Pacific Grove · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Pacific Grove

Pacific Grove's fence limits depend on where the fence stands relative to the front yard setback line, on corner visibility areas, and on retaining walls. Greater heights, and deer fencing up to 6 feet along the front property line, need an administrative use permit.

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Key points

Fence heights: Fences are limited to 4 feet forward of the front yard setback line and 6 feet on or behind it along property lines.
Corner lots: Corner lots with straight property lines: fences limited to 3 feet within a triangle with 20-foot sides from the corner nearest the intersection.

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

Fences and walls

Pacific Grove code Fences are limited to 4 feet forward of the front yard setback line and 6 feet on or behind it along property lines. Corner lots with straight property lines: fences limited to 3 feet within a triangle with 20-foot sides from the corner nearest the intersection.

All 16 Pacific Grove rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Pacific Grove code The building official issues all permits when the application meets the checklist; the charger stays off until city approval. Electronic filing is allowed.

All 5 Pacific Grove rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Pacific Grove code All Gowen cypress; Coast live oak, Monterey cypress, Shore, Torrey and Monterey pine 6 inches or more across. All other trees on private property 12 inches or more across, measured 54 inches above native grade.

All 7 Pacific Grove rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Pacific Grove code The wall or fence may have no openings except gates. 66 inches tall.

All 4 Pacific Grove rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Pacific Grove code Allowed with a permit from the city manager. Allowed with a permit from the city manager.

All 5 Pacific Grove rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Pacific Grove code What Pacific Grove's code adds
Building in a floodway	No new development or fill is allowed unless all development together raises the base flood no more than 1 foot. Applies: Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, in Zones A1-A30 and AE. § 11.97.110 · code text no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1 – A30 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 foot at any point within the city. Fill, new buildings and other development are not allowed unless certified to cause no rise in flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 11.97.110 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city 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.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in Zones AE, AH and A1-A30. § 11.97.060 · code text In Zones AE, AH, and A1 – A30, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be above the highest nearby ground, at least as high as the FIRM depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 11.97.060 · 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 The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest nearby ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 11.97.060 · code text or elevated at least two 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 FIRM shows no base flood elevation. § 11.97.060 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation

Garage and yard sales

Pacific Grove code What Pacific Grove's code adds
Permit	A city permit is required; you must declare no earlier sale by you or there in the same calendar quarter. § 11.10.030 · code text Before any such garage sale, patio, backyard or similarly called sale shall be conducted, the person conducting such sale shall file a written application for a permit with the city

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)

Group homes and residential care

Pacific Grove code What Pacific Grove's code adds
Homes for 7 or more	A use permit is required first. Applies: Applies to large residential care facilities (7 or more persons), allowed in zones that allow multiple dwellings. § 23.64.112 · code text Establishment of a large residential care facility of seven or more persons, as defined in Division 2, California Health and Safety Code, may be allowed as a residential use in all zones that allow multiple dwellings, subject to the same requirements and standards as residential uses of the same type and subject to fist securing a use permit.
Homes for 6 or fewer	Treated as an allowed residential use. Applies: Applies to 6 or fewer persons. § 23.64.112 · code text Small residential care facilities of six or fewer persons, as defined in Division 2, California Health and Safety Code, shall be treated as an allowed residential use, to the extent required by said Division 2.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Pacific Grove code The fee is in the Pacific Grove master fee schedule. Subject to normal administrative assessments.

All 5 Pacific Grove rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Pacific Grove code Combined sign area of at most 16 square feet. No limit on the number or area.

All 8 Pacific Grove rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Pacific Grove code What Pacific Grove's code adds
Where carts are kept	Do not store containers on a public right-of-way or other property unless they serve it. Screen them from public view. § 9.16.040 · code text Containers shall not be stored on any public right-of-way or property (unless they are serving that property) and shall be stored so as to be screened from public view.

Historic homes

Pacific Grove code Approval by the appropriate review authority is required before any addition or exterior alteration. A historic demolition permit application and a public hearing are required.

All 4 Pacific Grove rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Pacific Grove rules on this

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

Parking large vehicles on residential lots (§ 23.64.240)
Permit for amplified sound (Ch. 11.94)
Construction noise hours (§ 11.96.040)
Regional traffic impact fee (§ 6.12.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Pacific Grove flood zone?

Pacific Grove's code: The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in Zones AE, AH and A1-A30.) (§ 11.97.060); The lowest floor must be above the highest nearby ground, at least as high as the FIRM depth number. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM.) (§ 11.97.060).

What are the garage sale rules in Pacific Grove?

Pacific Grove's code: A city permit is required; you must declare no earlier sale by you or there in the same calendar quarter. (§ 11.10.030).

Can I run a family child care home in Pacific Grove?

California law sets this for every city, including Pacific Grove: 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)).

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Pacific Grove?

Pacific Grove's code: A use permit is required first. (Applies to large residential care facilities (7 or more persons), allowed in zones that allow multiple dwellings.) (§ 23.64.112); Treated as an allowed residential use. (Applies to 6 or fewer persons.) (§ 23.64.112).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Pacific Grove?

Pacific Grove's code: Do not store containers on a public right-of-way or other property unless they serve it. Screen them from public view. (§ 9.16.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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