Orland · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Orland
Orland limits fence heights by yard and zone, sets accessory-structure setbacks by zone, and bars customer visits and outside employees at home businesses. Bees, noise and yard sales have separate city chapters.
Key points
- Fences: R-1 to R-3: the main fence body is limited to 3 feet in the 20-foot front yard setback and 6 feet in rear yards.
- Accessory structures: In R-1, accessory structures must be at least 4 feet from side and rear lines, unless the code says otherwise.
- Home businesses: Home businesses need a use permit and a business license, with no visiting customers or clients and no employees from outside the home.
- Pools: Outdoor pools over 18 inches deep or 250 square feet need enclosures at least 5 feet high, with openings no larger than 4 inches.
Each rule below is marked Orland code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Orland code R-1 to R-3: the main fence body is limited to 3 feet in the 20-foot front yard setback and 6 feet in rear yards.
All 8 Orland rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Orland code In R-1, accessory structures must be at least 4 feet from side and rear lines, unless the code says otherwise.
All 22 Orland rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Orland code Home businesses need a use permit and a business license, with no visiting customers or clients and no employees from outside the home.
All 4 Orland rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Swimming pools
Orland code Outdoor pools over 18 inches deep or 250 square feet need enclosures at least 5 feet high, with openings no larger than 4 inches.
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 |
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| Alarm permit |
|
|---|---|
| When a permit can be revoked |
|
Signs on homes
Orland code At most 6 square feet in total. At most 4 feet high.
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts may go to the curb |
|
|---|
Other Orland rules on this
Orland's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Keeping bees (§ 6.04.610)
- Yard and garage sales (§ 17.76.160)
- Noise control (Ch. 8.20)
- Development impact fees (Ch. 15.42)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a family child care home in Orland?
California law sets this for every city, including Orland: 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 Orland?
Orland's code: An alarm system permit is required before you install, connect, operate or maintain an alarm system. (§ 8.38.080); After 14 false alarms, the chief of police decides whether to revoke the permit. (Counted for false alarms recorded within a consecutive 365-day period.) (§ 8.38.140).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Orland?
Orland's code: Not before the night before the scheduled pickup date (§ 8.12.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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