Oroville · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Oroville
Oroville sets fence heights by yard, with lower limits near intersections and in the Downtown Historic Overlay. Low-impact home occupations are allowed as of right, while moderate-impact ones need an administrative permit.
Key points
- Fence heights: Residential fences: at most 42 inches in front setbacks, 7 feet in interior side and rear yards; over 7 feet needs a building permit.
- Accessory limits: Detached accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with development review committee approval; detached garages to 700 square feet unless approved.
- Home business size: Home occupations: at most 20% of gross floor area or 300 square feet, whichever is less; low-impact ones up to 3 visits a day.
Each rule below is marked Oroville code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Oroville code Residential fences: at most 42 inches in front setbacks, 7 feet in interior side and rear yards; over 7 feet needs a building permit.
All 12 Oroville rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Oroville code Detached accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with development review committee approval; detached garages to 700 square feet unless approved.
All 8 Oroville rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Oroville code Home occupations: at most 20% of gross floor area or 300 square feet, whichever is less; low-impact ones up to 3 visits a day.
All 5 Oroville rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Living in an RV |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
| Solar height and setbacks |
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| Solar permit process |
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Tree removal
Oroville code No permit or mitigation when immediate removal is needed to prevent imminent injury or substantial property damage. Exempt: removing an interior live oak, unless it qualifies as a heritage tree.
Swimming pools
| Equipment and alarms |
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| Setback from property lines |
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Grading and erosion control
| Grading without a permit |
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Park and impact fees for new homes
Oroville code Properties outside the Feather River Recreation and Park District do not pay this fee. The fee is set by city council resolution and reviewed each year.
All 4 Oroville rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
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
Oroville code Exterior bells, gongs, noisemakers or pulsating lights must turn off within 15 minutes after they start. See the Master Fee Schedule.
All 5 Oroville rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Oroville code Permitted at all times. Each sign may be at most 6 square feet.
All 7 Oroville rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Other Oroville rules on this
Oroville's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Animal keeping (§ 17.16.120)
- Flood damage prevention (Ch. 15.96)
- Hillside development overlay (§ 17.44.020)
- Residential noise limits (§ 9.20.030)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Oroville?
Oroville's code: No more than 24 hours, except in a trailer court; no cooking in a trailer outside a trailer court. (Applies to trailer houses used for sleeping or living.) (§ 12.44.010).
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Oroville?
Oroville's code: Zoning Clearance. (Tier 1 systems that power only on-site uses, roof- or ground-mounted, in residential districts.) (§ 17.16.180).
What are the pool fence and setback rules in Oroville?
Oroville's code: At least 5 feet from all property lines. (§ 17.12.090).
What are the grading rules in Oroville?
Oroville's code: No grading permit for less than 20 cubic yards and less than 200 square feet disturbed. (Not exempt on slopes over 10%, in a 100-year floodplain, or within 20 feet of a watercourse.) (§ 15.88.040).
Can I run a family child care home in Oroville?
California law sets this for every city, including Oroville: 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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