Cotati · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Cotati

Cotati limits fence and accessory-structure heights by setback and zone, and caps home businesses by floor area, vehicle trips and client visits. Hillside lots have their own height rules.

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Key points

Fences: Solid walls, hedges and fences in the front or street side setback are limited to 42 inches; in RR zones, up to 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Accessory structures other than detached garages are limited to 12 ft high, unless a minor use permit allows more.
Home businesses: Home businesses: at most 25% of gross floor area, 12 visitor vehicle trips a day, 1 client or family at a time.
Trailer parking: Trailers on a street, such as boat or horse trailers, are limited to 6 hours unless attached to a vehicle that can tow them.
Hillside lots: On hillside lots, 24 feet is the general height limit; height is also capped at 35 feet, measured from the lowest point touching grade.
Affordable units: At least 15% of units in each residential development must be restricted to moderate, low or very low income households.

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

Fences and walls

Cotati code Solid walls, hedges and fences in the front or street side setback are limited to 42 inches; in RR zones, up to 6 feet.

All 9 Cotati rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Cotati code Accessory structures other than detached garages are limited to 12 ft high, unless a minor use permit allows more.

All 11 Cotati rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Cotati code Home businesses: at most 25% of gross floor area, 12 visitor vehicle trips a day, 1 client or family at a time.

All 7 Cotati rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 6 hours. Applies: Applies to trailers, such as boat or horse trailers, on a street, unless attached to a vehicle that can tow them. § 10.30.170 · code text No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any trailer shall park such trailer upon any street, alley, public way or public place for more than six hours, unless such trailer, at all such times it is so parked, is attached to a motor vehicle capable of providing the motive power for moving the trailer upon the highway, street, alley, public way or public place.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
EV charger permit	Permit issued the same day over the counter, or within 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Applies to complete applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 14.38.060 · code text The building division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications, or within one to three business days for electronic applications, of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Review time	Permit issued the same business day over the counter, or within 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar, with a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 14.30.070 · code text The department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same business day for over-the-counter applications, or for electronic applications, within one to three business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Penalty	The owner must replace each tree and pay the penalty fee in the city fee schedule. Applies: Applies when a tree is removed without a permit. § 17.54.080 · code text In the event of the removal of a tree without a permit in compliance with this chapter, the city shall require the property owner to replace each tree in compliance with this chapter, and to pay the penalty fee established by the city's fee schedule.

Pets, chickens and bees

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Permit	A valid kennel license and any required land use permit for a commercial kennel. Applies: Applies to raising more than 2 litters of dogs or cats in 1 calendar year. § 7.12.020 · code text No person shall allow the parturition and rearing of more than two litters of dogs or cats in any one calendar year from the total number of females owned by him or her or maintained on his or her premises without a valid kennel license and any required land use permit for a commercial kennel.

Building in a flood zone

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 15.04.150 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.04.070.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood levels no more than 1 foot. Applies: Applies in Zones A1-30 and AE until a regulatory floodway is adopted. The limit applies at any point in the city. § 15.04.220 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city of Cotati. No encroachments, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements, unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level rise. Applies: Applies within an adopted regulatory floodway, for flood levels during the base flood discharge. § 15.04.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Cotati shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.04.170 · code text In AE, AH, and A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be at least the flood map's depth number, in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows a depth number. § 15.04.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows no depth number. § 15.04.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, where the flood map (FIRM) shows no base flood elevation. § 15.04.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 15.04.140(C).

Grading and erosion control

Cotati code An erosion and sediment control plan must be part of the grading permit application. Digs, fills, stockpiles of 50 cubic yards or less; stockpiles 10 days or less; fills on one lot, drainage unchanged.

All 3 Cotati rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Cotati code On hillside lots, 24 feet is the general height limit; height is also capped at 35 feet, measured from the lowest point touching grade.

All 8 Cotati rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Cotati code At most 14 feet or the height of the nearest building, whichever is less. No more than 1 footcandle.

All 3 Cotati rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Fee instead of units	The in-lieu fee is set by council resolution. Applies: Applies to residential developments of 9 or fewer units. § 17.31.050 · code text A residential development of nine or fewer units may comply with the requirements of this chapter by paying an in-lieu fee as established by council resolution, as it may be amended from time to time.
Share of affordable units	At least 15% of total units must be restricted to moderate, low or very low income households. Applies: Applies to each residential development; fractions of 0.5 or more round up, smaller fractions round down with an in-lieu fee for the remainder. § 17.31.020 · code text Each residential development shall be designed and constructed to provide at least fifteen percent of the total units as inclusionary units restricted for occupancy by moderate-, low- or very low-income households.

Parking spaces required for homes

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	No minimum; at most 1.5 spaces per residential unit. Applies: Applies in the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Overlay. § 17.36.050 · code text No minimum. 1.5 spaces per residential unit maximum

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Alarm permit	Yes; the requisite fee applies. § 9.60.140 · code text Applications for all permits shall be filed with the police department and shall be accompanied by the requisite fee.

Signs on homes

Cotati code Up to 70 consecutive days, no more than 2 times per calendar year, with at least 30 days between postings. Total sign area up to 12 square feet, with signs no higher than 6 feet.

All 3 Cotati rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Cotati code Containers may stay out in public view only until 12:01 a.m. on the day after the scheduled pick-up. Containers may be put out no earlier than 12:01 a.m. on the day before the scheduled pick-up.

All 3 Cotati rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Cotati rules on this

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

Noise standards (§ 17.30.050)
Park land dedication or park fee (§ 17.76.030)
Fire impact fee (Ch. 4.15)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Cotati?

Trailers on a street, such as boat or horse trailers, are limited to 6 hours unless attached to a vehicle that can tow them.

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

Cotati's code: Permit issued the same business day over the counter, or within 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. (Small residential rooftop solar, with a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 14.30.070); Permit issued the same day over the counter, or within 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. (Applies to complete applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 14.38.060).

What are the rules for building in a Cotati flood zone?

Cotati's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.04.150); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.04.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Cotati?

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

Does Cotati require affordable units in new housing?

At least 15% of units in each residential development must be restricted to moderate, low or very low income households.

How many parking spaces does a home need in Cotati?

Cotati's code: No minimum; at most 1.5 spaces per residential unit. (Applies in the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Overlay.) (§ 17.36.050).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Cotati?

Cotati's code: Yes; the requisite fee applies. (§ 9.60.140).

General information, not legal advice.

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