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Shasta Lake · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Shasta Lake

Shasta Lake limits the floor area of garages, carports and other accessory buildings, and has a separate code section on home occupations. More accessory floor area needs an administrative permit.

Ask about building on your lot in Shasta Lake See coverage

Key points

  • Garage size: A private 2-car garage or carport may have 550 sq ft; other garages, carports, accessory buildings and greenhouses add 1,000 sq ft combined.
  • Home businesses: The city has a separate code section on home occupations.

Each rule below is marked Shasta Lake 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

Shasta Lake code What Shasta Lake's code adds
Size or lot coverage
  • A private 2-car garage or carport of up to 550 square feet.
    Applies: Attached or detached, in any district that allows a home.
    § 17.88.140 · code text
    An attached or detached private two-car garage or carport not exceeding five hundred fifty (550) square feet of floor area, plus
  • Up to 1,000 square feet more for garages, carports, accessory buildings and greenhouses combined.
    Applies: Added to the 550-square-foot garage. Buildings under 120 square feet of roof do not count. More needs an administrative permit.
    § 17.88.140 · code text
    One thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area in the same or separate garage or carport or in a residential accessory building(s) or greenhouses or a combination thereof. Any building under one hundred twenty (120) square feet of roof area is not considered a part of the one thousand (1,000) square foot total.

RV and boat parking

Shasta Lake code What Shasta Lake's code adds
Parking on the street
  • Not allowed; a 24-hour grace period applies before enforcement, for example for loading and unloading.
    Applies: Applies to trailers and RVs on any public street, alley, sidewalk or other public right-of-way.
    § 10.36.230 · code text
    A twenty-four-hour grace period will be observed prior to enforcement of this section to allow for activities such as loading and unloading.

Building in a flood zone

Shasta Lake code What Shasta Lake's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins.
    Applies: In any special flood hazard area.
    § 15.04.120 · code text
    A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.04.070 of this chapter.
Building in a floodway
  • Fill, new building, substantial improvement and other encroachments are banned unless a registered engineer or architect certifies no base-flood rise.
    Applies: Inside designated floodways.
    § 15.04.210 · code text
    Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor
  • Lowest floor at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone, with the base flood elevation set by the city.
    § 15.04.160 · code text
    In an A zone, elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation, as determined by the community;
  • Lowest floor at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in all other flood zones.
    § 15.04.160 · code text
    In all other zones, elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation.
  • Lowest floor at least 1 foot higher than the FIRM depth number, measured above the highest adjacent grade.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the flood map gives a depth number.
    § 15.04.160 · code text
    In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM by at least one foot, or elevated at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified;
  • Lowest floor at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the flood map gives no depth number.
    § 15.04.160 · code text
    In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM by at least one foot, or elevated at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified;

Grading and erosion control

Shasta Lake code A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required. A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required.

All 3 Shasta Lake rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Shasta Lake code Geotechnical report needed for projects needing planning commission approval, when the building code requires, or as the director recommends. No cuts or fills higher than 6 feet.

All 4 Shasta Lake rules on building on a hillside, 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)

Trash and recycling carts

Shasta Lake code must subscribe to and receive city disposal service Remove containers from the street or public right-of-way before sunset on collection day.

All 3 Shasta Lake rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Shasta Lake rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Shasta Lake?

A private 2-car garage or carport may have 550 sq ft; other garages, carports, accessory buildings and greenhouses add 1,000 sq ft combined.

Can I run a business from my home in Shasta Lake?

The city has a separate code section on home occupations. Shasta Lake also has a related rule: Home occupations (§ 17.88.155).

What are the rules for building in a Shasta Lake flood zone?

Shasta Lake's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins. (In any special flood hazard area.) (§ 15.04.120); Lowest floor at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone, with the base flood elevation set by the city.) (§ 15.04.160).

Can I run a family child care home in Shasta Lake?

California law sets this for every city, including Shasta Lake: 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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