Mountain House · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Mountain House

Mountain House requires a permit for home businesses. Accessory uses and structures in residential zones have their own local section.

Ask about building on your lot in Mountain House See coverage

Key points

Home businesses: Local rule: a home business needs a Home Occupation Permit.
Accessory structures: Accessory uses and structures in residential zones fall under the local section § 9-3-203.

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

Running a business from home

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Permit	Yes. A Home Occupation Permit is required. § 9-8-1608 · code text A holder of a Home Occupation Permit who is in violation of the provisions under which it was originally issued may renew the Home Occupation Permit without penalty, provided the home occupation business is conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Mountain House code The Department approves and issues all required permits when the complete application and checklist meet the electrical code. No discretionary use permit is required.

All 4 Mountain House rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree permit is required. Applies: Street trees in the right-of-way next to your property; removal is at the owner's expense and done within 60 days of the permit. § 10-5-208 · code text In the event a property owner desires to remove a tree from the Right-of-Way abutting their property, the property owner or their authorized agent shall submit an application for a tree permit pursuant to Section 10-5-205.
Replacement trees	Replacement measures may be required as a condition of approval. Applies: Street tree permits. § 10-5-205 · code text Mitigation measures as proposed, or replacement measures as required.

Pets, chickens and bees

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Pet limit	Up to 3 dogs and 3 cats; no more than 10 household pets in total. Applies: Single-family homes. § 9-10-1002 · code text For single-family dwelling units, up to three (3) dogs and three (3) cats shall be allowed. Additional household pets may be allowed, provided the total combined number of household pets in one place of residence shall not exceed ten (10). No more than 3 dogs, cats and other household pets combined. Applies: Units in multifamily buildings and mobile homes in mobile home parks. § 9-10-1002 · code text For dwelling units in multiple-family structures and for mobile-homes in mobile home parks, the total number of dogs cats and other household pets combined shall not exceed three (3).

Building in a flood zone

Mountain House code A Floodplain Encroachment Permit to alter a watercourse; a Use Permit to change a floodway's location. At least 1 foot above the 100-year flood elevation.

All 4 Mountain House rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Mountain House code Minor cuts and fills: a cut less than 2 feet deep, or one that does not create a slope more than 5 feet high and steeper than 1½ horizontal to 1 vertical; a fill less than 1 foot deep on terrain flatter than 5 horizontal to 1 vertical, or less than 3 feet deep, not supporting structures, not over 50 cubic yards on one lot and not blocking a drainage course No steeper than 3:1 (horizontal to vertical).

All 3 Mountain House rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Light at the property line	No glare above 1.0 footcandles. Applies: On an adjacent lot developed or zoned residential, or shown as residential on the General Plan Map. § 9-10-706 · code text No use shall cause glare above 1.0 footcandles on an adjacent lot developed or zoned for residential use, or shown as residential on the General Plan Map, or cause glare on a street or alley. No glare at all. Applies: On a street or alley. § 9-10-706 · code text No use shall cause glare above 1.0 footcandles on an adjacent lot developed or zoned for residential use, or shown as residential on the General Plan Map, or cause glare on a street or alley.
Shielding	Exterior lights must be shielded or recessed to minimize direct glare and reflections. § 9-10-706 · code text Exterior lighting shall be shielded or recessed to minimize direct glare and reflections.

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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Exemptions	Density Bonus Units are exempt from the Affordable Housing Impact Fee. § 9-12-505 · code text (b) Density Bonus Units; Replacing an existing residential structure is exempt, only up to the prior structure's total livable area. § 9-12-505 · code text (c) Projects involving the replacement of an existing residential structure but only up to the total livable area of the prior residential structure; Remodeling projects are exempt from the Affordable Housing Impact Fee. § 9-12-505 · code text (d) Remodeling projects; Residential developments in Pre-Existing Residential Areas zoned AU-20 are exempt from the Affordable Housing Impact Fee. § 9-12-505 · code text (e) Residential developments in Pre-Existing Residential Areas in which the zoning is AU-20; Second unit dwellings are exempt from the Affordable Housing Impact Fee. § 9-12-505 · code text (f) Second unit dwellings.

