Grass Valley · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Grass Valley
Grass Valley sets its own limits for fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the setback the fence stands in and on how open its upper part is.
Key points
- Fence height: Grass Valley limits fences to 36 in in front and street side setbacks, 6 ft elsewhere, or 8 ft if open above 6 ft.
- Accessory structures: Grass Valley limits detached accessory structures other than garages to 15 ft; they must stand at least 5 ft from the house.
- Home businesses: Grass Valley home businesses may use 25% of the ground floor, with at most 8 vehicle trips daily and 1 client at a time.
Each rule below is marked Grass Valley code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Grass Valley code Grass Valley limits fences to 36 in in front and street side setbacks, 6 ft elsewhere, or 8 ft if open above 6 ft.
All 5 Grass Valley rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Grass Valley code Grass Valley limits detached accessory structures other than garages to 15 ft; they must stand at least 5 ft from the house.
All 10 Grass Valley rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Grass Valley code Grass Valley home businesses may use 25% of the ground floor, with at most 8 vehicle trips daily and 1 client at a time.
All 9 Grass Valley rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Size limit |
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|---|---|
| Parking on the street |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
Grass Valley code Expedited administrative approval when the application is complete and meets the checklist. Electronic submittal is available.
All 4 Grass Valley rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
| Chickens |
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|---|
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
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| Height of the lowest floor |
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Grading and erosion control
| Grading without a permit |
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|---|---|
| Rainy-season limits |
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Building on a hillside
Grass Valley code No new grading or building on a slope of more than 30%. Above 6 feet, retaining walls step back: each at most 36 inches tall, each bench at least 36 inches wide.
All 10 Grass Valley rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
| Construction hours on weekdays |
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|---|---|
| Construction hours on weekends and holidays |
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Garage and yard sales
| How long a sale may last |
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|---|---|
| Permit |
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| Sales per year |
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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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Signs on homes
Grass Valley code 4 square feet in total sign area. Do not put a sign up earlier than 90 days before the election.
All 5 Grass Valley rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Historic homes
Grass Valley code Under 50 years old. The Director reviews the project as part of the building permit review.
All 4 Grass Valley rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Grass Valley rules on this
Grass Valley's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Tree removal permits and heritage trees (Ch. 12.36)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Grass Valley?
Grass Valley's code: Commercial trailers, semi-trailers, large RVs and travel trailers may not park in residential districts. (Vehicles over 7 ft high, 7.5 ft wide, 20 ft long, or 10,000 lbs rated weight; personal motor homes, campers, boat trailers: 72 hours.) (§ 10.32.180).
Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Grass Valley?
Grass Valley's code: Yes; no more than 4 chickens; roosters are not allowed. (Allowed zones, plus NC-Flex, NG-2, NG-3, R-2, R-3; lot at least 5,000 sq ft, one single-family home, fenced rear yard; coop in rear yard.) (§ 17.44.030).
What are the rules for building in a Grass Valley flood zone?
Grass Valley's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts. (In special flood hazard, flood-erosion hazard or mudslide areas.) (§ 15.52.120); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes and other structures in flood hazard areas; nonresidential buildings may be floodproofed instead.) (§ 15.52.150).
What are the grading rules in Grass Valley?
Grass Valley's code: Basement and footing excavations under a valid building permit (not where the natural slope exceeds twenty percent or the unsupported height is greater than five feet; fill from the excavation is not exempt); minor excavations less than two feet deep, or that do not make a cut slope that is both more than five feet high and steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical, of less than fifty cubic yards, where the natural slope does not exceed twenty percent; minor fills less than one foot deep on terrain flatter than five horizontal to one vertical, or less than three feet deep, not intended to support structures, of fifty cubic yards or less (the owner must first get a written exemption from the department; minor excavations and fills must be at least one hundred feet from any drainage course; the grading standards of Chapter 17.62 still apply) (§ 17.60.030); Grading from October 15 through April 15 needs city engineer approval of soil conditions and erosion controls in place. (§ 17.62.050).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Grass Valley?
Grass Valley's code: Construction is allowed only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and not on Sundays or legal holidays. (Monday to Saturday; in or within 500 feet of a residential zone, if it disturbs neighbors; building official permission or emergencies excepted.) (§ 8.28.100); Construction is allowed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, and not on Sundays or legal holidays. (In or within 500 feet of a residential zone, if it disturbs neighbors; building official permission or emergencies excepted.) (§ 8.28.100).
What are the garage sale rules in Grass Valley?
Grass Valley's code: No more than 4 garage sales per calendar year. (At any single-family home.) (§ 5.44.020); A permit from the police department is required and must be shown at the sale; no business license is needed. (§ 5.44.010).
Can I run a family child care home in Grass Valley?
California law sets this for every city, including Grass Valley: 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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