East Palo Alto · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto sets its own limits on accessory structures and home businesses. Its fence rule covers a boundary where the land height shifts abruptly between two properties.
Key points
- Accessory structures: East Palo Alto limits one-story detached accessory structures over 120 square feet to 15 feet and 25% of the front or rear yard.
- Home businesses: East Palo Alto limits home businesses to 25% of one floor or one room, whichever is less, and 2 clients at a time.
- Boundary fences: Where land height shifts abruptly at a property line, East Palo Alto lets the lower owner build a boundary fence up to 8 feet.
Each rule below is marked East Palo Alto code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Height anywhere on the lot |
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Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
East Palo Alto code East Palo Alto limits one-story detached accessory structures over 120 square feet to 15 feet and 25% of the front or rear yard.
All 6 East Palo Alto rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
East Palo Alto code East Palo Alto limits home businesses to 25% of one floor or one room, whichever is less, and 2 clients at a time.
All 7 East Palo Alto rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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Tree removal
| Permit to remove |
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| Replacement trees |
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Swimming pools
| Maintenance and empty pools |
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Grading and erosion control
East Palo Alto code An erosion and sediment control plan is required. Excavations for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall or swimming pool under a valid building permit; an excavation less than two feet deep on natural terrain flatter than 5:1 that creates slopes no steeper than 2:1 and removes less than 150 cubic yards; a fill less than two feet deep on terrain flatter than 5:1, not supporting structures, not over 150 cubic yards on the parcel and not blocking a drainage course; gardening for home use
All 3 East Palo Alto rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
East Palo Alto code Fair market value of the land otherwise dedicated: the greater of the citywide residential average or the subdivision land's value. 3 acres per 1,000 residents.
All 3 East Palo Alto rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
East Palo Alto code 55 dBA. 50 dBA.
All 16 East Palo Alto rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
East Palo Alto code No more than 0.1 foot-candles. No more than 0.1 foot-candles, as an average maintained level.
All 7 East Palo Alto rules on outdoor lighting, 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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
East Palo Alto code The affordability term is a minimum 59-year renewable term. The affordability term is a 99-year renewable term.
All 12 East Palo Alto rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Group homes and residential care
East Palo Alto code A Conditional Use Permit is required. Not subject to this section if licensed by the appropriate State and/or City department.
All 5 East Palo Alto rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
| Garage and covered spaces |
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Signs on homes
East Palo Alto code Freestanding sign up to 10 square feet and 4 feet high. Remove within 5 calendar days after the event.
All 5 East Palo Alto rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Other East Palo Alto rules on this
East Palo Alto's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Animal keeping standards (§ 18.48.050)
- Floodplain management (Ch. 15.52)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in East Palo Alto?
Where land height shifts abruptly at a property line, East Palo Alto lets the lower owner build a boundary fence up to 8 feet.
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in East Palo Alto?
East Palo Alto's code: Approve or deny within 20 business days (25 or fewer stations) or 40 (25 or more); if late, deemed approved. (Expedited ministerial review; the clock starts when the application is deemed complete.) (§ 15.13.010).
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in East Palo Alto?
East Palo Alto's code: Yes, a permit is required. (Protected trees; neighbors notified; allowed if dead, dying within 5 years, high risk, invasive, unsound, damaging property, or blocking a good project with replacements.) (§ 18.28.090); The project must include replacement trees. (Protected tree removed because it interferes with development, repair or improvement, and keeping it would stop a well-integrated, thoughtful design.) (§ 18.28.070).
Can I run a family child care home in East Palo Alto?
California law sets this for every city, including East Palo Alto: 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 East Palo Alto?
East Palo Alto's code: Each required parking and loading space must stay permanently available and maintained for parking. (Applies to required parking and loading spaces.) (§ 18.30.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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