Paradise · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Paradise

Paradise sets size limits for accessory buildings built before the residence while temporary Chapter 8.61 is in effect, based on the zoning district. Home occupations need a home occupation permit.

Ask about building on your lot in Paradise See coverage

Key points

Early accessory buildings: Under temporary Chapter 8.61, an accessory building built before the home: at most 10% or 5% of the lot size, by district.
Home business permit: A home occupation in Paradise needs a home occupation permit.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Paradise code Under temporary Chapter 8.61, an accessory building built before the home: at most 10% or 5% of the lot size, by district.

All 3 Paradise rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Paradise code What Paradise's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit. § 17.33.800 · code text Revocation of home occupation permit.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Paradise code What Paradise's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official issues all permits when the application meets the town checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted. § 15.16.040 · code text the building official shall allow for the electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentation.
Solar permit process	Approved administratively when complete and meeting the checklist; apply in person or by mail with fees; utility approves grid connection. § 15.15.030 · code text An applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the town's building division in person or mailed together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. One inspection. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 15.15.030 · code text For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner.

Pets, chickens and bees

Paradise code Yes: at most 5 hives per acre, each at least 100 feet from a neighboring dwelling. Yes; up to 12 chickens and rabbits combined.

All 4 Paradise rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Paradise code Exempt: changes to an existing building that add no units, keep the same use, or add no public service impact. Exempt: replacing a damaged or destroyed building with no new units, no use change, or no added public service impact.

All 4 Paradise rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Paradise code What Paradise's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	Construction tools may be used only from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Applies: Weekdays; tools heard clearly across a home or business property line; home power tools follow separate rules. § 9.18.160 · code text It is unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to operate or cause the operation of any tools equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work between the hours seven p.m. and six a.m. on weekdays or at any time on Sundays or holidays, in such a manner that creates noise clearly audible across a residential zoned or a commercial zoned real property boundary, except for emergency work being performed by a public agency or a public utility.
Construction hours on weekends and holidays	Construction is not allowed at any time on Sundays or holidays. Applies: Tools heard clearly across a home or business property line; home power tools follow separate rules. § 9.18.160 · code text It is unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to operate or cause the operation of any tools equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work between the hours seven p.m. and six a.m. on weekdays or at any time on Sundays or holidays, in such a manner that creates noise clearly audible across a residential zoned or a commercial zoned real property boundary, except for emergency work being performed by a public agency or a public utility.
Quiet hours	Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Applies: Loudspeakers or similar devices clearly heard across a residential property line. § 9.18.120 · code text It is unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to use or operate for any purpose any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system or similar device between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., such that the sound therefrom creates noise clearly audible across a residential zoned or a commercial zoned real property boundary.

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Paradise code What Paradise's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	1.2 spaces per unit. Applies: Multiple-family dwelling; less than 700 square feet. § 17.38.1000 · code text Multiple-family dwelling \| Less than 700 square feet 1.2/unit 1.5 spaces per unit. Applies: Multiple-family dwelling; 700 to 1,200 square feet. § 17.38.1000 · code text 700 to 1,200 square feet 1.5/unit 1.8 spaces per unit. Applies: Multiple-family dwelling; more than 1,200 square feet. § 17.38.1000 · code text More than 1,200 square feet 1.8/unit 1.2 spaces per unit. Applies: Senior housing. § 17.38.1000 · code text Senior housing \| 1.2/unit
Spaces for a single-family home	2 per dwelling. Applies: Single-family and two-family dwellings. § 17.38.1000 · code text Single-family, two-family \| 2/dwelling

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Paradise code A fee set by town council resolution. An alarm permit is required for each separately addressed premises, valid for one fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).

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

Signs on homes

Paradise code What Paradise's code adds
Signs that need no permit	House numbers, and privacy or warning signs (no trespassing, no parking), up to 4 square feet per sign face. Applies: Signs on the appurtenant site. § 17.37.200 · code text House numbers, and privacy or warning signs such as "no trespassing," or "no parking" signs located on the appurtenant site, and when not exceeding four (4) square feet per sign face;

Other Paradise rules on this

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

Permit to fell or remove trees (Ch. 8.12)
Building in flood-prone areas (Ch. 8.55)
Rainy season grading limits (§ 15.02.230)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Paradise?

A home occupation in Paradise needs a home occupation permit.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Paradise?

Paradise's code: Approved administratively when complete and meeting the checklist; apply in person or by mail with fees; utility approves grid connection. (§ 15.15.030); The building official issues all permits when the application meets the town checklist; electronic filing and signatures are accepted. (§ 15.16.040).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Paradise?

Paradise's code: Construction tools may be used only from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Weekdays; tools heard clearly across a home or business property line; home power tools follow separate rules.) (§ 9.18.160); Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Loudspeakers or similar devices clearly heard across a residential property line.) (§ 9.18.120).

Can I run a family child care home in Paradise?

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

How many parking spaces does a home need in Paradise?

Paradise's code: 1.2 spaces per unit. (Multiple-family dwelling; less than 700 square feet.) (§ 17.38.1000); 1.5 spaces per unit. (Multiple-family dwelling; 700 to 1,200 square feet.) (§ 17.38.1000).

What signs may I put up at my home in Paradise?

Paradise's code: House numbers, and privacy or warning signs (no trespassing, no parking), up to 4 square feet per sign face. (Signs on the appurtenant site.) (§ 17.37.200).

General information, not legal advice.

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More on Paradise

Paradise Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Paradise

Buying & selling in Paradise

Paradise overview

Zoning districts in Paradise