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Gridley · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Gridley

Gridley sets its own fence heights for residential districts and its own placement rules for accessory buildings. Fence height depends on the yard and on how open the fence is.

Key points

  • Fence height: Gridley limits R-district fences to 3 ft in front yards, or 4 ft if open above 3 ft; side and rear 7 ft.
  • Accessory buildings: Gridley allows accessory buildings in the rear yard setback no closer than 5 ft to the rear line, but in no other required setback.
  • Home businesses: Gridley does not allow a medical marijuana dispensary as a home business in any district.

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

Fences and walls

Gridley code Gridley limits R-district fences to 3 ft in front yards, or 4 ft if open above 3 ft; side and rear 7 ft.

All 5 Gridley rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Gridley code Gridley allows accessory buildings in the rear yard setback no closer than 5 ft to the rear line, but in no other required setback.

All 3 Gridley rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Businesses not allowed
  • medical marijuana dispensary
    Applies: any district within the City of Gridley
    § 17.88.030 · code text
    A medical marijuana dispensary is not permitted as a home occupation in any district within the City of Gridley.

RV and boat parking

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Where it may be parked
  • Only in storage areas specifically designed for them on approved plans.
    Applies: Boats, trailers and RVs in the R-4 district.
    § 17.27.130 · code text
    All boats, trailers and recreational vehicles in the R-4 district shall be stored only within areas specifically designed for such storage on approved plans.
  • Only in storage areas specifically designed for them on approved plans.
    Applies: Boats, trailers and RVs in the R-3 district.
    § 17.26.130 · code text
    All boats, trailers and recreational vehicles in an R-3 district shall be stored only within areas specifically designed for such storage on approved plans.
Screening and surface
  • The storage area must be screened by fencing, landscaping or both.
    Applies: R-4 district.
    § 17.27.130 · code text
    Said area shall be screened by fencing and/or landscaping.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Solar permit process
  • The customer must sign an interconnection agreement with the city and get approval to connect to the city grid.
    Applies: To receive service under the net metering rate.
    § 13.15.205 · code text
    The customer must enter into an interconnection agreement with the city and receive approval to parallel with the city's electric distribution grid to receive service under this rate.

Pets, chickens and bees

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Chickens
  • Yes; at most 4 female poultry.
    Applies: AR, RE, RS, R-1 and R-2 districts, and C-1 or C-2 districts with a conforming single-family home.
    § 6.08.030 · code text
    A maximum of four female poultry would be permitted in the “AR, RE, RS, R-1, and R-2” districts, and on property zoned “C-1 or C-2” district if the single family residential dwelling unit is in conformity with the requirements of Chapters 17.32 and 17.34 .
Pet limit
  • No more than 4 cats.
    Applies: At any one street address in the city.
    § 6.09.020 · code text
    No family or person, or group of persons may own or control, or have in their possession, at any one (1) street address within the city limits of the City of Gridley, more than a total of four (4) cats.

Grading and erosion control

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Grading without a permit
  • Digging and fill on developed lots of 1 acre or less zoned single-family need no grading permit.
    Applies: Only if drainage affecting neighbors is not blocked or changed, and no rare or endangered plants or animals live there.
    § 15.16.010 · code text
    Excavations and fills made on developed lots of one acre or less and zoned for single-family residential use, provided that no drainage courses or patterns are obstructed or altered in a manner which would affect adjoining properties, and no rare or endangered plants or animal species exist in or inhabit the area to be excavated or filled;
  • No grading permit for permitted basement, footing or wall digs, or for wells or septic with a county health permit.
    Applies: Building digs only if the unsupported height will be under 5 feet when done.
    § 15.16.010 · code text
    Excavations below finished grade for basements, footings of a building, retaining walls or other structures authorized by a building permit issued pursuant to this code and which will have an unsupported height of less than five feet after the completion of such building, retaining wall or other structure;

