Millbrae · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Millbrae
Millbrae sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the yard and on whether it faces a street or alley.
Key points
- Fence height: Millbrae limits fences to 2.5 ft in required front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards not on a street or alley.
- Accessory buildings: City rule: accessory buildings in R districts are limited to 12 ft and must stand 5 ft from property lines and alleys.
- Home businesses: City rule: home businesses need a home occupation permit and a city business license; on-site employees must live in the home.
Each rule below is marked Millbrae code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Millbrae code Millbrae limits fences to 2.5 ft in required front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards not on a street or alley.
All 8 Millbrae rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Maximum height |
|
|---|---|
| Side and rear setback |
|
| Distance from the house |
|
Running a business from home
Millbrae code City rule: home businesses need a home occupation permit and a city business license; on-site employees must live in the home.
All 6 Millbrae rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Millbrae code Neither parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Each unit may be no larger than 800 square feet.
All 23 Millbrae rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Millbrae code Administrative review; ministerial approval when the checklist, standards and requirements are met with no specific adverse impacts. Electronic submittal is allowed.
All 5 Millbrae rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Millbrae code Routine trimming to keep a protected tree healthy needs no permit. The Planning Commission may allow another replacement measure instead of the in-lieu fee.
Building in a flood zone
Millbrae code A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in any special flood hazard area. All encroachments, including fill and new construction, are banned unless a registered engineer certifies no base flood level rise.
All 5 Millbrae rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Millbrae code More than 50 cubic yards of combined digging and fill needs a grading permit. Cut and fill slopes may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical.
All 4 Millbrae rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
Millbrae code The fee equals the value of the land that would have been dedicated. The city standard is 5 acres of parkland for each 1,000 residents.
All 4 Millbrae rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
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
Millbrae code As specified by conditional use permit. 2 garage spaces per unit.
All 8 Millbrae rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| Alarm permit |
|
|---|
Signs on homes
Millbrae code No sign permit needed; remove within 10 days after the election. Up to 4 square feet and 6 feet high; 1 sign per address for each abutting street.
All 5 Millbrae rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
|
|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
|
Other Millbrae rules on this
Millbrae's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Permit to keep more dogs and cats (§ 6.14.030)
- Sleeping in an RV or camper on the street (§ 5.35.020) — on public streets at night
- Permit to drain a pool to the sewer (§ 8.20.340)
- Construction hours (§ 9.05.180)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Millbrae?
City rule: accessory buildings in R districts are limited to 12 ft and must stand 5 ft from property lines and alleys.
Can I run a family child care home in Millbrae?
California law sets this for every city, including Millbrae: 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)).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Millbrae?
Millbrae's code: Apply to the police department; fee set by city council resolution; permit issued in the applicant's name only. (Alarm system permit; the applicant is the owner, occupant or operator of the premises.) (§ 4.90.110).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Millbrae?
Millbrae's code: Do not leave recycling receptacles at curbside longer than 12 hours after the scheduled collection time. (Residential units.) (§ 6.30.070); Do not put recycling receptacles at curbside earlier than 12 hours before the scheduled collection time. (Residential units.) (§ 6.30.070).
General information, not legal advice.
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