El Cerrito · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in El Cerrito
El Cerrito sets its own limits on home businesses. They cover floor area, daily trips, employees and the business types that may not run from a home.
Key points
- Business size: El Cerrito limits a home business to 300 square feet or 40% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.
- Trips and staff: El Cerrito allows up to 5 round trips a day, and 1 non-resident employee with extra parking or within 1/4 mile of BART.
Each rule below is marked El Cerrito code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Running a business from home
El Cerrito code El Cerrito limits a home business to 300 square feet or 40% of the home's floor area, whichever is less. El Cerrito allows up to 5 round trips a day, and 1 non-resident employee with extra parking or within 1/4 mile of BART.
All 7 El Cerrito rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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Tree removal
| Protected trees |
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| Replacement trees |
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Swimming pools
El Cerrito code The fence must completely enclose the pool and have no outside stringers. A building may be part of the pool enclosure if all its doors to the pool have self-closing, self-latching gates.
All 9 El Cerrito rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
El Cerrito code Yes, at most 1 beehive, behind the house, at least 20 ft from neighbors' homes, 5 ft from lot lines. Yes, up to 3 beehives.
All 16 El Cerrito rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
| When hillside rules apply |
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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 |
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| 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)
El Cerrito code The affordability term is 45 years. The affordability term is 55 years.
All 11 El Cerrito rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Group homes and residential care
| Distance between homes |
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Home alarm permits and false alarms
El Cerrito code $74 per false alarm. The first false alarm is free. $158 per false alarm.
All 5 El Cerrito rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
El Cerrito code 1 sign per site, up to 6 square feet. Up to 4 noncommercial signs, at most 8 square feet combined, per dwelling unit.
All 3 El Cerrito rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
El Cerrito code Subscribe to collection services within 7 days of occupying a property. Put organic waste in the compost container, recyclables in the recycling container and garbage in the landfill container.
All 4 El Cerrito rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other El Cerrito rules on this
El Cerrito's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Floodplain management (Ch. 8.35)
- Unnecessary noise from a property (§ 10.30.010)
- Transportation impact fee (Ch. 4.54)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in El Cerrito?
El Cerrito's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review: approved if it meets the approved checklist and standards; the building official acts within 5 business days. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. The 5 business days start once the application is complete.) (§ 16.14.060); EV charging stations are exempt from design review. (§ 16.14.060).
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in El Cerrito?
El Cerrito's code: Any tree, shrub or plant marked for protection in the development approval, plus any other public trees and shrubs. (During any construction project, these trees must be guarded with protectors or fences that meet ANSI A300 Standards.) (§ 13.28.100); Mitigation may include the city planting replacement trees at your expense, plus fees for permits, removal, planting and establishment. (When a construction project cannot meet ANSI A300 Standards and will harm the long-term health of a public tree.) (§ 13.28.100).
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in El Cerrito?
El Cerrito's code: An average slope of 15% or more makes an area a hillside area. (Hillside standards then apply. On cross slopes of 40% or more, only lot size types III and IV are allowed.) (§ 18.08.020).
Can I run a family child care home in El Cerrito?
California law sets this for every city, including El Cerrito: 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)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in El Cerrito?
El Cerrito's code: Residential care facilities must be at least 300 feet apart. (Applies between Residential Care Facilities in a residential district; "Residential Care Facilities - Limited" are exempt.) (§ 19.20.180).
General information, not legal advice.
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