Redwood City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Redwood City

Redwood City limits fence heights by yard type and accessory buildings by height and rear-yard coverage, and has its own SB 9 lot-split standards. It also sets RV parking hours, pool setbacks and construction noise hours.

Ask about building on your lot in Redwood City See coverage

Key points

Fences: Front yard: solid fences at most 3 feet, partly open fences at most 5 feet; side or rear yards: fence at most 7 feet.
Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings in any zone are limited to 16 feet total height, and together to 50% of the required rear yard.
Lot splits: No more than 2 lots, neither smaller than 40% of the original lot, each at least 1,200 square feet, in RH or R-1 districts.
RV parking: No RV parking on public streets, alleys and City lots from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.; boats and boat trailers count as RVs.
Pools: Pools deeper than 24 inches outside enclosed buildings must be at least 6 feet from side and rear lot lines; front setback also applies.
Construction noise: General construction noise on private projects is allowed 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, but excessive construction noise only 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

Fences and walls

Redwood City code Front yard: solid fences at most 3 feet, partly open fences at most 5 feet; side or rear yards: fence at most 7 feet.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Redwood City code Accessory buildings in any zone are limited to 16 feet total height, and together to 50% of the required rear yard.

All 8 Redwood City rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Redwood City code No employees except those needed for household purposes. Employees for off-site work may not gather at the home.

All 4 Redwood City rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Redwood City code No more than 2 lots, neither smaller than 40% of the original lot, each at least 1,200 square feet, in RH or R-1 districts.

All 9 Redwood City rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Parking on the street	No RV parking between 8:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. Applies: Public streets, alleys, highways and City-owned or leased lots; boats and boat trailers count as RVs. § 20.101.5 · code text no person shall park, stop, or leave standing any recreational vehicle upon a public street, alley, or highway within the City or a parking lot owned or leased by the City between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. and five o'clock (5:00) A.M. of any day, except as provided within subsection C of this section. No more than 48 hours within a 7-day period. Applies: In front of the owner's home, or the side on a corner lot, for loading, unloading, cleaning or trip preparation. § 20.101.5 · code text A recreational vehicle parked for these purposes may be parked for no more than a maximum of forty-eight (48) hours within a seven (7) day period.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Redwood City code Electronic submittal is available. The Building Official approves and issues all required permits when the application is complete and meets the checklist.

All 5 Redwood City rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Exemptions	Emergency removal is allowed with permission from any member of the Police, Fire or Park Departments. Applies: Applies when the tree is in a hazardous or dangerous condition. § 35.5 · code text In case of emergency caused by a tree being in a hazardous or dangerous condition, such tree may be removed by permission of any member of the Police, Fire or Park Departments.
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director is required. Applies: Applies to cutting, moving or removing any tree. § 35.3 · code text It is hereby declared unlawful for any person to cut, move, or remove or cause to be cut, moved or removed any tree, unless such person first obtains a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director to do so in a manner prescribed by him for such removal.

Swimming pools

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 6 feet from side and rear property lines; the zone's front setback also applies. Applies: Applies to pools deeper than 24 inches that are not in an enclosed building. § 36.8 · code text Pools must be set back a minimum of six (6) feet from the side and rear property lines and must comply with the minimum front yard setback for the individual zoning district.

Pets, chickens and bees

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Bees	No more than 2 beehives. Applies: Parcels of 3,000 square feet or less; a steady water supply on site is required. § 21.8 · code text Parcels of three thousand (3,000) square feet or less shall not contain more than two bee hives. Hives must be at least 25 feet from any home on a neighboring property. § 21.7 · code text A bee hive shall be located a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from any dwelling on an adjacent property.

Building in a flood zone

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes. Applies: Applies in any special flood hazard area. § 41.16 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 41.8.
Building in a floodway	Fill, construction or other new development is banned unless a registered professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood elevation. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 41.23 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor: at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone. § 41.18 · code text In an A zone, elevated to a minimum of one (1) foot above the base flood elevation or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher, or said base flood elevation may be determined by the method in Section 41.15(B). Lowest floor: at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than A. § 41.18 · code text In all other zones, elevated to a minimum of one (1) foot above the base flood elevation or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.

Building on a hillside

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
When hillside rules apply	Lots with an average slope of 15 percent or more are sloping lots. Applies: R-1 or RH lots; they need fire-retardant underfloor surfaces, and the Director may allow a garage as close as 5 feet to the street. § 5.8 · code text For the purposes of this section, "sloping lots" is any lot in the R-1 or RH Zoning District that has an average slope of fifteen (15) percent or more.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Redwood City code The fee is the parkland required minus land dedicated, times the land cost per acre. Land cost is $3,865,382.00 per acre.

