Santa Rosa · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. A fence over 7 feet needs a Building Permit, and home businesses that do not meet the exempt standards need a Director Conditional Use Permit.

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Key points

Fence height: Single family fences: at most 36 inches in the front setback; 6 feet plus 2 feet of lattice in side or rear setbacks.
Accessory structures: In residential zones, accessory structures are limited to 16 feet and 1 story; guest houses also to 400 square feet (city rule).
Home businesses: An exempt home business may use at most 25% of the main home, with no employees other than residents (city rule).

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

Fences and walls

Santa Rosa code Single family fences: at most 36 inches in the front setback; 6 feet plus 2 feet of lattice in side or rear setbacks.

All 8 Santa Rosa rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Santa Rosa code In residential zones, accessory structures are limited to 16 feet and 1 story; guest houses also to 400 square feet (city rule).

All 11 Santa Rosa rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Santa Rosa code An exempt home business may use at most 25% of the main home, with no employees other than residents (city rule).

All 8 Santa Rosa rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Rosa code Administrative approval when the application meets the standard plans and checklist. Decided within 3 business days, including resubmittals. Administrative approval and all required permits when the application meets the standard plans and checklist.

All 3 Santa Rosa rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Santa Rosa code Trees on developed property in listed residential zones are exempt, except protected or heritage trees. Exempt: trimming branches or roots that interfere with utilities, City infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, drains or sight lines.

All 8 Santa Rosa rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
Large animals	Livestock may be kept only where the zoning code expressly allows it. § 7-08.080 · code text No person shall stable, keep, pasture or maintain livestock within the limits of the City, unless expressly allowed to do so by the zoning code.

Building in a flood zone

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in special flood hazard, flood-related erosion or mudslide areas. § 18-52.050 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards, areas of flood-related erosion hazards or areas of mudslide established in subsection B of Section 18-52.010.
Building in a floodway	Fill, new building, substantial improvements and other encroachments are banned unless a registered engineer or architect certifies no flood-level rise. Applies: Designated floodways. § 18-52.120 · code text Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development are prohibited unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor, including the basement, at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in special flood hazard areas. § 18-52.080 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above one foot above base flood elevation. At least the FIRM depth number above highest adjacent grade; at least 2 feet if no number. Applies: New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in zones AH or AO; the lowest floor includes the basement. § 18-52.080 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in zones AH or AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Building on a hillside

Santa Rosa code A preliminary geotechnical report is required; a final report may also be required. No changes to slopes over 25%.

All 3 Santa Rosa rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
How the park fee is set	Set by a City Council fee schedule, based on park standards and land purchase and development cost per acre. Applies: Park fee paid by the developer of each new home. § 19-70.090 · code text The fee shall be based on park standards as determined by the City Council by resolution, and the park land acquisition and development cost per acre determined pursuant to Section 19-70.100. The fee schedule shall be adopted by the City Council by resolution
Parkland per 1,000 residents	6 acres per 1,000 residents. § 19-70.030 · code text It is found and determined that the public interest, convenience, health, welfare, and safety require that six acres of property for each 1,000 persons residing within this City be devoted to local park and recreational purposes.

Noise and construction hours

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
Leaf blowers and equipment	No gas leaf blowers or lawn brooms 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays, or 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. weekends. Applies: In a residential district. § 17-16.125 · code text It is unlawful for any person to operate any gas-powered leaf blower or lawn broom in a residential district between the hours of eight p.m. and eight a.m. on weekdays or between the hours of eight p.m. and nine a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Outdoor lighting

Santa Rosa code At most 17 feet. At most 14 feet.

All 4 Santa Rosa rules on outdoor lighting, 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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Santa Rosa code Affordability lasts at least 55 years. Projects with 6 or fewer units pay a housing impact fee rather than provide on-site allocated units.

All 9 Santa Rosa rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Group homes and residential care

Santa Rosa code A Minor Conditional Use Permit is required. Permitted by right in residential zoning districts as allowed by the zoning division.

All 4 Santa Rosa rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
How long an alarm may sound	20 minutes. Applies: Alarm systems not designed for use only to detect fire. § 6-68.210 · code text Any and all audible alarm systems, except those alarm systems designed for use only for the detection of fire, shall be installed or activated to automatically cease transmitting the audible signal within twenty minutes.

Other Santa Rosa rules on this

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

Keeping a lot graded to prevent erosion (§ 18-20.302.2)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Santa Rosa flood zone?

Santa Rosa's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in special flood hazard, flood-related erosion or mudslide areas. (§ 18-52.050); Lowest floor, including the basement, at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved structures, including homes, in special flood hazard areas.) (§ 18-52.080).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Santa Rosa?

Santa Rosa's code: Set by a City Council fee schedule, based on park standards and land purchase and development cost per acre. (Park fee paid by the developer of each new home.) (§ 19-70.090); 6 acres per 1,000 residents. (§ 19-70.030).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Santa Rosa?

Santa Rosa's code: No gas leaf blowers or lawn brooms 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays, or 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. weekends. (In a residential district.) (§ 17-16.125).

Can I run a family child care home in Santa Rosa?

California law sets this for every city, including Santa Rosa: 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 Santa Rosa?

Santa Rosa's code: 20 minutes. (Alarm systems not designed for use only to detect fire.) (§ 6-68.210).

General information, not legal advice.

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