Selma · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Selma
Selma sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Home businesses are minor or major, and a major one needs a home occupation permit and a business tax certificate.
Key points
- Fence height: Hedges, fences and walls are limited to 48 inches in front setbacks; fences and walls in side and rear setbacks, 6 feet.
- Accessory height: Detached accessory buildings in residential districts are limited to 16 feet and 1 story; attached accessory structures, 14 feet.
- Home businesses: A minor home business may have no customers on site and no nonresident employees; a major one, up to 2 non-resident employees.
Each rule below is marked Selma code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Selma code Hedges, fences and walls are limited to 48 inches in front setbacks; fences and walls in side and rear setbacks, 6 feet.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Selma code Detached accessory buildings in residential districts are limited to 16 feet and 1 story; attached accessory structures, 14 feet.
All 6 Selma rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Selma code A minor home business may have no customers on site and no nonresident employees; a major one, up to 2 non-resident employees.
All 6 Selma rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Selma code A pet potbellied pig may not weigh more than 120 pounds. A kennel permit.
All 4 Selma rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
| Exemptions |
|
|---|
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 |
Trash and recycling carts
| Required collection service |
|
|---|
Other Selma rules on this
Selma's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- RV, boat and trailer parking; no living in them (§ 10-10-33)
- Draining a pool into the sewer (§ 8-3-12)
- Excessive noise (§ 6-17-5)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a family child care home in Selma?
California law sets this for every city, including Selma: 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)).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Selma?
Selma's code: Must subscribe to solid waste collection service (§ 8-1-8).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Selma property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question