San Leandro · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in San Leandro
San Leandro sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Limits depend on the zoning district, and a home business needs a home occupation permit and a business license renewed each year.
Key points
- Fence height: Residential fences: at most 3 feet in front or corner side yards on a street and 7 feet elsewhere; RO District, 6 feet.
- Accessory structures: In the RD, RM and RS Districts, accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and 500 square feet each, excluding accessory dwelling units.
- Home businesses: A home business may use 500 square feet or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less; only residents may work on site.
Each rule below is marked San Leandro code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
San Leandro code Residential fences: at most 3 feet in front or corner side yards on a street and 7 feet elsewhere; RO District, 6 feet.
All 6 San Leandro rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
San Leandro code In the RD, RM and RS Districts, accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and 500 square feet each, excluding accessory dwelling units.
All 13 San Leandro rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
San Leandro code A home business may use 500 square feet or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less; only residents may work on site.
All 3 San Leandro rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Swimming pools
| Setback from property lines |
|
|---|
Pets, chickens and bees
San Leandro code With a beekeeping permit, at most 3 hives. Yes, up to 4 chickens, no roosters.
All 7 San Leandro rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
|
|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
|
| Height of the lowest floor |
|
Grading and erosion control
San Leandro code A grading permit is needed for more than 50 cubic yards. A grading permit is needed for more than 5 cubic yards.
All 7 San Leandro rules on grading and erosion control, 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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
| Fee instead of units |
|
|---|
Parking spaces required for homes
San Leandro code Only on a paved driveway At most 50 percent of the width of the subject property or 30 feet, whichever is less
All 3 San Leandro rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
San Leandro code 15 minutes Established by City Council resolution
All 3 San Leandro rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
| Signs that need no permit |
|
|---|
Historic homes
San Leandro code Certificate of approval Planning Commission review and approval
All 7 San Leandro rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other San Leandro rules on this
San Leandro's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Permit for small home rooftop solar (Ch. 7-5, Art. 2)
- Noise ordinance (Ch. 4-1, Art. 11)
- Park impact fee on new homes (§ 8.8.110)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the pool fence and setback rules in San Leandro?
San Leandro's code: At least 5 feet from an interior property line. (Applies to an unenclosed pool, hot tub or related equipment in a required rear or side yard.) (§ 2.04.344); At least 10 feet from a street property line. (Applies to an unenclosed pool, hot tub or related equipment in a required rear or side yard.) (§ 2.04.344).
What are the rules for building in a San Leandro flood zone?
San Leandro's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. (§ 7-9-400); Lowest floor above highest nearby ground, at or above the FIRM depth number, or at least 2 feet if none. (New homes and substantial improvements in an AO zone.) (§ 7-9-500).
Can I run a family child care home in San Leandro?
California law sets this for every city, including San Leandro: 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)).
Does San Leandro require affordable units in new housing?
San Leandro's code: Median Sales Price of an applicable unit minus the Affordable Ownership Cost, times the fractional inclusionary unit required. (For-sale developments of 6 or fewer units; fraction is 0.30 (2 units), 0.45 (3), 0.60 (4), 0.75 (5), 0.90 (6).) (§ 6.04.124); Projects of 6 or fewer for-sale units may meet the requirement fully by paying an in-lieu fee. (For-sale developments of 6 or fewer units, including inclusionary units.) (§ 6.04.124).
What signs may I put up at my home in San Leandro?
San Leandro's code: Street address numbers (§ 4.12.108).
General information, not legal advice.
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