Redding · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Redding

Redding sets its own limits on fences, detached accessory structures and home businesses in residential districts. Fence height depends on the yard, and accessory building size depends on the zone.

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Key points

Front fences: Residential fences are limited to 3 feet in front-yard setbacks and within 10 feet of the property line in street-side setbacks.
Other fences: Elsewhere fences are limited to 6 feet, or 7 feet along interior side or rear yards not fronting a public right-of-way.
Accessory size: Detached structures are limited to 1,500 square feet in the RE, RS and RM zones; RL zone, 1,500 square feet per acre.
Home businesses: A home business may use at most 25% of the home's floor area; only residents may work there, except 1 helper for cottage food.

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

Fences and walls

Redding code Residential fences are limited to 3 feet in front-yard setbacks and within 10 feet of the property line in street-side setbacks. Elsewhere fences are limited to 6 feet, or 7 feet along interior side or rear yards not fronting a public right-of-way.

All 4 Redding rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Redding code What Redding's code adds
Maximum height	Detached accessory structures may be no more than 25 feet tall. Applies: In the RL zone. § 18.43.020 · code text The maximum height shall not exceed twenty-five feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,500 square feet of floor area per acre of land. Applies: Detached accessory structures in the RL zone. § 18.43.020 · code text The floor area of detached accessory structures shall not exceed one thousand five hundred square feet of floor area per acre of land. Detached accessory structures may total no more than 1,500 square feet of floor area. Applies: RE, RS and RM zones, unless the Director approves a Site Development Permit for more. § 18.43.020 · code text Detached accessory structures shall not exceed a cumulative floor area of one thousand five hundred square feet unless a Site Development Permit is approved by the Director for a greater amount.

Running a business from home

Redding code A home business may use at most 25% of the home's floor area; only residents may work there, except 1 helper for cottage food.

All 10 Redding rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Tree removal

Redding code What Redding's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, the city electric utility must approve the removal first. Applies: Applies to trees in the city with electric power lines passing through their branches. § 14.22.130 · code text No trees may be removed within the city limits through the branches of which pass electric power lines without first obtaining the approval of the city electrical utility for such removal. The permit covers only the approved trees; valid 6 months, with 1 extension of up to 6 more months. Applies: Applies to a tree removal permit. § 18.45.060 · code text The permit and any conditions of approval granted by the approving body shall entitle the applicant to remove only the tree or trees approved for such action.

Swimming pools

Redding code At least 20 feet from the front property line. At least 15 feet from the street-side property line.

All 7 Redding rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Redding code What Redding's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 6 dogs and cats over 4 months old in total, unless the owner has a kennel license. Applies: At any dwelling. At most 1 pot-bellied pig; dogs, cats and pigs together may not exceed 6. § 7.04.150 · code text It is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain in or about any dwelling, or the curtilage thereof, more than six dogs or six cats, or any combination thereof exceeding a total of six, each of which is over the age of four months, unless the owner has obtained a kennel license under the provisions of this chapter. Not more than one pot-bellied pig may be kept, harbored or maintained in or about any dwelling; the combined number of dogs, cats, and pot-bellied pigs shall not exceed a total of six.

Building in a flood zone

Redding code What Redding's code adds
Building in a floodway	Building or grading may not cut floodway capacity or raise base flood levels without FEMA map revision and owner consent. Applies: Construction or grading in the flood fringe or floodway. § 18.51.080 · code text No construction or grading is to limit the capacity of the floodway or increase the base flood elevation unless the following requirements are met:
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor: at least 1 foot above base flood elevation, or higher if the city storm drain study requires. Applies: New or substantially improved homes and their accessory structures in flood zones A, AE, AO or A1-30. § 18.51.080 · code text Residential construction, and accessory structures thereto, including new or substantial improvement in flood zones A, AE, AO, or A1-30, shall have the lowest floor, including basement and machinery and equipment servicing the building, elevated a minimum of one foot above the base flood elevation

Grading and erosion control

Redding code You need a grading permit for more than 50 cubic yards. Excavation: up to fifty cubic yards, up to three feet vertical depth, no cut slope that is both higher than four feet and steeper than two horizontal to one vertical, with no drainage-pattern change; fill: up to fifty cubic yards, less than three feet vertical depth, on natural terrain flatter than five horizontal to one vertical, not supporting structures and with no drainage-pattern change.

