Gonzales · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Gonzales

Gonzales sets its own limits for fences, accessory buildings and home businesses in residential zones. Fence height depends on the yard, and taller fences and masonry walls need a building permit.

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Key points

Fence height: Gonzales limits residential fences to 7 ft, and to 3 ft 6 in in the required front yard and street side yard.
Accessory buildings: Gonzales limits detached garages and accessory buildings to 1 story and 15 ft; one over 450 sq ft needs planning director approval.
Home businesses: Gonzales home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area, may have no nonresident employees, and need a planning director permit.

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

Fences and walls

Gonzales code Gonzales limits residential fences to 7 ft, and to 3 ft 6 in in the required front yard and street side yard.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Gonzales code Gonzales limits detached garages and accessory buildings to 1 story and 15 ft; one over 450 sq ft needs planning director approval.

All 4 Gonzales rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Gonzales code What Gonzales's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the home's gross floor area. § 12.112.050 · code text not more than twenty five percent (25%) of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation.
Employees	No employees except people who live in the household. § 12.112.050 · code text No employees other than residents of the household hosting the home occupation shall be associated with the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit from the planning director. § 12.112.050 · code text A person conducting or intending to conduct a home occupation shall apply for a home occupation permit from the planning director in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Gonzales code What Gonzales's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	The panel array must not exceed the maximum legal building height. Applies: Required to qualify as a small rooftop home solar system for fast permitting. § 11.04.130 · code text A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.
Solar permit process	Permits issue when the application meets California building codes; one inspection; electronic filing may be allowed as resources permit. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems. § 11.04.130 · code text Upon confirmation by the building department that the application and supporting documentation meet all requirements of the California building standards codes, the building department shall approve the application and issue all required permits.

Pets, chickens and bees

Gonzales code Not allowed, except as the city's animal chapter specifically permits. Not allowed, except as the city's animal chapter specifically permits.

All 3 Gonzales rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Gonzales code What Gonzales's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. Applies: Any special flood hazard area mapped by the city. § 14.04.140 · 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 14.04.070.
Building in a floodway	No new development or fill is allowed unless all development together raises the base flood no more than 1 foot. Applies: Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, in zones A1-30 and AE. § 14.04.210 · 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 (1') at any point within the city of Gonzales. Fill, new buildings and other development are not allowed unless a civil engineer certifies no rise in flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 14.04.210 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Gonzales 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 flood zones. § 14.04.160 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be above the highest nearby ground by at least the flood map depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone, when the flood map gives a depth number. § 14.04.160 · 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 (2') above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone, when the flood map gives no depth number. § 14.04.160 · 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 (2') 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 shows no base flood elevation. § 14.04.160 · 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 subsection 14.04.130C of this chapter.

Garage and yard sales

Gonzales code Sales may run only from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each sale may last up to 3 days in a row, or 2 back-to-back 2-day weekends.

All 5 Gonzales rules on garage and yard sales, 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)

Group homes and residential care

Gonzales code One off-street space per employee on duty at the busiest time, plus at least 1 visitor space per 10 residents. A Site Plan Permit or Conditional Use Permit is required.

All 6 Gonzales rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Gonzales code The driveway plus adjoining paved area in the front or street side yards may not exceed 27 feet total width. Additions may not pass the garage or carport wall nearest the front or enter the landscaped main front yard.

All 9 Gonzales rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Gonzales code What Gonzales's code adds
Alarm permit	An alarm user's permit from the chief of police is required before you install or use an alarm system. Applies: Alarm system at a residence or business. § 4.08.060 · code text No person shall install or cause to be installed, use, maintain or possess an alarm system at any residence or on any business premises owned or in the possession or control of such person within the city without having obtained an alarm user's permit from the chief of police in accordance with this section.
When a permit can be revoked	The permit may be suspended or revoked after written notice and 3 service fees within 1 year. Applies: Alarm user's permit holder. § 4.08.120 · code text The alarm user has been given written notice and assessed three (3) service fees within a one year period; or

Signs on homes

Gonzales code Nameplate up to 1 square foot. Up to 16 square feet; remove within 5 days after the election.

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

Other Gonzales rules on this

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

Excessive noise (§ 6.12.030)
Impact mitigation fees (Ch. 1.48)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Gonzales?

Gonzales home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area, may have no nonresident employees, and need a planning director permit.

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

Gonzales's code: Permits issue when the application meets California building codes; one inspection; electronic filing may be allowed as resources permit. (Applies to small rooftop home solar systems.) (§ 11.04.130).

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

Gonzales's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (Any special flood hazard area mapped by the city.) (§ 14.04.140); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 flood zones.) (§ 14.04.160).

Can I run a family child care home in Gonzales?

California law sets this for every city, including Gonzales: 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 Gonzales?

Gonzales's code: An alarm user's permit from the chief of police is required before you install or use an alarm system. (Alarm system at a residence or business.) (§ 4.08.060); The permit may be suspended or revoked after written notice and 3 service fees within 1 year. (Alarm user's permit holder.) (§ 4.08.120).

General information, not legal advice.

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