San Pablo · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in San Pablo
San Pablo sets its own rules for accessory structures and home businesses. A home business needs a home occupation permit and a city business license, and vehicle repair and trucking businesses are not allowed.
Key points
- Accessory height: Sheds, pool houses and detached garages are limited to 12 feet and 1 story; 12 to 16 feet needs a conditional use permit.
- Home businesses: A home business may use at most 300 square feet, with no customer visits and only resident family members working (city rule).
Each rule below is marked San Pablo code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
San Pablo code Sheds, pool houses and detached garages are limited to 12 feet and 1 story; 12 to 16 feet needs a conditional use permit.
All 12 San Pablo rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
San Pablo code A home business may use at most 300 square feet, with no customer visits and only resident family members working (city rule).
All 6 San Pablo rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
San Pablo code Administrative, nondiscretionary permit once checklist and standard plan are met; same day over the counter, else 1 to 3 days. Only 1 inspection is required; another inspection is allowed if the station fails.
All 5 San Pablo rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
San Pablo code Trees prohibited on the city's plant list may be removed regardless of size. Exempt: unsafe, unhealthy, structurally distressed or dead trees.
All 10 San Pablo rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Swimming pools
San Pablo code Openings, holes or gaps no larger than 4 inches, measured horizontally. At least four and one-half feet
All 7 San Pablo rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
| Soils or geology report |
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Noise and construction hours
| Noise limit at homes |
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Garage and yard sales
| How long a sale may last |
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| Permit |
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| Sales per year |
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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 |
Parking spaces required for homes
San Pablo code Driveways and paved areas may not exceed 50% of the front and side street yards 1 driveway per parcel; corner lots may get a second for a secondary unit with zoning administrator approval
All 8 San Pablo rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Signs on homes
San Pablo code 1 nameplate sign up to 2 square feet, attached to the main building near the business entrance Up to 6 square feet per face per dwelling unit, 30 square feet total; no sign permit required
All 7 San Pablo rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Other San Pablo rules on this
San Pablo's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Animal keeping at home (§ 17.60.010)
- Distance of animals and fowl from homes (§ 6.04.050)
- Ban on keeping bees (§ 8.04.090)
- Storing RVs, boats and mobile homes (§ 17.60.050)
- Floodplain management (Ch. 15.28)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in San Pablo?
San Pablo's code: A geotechnical report is required before approval. (Hillside overlay district (D1), discretionary approvals; buildings over 1 story also need zoning administrator review.) (§ 17.38.030).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in San Pablo?
San Pablo's code: The outdoor noise limit is 60 dBA. (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) (§ 17.50.050); The outdoor noise limit is 65 dBA. (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) (§ 17.50.050).
What are the garage sale rules in San Pablo?
San Pablo's code: No more than 1 garage sale per calendar year. (Per person.) (§ 5.40.030); A city license is required; the fee is $5. (§ 5.40.030).
Can I run a family child care home in San Pablo?
California law sets this for every city, including San Pablo: 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)).
General information, not legal advice.
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