Chowchilla

Foreclosure & auctions in Chowchilla

Chowchilla overview

Zoning districts in Chowchilla