King City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in King City

King City sets local limits for fences, accessory buildings, pools, pets, home businesses and SB 9 lot splits. Fence heights depend on the yard and on whether the owner has a fence permit.

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Key points

Fence height: In R districts, front and street-side fences are limited to 3 feet, 4 with a permit; rear and interior side fences to 7 feet.
Accessory buildings: Detached accessory buildings in R districts must be at least 4 feet from the side lot line unless placed directly on it.
Pool fences: Pools and spas need a fence at least 6 feet high with a self-closing gate latched at least 5 feet above the ground.
Pets: At most 4 adult small pets, hens included, on sites up to 6,000 square feet, plus 1 per additional 4,000 square feet; no roosters.
Home businesses: Home businesses need an annual permit and a business license, may use at most 25% of ground-floor area, and involve only resident family.
SB 9 units: SB 9 units in R-1: at most 16 feet, one story, 800 to 1,000 square feet; a lot split makes at most 2 parcels.

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

Fences and walls

King City code In R districts, front and street-side fences are limited to 3 feet, 4 with a permit; rear and interior side fences to 7 feet.

All 14 King City rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

King City code What King City's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 4 feet from the side lot line, unless built on that line. Applies: Applies to detached accessory buildings in an R district. § 17.48.140 · code text Such accessory building shall not be located within thirty feet of the far side of any alley; or within four feet of the side line of the lot unless located on the side property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from any home on the same or an adjacent lot. Applies: Applies to accessory buildings in an R district not attached to the main building. § 17.48.140 · code text Unless so attached, an accessory building in an R district shall be located on the rear one-half of the lot and at least ten feet from any dwelling building existing or under construction on the same lot, or any adjacent lot.

Running a business from home

King City code Home businesses need an annual permit and a business license, may use at most 25% of ground-floor area, and involve only resident family.

All 14 King City rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

King City code SB 9 units in R-1: at most 16 feet, one story, 800 to 1,000 square feet; a lot split makes at most 2 parcels.

All 12 King City rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

King City code What King City's code adds
EV charger permit	A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits, after the building official approves. Applies: Applies to all EV charging stations. § 12.18.060 · code text All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the city relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the system.

Swimming pools

King City code Pools and spas need a fence at least 6 feet high with a self-closing gate latched at least 5 feet above the ground.

All 6 King City rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

King City code At most 4 adult small pets, hens included, on sites up to 6,000 square feet, plus 1 per additional 4,000 square feet; no roosters.

All 4 King City rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

King City code What King City's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area. Applies: A building permit, grading permit or final subdivision approval counts as this permit. § 12.16.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 12.16.070.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New construction and substantial improvements in flood zones other than AH or AO. § 12.16.160 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. At least the FIRM depth number, in feet, above highest adjacent grade; at least 2 feet if no number. Applies: New construction and substantial improvements in Zone AH or AO; the lowest floor includes the basement. § 12.16.160 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AH or AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Noise and construction hours

King City code What King City's code adds
Quiet hours	10 p.m. to 9 a.m. Applies: No sound amplifying equipment, indoors or outdoors, used to reach people outdoors. § 7.25.050 · code text (2) Ten p.m. to nine a.m.
Noise limit at homes	No more than 80 dB. Applies: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., measured from the public right-of-way next to the property making the noise. § 7.25.050 · code text (A) Maximum level, eighty dB. No more than 55 dB. Applies: Inside a neighboring unit of an apartment, condo, townhouse or duplex, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. § 7.25.060 · code text (A) Maximum level, fifty-five dB.

Outdoor lighting

King City code What King City's code adds
Light at the property line	No direct or reflected glare may be visible from any property line. § 17.56.070 · code text No direct or reflected glare, whether produced by floodlight, high temperature processes such as combustion or welding, or other processes, so as to be visible from any boundary line of property on which the same is produced shall be permitted.

Garage and yard sales

King City code 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No more than 3 days.

All 6 King City 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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

King City code What King City's code adds
Fee instead of units	Set by the city council's fee schedule resolution; paid before any building permit. Applies: Developer's choice, instead of building all or some of the very low and/or low income units. § 17.19.050 · code text The amount of the fee shall be calculated using the fee schedule established by resolution of the city council.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

King City code The fine is $200. The fine is $300.

All 5 King City rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

King City code Up to 12 square feet in total. No sign permit required. Less than 4 square feet, not lit. Remove within 10 days after the election. No sign permit required.

All 6 King City rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

King City code What King City's code adds
When carts must come back	Remove carts from the curb within 24 hours after pick-up. Applies: Garbage carts. § 8.24.100 · code text Such placement shall not be made prior to twenty-four hours before pick-up time, and shall be removed from the curb within twenty-four hours after pick-up to an appropriate location away from any public street.
When carts may go to the curb	Put carts out no earlier than 24 hours before pick-up time, in the manner the contractor requires. Applies: Garbage carts at the curb. § 8.24.100 · code text Such placement shall not be made prior to twenty-four hours before pick-up time, and shall be removed from the curb within twenty-four hours after pick-up to an appropriate location away from any public street.
Where carts are kept	Store carts in an appropriate location away from any public street. Applies: Garbage carts after pick-up. § 8.24.100 · code text Such placement shall not be made prior to twenty-four hours before pick-up time, and shall be removed from the curb within twenty-four hours after pick-up to an appropriate location away from any public street.

Other King City rules on this

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

Regional traffic impact fee (§ 14.01.020)
Development impact fees (§ 16.18.030)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in King City?

Detached accessory buildings in R districts must be at least 4 feet from the side lot line unless placed directly on it.

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

King City's code: A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits, after the building official approves. (Applies to all EV charging stations.) (§ 12.18.060).

What are the rules for building in a King City flood zone?

King City's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area. (A building permit, grading permit or final subdivision approval counts as this permit.) (§ 12.16.130); Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. (New construction and substantial improvements in flood zones other than AH or AO.) (§ 12.16.160).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in King City?

King City's code: No more than 80 dB. (9 a.m. to 10 p.m., measured from the public right-of-way next to the property making the noise.) (§ 7.25.050); No more than 55 dB. (Inside a neighboring unit of an apartment, condo, townhouse or duplex, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.) (§ 7.25.060).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in King City?

King City's code: No direct or reflected glare may be visible from any property line. (§ 17.56.070).

Can I run a family child care home in King City?

California law sets this for every city, including King City: 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)).

Does King City require affordable units in new housing?

King City's code: Set by the city council's fee schedule resolution; paid before any building permit. (Developer's choice, instead of building all or some of the very low and/or low income units.) (§ 17.19.050).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in King City?

King City's code: Remove carts from the curb within 24 hours after pick-up. (Garbage carts.) (§ 8.24.100); Put carts out no earlier than 24 hours before pick-up time, in the manner the contractor requires. (Garbage carts at the curb.) (§ 8.24.100).

General information, not legal advice.

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King City Municipal Code — full text

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King City overview

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