Hughson · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Hughson
Hughson sets its own limits for fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on whether the yard is next to a street.
Key points
- Fence height: Hughson limits fences to 3 ft 6 in in front and street-side setbacks; other side and rear yards 6 ft.
- Accessory buildings: Hughson limits residential accessory buildings to 16 ft or the main building's height, whichever is lower, and 30% of the rear yard.
- Home businesses: Hughson home businesses may use 20% of living area or 400 sq ft, whichever is less, with at most 2 people, 1 a resident.
Each rule below is marked Hughson code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Hughson code Hughson limits fences to 3 ft 6 in in front and street-side setbacks; other side and rear yards 6 ft.
All 7 Hughson rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Maximum height |
|
|---|---|
| Size or lot coverage |
|
Running a business from home
Hughson code Hughson home businesses may use 20% of living area or 400 sq ft, whichever is less, with at most 2 people, 1 a resident.
All 12 Hughson rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| Solar permit process |
|
|---|---|
| Review time |
|
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
|
|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
|
Outdoor lighting
Hughson code At most 4 feet tall. At most 14 feet above grade, or the height of the nearest building on the site, whichever is less.
All 4 Hughson 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 |
Trash and recycling carts
Hughson code Remove containers from the collection point no later than noon on the day after the scheduled collection day. Put containers out no earlier than noon on the day before the scheduled collection day.
All 4 Hughson rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Hughson rules on this
Hughson's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Only household pets on residential lots (§ 8.08.035) — residential property
- Grading and erosion control (§ 17.03.036)
- Noise regulation (Ch. 9.30)
- Capital improvement impact fees (Ch. 15.20)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Hughson?
Hughson limits residential accessory buildings to 16 ft or the main building's height, whichever is lower, and 30% of the rear yard.
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Hughson?
Hughson's code: Administrative approval when a complete application meets the checklist; apply in person or electronically; one inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.16.030); 1 to 3 business days. (Applies to complete small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist.) (§ 15.16.030).
What are the rules for building in a Hughson flood zone?
Hughson's code: Before any permit for construction or development, including manufactured homes, the city decides if the site is flood-prone. (§ 15.12.300); No new building or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. (Zone A, until a regulated floodway is adopted; measured at any point in the city.) (§ 15.12.430).
Can I run a family child care home in Hughson?
California law sets this for every city, including Hughson: 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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