Parking spaces required for homes

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Parking in the front yard	Required parking spaces for dwellings cannot be in any required front or side yard Applies: Dwellings § 9-10-404 · code text Parking spaces required for dwellings shall not be located within any required front or side yard.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	30 minutes § 4-6-307 · code text An audible alarm shall terminate its operation or audible alarm and automatically reset within thirty (30) minutes of being activated.
False alarm fees	The Police Department may charge a service fee for each false alarm § 4-6-308 · code text In accordance with Section 4-6-303, a service fee may be charged by the Police Department for each false alarm.
Alarm permit	An alarm permit is required; no fee; permits are not transferable § 4-6-303 · code text No person shall install, cause to be installed, use, maintain or possess an alarm system on the premises owned or in the possession or control of such person within the City without first having obtained an alarm user's permit from the Chief of Police, in accordance with this Section.

Signs on homes

Mountain House code Remove within 30 days following the conclusion of an election No Trespassing signs are exempt from the sign rules

All 6 Mountain House rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Mountain House code Green waste must not be placed in a container for garbage or recyclable materials Separate containers for refuse, recyclables and green waste

All 4 Mountain House rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Historic homes

Mountain House code What Mountain House's code adds
Mills Act tax incentive	Mills Act contract available; minimum term 10 years, renewed yearly unless nonrenewal notice is given; City Council approves Applies: Property on the National Register of Historic Places or State Register of Historical Resources, or a State Historic Landmark or Point of Historic Interest § 9-10-1202 · code text The purpose of this section is to provide a method for executing a contract pursuant to the Mills Act.

Other Mountain House rules on this

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

Accessory uses and structures in residential zones (§ 9-3-203)
Parking RVs, boats and trailers (§ 10-2-509) — on public streets
Pool filters and backflow protection (§ 5-3-127)
County facilities fee (§ 9-12-602)
Community facilities fee (§ 3-1-104)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Mountain House?

Accessory uses and structures in residential zones fall under the local section § 9-3-203. Mountain House also has a related rule: Accessory uses and structures in residential zones (§ 9-3-203).

Can I run a business from my home in Mountain House?

Local rule: a home business needs a Home Occupation Permit.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Mountain House?

Mountain House's code: Yes, a tree permit is required. (Street trees in the right-of-way next to your property; removal is at the owner's expense and done within 60 days of the permit.) (§ 10-5-208); Replacement measures may be required as a condition of approval. (Street tree permits.) (§ 10-5-205).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Mountain House?

Mountain House's code: Exterior lights must be shielded or recessed to minimize direct glare and reflections. (§ 9-10-706); No glare above 1.0 footcandles. (On an adjacent lot developed or zoned residential, or shown as residential on the General Plan Map.) (§ 9-10-706).

Can I run a family child care home in Mountain House?

California law sets this for every city, including Mountain House: 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)).

Does Mountain House require affordable units in new housing?

Mountain House's code: Density Bonus Units are exempt from the Affordable Housing Impact Fee. (§ 9-12-505); Replacing an existing residential structure is exempt, only up to the prior structure's total livable area. (§ 9-12-505).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Mountain House?

Mountain House's code: Required parking spaces for dwellings cannot be in any required front or side yard (Dwellings) (§ 9-10-404).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Mountain House?

Mountain House's code: 30 minutes (§ 4-6-307); The Police Department may charge a service fee for each false alarm (§ 4-6-308).

What rules apply to a historic home in Mountain House?

Mountain House's code: Mills Act contract available; minimum term 10 years, renewed yearly unless nonrenewal notice is given; City Council approves (Property on the National Register of Historic Places or State Register of Historical Resources, or a State Historic Landmark or Point of Historic Interest) (§ 9-10-1202).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Mountain House property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Mountain House

Mountain House Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Mountain House

Buying & selling in Mountain House

Property taxes in Mountain House

Mountain House overview

Zoning districts in Mountain House

What you can build where in Mountain House