Shasta County · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Shasta County
Shasta County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It limits the total size of accessory structures and sets rules for home businesses, which only residents may run.
Key points
- Accessory size: With a legal residence, all accessory structures may total 2,500 sq ft, with listed exclusions; without one, 1,000 sq ft.
- Home businesses: A home business may use 25% of the home, or 400 sq ft in a garage or accessory building; customer trips need a permit.
Each rule below is marked Shasta County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Shasta County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Shasta County have their own codes and their own pages.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Shasta County code With a legal residence, all accessory structures may total 2,500 sq ft, with listed exclusions; without one, 1,000 sq ft.
All 3 Shasta County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Shasta County code A home business may use 25% of the home, or 400 sq ft in a garage or accessory building; customer trips need a permit.
All 8 Shasta County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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Swimming pools
Shasta County code Chain link, vertical slats no more than 4 inches apart, or masonry meet the rule. Openings may not let a 4-inch-diameter sphere pass through.
All 6 Shasta County rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
| Bees |
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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 |
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| How long an alarm may sound |
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|---|---|
| When a permit can be revoked |
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Other Shasta County rules on this
Shasta County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Storing RVs and trailers on a lot (§ 17.88.280)
- Building in a designated floodway (Ch. 17.22) — designated floodway district only
- Grading permit rules (§ 12.12.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Shasta County?
Shasta County's code: Allowed in all zones without discretionary review. (Only if the station would not cause a specific adverse impact.) (§ 17.88.080).
Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Shasta County?
Shasta County's code: Africanized honey bees may not be kept. (§ 6.08.110).
Can I run a family child care home in Shasta County?
California law sets this for every city, including Shasta County: 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 Shasta County?
Shasta County's code: An audible alarm must shut off automatically within 15 minutes. (§ 5.25.030); The permit is revoked if the system generates excessive false alarms and was suspended in the prior 365 days (§ 5.25.090).
General information, not legal advice.
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