Monte Sereno · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Monte Sereno

Monte Sereno sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits by district and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the yard and on corner lots, and accessory limits on the R-1 district.

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Key points

Fence height: Monte Sereno limits fences to 3 ft in front yards and 6 ft in interior side and rear yards.
Accessory size: City rule: accessory buildings are limited to 600 sq ft in R-1-8, 800 in R-1-20 and 1,000 in R-1-44.
Home businesses: City rule: a home business run inside the home by household members only, with no sign over 1 sq ft, needs no business license.

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

Fences and walls

Monte Sereno code Monte Sereno limits fences to 3 ft in front yards and 6 ft in interior side and rear yards.

All 6 Monte Sereno rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Monte Sereno code City rule: accessory buildings are limited to 600 sq ft in R-1-8, 800 in R-1-20 and 1,000 in R-1-44.

All 10 Monte Sereno rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Monte Sereno code What Monte Sereno's code adds
Employees	No employees other than people who live in the household. Applies: Required to qualify for the home occupation business license exemption. § 7.01.240 · code text No persons other than the inhabitants of the household shall be employed.
Permit	No business license is required. Applies: Business run entirely inside the home or a permitted accessory building, only household members employed, no outdoor sign over 1 square foot. § 7.01.240 · code text The provisions of this Code shall not be construed as requiring a license hereunder for a home occupation meeting all of the following requirements:

Lot splits under SB 9

Monte Sereno code Each new parcel must have at least 40% of the original lot area. Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 12 Monte Sereno rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Monte Sereno code The panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height. You may submit the application and documents by email or internet; electronic signatures are accepted.

All 4 Monte Sereno rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Monte Sereno code Yes, a permit is required. Replacement trees may be required as a permit condition.

All 4 Monte Sereno rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Monte Sereno code No more than 2 inches between grade and the bottom of the enclosure. Gaps may not let a sphere 4 inches or more in diameter pass.

All 8 Monte Sereno rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Monte Sereno code No more than 6 apiaries or hives. No more than 4 apiaries or hives.

All 7 Monte Sereno rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Monte Sereno code What Monte Sereno's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 10.21.150 · 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 10.21.170.
Building in a floodway	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. § 10.21.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the City of Monte Sereno 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. 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 city. § 10.21.220 · 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 (1) foot at any point within the City of Monte Sereno.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 10.21.170 · 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 or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows a depth number. § 10.21.170 · 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 (2) 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 or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map (FIRM) shows no depth number. § 10.21.170 · 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 (2) 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 unnumbered A zone, where the flood map (FIRM) shows no base flood elevation. § 10.21.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 10.21.140.C.

Grading and erosion control

Monte Sereno code A registered civil engineer's final erosion control plan is needed; staged projects need interim plans before each rainy season. An engineered grading permit is needed when grading exceeds 1,000 cubic yards.

All 4 Monte Sereno rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Monte Sereno code What Monte Sereno's code adds
Height on hillside lots	At most 15 feet above the highest natural terrain before grading. Applies: Hillside lots in subdivisions. The zoning code also limits total height. § 13.04.080 · code text the maximum height of any structure above the highest natural (i.e., before grading) terrain shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet

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)

Signs on homes

Monte Sereno code What Monte Sereno's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	Freestanding or suspended election signs up to 6 square feet and 3 feet high; remove within 6 days after election. Applies: Election signs on private property need the owner's consent; no sign permit needed. § 10.13.020 · code text A freestanding or suspended sign shall not have an area exceeding six square feet and shall not be more than three-feet high.
Signs that need no permit	Election signs may be erected without a permit. Applies: Election signs complying with the section. § 10.13.020 · code text An election sign may be erected without a permit in conformity with this Section.

Other Monte Sereno rules on this

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

Outdoor lighting on private property (Ch. 10.17)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Monte Sereno?

City rule: a home business run inside the home by household members only, with no sign over 1 sq ft, needs no business license.

What are the rules for building in a Monte Sereno flood zone?

Monte Sereno's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 10.21.150); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 10.21.170).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Monte Sereno?

Monte Sereno's code: At most 15 feet above the highest natural terrain before grading. (Hillside lots in subdivisions. The zoning code also limits total height.) (§ 13.04.080).

Can I run a family child care home in Monte Sereno?

California law sets this for every city, including Monte Sereno: 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)).

What signs may I put up at my home in Monte Sereno?

Monte Sereno's code: Freestanding or suspended election signs up to 6 square feet and 3 feet high; remove within 6 days after election. (Election signs on private property need the owner's consent; no sign permit needed.) (§ 10.13.020); Election signs may be erected without a permit. (Election signs complying with the section.) (§ 10.13.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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