Pittsburg · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Pittsburg
Pittsburg sets fence heights in R districts by yard and lot type, and fences above 3 feet near corners must be 66 2/3 percent open. Home occupations need a permit and may not serve customers at the home, except some educational services.
Key points
- Fence heights: R districts: side and rear fences within a required yard at most 6 feet; front yards of key lots, 4 1/2 feet.
- Accessory size: R districts: nonresidential accessory structures over 4 feet tall total at most 800 square feet or 6 percent of the lot, whichever is more.
- Home business size: A home occupation may use at most 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area and 10 percent of the site; only residents may work.
Each rule below is marked Pittsburg code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Pittsburg code R districts: side and rear fences within a required yard at most 6 feet; front yards of key lots, 4 1/2 feet.
All 8 Pittsburg rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Pittsburg code R districts: nonresidential accessory structures over 4 feet tall total at most 800 square feet or 6 percent of the lot, whichever is more.
All 6 Pittsburg rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Pittsburg code A home occupation may use at most 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area and 10 percent of the site; only residents may work.
All 12 Pittsburg rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Tree removal
Pittsburg code Removal may be ordered by an authorized official in an emergency. Trees whose removal was approved in a plan, subdivision, project or building permit before the tree rules took effect.
Swimming pools
Pittsburg code Openings, holes or gaps no larger than 4 inches horizontally, except doors or gates. Gate or door openings, holes or gaps no larger than 4 inches horizontally.
All 6 Pittsburg rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Pittsburg code A multiple pet license is required. No more than 3 dogs 6 months old.
All 3 Pittsburg rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Pittsburg code More than 50 cubic yards of soil disturbed or stored. 25 cubic yards or less of material disturbed, stored, disposed of or used as fill.
All 3 Pittsburg rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
| Soils or geology report |
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Outdoor lighting
| Shielding |
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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 |
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| 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)
Pittsburg code At least 55 years. At least 45 years.
All 13 Pittsburg rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Pittsburg code 30 minutes. Set by council resolution.
All 4 Pittsburg rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Pittsburg code 6 square feet in total area per face. From 88 days before the election through 7 days after.
All 10 Pittsburg rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Where carts are kept |
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Other Pittsburg rules on this
Pittsburg's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Parking or storing RVs, boats and trailers (§ 18.78.070)
- Permit review for small home rooftop solar (§ 15.16.060)
- Floodplain management (Ch. 15.80)
- Construction noise near homes (§ 18.82.040)
- Noise rules (Ch. 9.44)
- Transportation mitigation fee (Ch. 15.90)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Pittsburg?
Pittsburg's code: A preliminary engineering geologic and soils report is required. (Hillside planned development permit applications.) (§ 18.56.070).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Pittsburg?
Pittsburg's code: Security lights may be indirect or diffused, or shielded or aimed away from a residential district within 100 feet. (Security lighting.) (§ 18.82.030).
Can I run a family child care home in Pittsburg?
California law sets this for every city, including Pittsburg: 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)).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Pittsburg?
Pittsburg's code: Not in or on any sidewalk, footpath or public place, and not in public view from any public right-of-way. (§ 8.04.080); At the collection station. (On collection day.) (§ 8.04.080).
General information, not legal advice.
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