Mendocino County · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Mendocino County
Mendocino County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It sets fence heights and accessory-building setbacks; home occupations have separate inland, coastal and Town of Mendocino chapters.
Key points
- Fence height: County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.
- Garages and sheds: The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.
- Home occupations: Home occupations fall under county chapters: Ch. 20.156 inland, Ch. 20.448 in the coastal zone, Ch. 20.696 in the Town of Mendocino.
Each rule below is marked Mendocino County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Mendocino County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Mendocino County have their own codes and their own pages.
Fences and walls
Mendocino County code County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.
All 4 Mendocino County rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Mendocino County code The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.
All 5 Mendocino County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Mendocino County code Expedited administrative approval and all required permits once the application is complete and consistent with the rules. Electronic filing is offered, by a method the department chooses; electronic signatures may be used.
All 3 Mendocino County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Mendocino County code You need a development permit before any construction or other development begins. No fill, construction or other development unless analysis shows no rise in base flood levels.
All 4 Mendocino County rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Mendocino County code Exempt: digs under 2 feet deep, or with no cut slope both over 5 feet high and steeper than 1½:1. Fill up to 50 cubic yards/lot: under 1 foot on ground flatter than 5:1, or under 3 feet; no structures.
All 3 Mendocino County rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
| Fixture height |
|
|---|---|
| Shielding |
|
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| 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 |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Parking spaces required for homes
Mendocino County code Visitor parking is provided at the Director's discretion. 1 space per unit.
All 6 Mendocino County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Mendocino County code An audible alarm must shut off after no more than 30 minutes. $150 per false alarm.
All 4 Mendocino County rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Mendocino County code Signs may go up no more than 90 days before the election. Remove the sign within 10 days after the election.
All 12 Mendocino County rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Other Mendocino County rules on this
Mendocino County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Home occupations (Ch. 20.156) — inland zoning code
- Home occupations in the coastal zone (Ch. 20.448) — coastal zone only
- Home occupations in the Town of Mendocino (Ch. 20.696) — Town of Mendocino only
- Keeping hens and rabbits for personal use (Sec. 20.032.030) — smaller lots only
- Exterior noise limits (App. C)
- Fire protection mitigation fee (Ch. 5.36)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Mendocino County?
Home occupations fall under county chapters: Ch. 20.156 inland, Ch. 20.448 in the coastal zone, Ch. 20.696 in the Town of Mendocino. Mendocino County also has a related rule: Home occupations (Ch. 20.156) — inland zoning code; Home occupations in the coastal zone (Ch. 20.448) — coastal zone only; Home occupations in the Town of Mendocino (Ch. 20.696) — Town of Mendocino only.
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Mendocino County?
Mendocino County's code: Where possible, lights must be shielded or placed so light and glare stay on the parcel. (Coastal zone.) (§ 20.504.035); Lights may be no higher than the zone height limit or the nearest building on the property, whichever is lower. (Coastal zone.) (§ 20.504.035).
Can I run a family child care home in Mendocino County?
California law sets this for every city, including Mendocino 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)).
General information, not legal advice.
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