Seaside · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Seaside
Seaside sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. All new or replaced fences go through a permit process, and a home business needs a Home Occupation Permit and a Business License.
Key points
- Fence height: Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in front setbacks, 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks, and 8 feet outside setbacks.
- Accessory buildings: Detached accessory buildings on a residential parcel are limited to 15 feet, and all accessory buildings to 600 square feet in total.
- Home businesses: A home business may use 25% of the ground floor; 1 client at a time, 8 vehicle trips a day; only residents may work.
Each rule below is marked Seaside code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Seaside code Residential fences are limited to 4 feet in front setbacks, 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks, and 8 feet outside setbacks.
All 7 Seaside rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Seaside code Detached accessory buildings on a residential parcel are limited to 15 feet, and all accessory buildings to 600 square feet in total.
All 6 Seaside rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Seaside code A home business may use 25% of the ground floor; 1 client at a time, 8 vehicle trips a day; only residents may work.
All 7 Seaside rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| Solar permit process |
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|---|
Tree removal
| Exemptions |
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Swimming pools
Seaside code The barrier must fully surround the pool, hot tub, spa or pond. At least 48 inches above finished ground, measured on the side away from the pool.
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
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| Height of the lowest floor |
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Grading and erosion control
Seaside code No steeper than 2:1. Grading for building pads and driveways under a valid building permit; an excavation that does not exceed seventy-five cubic yards and is less than two feet deep, or that does not create a cut slope that is both greater than five feet in height and steeper than two horizontal to one vertical; fill of earth materials only, less than two feet deep on natural terrain flatter than five horizontal to one vertical, not over one hundred cubic yards on any one site, not in a riparian zone, that does not alter or obstruct a drainage course and is not for structural support or roadways; basement and footing excavation under a valid building permit (not an excavation with an unsupported height greater than five feet when done); excavations for wells
All 3 Seaside rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
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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| Signs |
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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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Seaside code Rebuilding a structure destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or other act of nature is exempt, if units do not increase. Development that already has more units affordable to moderate-, low- and very low-income households than required is exempt.
All 8 Seaside rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
| Garage and covered spaces |
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|---|
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| False alarm fees |
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|---|---|
| False alarms before a fee |
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Signs on homes
Seaside code 6 square feet in area. 60 days before the election.
All 13 Seaside rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Other Seaside rules on this
Seaside's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Animal keeping (§ 17.52.020)
- No RV, boat or trailer parking on streets (§ 10.32.101) — on public streets
- Noise standards (§ 17.30.060)
- Noise regulations (Ch. 9.12)
- Regional development impact fee (Ch. 3.32)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Seaside?
Seaside's code: Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with the required fees. (Small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 15.38.040); Administrative approval, with all required permits or authorizations issued. (When the application and supporting documents are complete and meet the checklist.) (§ 15.38.060).
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Seaside?
Seaside's code: Emergency removal is allowed when personal injury or property damage is imminently threatened. (The fire chief, police chief or public works director must authorize the removal.) (§ 8.54.050).
What are the rules for building in a Seaside flood zone?
Seaside's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in special flood hazard, flood-related erosion or mudslide areas. (§ 15.28.120); Lowest floor, including the basement, at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved buildings in special flood hazard areas.) (§ 15.28.150).
What are the garage sale rules in Seaside?
Seaside's code: No more than once every 3 months at the same address. (§ 17.52.110); A Garage Sale Permit is required. (Residential zones.) (§ 17.52.110).
Can I run a family child care home in Seaside?
California law sets this for every city, including Seaside: 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)).
How many parking spaces does a home need in Seaside?
Seaside's code: Required residential parking must stay available, with vehicle access unrestricted, unless replacement parking of the same capacity is provided. (Residential off-street parking facilities, garages, carports and uncovered parking spaces.) (§ 17.34.040).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Seaside?
Seaside's code: Set by city council resolution and included in the annual schedule of fees and charges. (Each later false alarm within the one-year period.) (§ 5.20.100); 1 false alarm. (Within a one-year period.) (§ 5.20.100).
General information, not legal advice.
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