Loomis · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Loomis

Loomis' code sets fence heights by setback, district and fence design, limits accessory structures, and controls home businesses. A home business needs director approval and a town business license.

Ask about building on your lot in Loomis See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Town code limits solid front setback fences to 3 feet and side and rear setback fences to 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Town code limits detached accessory structures to 15 feet; a minor use permit may allow more on lots of 20,000 square feet or larger.
Home businesses: A home business may use one room or 25% of the floor area, whichever is greater, with one client or family at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Loomis code Town code limits solid front setback fences to 3 feet and side and rear setback fences to 6 feet.

All 11 Loomis rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Loomis code Town code limits detached accessory structures to 15 feet; a minor use permit may allow more on lots of 20,000 square feet or larger.

All 14 Loomis rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the gross floor area or 1 room, whichever is greater. Applies: For business activities in the main house. § 13.42.120 · code text The main dwelling, and shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the gross floor area or one room, whichever is greater; No more than 1 room or 25% of the gross floor area, whichever is greater. Applies: For business activities in the main house. § 13.42.120 · code text The main dwelling, and shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the gross floor area or one room, whichever is greater;
Customer visits	Only 1 client or family on site at a time. § 13.42.120 · code text On-site presence of clients shall be limited to one client or family at a time. Visitors, customers and deliveries can be no more frequent than is normal for a home. § 13.42.120 · code text The frequency of visitors, customers, or deliveries shall not exceed that normally and reasonably occurring for a residence.
Employees	No on-site employees other than full-time residents of the home. § 13.42.120 · code text A home occupation shall have no on-site employees other than full-time residents of the dwelling.
Permit	Director approval of the home business, together with a town business license. § 13.42.120 · code text The director is authorized to approve one or more home occupation activities accessory to the primary residential use of the site in conjunction with a town business license.
Businesses not allowed	adult entertainment activities/businesses; animal hospitals and boarding facilities; automotive and other vehicle repair and service, painting, storage, or upholstery; repair, reconditioning, servicing, or manufacture of internal combustion or diesel engines or motor vehicles; commercial cabinet or furniture making; contractor's storage yards; dismantling, junk, or scrap yards; exercise studios, except one-on-one personal trainers; medical clinics, laboratories, or doctor's offices; personal services, except licensed massage therapists and physical therapists; on-site sales, except mail order businesses with no stock-in-trade on the site; uses requiring explosives or highly combustible or toxic materials; welding and machine shop operations; other similar uses determined by the director § 13.42.120 · code text The following are examples of business activities that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are, therefore, prohibited as home occupations.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; the permit is issued once a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 11.12.060 · code text The building department shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. The building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Loomis code No tree permit fee is charged for removing a protected tree when the removal is exempt from mitigation. Pruning is exempt from the mitigation rules.

All 8 Loomis rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 11.08.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 11.08.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level increase. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway, during the base flood discharge. § 11.08.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the town of Loomis shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in the flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: In zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; the 1-foot limit applies at any point in town. § 11.08.220 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the town of Loomis.
Height of the lowest floor	At least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 11.08.170 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated at least two feet above the base flood elevation, as determined by the community; 2 feet above the FIRM depth number, measured from the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 11.08.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height two feet above the depth number specified on the FIRM, or elevated at least four feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 4 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 11.08.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height two feet above the depth number specified on the FIRM, or elevated at least four feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, with no base flood elevations on the FIRM. § 11.08.170 · code text In zone A, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to two feet above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 11.08.150(B).

Grading and erosion control

Loomis code No steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. No permit if all met: under 50 cubic yards, depth 3 feet or less, 2:1 slope or less, drainage unchanged.

All 3 Loomis rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
How the park fee is set	Land required times appraised fair market value per acre, plus 20% for off-site improvements. Applies: Subdivisions; the subdivider pays for the appraisal. § 14.60.050 · code text When a fee is to be paid in lieu of land dedication, the amount of such fee shall be based upon the fair market value as described below, plus twenty percent or off-site improvements such as utility line extensions, curb, gutter and street lights.
Parkland per 1,000 residents	5 acres per 1,000 residents. Applies: Improved parkland. § 14.60.020 · code text It is found and determined that the public interest, convenience, health, welfare and safety require that five acres of improved parkland and five acres of passive recreation area or open space for each one thousand persons residing within the town be devoted to local recreation and park purposes. 5 acres per 1,000 residents. Applies: Passive recreation area or open space. § 14.60.020 · code text It is found and determined that the public interest, convenience, health, welfare and safety require that five acres of improved parkland and five acres of passive recreation area or open space for each one thousand persons residing within the town be devoted to local recreation and park purposes.
When the fee applies	Subdivisions of 50 parcels or less pay a fee instead of dedicating park land. § 14.60.040 · code text If the proposed subdivision contains fifty parcels or less, the subdivider shall pay a fee equal to the land value of the portion of the local park required to serve the needs of the residents of the proposed subdivision as prescribed in Section 14.60.020, and in an amount determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.60.050.

Outdoor lighting

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Fixture height	No higher than 20 feet or the nearest building, whichever is less. § 13.30.080 · code text Outdoor light fixtures shall be limited to a maximum height of twenty feet or the height of the nearest building, whichever is less.
Light at the property line	No more than 1 footcandle. Applies: On any property in a residential zoning district, other than the site of the light source. § 13.30.080 · code text No lighting on private property shall produce an illumination level greater than one footcandle on any property within a residential zoning district except on the site of the light source.
Shielding	Lights must be shielded or recessed and aimed downward, away from neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. § 13.30.080 · code text Lighting shall be energy-efficient, and shielded or recessed so that:

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)

Trash and recycling carts

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Where carts are kept	Do not store containers on or in any street, alley, sidewalk, footpath or public place. § 10.12.040 · code text Containers receiving solid waste, including garbage, organic waste, or recyclables shall not be stored on or in any street, alley, sidewalk, footpath, or any public place.

Other Loomis rules on this

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

Keeping animals at home (§ 13.42.060)
Noise standards (§ 13.30.070)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Loomis?

A home business may use one room or 25% of the floor area, whichever is greater, with one client or family at a time.

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

Loomis's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; the permit is issued once a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 11.12.060).

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

Loomis's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 11.08.130); At least 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 11.08.170).

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

Loomis's code: Land required times appraised fair market value per acre, plus 20% for off-site improvements. (Subdivisions; the subdivider pays for the appraisal.) (§ 14.60.050); 5 acres per 1,000 residents. (Improved parkland.) (§ 14.60.020).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Loomis?

Loomis's code: Lights must be shielded or recessed and aimed downward, away from neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. (§ 13.30.080); No more than 1 footcandle. (On any property in a residential zoning district, other than the site of the light source.) (§ 13.30.080).

Can I run a family child care home in Loomis?

California law sets this for every city, including Loomis: 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 Loomis?

Loomis's code: Do not store containers on or in any street, alley, sidewalk, footpath or public place. (§ 10.12.040).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Loomis property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Loomis

Loomis Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Loomis

Buying & selling in Loomis

Loomis overview

Zoning districts in Loomis