Citrus Heights · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Citrus Heights
Citrus Heights limits fences, accessory structures and home businesses by yard, height and floor area. It also has its own SB 9 lot-split standards and grading permit rules.
Key points
- Fences: Fences in required front yard setbacks: at most 3 ft; in required side and rear setbacks, at most 8 ft seen from a neighbor.
- Accessory buildings: Detached accessory structures are limited to 16 ft, and residential ones to 2,400 sq ft combined; a minor use permit can allow more.
- Home businesses: At most 20% or 400 sq ft of habitable floor area, whichever is greater; 1 employee on-site at a time, not counting full-time residents.
- Lot splits: SB 9 lot splits need 4-foot side and rear setbacks, except existing structures or rebuilds in the same place and size, which need none.
- Grading: A permit is needed to grade, fill, dig, store or dump 50 cubic yards or more of soil; under 50 cubic yards needs none.
- Noise: Homes in noise area 1: 55 dBA for 30 minutes in an hour by day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), 50 dBA at night.
Each rule below is marked Citrus Heights code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Citrus Heights code Fences in required front yard setbacks: at most 3 ft; in required side and rear setbacks, at most 8 ft seen from a neighbor.
All 6 Citrus Heights rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Citrus Heights code Detached accessory structures are limited to 16 ft, and residential ones to 2,400 sq ft combined; a minor use permit can allow more.
All 6 Citrus Heights rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Citrus Heights code At most 20% or 400 sq ft of habitable floor area, whichever is greater; 1 employee on-site at a time, not counting full-time residents.
All 10 Citrus Heights rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Citrus Heights code SB 9 lot splits need 4-foot side and rear setbacks, except existing structures or rebuilds in the same place and size, which need none.
All 6 Citrus Heights rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
|
|---|---|
| Solar permit process |
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Tree removal
Citrus Heights code Removal is allowed when the review authority specifically approves it in the approved site plan. Removal is allowed when needed to remove diseased growth, for fire or flood control, or for paths and trails.
All 5 Citrus Heights rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Citrus Heights code A permit is needed to grade, fill, dig, store or dump 50 cubic yards or more of soil; under 50 cubic yards needs none.
All 5 Citrus Heights rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Citrus Heights code Homes in noise area 1: 55 dBA for 30 minutes in an hour by day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), 50 dBA at night.
All 7 Citrus Heights rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
| Light at the property line |
|
|---|
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 |
Signs on homes
Citrus Heights code Up to 50 square feet cumulative on any lot, 6 feet maximum height, not illuminated. At least 5 feet from any property line and 15 feet from a fire hydrant, street sign or traffic signal.
All 7 Citrus Heights rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Citrus Heights code The responsible person must subscribe to a solid waste collection service. The owner may ask the director in writing for an exemption from mandatory service. The director decides case by case.
All 4 Citrus Heights rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Citrus Heights rules on this
Citrus Heights's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Keeping animals at home (§ 106.42.030)
- Building in a floodway (§ 42-20)
- Creekside development and flood hazard rules (§ 106.30.040) — creekside lots and mapped flood hazard areas
- Fire facilities impact fee (Ch. 18, Art. XXIX)
- Park facility impact fee (Ch. 58, Art. II)
- Roadway and transit development fees (Ch. 66, Art. VI)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Citrus Heights?
Citrus Heights's code: Administrative approval and issuance of all required permits or authorizations. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application that meets the checklist.) (§ 18-592); The building official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the checklist; electronic submittal is allowed. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 18-603).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Citrus Heights?
Citrus Heights's code: Spill light may not exceed 0.5 footcandles within 2 feet of the light's own property line. (New outdoor lighting on nonresidential or multi-unit residential sites.) (§ 106.35.020).
Can I run a family child care home in Citrus Heights?
California law sets this for every city, including Citrus Heights: 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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