Placerville · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Placerville
Placerville's rules cover permits for fences and plantings in the public right of way, detached accessory structures in the rear yard, and home occupations.
Key points
- Right-of-way permit: A fence, hedge or planting in a public right of way needs an encroachment permit.
- Rear-yard structures: Placerville sets 12-foot and 5-foot standards for detached accessory structures in the required rear yard.
- Banned businesses: Adult-related establishments are not allowed as home occupations in Placerville.
Each rule below is marked Placerville code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
| Permit |
|
|---|
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Maximum height |
|
|---|---|
| Side and rear setback |
|
Running a business from home
| Businesses not allowed |
|
|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
Placerville code Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; one inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. $200.
All 4 Placerville rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Placerville code Up to 6 hens; no roosters. At least 20 feet.
All 3 Placerville rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
| Steepest cut or fill slope |
|
|---|---|
| Grading without a permit |
|
Outdoor lighting
| Shielding |
|
|---|
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
Placerville code Set by city council resolution. After 2 false alarms in a calendar quarter, the user is told further false alarms will be charged.
All 5 Placerville rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Required collection service |
|
|---|
Other Placerville rules on this
Placerville's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Flood damage protection rules for building (Ch. 9)
- Park and recreation development fee (§ 8-11-2)
- Traffic mitigation fee (Ch. 15)
- Fire protection development fee (Ch. 11)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a fence be in Placerville?
A fence, hedge or planting in a public right of way needs an encroachment permit.
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Placerville?
Placerville sets 12-foot and 5-foot standards for detached accessory structures in the required rear yard.
Can I run a business from my home in Placerville?
Adult-related establishments are not allowed as home occupations in Placerville.
What are the grading rules in Placerville?
Placerville's code: Cuts or fills under 2 feet and 50 cubic yards; permitted building or pool digs; utility, septic or well trenching. (Small cuts or fills may not support structures, create unstable slopes or change drainage; post holes also exempt; the rest of the grading chapter applies.) (§ 8-7-6); No steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. (Cut surfaces of permanent excavations; steeper in competent bedrock when the geotechnical or geological report recommends it.) (§ 8-7-46).
What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Placerville?
Placerville's code: Lights must be placed or shielded so their brightness and direction are not a nuisance to neighboring homes or streets. (Single-family residential zoning districts.) (§ 10-4-16).
Can I run a family child care home in Placerville?
California law sets this for every city, including Placerville: 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 Placerville?
Placerville's code: Owner or tenant of each occupied premises must subscribe within 7 days of written notice or occupancy, whichever is sooner. (Each occupied premises, once service is available.) (§ 7-1A-4); Not required. (Until the service becomes available to each affected property.) (§ 7-1A-4).
General information, not legal advice.
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