Dunsmuir · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir sets its own rules for fences and home businesses. Fences need a permit, and fence height depends on the yard and corner sight lines.

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Key points

Fence height: Dunsmuir requires a fence permit and limits fences to 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in rear and side setbacks.
Home businesses: Dunsmuir limits home businesses to 25% of the home or 400 square feet, whichever is less, and generally 4 client visits a day.

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

Fences and walls

Dunsmuir code Dunsmuir requires a fence permit and limits fences to 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in rear and side setbacks.

All 7 Dunsmuir rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Dunsmuir code Dunsmuir limits home businesses to 25% of the home or 400 square feet, whichever is less, and generally 4 client visits a day.

All 8 Dunsmuir rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the permit can be issued once the application meets every checklist requirement. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 15.56.060 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the building official as a nondiscretionary permit. You may submit the application electronically. § 15.56.050 · code text The building official shall allow the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application. A written correction notice is available within 10 working days. Applies: Only when the application is incomplete. § 15.56.060 · code text If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within ten (10) working days, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be given to the applicant for resubmission.

Pets, chickens and bees

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old. § 6.12.100 · code text No person, dwelling or other structure shall keep or maintain more than three dogs, which are over the age of four months.

Building in a flood zone

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 19.04.030 · 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 19.03.020.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: In zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; the 1-foot limit applies at any point in the city. § 19.05.060 · 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 1 foot at any point within the City of Dunsmuir. No fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level increase. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway, during the base flood discharge. § 19.05.060 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the City of Dunsmuir 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	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 19.05.010 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Above the highest adjacent grade, at least as high as the depth number in feet on the FIRM. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the FIRM gives a depth number. § 19.05.010 · 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. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the FIRM gives no depth number. § 19.05.010 · 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. At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, where the FIRM shows no base flood elevations. § 19.05.010 · 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 19.04.020(C).

Outdoor lighting

Dunsmuir code Fixtures of 400 lumens or less may be unshielded if they have an opaque top. Motion floodlights up to 3,000 lumens: lit at most 5 minutes per activation, aimed down, unseen from homes or streets.

All 4 Dunsmuir rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Hours	7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. § 17.92.170 · code text It is unlawful to conduct a garage sale before 7:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.
How long a sale may last	No more than 2 consecutive days. § 17.92.170 · code text No single garage sale shall continue for more than two (2) consecutive days.
Permit	Notify the city before the sale with your name and address, the sale location and the dates. § 17.92.170 · code text Prior to conducting any garage sale, any person proposing to conduct a garage sale shall notify the city, which such notification shall include all of the following:
Sales per year	No more than 2 sales per calendar year, and no more than 1 within 30 calendar days. Applies: At the same address. § 17.92.170 · code text It is unlawful for any person or persons to conduct, cause or permit to be conducted, at the same address, more than one (1) garage sale within thirty (30) calendar days and more than two (2) garage sales during any calendar year.

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

Dunsmuir code At least 1 space must be in a covered garage or carport outside required setbacks. The parking spaces must not be in any required building setback area.

All 12 Dunsmuir rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Dunsmuir code $60 service fee. The $60 fee starts with the third false alarm in a 60-day period.

All 4 Dunsmuir rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Dunsmuir code Unilluminated signs up to 4 square feet that are not general advertising and are not a nuisance or hazard. At most 12 square feet in total display area for all temporary signs on the parcel.

All 4 Dunsmuir rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Dunsmuir code subscribe to and receive city refuse service By 10:00 p.m. on the day that the refuse is picked up

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

Historic homes

Dunsmuir code Planning commission review is required before a permit is issued. No demolition or removal unless it threatens public health and safety, is unusable and cannot be repaired or restored.

All 3 Dunsmuir rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Dunsmuir rules on this

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

Loud amplified sound (Ch. 8.12)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Dunsmuir's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the permit can be issued once the application meets every checklist requirement. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 15.56.060); You may submit the application electronically. (§ 15.56.050).

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

Dunsmuir's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 19.04.030); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 19.05.010).

What are the garage sale rules in Dunsmuir?

Dunsmuir's code: No more than 2 sales per calendar year, and no more than 1 within 30 calendar days. (At the same address.) (§ 17.92.170); Notify the city before the sale with your name and address, the sale location and the dates. (§ 17.92.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Dunsmuir?

California law sets this for every city, including Dunsmuir: 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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