Park and impact fees for new homes

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Exemptions
  • Homes lawfully in place before the parcel or final map is filed are not counted as new for the fee.
    Applies: Park land dedication or fee for subdivisions.
    § 16.40.040 · code text
    The term "new dwelling unit" does not include dwelling units lawfully in place prior to the date on which the parcel or final map is filed.
How the park fee is set
  • The fee is the market value of the land that would be dedicated, plus 20% toward off-site improvements.
    Applies: Subdivisions paying a fee instead of land; another section states 25% for the same fee.
    § 16.40.070 · code text
    When a fee is to be paid in lieu of land dedication value of the amount of such fee shall be based upon the fair market value of the amount of land which would otherwise be required for dedication pursuant to Section 16.40.040, plus twenty percent toward costs of off-site improvements.
  • The fee is the land value of the needed park share, plus 25% toward off-site improvements.
    Applies: Proposed subdivisions of 50 parcels or less.
    § 16.40.050 · code text
    If the proposed subdivision contains fifty (50) parcels or less, the subdivider shall pay a fee equal to the land value, plus twenty-five (25) percent toward costs of off-site improvements, of the portion of the local park required to serve the needs of residents of the proposed subdivision
Parkland per 1,000 residents
  • The park standard is 5 acres for each 1,000 residents.
    § 16.40.030 · code text
    It is found and determined that the public interest, convenience, health, welfare, and safety require that five acres of property for each one thousand persons residing within this City be devoted to neighborhood and community park and recreational purposes.
When the fee applies
  • Subdivisions of 50 parcels or less pay a fee instead of dedicating land; the city may accept a voluntary dedication.
    § 16.40.050 · code text
    If the proposed subdivision contains fifty (50) parcels or less, the subdivider shall pay a fee equal to the land value

Noise and construction hours

Gridley code What Gridley's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays
  • Construction tools may be used only from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Applies: Weekdays; tools or equipment heard across a home or business property line; home power tools follow separate rules.
    § 9.40.160 · code text
    It is unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to operate or cause the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work between the hours of seven P. M. and six A. M. on weekdays or at any time on Sundays or holidays.
Construction hours on weekends and holidays
  • Construction work is not allowed at any time.
    Applies: Sundays and holidays; tools or equipment heard across a home or business property line.
    § 9.40.160 · code text
    It is unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to operate or cause the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work between the hours of seven P. M. and six A. M. on weekdays or at any time on Sundays or holidays.
Quiet hours
  • Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: Loudspeakers and similar devices clearly heard across a residential property line.
    § 9.40.120 · code text
    It is unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to use or operate for any purpose any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system or similar device between the hours of ten P.M. and seven A.M., such that the sound therefrom creates noise clearly audible across a residential zoned or a commercial zoned real property boundary.

Garage and yard sales

Gridley code A garage sale may last no more than 72 hours. At most 2 sales per location in any 365 days.

All 4 Gridley 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
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

Parking spaces required for homes

Gridley code Required parking spaces need not be covered by a garage. 10% of the total number required for occupants.

All 7 Gridley rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Other Gridley rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Gridley?

Gridley does not allow a medical marijuana dispensary as a home business in any district.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Gridley?

Gridley's code: Only in storage areas specifically designed for them on approved plans. (Boats, trailers and RVs in the R-4 district.) (§ 17.27.130); The storage area must be screened by fencing, landscaping or both. (R-4 district.) (§ 17.27.130).

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

Gridley's code: The customer must sign an interconnection agreement with the city and get approval to connect to the city grid. (To receive service under the net metering rate.) (§ 13.15.205).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Gridley?

Gridley's code: Yes; at most 4 female poultry. (AR, RE, RS, R-1 and R-2 districts, and C-1 or C-2 districts with a conforming single-family home.) (§ 6.08.030).

What are the grading rules in Gridley?

Gridley's code: Digging and fill on developed lots of 1 acre or less zoned single-family need no grading permit. (Only if drainage affecting neighbors is not blocked or changed, and no rare or endangered plants or animals live there.) (§ 15.16.010); No grading permit for permitted basement, footing or wall digs, or for wells or septic with a county health permit. (Building digs only if the unsupported height will be under 5 feet when done.) (§ 15.16.010).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Gridley?

Gridley's code: The fee is the market value of the land that would be dedicated, plus 20% toward off-site improvements. (Subdivisions paying a fee instead of land; another section states 25% for the same fee.) (§ 16.40.070); The park standard is 5 acres for each 1,000 residents. (§ 16.40.030).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Gridley?

Gridley's code: Construction tools may be used only from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Weekdays; tools or equipment heard across a home or business property line; home power tools follow separate rules.) (§ 9.40.160); Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Loudspeakers and similar devices clearly heard across a residential property line.) (§ 9.40.120).

Can I run a family child care home in Gridley?

California law sets this for every city, including Gridley: 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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