Tehama · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Tehama

Tehama limits fence height by yard, with lower fences in front yard setbacks than in side and rear yards. A fence over the general limit needs a use permit from the city council.

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Key points

Front fences: City rule: fences in front yard setbacks are limited to 4 feet, unless the material does not block vision.
Side and rear: City rule: fences in side and rear yards, and in the rest of the front yard setback, are limited to 6 feet.
Taller fences: City rule: a fence over 6 feet needs a use permit from the city council because of unusual circumstances.

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

Fences and walls

Tehama code City rule: fences in front yard setbacks are limited to 4 feet, unless the material does not block vision. City rule: fences in side and rear yards, and in the rest of the front yard setback, are limited to 6 feet. City rule: a fence over 6 feet needs a use permit from the city council because of unusual circumstances.

All 5 Tehama rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Tehama code What Tehama's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	Must not exceed the zoning district's maximum height. Applies: Applies to solar panels. § 17.84.040 · code text Solar panels shall comply with the maximum permitted height of the zoning district. Must meet the zone district's required setbacks. Applies: Applies to small solar systems, dual-purpose solar systems, and solar power facilities. § 17.84.060 · code text Small solar energy systems, dual purpose solar systems, and solar power facilities must meet the required setbacks established by the zone district.

Swimming pools

Tehama code What Tehama's code adds
Equipment and alarms	A recirculating system with an approved filter is required; the makeup water line needs an approved air gap. Applies: Applies to pools or fish ponds over 2,000 gallons using city water. § 13.04.500 · code text All swimming or wading pools or fish ponds above two thousand gallons in capacity, using water from the city water system, shall be provided with recirculating systems equipped with an approved filter. The make up supply line shall be equipped with an approved air gap.
Permit	A plumbing permit is required; the pool's water supply and drainage piping plan must be approved first. Applies: Applies to installing a swimming pool. § 13.04.490 · code text Prior to the issuance of a plumbing permit for the installation of a swimming pool, a plan showing the water supply and drainage piping of the swimming pool shall be submitted for approval by the department of planning and building.

Pets, chickens and bees

Tehama code What Tehama's code adds
Chickens	Only with a permit from the city council. Applies: Applies to keeping, maintaining or feeding poultry in the city. § 6.08.050 · code text Before any person may keep, maintain or feed poultry or other animals, other than cats or dogs, within the city, there shall be presented to the city council written application for a permit to do so.
Permit	A written permit application to the city council is required. Applies: Applies to keeping, maintaining or feeding poultry or other animals, other than cats or dogs, in the city. § 6.08.050 · code text Before any person may keep, maintain or feed poultry or other animals, other than cats or dogs, within the city, there shall be presented to the city council written application for a permit to do so.

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)

Other Tehama rules on this

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

Floodplain management (Ch. 15.08)
Yard sales (Ch. 5.12)
Noise limits (Ch. 9.12)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Tehama?

Tehama's code: Only with a permit from the city council. (Applies to keeping, maintaining or feeding poultry in the city.) (§ 6.08.050).

Can I run a family child care home in Tehama?

California law sets this for every city, including Tehama: 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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