All 3 Redwood City rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Redwood City code General construction noise on private projects is allowed 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, but excessive construction noise only 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All 8 Redwood City rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Signs	At most 4 signs per property, each up to 4 square feet and 3 feet tall, only on sale day. § 3.81 · code text Garage sale signs may be displayed on properties where the garage sale is occurring on the day that such sale is held. Each garage sale sign shall comply with the following requirements: maximum size of any one sign: four (4) square feet (measured one side only); maximum height: three feet (3′) in height above grade; maximum of four (4) signs per property per garage sale.

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

Redwood City code 1 parking space per dwelling unit. 1 space per dwelling unit.

All 4 Redwood City rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
False alarm fees	A fee set by City Council resolution applies to each further false alarm. Applies: More than 3 false alarms in any 12-month period. § 3A.4 · code text Every owner of an alarm system that has transmitted more than three (3) false alarms in any twelve (12) month period shall pay to the City a service charge in an amount set by resolution of the City Council for each succeeding false alarm.
False alarms before a fee	3 false alarms in any 12-month period are free. A service charge applies to each one after that. Applies: In any 12-month period. § 3A.4 · code text Every owner of an alarm system that has transmitted more than three (3) false alarms in any twelve (12) month period shall pay to the City a service charge in an amount set by resolution of the City Council for each succeeding false alarm.

Signs on homes

Redwood City code Signs advertising home occupations are prohibited. 10 square feet total for all signs.

All 15 Redwood City rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
When carts must come back	Remove by 12:00 noon on the day after collection. § 14.15 · code text Containers may be placed curbside or street side so as to be readily accessible for removing and emptying by the refuse collector only between twelve o'clock (12:00) noon on the day preceding the scheduled collection and twelve o'clock (12:00) noon on the day immediately following the collection of refuse.
When carts may go to the curb	Do not put out before 12:00 noon on the day before the scheduled collection. § 14.15 · code text Containers may be placed curbside or street side so as to be readily accessible for removing and emptying by the refuse collector only between twelve o'clock (12:00) noon on the day preceding the scheduled collection and twelve o'clock (12:00) noon on the day immediately following the collection of refuse.

Historic homes

Redwood City code Apply to the Planning Director. The Committee reviews and recommends to the Commission within 45 days. Approved only if the work would not detrimentally alter, destroy or adversely affect an exterior architectural feature.

All 6 Redwood City rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Redwood City?

No RV parking on public streets, alleys and City lots from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.; boats and boat trailers count as RVs.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Redwood City?

Redwood City's code: Yes, a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director is required. (Applies to cutting, moving or removing any tree.) (§ 35.3); Emergency removal is allowed with permission from any member of the Police, Fire or Park Departments. (Applies when the tree is in a hazardous or dangerous condition.) (§ 35.5).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Redwood City?

Pools deeper than 24 inches outside enclosed buildings must be at least 6 feet from side and rear lot lines; front setback also applies.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Redwood City?

Redwood City's code: No more than 2 beehives. (Parcels of 3,000 square feet or less; a steady water supply on site is required.) (§ 21.8); Hives must be at least 25 feet from any home on a neighboring property. (§ 21.7).

What are the rules for building in a Redwood City flood zone?

Redwood City's code: You need a development permit before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes. (Applies in any special flood hazard area.) (§ 41.16); Lowest floor: at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone.) (§ 41.18).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Redwood City?

Redwood City's code: Lots with an average slope of 15 percent or more are sloping lots. (R-1 or RH lots; they need fire-retardant underfloor surfaces, and the Director may allow a garage as close as 5 feet to the street.) (§ 5.8).

What are the garage sale rules in Redwood City?

Redwood City's code: At most 4 signs per property, each up to 4 square feet and 3 feet tall, only on sale day. (§ 3.81).

Can I run a family child care home in Redwood City?

California law sets this for every city, including Redwood City: 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 Redwood City?

Redwood City's code: A fee set by City Council resolution applies to each further false alarm. (More than 3 false alarms in any 12-month period.) (§ 3A.4); 3 false alarms in any 12-month period are free. A service charge applies to each one after that. (In any 12-month period.) (§ 3A.4).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Redwood City?

Redwood City's code: Remove by 12:00 noon on the day after collection. (§ 14.15); Do not put out before 12:00 noon on the day before the scheduled collection. (§ 14.15).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Redwood City property

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

Ask your question

More on Redwood City

Redwood City Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Redwood City

Buying & selling in Redwood City

Property taxes in Redwood City

Redwood City overview

Zoning districts in Redwood City

What you can build where in Redwood City