Sacramento · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Sacramento
Sacramento sets detailed local limits on fences, accessory structures, pools, home businesses and SB 9 lot splits. Fence height depends on the yard, the fence type and what the lot borders.
Key points
- Front fences: Residential front and street-side fences are limited to 4 feet, or 6 feet for decorative open wrought-iron or tubular-steel fences.
- Rear and side: Rear and interior-side fences are limited to 6 feet, or 8 feet next to a school, park, alley or nonresidential use.
- Accessory structures: Detached accessory structures are limited to 18 feet and 10-foot walls unless waived; most must be 4 feet from the main building.
- Pool fences: Pool fences must be at least 5 feet high with self-latching gates; existing fences of at least 4 feet 6 inches may remain.
- Home businesses: Home businesses: at most 1 customer per hour and 8 per day, and 1 nonresident worker, unless a conditional-use permit waives this.
- SB 9 splits: SB 9 splits in RE or R-1 make 2 near-equal lots, each at least 1,200 square feet and 40% of the original.
Each rule below is marked Sacramento code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Sacramento code Residential front and street-side fences are limited to 4 feet, or 6 feet for decorative open wrought-iron or tubular-steel fences. Rear and interior-side fences are limited to 6 feet, or 8 feet next to a school, park, alley or nonresidential use.
All 9 Sacramento rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Sacramento code Detached accessory structures are limited to 18 feet and 10-foot walls unless waived; most must be 4 feet from the main building.
All 14 Sacramento rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Sacramento code Home businesses: at most 1 customer per hour and 8 per day, and 1 nonresident worker, unless a conditional-use permit waives this.
All 11 Sacramento rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Sacramento code SB 9 splits in RE or R-1 make 2 near-equal lots, each at least 1,200 square feet and 40% of the original.
All 15 Sacramento rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Screening and surface |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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|---|---|
| Solar permit process |
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Swimming pools
Sacramento code Pool fences must be at least 5 feet high with self-latching gates; existing fences of at least 4 feet 6 inches may remain.
All 9 Sacramento rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|
Grading and erosion control
| Erosion control plan |
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|---|---|
| Grading without a permit |
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Park and impact fees for new homes
Sacramento code No fee for altering, renovating or expanding a home if no units are added and the use stays the same. No fee to replace or repair a building damaged or destroyed within the last 3 years.
All 3 Sacramento rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Sacramento code 55 dBA outdoors from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 50 dBA outdoors from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
All 10 Sacramento rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
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
| False alarm fees |
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|---|---|
| Alarm permit |
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Trash and recycling carts
Sacramento code Only organic waste may be placed in the green container Recycling or organic waste may be placed in the garbage container
All 6 Sacramento rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Historic homes
Sacramento code Buildings built at least 50 years before the application. The permit application is referred to the preservation director for preliminary nomination review
All 3 Sacramento rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Sacramento rules on this
Sacramento's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Keeping chickens (Art. XI, §§ 9.44.860–9.44.900)
- Permit to remove or prune a protected tree (§ 12.56.050)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Sacramento?
Sacramento's code: On a paved surface, on a trailer registered to an occupant; the boat must also be registered to an occupant. (Boats stored in a residential zone where visible from the public right-of-way.) (§ 8.04.480).
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Sacramento?
Sacramento's code: Expedited building permit, issued for complete applications that meet the checklist; applications may be filed by fax or email. (Small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 15.08.180); Expedited building permit, issued for complete applications that meet the checklist; applications may be filed by email. (EV charging stations.) (§ 15.08.190).
What are the rules for building in a Sacramento flood zone?
Sacramento's code: Before approving permits, agreements or subdivision maps for new homes or buildings, the city must make a required flood finding. (Construction or development in a flood hazard zone.) (§ 15.104.045).
What are the grading rules in Sacramento?
Sacramento's code: No permit for minor grading under 50 cubic yards, or for pool, basement and footing digs under a building permit. (Cuts and fills under 2 feet, slopes under 10%, no blocked drainageway; unless project conditions require approval.) (§ 15.88.070); A postconstruction erosion and sediment control plan is required for all projects. (Submitted with the final grading plan.) (§ 15.88.260).
Can I run a family child care home in Sacramento?
California law sets this for every city, including Sacramento: 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 Sacramento?
Sacramento's code: A graduated fine for each response to a false alarm (Each response by one or more public safety officers to a false alarm) (§ 8.36.160); Required; nonrefundable application fee (§ 8.36.200).
General information, not legal advice.
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