Pacifica · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Pacifica
Pacifica limits fence heights by yard and near street corners, and limits accessory buildings in the rear setback. With Planning Director approval, a 3-foot fence may be extended to 4 feet with open work fence material.
Key points
- Fence heights: Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.
- Rear-setback buildings: Accessory buildings in the rear setback are limited to 12 feet tall, and detached nondwelling ones there to 600 square feet in total.
- Home business permit: A home occupation in Pacifica needs a permit from the Zoning Administrator.
Each rule below is marked Pacifica code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Pacifica code Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.
All 5 Pacifica rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Pacifica code Accessory buildings in the rear setback are limited to 12 feet tall, and detached nondwelling ones there to 600 square feet in total.
All 4 Pacifica rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Permit |
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|---|
RV and boat parking
| Where it may be parked |
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|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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|---|
Tree removal
Pacifica code Removal at once is allowed on order of the Director, the Public Safety Director, or a designee. The Director or City staff decides whether a permit is needed.
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
|
| Height of the lowest floor |
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Building on a hillside
| Grading and retaining walls |
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|---|
Garage and yard sales
Pacifica code A garage sale may last no more than 3 calendar days. Up to 3 garage sales per calendar year.
All 4 Pacifica rules on garage and yard sales, 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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Pacifica code Rental BMR units stay affordable for at least 55 years. Rebuilding structures destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or other act of nature is exempt, if reconstruction occurs within 3 years.
All 6 Pacifica rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Group homes and residential care
Pacifica code A use permit, with hearing and notice requirements, is required. Permitted in all zoning districts that permit single-family residences; no requirements of this section apply.
All 5 Pacifica rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
Pacifica code Required covered parking must have no use that interferes with parking and storing the occupants' vehicles. For automobiles, trucks, campers and motorcycles. Not for inoperable vehicles, camper shells, house cars, trailers, boats or similar vehicles.
All 10 Pacifica rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Pacifica code A service charge is set by City Council resolution. The first false alarm in a calendar year has no service charge.
All 3 Pacifica rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Pacifica code 1 sign per property or business. At most 6 square feet.
All 4 Pacifica rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Pacifica code Within 12 hours following the date and time for scheduled collection Put receptacles out no earlier than 12 hours before the scheduled collection date and time.
All 3 Pacifica rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Historic homes
| Changing a historic home |
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|---|---|
| Demolishing an older or historic home |
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Other Pacifica rules on this
Pacifica's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Pools and low decks in required yards (§ 9-4.2708)
- Hours of construction (§ 8-7.5.05)
- Loud and unnecessary noise (Title 5, Ch. 10)
- Highway traffic impact fee (§ 8-15.04) — listed impacting areas only
- Park facilities impact fee (Title 8, Ch. 19)
- Development impact fees (§ 3-14.02)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in Pacifica?
A home occupation in Pacifica needs a permit from the Zoning Administrator.
Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Pacifica?
Pacifica's code: Not on any public beach; on private property only with the owner's express consent. (Applies to motorized boats and boat trailers.) (§ 4-10.205).
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Pacifica?
Pacifica's code: A City building permit is required; electronic filing is allowed; the City approves administratively by issuing the permit. (§ 8-7.07).
What are the rules for building in a Pacifica flood zone?
Pacifica's code: A floodplain development permit is required with the building permit before any construction, including manufactured homes. (Any special flood hazard area.) (§ 7-5.403); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 7-5.501).
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Pacifica?
Pacifica's code: Cut or fill areas may be at most 90% of the subdivision; minimum lot size is 10,000 square feet. (Land with a 20% average cross slope, unless a Planned Development; values between rows are interpolated.) (§ 10-1.912); Cut or fill areas may be at most 30% of the subdivision; minimum lot size is 20,000 square feet. (Land with a 35% average cross slope, unless a Planned Development; values between rows are interpolated.) (§ 10-1.912).
Can I run a family child care home in Pacifica?
California law sets this for every city, including Pacifica: 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)).
What rules apply to a historic home in Pacifica?
Pacifica's code: Approved if the required findings are made, such as no harm to the landmark's exterior features or historic value. (Applies to alteration of a historic landmark. The Planning Administrator, Planning Commission and Council review it.) (§ 9-7.306); Approved on any 1 finding: too deteriorated to restore, no reasonable economic use, or overriding benefit to the city. (Applies to demolition of a historic landmark. The Planning Commission and Council review it.) (§ 9-7.307).
General information, not legal advice.
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