Live Oak, Sutter County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Live Oak, Sutter County

Live Oak's city code limits accessory structure height and total size on residential lots and sets standards for home businesses. The city also has a chapter on fences, walls and intersection visibility.

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Key points

Accessory structures: City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet and 1,000 square feet of combined floor area on a residential lot.
Home businesses: A home business may use at most 20% of the residence or 400 square feet, whichever is greater, with one customer at a time.
Fences and walls: City code has a chapter on fences, walls and intersection visibility (Ch. 17.24).

Each rule below is marked Live Oak, Sutter County 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

Live Oak, Sutter County code What Live Oak, Sutter County's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet. § 17.15.030 · code text The maximum height of any accessory structure is 15 feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,000 square feet of floor area for all accessory structures combined. Applies: Residential zones. § 17.15.030 · code text The combined floor area of accessory structures shall not exceed 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Side and rear setback	The zone's front, interior side and street side yards, and half the required rear yard. Applies: Residential accessory structures in residential zones. § 17.15.030 · code text Any residential accessory structure shall meet the same front, interior side and street side yards required by the applicable zone district, and one-half the required rear yard.

Running a business from home

Live Oak, Sutter County code A home business may use at most 20% of the residence or 400 square feet, whichever is greater, with one customer at a time.

All 8 Live Oak, Sutter County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Live Oak, Sutter County code A development permit is needed before any construction, substantial improvement or other development. At least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

All 7 Live Oak, Sutter County rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Live Oak, Sutter County code What Live Oak, Sutter County's code adds
Fee per home	$5,855 per new single-family home. Applies: 2026 code table; a resolution reduced the 2026 fees by 50%. § 15.50.020 · code text Single-family 1 \| $1,546 \| $867 \| $313 \| $572 \| $327 \| $1,676 \| $116 \| $441 \| $5,855 $4,552 per duplex unit. Applies: 2026 code table; a resolution reduced the 2026 fees by 50%. § 15.50.020 · code text Duplex 1 (per unit) \| $1,473 \| $619 \| $224 \| $408 \| $234 \| $1,197 \| $83 \| $315 \| $4,552 $3,952 per multifamily unit. Applies: 2026 code table; a resolution reduced the 2026 fees by 50%. § 15.50.020 · code text Multifamily 2 (per unit) \| $1,181 \| $557 \| $201 \| $368 \| $210 \| $1,078 \| $75 \| $284 \| $3,952

Noise and construction hours

Live Oak, Sutter County code What Live Oak, Sutter County's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Applies: Every day; outdoor construction in or within 500 feet of a residential zone; disturbing work at other hours needs a city permit. § 9.30.020 · code text to operate any pile driver, power shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, power hoist or any other construction-type device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Outdoor lighting

Live Oak, Sutter County code What Live Oak, Sutter County's code adds
Fixture height	No higher than 18 feet. Applies: Pole-mounted lights; more height may be allowed with an approved use permit. § 17.26.040 · code text Pole mounted lights shall not exceed 18 feet in height.
Shielding	Lights must be shielded or recessed and aimed downward, away from neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. § 17.26.030 · code text Exterior lighting shall be shielded or recessed so that direct glare is confined, to the maximum extent feasible, within the boundaries of the site. Exterior lighting shall be directed downward and away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.

Garage and yard sales

Live Oak, Sutter County code What Live Oak, Sutter County's code adds
How long a sale may last	At most 48 hours per sale. § 5.60.020 · code text at a maximum of 48 hours per sale.
Permit	A license is required, with no fee. Applies: The first 2 sales each year. § 5.60.020 · code text The first two sales will have a no fee license issued A license with a $12.00 fee. Applies: The third to sixth sale each year. § 5.60.020 · code text the remaining four sales will be issued a license for a fee of $12.00.
Sales per year	At most 6 sales per year. Applies: Per person. § 5.60.020 · code text Any person shall be allowed to conduct a maximum of six garage sales per year
Signs	All evidence of the sale must be removed from the site after 48 hours. § 5.60.020 · code text Once the 48 hours has expired all evidence of the garage sale shall be removed from the sale site.

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

Live Oak, Sutter County code Parking is prohibited in any part of a required front yard. Vehicles may park only on a driveway leading to required parking or to an improved parking space.

All 7 Live Oak, Sutter County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Live Oak, Sutter County code Signs are allowed 90 days before, and 10 days after, any national, state or local election. Signs may be up to 32 square feet in area.

All 10 Live Oak, Sutter County rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Live Oak, Sutter County code What Live Oak, Sutter County's code adds
Required collection service	The owner must start refuse collection service within 15 days of occupancy. Otherwise the city gives written notice. § 8.05.080 · code text When an owner fails to initiate adequate refuse collection service within 15 days of occupancy of a property, the City Manager or designee will give the owner written notification that such service is required.
Where carts are kept	Screen the refuse area with a sight barrier at least 6 feet high or container height, whichever is greater. Applies: Containers without covers. § 8.05.090 · code text Containers which are not equipped with covers should be stored in a refuse collection area screened from view from the public streets and from adjacent property by a sight barrier not less than six feet high or not less than the height of the container, which ever is greater.

Historic homes

Live Oak, Sutter County code Review Committee approval is required. Review Committee approval is required.

All 3 Live Oak, Sutter County rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Live Oak, Sutter County rules on this

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

Fences, walls and intersection visibility (Ch. 17.24)
Keeping bees in residential areas (Ch. 6.18)
Pets, hens and other small animals at home (Ch. 6.04, Art. 4)
Living in a trailer on a lot (§ 8.16.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Live Oak, Sutter County?

City code has a chapter on fences, walls and intersection visibility (Ch. 17.24). Live Oak, Sutter County also has a related rule: Fences, walls and intersection visibility (Ch. 17.24).

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Live Oak, Sutter County?

City code limits accessory structures to 15 feet and 1,000 square feet of combined floor area on a residential lot.

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Live Oak, Sutter County?

Live Oak, Sutter County's code: $5,855 per new single-family home. (2026 code table; a resolution reduced the 2026 fees by 50%.) (§ 15.50.020); $4,552 per duplex unit. (2026 code table; a resolution reduced the 2026 fees by 50%.) (§ 15.50.020).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Live Oak, Sutter County?

Live Oak, Sutter County's code: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Every day; outdoor construction in or within 500 feet of a residential zone; disturbing work at other hours needs a city permit.) (§ 9.30.020).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Live Oak, Sutter County?

Live Oak, Sutter County's code: Lights must be shielded or recessed and aimed downward, away from neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. (§ 17.26.030); No higher than 18 feet. (Pole-mounted lights; more height may be allowed with an approved use permit.) (§ 17.26.040).

What are the garage sale rules in Live Oak, Sutter County?

Live Oak, Sutter County's code: At most 6 sales per year. (Per person.) (§ 5.60.020); A license is required, with no fee. (The first 2 sales each year.) (§ 5.60.020).

Can I run a family child care home in Live Oak, Sutter County?

California law sets this for every city, including Live Oak, Sutter County: 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)).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Live Oak, Sutter County?

Live Oak, Sutter County's code: The owner must start refuse collection service within 15 days of occupancy. Otherwise the city gives written notice. (§ 8.05.080); Screen the refuse area with a sight barrier at least 6 feet high or container height, whichever is greater. (Containers without covers.) (§ 8.05.090).

General information, not legal advice.

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