Pleasant Hill · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill limits accessory-structure height, home-business staffing and hillside grading, and protects native oaks and large trees. SB 9 two-unit projects and animal keeping have separate city chapters.

Ask about building on your lot in Pleasant Hill See coverage

Key points

Accessory structures: Accessory structures in residential zones are limited to 12 feet high with a flat roof and 14 feet with a pitched roof.
Corner fences: Single-family corner lots need a 5-foot setback from the corner side property line for walls or fences over 3 feet in height.
Home businesses: Home businesses need a Home Occupation Permit and allow no more than 1 nonresident employee or volunteer on site at a time.
Tree removal: Removal permit required: native oaks or indigenous trees 9 inches or more; nonnative trees 18 inches or more, except eucalyptus and palms.
Pools: In-ground pools and hot tubs must be at least 3 feet from property lines and structures, measured from the pool's outer edge.
Hillside grading: Hillside zone grading is limited to 30% of the gross site area on 15% to 29.9% slopes, and 15% on slopes over 29.9%.

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

Fences and walls

Pleasant Hill code Single-family corner lots need a 5-foot setback from the corner side property line for walls or fences over 3 feet in height.

All 3 Pleasant Hill rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Pleasant Hill code Accessory structures in residential zones are limited to 12 feet high with a flat roof and 14 feet with a pitched roof.

All 12 Pleasant Hill rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Pleasant Hill code Home businesses need a Home Occupation Permit and allow no more than 1 nonresident employee or volunteer on site at a time.

All 8 Pleasant Hill rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic submittal is allowed. § 14.75.050 · code text The building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.

Tree removal

Pleasant Hill code Removal permit required: native oaks or indigenous trees 9 inches or more; nonnative trees 18 inches or more, except eucalyptus and palms.

All 13 Pleasant Hill rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Pool barrier	Fenced as the California Building Code requires. § 18.75.050 · code text Swimming pools and hot tubs shall be fenced as required by the California Building Code.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from property lines and structures, measured from the pool's outer edge. Applies: Applies to in-ground swimming pools and hot tubs. § 18.75.050 · code text In-ground swimming pools and hot tubs shall be, at a minimum, three feet from property lines and structures.

Building in a flood zone

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 15.15.120 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards, established in PHMC § 15.15.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development unless certified to cause no flood level increase. Applies: In designated floodways, during the base flood discharge. § 15.15.190 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved buildings, including homes, in special flood hazard areas; the lowest floor includes any basement. § 15.15.150 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. At least the FIRM depth number above the highest adjacent grade, or at least 2 feet if none is given. Applies: New or substantially improved buildings, including homes, in Zone AH or AE; the lowest floor includes any basement. § 15.15.150 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AH or AE shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Grading and erosion control

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Grading without a permit	Digs or fills under 200 cubic yards, at most 3 feet deep or high, kept 2 feet from property lines. Applies: Exempt from a grading permit; fills only on ground no steeper than 5:1; slopes and compaction must meet the chapter. § 15.10.030 · code text Excavation of less than 200 cubic yards and not exceeding three feet in maximum depth with slopes conforming to the requirements of this chapter, and not extending within two feet of adjoining property;

Building on a hillside

Pleasant Hill code Hillside zone grading is limited to 30% of the gross site area on 15% to 29.9% slopes, and 15% on slopes over 29.9%.

All 5 Pleasant Hill rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

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

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Homes for 7 or more	Qualified staff must be on duty at the facility at all times. Applies: Applies when the proposed use has 7 residents or more. § 18.15.160 · code text If the proposed use has seven residents or more, the operator shall have qualified staff on duty at the facility at all times.

Parking spaces required for homes

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Guest parking	1 guest parking space for every 4 units. Applies: Multifamily residential. § 18.80.030 · code text plus 1 guest parking space for every 4 units.
Spaces per apartment or condo	1.25 per studio. Applies: Studio unit. § 18.80.030 · code text 1.25 per studio; 1.5 per 1-bedroom unit, 1 of them covered. Applies: 1-bedroom unit. § 18.80.030 · code text 1.5 per 1-bedroom unit of which 1 shall be covered; 2 per 2-bedroom or larger unit, 1 of them covered. Applies: 2-bedroom or larger unit. § 18.80.030 · code text 2 per 2-bedroom or larger unit of which 1 shall be covered;
Spaces for a single-family home	2 spaces per dwelling unit, both fully enclosed. Applies: Single-family residential. § 18.80.030 · code text 2 spaces per dwelling unit both of which shall be fully enclosed.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
False alarm fees	Amount set by city council resolution. Applies: Each police response after the first false alarm in a calendar year. § 9.20.120 · code text The amount of the fee is established by resolution of the city council.
Alarm permit	Yes. An alarm user permit and permit fee are required. § 9.20.040 · code text The completed application and the alarm permit fee under PHMC § 9.20.110 shall be submitted to the alarm administrator.
When a permit can be revoked	Police response is suspended from the third false alarm in a calendar year. Applies: Within the calendar year, excluding duress, holdup and panic alarms. § 9.20.120 · code text The notification shall include: the amount of the fine for the false alarm, the fact that police response will be suspended effective with the third false alarm within the calendar year (excluding duress, holdup and panic alarms), and a description of the appeals procedure.

Signs on homes

Pleasant Hill code Up to 65 days 2 times a year, up to 30 days 6 times, or up to 195 days combined. No Temporary Sign Permit is required.

All 7 Pleasant Hill rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Pleasant Hill rules on this

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

Keeping animals in residential zones (§ 18.15.090) — residential zones
Keeping pigeons (§§ 9.05.030–9.05.070)
SB 9 two-unit projects (§ 18.15.180) — single-family zones only
Noise limits at the property line (§ 18.85.020)
Loud or unnecessary noise (§ 9.15.030)
Traffic mitigation fee (Ch. 5.55)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Pleasant Hill's code: Electronic submittal is allowed. (§ 14.75.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Pleasant Hill?

In-ground pools and hot tubs must be at least 3 feet from property lines and structures, measured from the pool's outer edge.

What are the rules for building in a Pleasant Hill flood zone?

Pleasant Hill's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.15.120); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved buildings, including homes, in special flood hazard areas; the lowest floor includes any basement.) (§ 15.15.150).

What are the grading rules in Pleasant Hill?

Pleasant Hill's code: Digs or fills under 200 cubic yards, at most 3 feet deep or high, kept 2 feet from property lines. (Exempt from a grading permit; fills only on ground no steeper than 5:1; slopes and compaction must meet the chapter.) (§ 15.10.030).

Can I run a family child care home in Pleasant Hill?

California law sets this for every city, including Pleasant Hill: 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 Pleasant Hill?

Pleasant Hill's code: Qualified staff must be on duty at the facility at all times. (Applies when the proposed use has 7 residents or more.) (§ 18.15.160).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Pleasant Hill?

Pleasant Hill's code: 1 guest parking space for every 4 units. (Multifamily residential.) (§ 18.80.030); 1.25 per studio. (Studio unit.) (§ 18.80.030).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Pleasant Hill?

Pleasant Hill's code: Amount set by city council resolution. (Each police response after the first false alarm in a calendar year.) (§ 9.20.120); Yes. An alarm user permit and permit fee are required. (§ 9.20.040).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Pleasant Hill property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Pleasant Hill

Buying & selling in Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill overview

Zoning districts in Pleasant Hill

What you can build where in Pleasant Hill