Moraga · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Moraga
Moraga sets its own fence heights and accessory-structure limits. Fence limits depend on the setback area and on zoning administrator or design review board approval.
Key points
- Fence height: Moraga limits fences to 3 ft in front and exterior side setbacks, 6 ft in side and rear setbacks, without approval.
- Sheds: Moraga lets sheds and playhouses up to 120 sq ft and 8 ft high sit anywhere in required side or rear yards if screened.
Each rule below is marked Moraga code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Moraga code Moraga limits fences to 3 ft in front and exterior side setbacks, 6 ft in side and rear setbacks, without approval.
All 7 Moraga rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Moraga code Moraga lets sheds and playhouses up to 120 sq ft and 8 ft high sit anywhere in required side or rear yards if screened.
All 5 Moraga rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Moraga code No bee colonies. At most 4 honey bee colonies, plus 1 nucleus colony per permitted colony.
All 14 Moraga rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
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| Height of the lowest floor |
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Grading and erosion control
| When a grading permit is needed |
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|---|---|
| Grading without a permit |
|
Park and impact fees for new homes
Moraga code The fee equals the fair market value of the land that would otherwise be dedicated. 3 acres of park area per 1,000 people.
All 3 Moraga rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
| Construction hours on weekdays |
|
|---|
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
Moraga code Not in the required front or side yard setback of the principal structure Not in the required front or side yard setback of the principal structure
All 11 Moraga rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Moraga code The sound must deactivate within 20 minutes A service charge for each false alarm; the amount is set by town council resolution
All 4 Moraga rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Moraga code 6 square feet 12 square feet
Historic homes
Moraga code Over 50 years old Under 50 years old only if enough time has passed to understand the resource's historical significance
Other Moraga rules on this
Moraga's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Storing an RV, boat or trailer at a home (§ 8.148.030)
- Parking oversize vehicles and RVs on residential streets (Ch. 10.10) — on public streets in residential districts
- Pool, spa and equipment setbacks (§ 8.70.050)
- Permit to remove a native, orchard or historic tree (Ch. 12.12) — native, orchard and historic trees
- Ridgeline protection (Ch. 8.128)
- Hillside development permit (§ 8.136.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules for building in a Moraga flood zone?
Moraga's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (The application must cover structures, utilities, grading, fill, drainage, floodways, elevations and related certifications.) (§ 8.108.100); The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 8.108.120).
What are the grading rules in Moraga?
Moraga's code: A permit is needed when the total earth moved is 50 cubic yards or more. (Also needed for grading of 10,000 square feet or more, over 3 feet deep, near a watercourse, or unretained within 9 feet of a neighbor.) (§ 14.04.031); Building water wells when a valid permit has been obtained from the county health department. (Exempt from the town grading permit. An exemption is not authorization to do work that violates the chapter or other laws.) (§ 14.04.032).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Moraga?
Moraga's code: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Every day. Outside construction or repair in or within 500 feet of a residential zone that disturbs residents. Emergency work is excepted.) (§ 7.12.090).
Can I run a family child care home in Moraga?
California law sets this for every city, including Moraga: 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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