Manteca · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Manteca

Manteca sets its own height, setback and coverage limits for accessory structures and its own home-business rules. Fences and walls have a separate city chapter.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Accessory structures limited to 30% of the rear yard; buildings over 120 sq ft with solid roof and little enclosure: 15 ft.
Home businesses: Manteca lets a home business use 1 room or 25% of the home's floor area, whichever is greater; a city business license is required.
Fences: Fences and walls fall under the city's own chapter, Ch. 17.46 (Fences and walls).

Each rule below is marked Manteca 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

Manteca code Accessory structures limited to 30% of the rear yard; buildings over 120 sq ft with solid roof and little enclosure: 15 ft.

All 12 Manteca rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Manteca code Manteca lets a home business use 1 room or 25% of the home's floor area, whichever is greater; a city business license is required.

All 6 Manteca rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Manteca code Up to 24 hours. Up to 24 hours in a row.

All 5 Manteca rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Manteca code What Manteca's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative approval and fast review; apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the required fees. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems that meet the checklist. § 15.60.060 · code text For a project complying with the checklist for a small residential rooftop solar energy system the applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with the required permit processing and inspection fees. E-mail or fax filing and electronic signatures are available. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar permit applicants. § 15.60.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.

Swimming pools

Manteca code What Manteca's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Pools, ponds or other water may not be left unkept so the bottom is hidden, water polluted, or mosquitoes breed. Applies: Applies to any premises or property in the city. § 8.17.100 · code text It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises or property in the city to maintain upon any such premises or property any swimming pool, pond, or other body of water which is abandoned, unattended, unfiltered, or not otherwise maintained resulting in the bottom not being visible, water becoming polluted, and/or providing for mosquito breeding.

Pets, chickens and bees

Manteca code What Manteca's code adds
Large animals	Goats, sheep, cattle and equines may not be penned within 50 feet of others' homes or 100 feet of hospitals. Applies: The 50 feet also covers schools, churches, public buildings, hotels, restaurants and lunchrooms. § 6.12.010 · code text It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain or cause or permit to be kept or maintained within the corporate limits of the city any goats, sheep, cows or other bovine animals, or horses, mules, donkeys, ponies or other equine animals, within any pen or stable, the exterior boundaries of which are within fifty feet of any school, church, public building, hotel, restaurant, lunchroom, or the dwelling house of any person other than the dwelling house or residence occupied by the owner of the animal or animals or within one hundred feet of any hospital or other building especially designed or used for the care of the sick or injured.
Permit	A permit from the city finance officer is required. Applies: Applies to goats, sheep, cows, horses, mules, donkeys, ponies and other bovine or equine animals. § 6.12.020 · code text No person shall keep any of the animals mentioned in Section 6.12.010 under any conditions without having first obtained a permit therefor from the city finance officer who is empowered to issue such permits in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Building in a flood zone

Manteca code What Manteca's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins. Applies: Applies in special flood hazard areas. § 8.30.130 · 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 8.30.070.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at least as high above the highest adjacent ground as the flood map depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map shows a depth number. § 8.30.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where no depth number is shown. § 8.30.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone. § 8.30.170 · code text In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation; said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods in Section 8.30.150(B) of this chapter. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in all other zones. § 8.30.170 · code text In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Manteca code Exempt: subdivisions of 4 or fewer parcels or lots not used for homes. Exempt: condos or stock cooperatives dividing an existing apartment building over 5 years old, adding no new units.

All 4 Manteca rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Manteca code Construction equipment may run only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Leaf blowers (gas, combustion or electric) are banned 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. when plainly audible at the property line.

All 3 Manteca rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Manteca code What Manteca's code adds
Fixture height	Freestanding outdoor light fixtures may be no taller than 20 feet. Applies: Freestanding outdoor light fixtures. § 17.50.060 · code text The maximum height of freestanding outdoor light fixtures shall be 20 feet.
Light at the property line	Light may be no more than 1/10 foot-candle. Applies: Measured at the nearest home or the rear yard setback line. § 17.50.060 · code text illumination measured at the nearest residential structure or rear yard setback line shall not exceed the moon's potential ambient illumination of one-tenth foot-candle.
Shielding	Lights must be fully shielded and/or recessed, aimed down and away from neighbors and public rights-of-way. § 17.50.060 · code text Except as otherwise exempt, all outdoor lighting shall be constructed with full shielding and/or recessed to reduce light trespass to adjoining properties. Each fixture shall be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way Shields must limit the cone of direct light to 60 degrees or less. Applies: Fixtures mounted more than 6 feet above the ground. § 17.50.060 · code text Fixtures located higher than 6 feet above the ground shall have shielding that limits to angle of the cone of direct illumination to 60 degrees or less.

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

Manteca code Required parking must not be in any required front yard or street side yard setback. Required parking spaces and areas may be used only for parking operable vehicles.

All 4 Manteca rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Manteca code You need an alarm user's permit from the police chief to install, operate or possess an alarm system. Exempt from the permit.

All 3 Manteca rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Manteca code Each sign may be up to 32 square feet and is exempt from sign permits. Remove the sign within 7 days after the election or event.

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

Trash and recycling carts

Manteca code You must subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service for all organic waste. Food and green waste in green, recyclables in blue, other waste in gray; no gray waste in green or blue.

All 6 Manteca rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Manteca rules on this

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

Fences and walls (Ch. 17.46)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Manteca?

Fences and walls fall under the city's own chapter, Ch. 17.46 (Fences and walls). Manteca also has a related rule: Fences and walls (Ch. 17.46).

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

Manteca's code: Administrative approval and fast review; apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the required fees. (Applies to small rooftop home solar systems that meet the checklist.) (§ 15.60.060); E-mail or fax filing and electronic signatures are available. (Applies to small rooftop home solar permit applicants.) (§ 15.60.050).

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

Manteca's code: You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins. (Applies in special flood hazard areas.) (§ 8.30.130); The lowest floor must be at least as high above the highest adjacent ground as the flood map depth number. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map shows a depth number.) (§ 8.30.170).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Manteca?

Manteca's code: Lights must be fully shielded and/or recessed, aimed down and away from neighbors and public rights-of-way. (§ 17.50.060); Light may be no more than 1/10 foot-candle. (Measured at the nearest home or the rear yard setback line.) (§ 17.50.060).

Can I run a family child care home in Manteca?

California law sets this for every city, including Manteca: 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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