All 3 Redding rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Redding code Homes lawfully in place before the parcel or final map is filed do not count as new units. The fee is the fair market value of the land otherwise dedicated, plus 20 percent for off-site improvements.

All 5 Redding rules on park and impact fees for new homes, 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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Redding code At least 10 feet wide and 20 feet deep, unobstructed. Walls, washers, water heaters and stairs do not count. Unobstructed back-up area at least 25 feet long.

All 3 Redding rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Redding code What Redding's code adds
False alarms before a fee	Fees or permit revocation start with the fourth false alarm in a consecutive 365-day period. Applies: Alarm permittees. § 9.38.140 · code text Any alarm permittee who has four through fourteen false alarms within a consecutive three hundred sixty-five-day period shall be subject to fees and/or revocation as provided herein.
Alarm permit	A permit is required before installing, connecting, operating or maintaining an alarm system. § 9.38.080 · code text No property owner or person in possession of property shall cause an alarm system to be installed, connected, operated, or maintained upon any parcel of real property within the city without first obtaining an alarm system permit.
When a permit can be revoked	Beyond 15 false alarms, the chief of police decides whether to revoke the permit. Applies: Within a consecutive 365-day period. § 9.38.140 · code text For each false alarm recorded beyond fifteen within a consecutive three hundred sixty-five-day period:

Signs on homes

Redding code What Redding's code adds
Signs that need no permit	One on-site garage-sale sign per residential lot, under 2 square feet. Applies: Garage-sale signs. Display no more than 3 times in any 12 months, up to 3 consecutive days each. § 18.42.070 · code text The following types of signs are permitted in all districts unless otherwise noted and shall not require a building permit nor be considered part of the allowable aggregate area. Such signs shall not exceed area limitations of this section and shall be erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Private information signs, such as Beware of Dog or No Soliciting, up to 1 square foot need no building permit. Applies: Private information signs with no advertising message. § 18.42.070 · code text Private information signs, such as "Beware of Dog" or "No Soliciting," not exceeding one square foot that contain no advertising message.

Trash and recycling carts

Redding code Move cans back to a proper storage location within 12 hours after collection. Put cans out no earlier than 12 hours before the scheduled pickup time.

All 3 Redding rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Redding rules on this

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

Permit for EV chargers (§ 16.02.020)
Permit for small home rooftop solar (§ 16.03.020)
Noise standards (§ 18.40.100)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Redding?

Detached structures are limited to 1,500 square feet in the RE, RS and RM zones; RL zone, 1,500 square feet per acre.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Redding?

Redding's code: Yes, the city electric utility must approve the removal first. (Applies to trees in the city with electric power lines passing through their branches.) (§ 14.22.130); The permit covers only the approved trees; valid 6 months, with 1 extension of up to 6 more months. (Applies to a tree removal permit.) (§ 18.45.060).

What are the rules for building in a Redding flood zone?

Redding's code: Lowest floor: at least 1 foot above base flood elevation, or higher if the city storm drain study requires. (New or substantially improved homes and their accessory structures in flood zones A, AE, AO or A1-30.) (§ 18.51.080); Building or grading may not cut floodway capacity or raise base flood levels without FEMA map revision and owner consent. (Construction or grading in the flood fringe or floodway.) (§ 18.51.080).

Can I run a family child care home in Redding?

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

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Redding?

Redding's code: Fees or permit revocation start with the fourth false alarm in a consecutive 365-day period. (Alarm permittees.) (§ 9.38.140); A permit is required before installing, connecting, operating or maintaining an alarm system. (§ 9.38.080).

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

Redding's code: One on-site garage-sale sign per residential lot, under 2 square feet. (Garage-sale signs. Display no more than 3 times in any 12 months, up to 3 consecutive days each.) (§ 18.42.070); Private information signs, such as Beware of Dog or No Soliciting, up to 1 square foot need no building permit. (Private information signs with no advertising message.) (§ 18.42.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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