Modoc County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Modoc County

Modoc County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It sets setbacks for barns, stables and other accessory buildings that house animals.

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Key points

Lot-line setback: County rule: barns, stables and other buildings that house animals must stand 10 ft from lot lines not next to an alley or street.
Dwelling distance: County rule: these animal buildings must stand 20 ft from any dwelling on the same or an adjacent lot.

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

Modoc County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Modoc County have their own codes and their own pages.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Modoc County code What Modoc County's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from side and rear lot lines. Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and other buildings that house animals; lot lines next to an alley or street do not count. § 18.110.050 · code text Barns, stables, chicken houses, and similar buildings, and residential accessory buildings which house animals shall not be located closer than ten feet from side or rear lot lines, excluding lot lines adjacent to an alley or street; nor closer than twenty feet from any dwelling on the same or adjacent lot.
Distance from the house	At least 20 feet from any dwelling. Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and other buildings that house animals; dwellings on the same or an adjacent lot. § 18.110.050 · code text Barns, stables, chicken houses, and similar buildings, and residential accessory buildings which house animals shall not be located closer than ten feet from side or rear lot lines, excluding lot lines adjacent to an alley or street; nor closer than twenty feet from any dwelling on the same or adjacent lot.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Modoc County code The building official approves applications meeting the county checklist, laws and health and safety standards, and issues all permits. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted.

All 4 Modoc County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Modoc County code What Modoc County's code adds
Bees	Africanized or overly defensive honey bees may not be kept or bred. § 6.06.130 · code text No person shall willingly and knowingly keep or breed Africanized honey bees or overly defensive bees.

Building in a flood zone

Modoc County code What Modoc County's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 18.71.150 · 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 18.71.070.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood levels no more than 1 foot. Applies: Applies in zones A1-30 and AE until a regulatory floodway is adopted. The limit applies at any point in the county. § 18.71.220 · 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 County of Modoc. No encroachments, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements, unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level rise. Applies: Applies within an adopted regulatory floodway, for flood levels during the base flood discharge. § 18.71.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the Modoc County Planning Department 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 flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 18.71.170 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be at least the flood map's depth number, in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows a depth number. § 18.71.170 · 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 grade. Applies: New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows no depth number. § 18.71.170 · 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 homes and substantial improvements in an unnumbered A zone, where the flood map (FIRM) shows no base flood elevation. § 18.71.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under subsection 18.71.140C.

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)

Group homes and residential care

Modoc County code What Modoc County's code adds
Homes for 7 or more	A use permit. Applies: Large licensed residential care facility. § 18.100.090 · code text Large licensed residential care facilities shall be considered a residential use of property and shall be permitted with a use permit in all zones permitting residential uses in the County of Modoc Code, subject to the requirements of chapter 18.128 (Use permits).
Homes for 6 or fewer	A permitted use in all zones permitting residential uses, subject to the standards for other dwellings of the same type. Applies: Small licensed residential care facilities and unlicensed residential care facilities. § 18.100.090 · code text Small residential care facilities, licensed, and unlicensed residential care facilities are permitted uses in all zones permitting residential uses in the County of Modoc, subject to compliance with the restrictions and development standards for other residential dwellings of the same type (e.g., single-family or multifamily) in the same zone.

Signs on homes

Modoc County code What Modoc County's code adds
For-sale and open-house signs	Signs of twentyfour square feet or less, used only to advertise the sale or lease of the property, are exempt from Sections 5.16.020 and 5.16.040 of the sign chapter Applies: sign on the property advertised § 5.16.030 · code text advertising structures or sniping signs having an area of twentyfour square feet or less, used exclusively to advertise the sale or lease of the property

Trash and recycling carts

Modoc County code What Modoc County's code adds
Where carts are kept	Keep containers screened from public view. Applies: Garbage or wet garbage containers. § 8.02.110 · code text The container shall be so stored on the owner's or possessor's premises so that it shall be screened from public view.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Modoc County?

County rule: barns, stables and other buildings that house animals must stand 10 ft from lot lines not next to an alley or street. County rule: these animal buildings must stand 20 ft from any dwelling on the same or an adjacent lot.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Modoc County?

Modoc County's code: Africanized or overly defensive honey bees may not be kept or bred. (§ 6.06.130).

What are the rules for building in a Modoc County flood zone?

Modoc County's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 18.71.150); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New homes and substantial improvements in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 18.71.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Modoc County?

California law sets this for every city, including Modoc 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)).

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Modoc County?

Modoc County's code: A use permit. (Large licensed residential care facility.) (§ 18.100.090); A permitted use in all zones permitting residential uses, subject to the standards for other dwellings of the same type. (Small licensed residential care facilities and unlicensed residential care facilities.) (§ 18.100.090).

What signs may I put up at my home in Modoc County?

Modoc County's code: Signs of twentyfour square feet or less, used only to advertise the sale or lease of the property, are exempt from Sections 5.16.020 and 5.16.040 of the sign chapter (sign on the property advertised) (§ 5.16.030).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Modoc County?

Modoc County's code: Keep containers screened from public view. (Garbage or wet garbage containers.) (§ 8.02.110).

General information, not legal advice.

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Modoc County Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Modoc County

Modoc County overview

Zoning districts in Modoc County