Lakeport · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lakeport

Lakeport's city code limits the height of accessory structures. Small accessory structures without utilities may sit close to a property line.

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Key points

Height: City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet.
Small structures: Accessory structures under 120 square feet without utilities may be 1 foot from a property line.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lakeport code What Lakeport's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet tall. § 17.04.060 · code text Accessory structure: fifteen feet.
Side and rear setback	Can be as close as 1 foot to the side or rear property line. Applies: Accessory structures smaller than 120 square feet with no utilities. § 17.04.060 · code text Accessory structures: less than one hundred twenty square feet without utilities may be within one foot of the side or rear property line.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lakeport code What Lakeport's code adds
Solar permit process	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the permit fee. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.24.030 · code text An applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building department in person, by mail, or by electronic submittal along with the permit fee. Administrative approval once a complete application meets the checklist; only 1 inspection; grid connection needs the utility's approval. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.24.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Tree removal

Lakeport code Existing native trees 6 inches or more in diameter, including oak, willow, cottonwood and redwood. Replace 1:1 with a tree of at least 15-gallon size, of the same or similar species.

All 5 Lakeport rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Lakeport code What Lakeport's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or other development begins. Applies: In any area of special flood hazard. § 15.16.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.16.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new construction, substantial improvement or other new development unless certified not to raise base flood elevation. Applies: In floodways; a registered professional engineer or architect must certify it. § 15.16.220 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge;
Height of the lowest floor	At least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone or any other zone except AO; the city sets the base flood elevation. § 15.16.170 · code text In an A zone, elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation, as determined by the city; At least 1 foot above the FIRM depth number, or at least 3 feet if no depth number is given. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone; measured above the highest adjacent grade. § 15.16.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height of at least one foot higher than the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified;

Grading and erosion control

Lakeport code An engineered erosion control plan may be required. A professionally prepared engineering plan may be required.

All 3 Lakeport rules on grading and erosion control, 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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Lakeport code What Lakeport's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	1 covered and 1/2 uncovered space per dwelling unit Applies: Triplex, fourplex, or multifamily dwelling § 17.23.050 · code text One covered and one-half uncovered space per dwelling unit. 1/2 additional uncovered space for each unit with 3 or more bedrooms Applies: Each unit with 3 or more bedrooms in a triplex, fourplex, or multifamily dwelling § 17.23.050 · code text One-half additional uncovered space for each unit with three or more bedrooms;
Spaces for a single-family home	1 covered and 1 uncovered space per dwelling unit Applies: Single-family dwelling or duplex on individual lots § 17.23.050 · code text One covered and one uncovered space per dwelling unit.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Lakeport code $50 The first 2 false alarms carry no fee.

All 4 Lakeport rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Lakeport code What Lakeport's code adds
Home business signs	Up to 4 square feet in total area. Applies: Home occupations in residential zones § 17.52.100 · code text Individual, professional or business signs in residential zones not to exceed four square feet in total area for home occupations as allowed in this title;
Signs that need no permit	Real estate signs § 17.52.100 · code text Real estate signs as set forth in Section 17.52.040(F) of this chapter; Temporary signs or in-window signs of a temporary nature § 17.52.100 · code text Temporary signs or in-window signs of a temporary nature displayed per Section 17.52.030(T) of this chapter; Name signs for private homes § 17.52.100 · code text Name signs for private homes; Street signs and address numbers § 17.52.100 · code text Street signs and address numbers.

Trash and recycling carts

Lakeport code Within 18 hours after it has been emptied Not before five-thirty p.m. on the day immediately prior to collection

All 4 Lakeport rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Historic homes

Lakeport code 45 years old or older Use permit required

All 5 Lakeport rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Lakeport rules on this

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

Unnecessary and persistent noise (§ 8.20.030)
Fire mitigation fee on new development (§ 3.34.080)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Lakeport?

City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet. Accessory structures under 120 square feet without utilities may be 1 foot from a property line.

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

Lakeport's code: Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the permit fee. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.24.030); Administrative approval once a complete application meets the checklist; only 1 inspection; grid connection needs the utility's approval. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.24.040).

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

Lakeport's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development begins. (In any area of special flood hazard.) (§ 15.16.130); At least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone or any other zone except AO; the city sets the base flood elevation.) (§ 15.16.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Lakeport?

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

How many parking spaces does a home need in Lakeport?

Lakeport's code: 1 covered and 1/2 uncovered space per dwelling unit (Triplex, fourplex, or multifamily dwelling) (§ 17.23.050); 1/2 additional uncovered space for each unit with 3 or more bedrooms (Each unit with 3 or more bedrooms in a triplex, fourplex, or multifamily dwelling) (§ 17.23.050).

What signs may I put up at my home in Lakeport?

Lakeport's code: Up to 4 square feet in total area. (Home occupations in residential zones) (§ 17.52.100); Real estate signs (§ 17.52.100).

General information, not legal advice.

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