Colusa · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Colusa

Colusa's city code sets a fence height limit for side and rear yards in its "R" districts. The limit applies to those yards only.

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Key points

Side and rear yards: Colusa limits fences in side and rear yards in "R" districts to 6 feet.
Where it applies: The 6-foot city limit is set for side and rear yards in "R" districts, not as a limit for every yard.

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

Fences and walls

Colusa code What Colusa's code adds
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Fences in side and rear yards in R districts. § 32.07 · code text In "R" districts, fences in side and rear yards shall not exceed six feet in height.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Colusa code What Colusa's code adds
EV charger permit	Applications are approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations that meet the checklist for expedited review. § 6-15.5 · code text The Building Official of the City of Colusa or his/her designee shall facilitate an expedited permitting process to administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Electronic submittal is available. Applies: Applies to all EV charging station permit applications. § 6-15.5 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and supporting documents shall be made available for all electric vehicle charging station permit applications.

Pets, chickens and bees

Colusa code What Colusa's code adds
Permit	An animal control officer permit allows animals kept for a temporary school or club project, such as 4-H or FFA. Applies: Applies to temporary school or club projects. § 4-8 · code text Animals raised or kept for a temporary school or club project such as 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) are hereby authorized, subject to the issuance of a permit by an animal control officer.
Pet limit	No more than 5 cats or 5 dogs over 4 months old, and they must be spayed or neutered. Applies: Breeding dogs with AKC pedigree or other breeding papers do not count. § 4-7 · code text No person shall keep more than five cats or five dogs over the age of four months and must show proof of spay or neutered.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Colusa code What Colusa's code adds
Exemptions	No fee for rebuilding homes or businesses damaged or destroyed by a declared disaster, emergency, fire, flood or other calamity. Applies: The rebuilt project must be much the same as before; claim the exemption with the building permit application. § 7B-10 · code text No fee shall be due for the reconstruction of any existing residential, commercial, or industrial development project that is damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster, as declared by the Governor of the State of California, a local emergency declared by the city council or from fire, flood or other private calamity.

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

Colusa code What Colusa's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	Required parking space must be maintained at all times in connection with the building. Applies: Applies to buildings that must provide off-street parking under this section. § 29.01 · code text such parking space shall at all times thereafter be maintained in connection with such building or structure.
Spaces per apartment or condo	One and one-half covered parking spaces per dwelling unit Applies: Multifamily dwellings § 29.01 · code text Multifamily dwelling \| One and one-half covered parking spaces per dwelling unit.
Spaces for a single-family home	One single-car garage or carport. Applies: Applies to single-family dwellings. § 29.01 · code text Single-family dwelling \| One single car garage or carport.

Trash and recycling carts

Colusa code Property owners must subscribe with an authorized refuse collector for solid-waste and green-waste collection and disposal. Recyclables collection is optional.

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

Historic homes

Colusa code Planning staff notifies the HPC of demolition or removal permit applications for buildings 50 years or older. HPC approval and permit approval are required before qualifying work on a landmark or in a historic district.

All 12 Colusa rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Colusa rules on this

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

Use permit in the special floodplain district (Art. 23) — special floodplain combining district only
Floodplain management (Art. 39)
Noise limits and construction hours (Ch. 11A)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Colusa?

Colusa limits fences in side and rear yards in "R" districts to 6 feet. The 6-foot city limit is set for side and rear yards in "R" districts, not as a limit for every yard.

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

Colusa's code: Applications are approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. (Applies to EV charging stations that meet the checklist for expedited review.) (§ 6-15.5); Electronic submittal is available. (Applies to all EV charging station permit applications.) (§ 6-15.5).

Can I run a family child care home in Colusa?

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

Colusa's code: Required parking space must be maintained at all times in connection with the building. (Applies to buildings that must provide off-street parking under this section.) (§ 29.01); One and one-half covered parking spaces per dwelling unit (Multifamily dwellings) (§ 29.01).

General information, not legal advice.

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