Corte Madera · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Corte Madera
Corte Madera limits accessory structures in the required rear yard in its R-1 and R-1-A zones. A fence in a right-of-way or watercourse needs a permit.
Key points
- Accessory structures: In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.
- Fences: City rule: a fence in a right-of-way or watercourse needs a permit.
Each rule below is marked Corte Madera code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Permit |
|
|---|
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Corte Madera code In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.
All 8 Corte Madera rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Corte Madera code Neither new lot may be smaller than 40% of the original lot's area. A unit may be up to 1,200 square feet.
All 11 Corte Madera rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
|
|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
Corte Madera code Approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Design review approval is not required.
All 4 Corte Madera rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Corte Madera code Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from a public street or public walking or bike trail.
All 6 Corte Madera rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Corte Madera code Needed for grading-permit projects and for hillside, rainy-season, creekside or other work that could discharge non-stormwater to storm drains. Digs and fills under 50 cubic yards; fills only on slopes under 20%, under 3 feet high, supporting no structure.
All 4 Corte Madera rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
Corte Madera code A geologic report is required. Hillside rules apply to slopes of more than 10%.
All 3 Corte Madera rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
Corte Madera code The fee equals the current market value of the land that would otherwise be dedicated. The town standard is 4 acres of parkland for each 1,000 residents.
All 4 Corte Madera rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Corte Madera code Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All 9 Corte Madera rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
Corte Madera code One of the 2 required spaces must be covered. 1 additional covered space.
All 10 Corte Madera rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| How long an alarm may sound |
|
|---|---|
| When a permit can be revoked |
|
Signs on homes
Corte Madera code 1 square foot in area. Street signs and address numbers under 1 square foot are exempt from design review approval.
All 5 Corte Madera rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Required collection service |
|
|---|---|
| When carts must come back |
|
| Where carts are kept |
|
Other Corte Madera rules on this
Corte Madera's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Draining a pool into the sewer (§ 21.16.100)
- Permit to remove or alter a tree (Ch. 15.50, Art. II)
- Flood damage prevention (Ch. 16.10)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in Corte Madera?
City rule: a fence in a right-of-way or watercourse needs a permit.
Can I run a family child care home in Corte Madera?
California law sets this for every city, including Corte Madera: 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 Corte Madera?
Corte Madera's code: 30 minutes. (The permittee must silence an audible alarm within 30 minutes of police notice, or the system may have an automatic shut-off that does so.) (§ 5.20.290); Excessive false alarms are a ground for suspension and revocation of the permit. (Excessive false alarms are as defined in town council rules and make the system a public nuisance.) (§ 5.20.200).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Corte Madera?
Corte Madera's code: Generators must arrange containers and collection frequency adequate to store all solid waste generated on the premises. (§ 6.04.040); Remove containers within 24 hours of the day of collection. (§ 6.04.040).
General information, not legal advice.
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