Waterford · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Waterford

Waterford sets fence heights by yard in residential districts, and sets height and setback limits for accessory structures and pools. It also limits home occupations, backyard hens and garage sales.

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Key points

Fence heights: Residential front yard setback: at most 3 feet (4 feet if visually clear); between it and the rear property line, at most 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Non-living accessory structures in R districts: at most 12 feet tall, 15 feet with a pitched roof.
Home businesses: Home occupations need a permit and use at most 500 square feet or 50% of the home; only residents may work there.
Pools: R districts: pools at least 5 feet from rear and side lot lines, and 10 feet on a corner lot's street side.
Hens: No more than 6 domestic hens; coops must be at least 20 feet from any window or door of a home.
Garage sales: A finance director permit is required, 1 per applicant in any 12-month period; 1 sign at the sale site during sale hours only.

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

Fences and walls

Waterford code Residential front yard setback: at most 3 feet (4 feet if visually clear); between it and the rear property line, at most 6 feet.

All 13 Waterford rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Waterford code Non-living accessory structures in R districts: at most 12 feet tall, 15 feet with a pitched roof.

All 9 Waterford rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Waterford code Home occupations need a permit and use at most 500 square feet or 50% of the home; only residents may work there.

All 6 Waterford rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
EV charger permit	All needed permits are issued when the application meets the checklist and safety standards; electronic applications and signatures accepted. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 15.04.110 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this section and associated supporting documentations.
Solar height and setbacks	The panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height. Applies: Required to qualify as a small residential rooftop solar system for expedited permits. § 15.04.100 · code text A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.
Solar permit process	Approved administratively when complete and meeting the checklist; only 1 inspection; apply in person, by mail or electronically. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.04.100 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees.

Swimming pools

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Equipment and alarms	At least 20 feet away. Applies: R districts; distance from pool filter and heating systems to any home other than the owner's. § 17.40.130 · code text Filter and heating system for such pools shall not be located closer than twenty feet to any dwelling other than the owner's.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet. Applies: R districts; distance from any rear or side lot line. § 17.40.130 · code text such pools shall not be located closer than five feet to any rear lot line or side line. At least 10 feet. Applies: R districts; street side of a corner lot where the rear lot line meets a side lot line. § 17.40.130 · code text On the street side of any corner lot, where the rear lot line abuts a side lot line, no pool shall be located closer than ten feet to such side lot line. On the rear half of the lot, or 50 feet from the front property line, whichever is less. Applies: Applies in R districts. § 17.40.130 · code text Swimming pools in R districts shall be constructed on the rear one-half of the lot or fifty feet from the front property line, whichever is the less

Pets, chickens and bees

Waterford code No more than 6 domestic hens; coops must be at least 20 feet from any window or door of a home.

All 7 Waterford rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. Applies: Construction or development in any area of special flood hazard. § 15.32.130 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard, established in Section 15.32.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered professional engineer or architect certifies no flood level increase. Applies: Floodways. § 15.32.190 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development, unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge;
Height of the lowest floor	At least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the FIRM depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number. § 15.32.155 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the FIRM gives no depth number. § 15.32.155 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone. § 15.32.155 · code text In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation; said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods in Section 15.32.040(B) of this chapter. At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than A and AO. § 15.32.155 · code text In All Other Zones, Elevated to or Above the Base Flood Elevation.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Exemptions	Exempt: accessory structures for homes, rebuilding a home after a declared natural disaster, and senior citizen housing. Applies: City public facilities fees. § 3.60.110 · code text The following developments shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
How the park fee is set	Set by resolution after a public hearing, based on facility needs, and adjusted yearly for inflation. Applies: City public facilities fees; adjusted each March 1 using the Engineering News Record construction cost index. § 3.60.090 · code text The fees adopted shall be based upon and reflect the need for public facilities as identified in the comprehensive facilities master plan for the city of Waterford, and the city facilities needed to serve growth set forth in the studies.

Noise and construction hours

Waterford code Not allowed 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays, or 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends and legal holidays. 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

All 13 Waterford rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →

Outdoor lighting

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Shielding	Site lighting must keep direct light rays on the site. § 17.44.090 · code text Site lighting shall be designed and installed to confine direct light rays to the site. Indirect or diffused, or shielded or aimed away from neighbors and public rights-of-way. Applies: Security lighting in any district. § 17.44.090 · code text Security lighting in any district may be indirect or diffused, or shall be shielded or directed away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way.

Garage and yard sales

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Permit	Yes, from the finance director; 1 permit per applicant in any 12-month period. § 5.28.060 · code text Upon receipt of the application, the finance director shall issue the applicant a garage sale permit; provided, that no garage sale permit has been issued to the applicant for a garage sale at any location in the city within the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date or dates of the proposed garage sale.
Signs	1 right-of-way sign, at the sale site during sale hours only; at most 6 square feet and 6 feet high. § 5.28.060 · code text The requirement that only one sign in the public right-of-way may be used to advertise said sale, which sign shall be displayed only at the location of the sale, and only during the date or dates and hours of said sale; and the further requirement that said sign shall not exceed six square feet in area nor six feet in height;

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)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Waterford?

Waterford's code: Approved administratively when complete and meeting the checklist; only 1 inspection; apply in person, by mail or electronically. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.04.100); All needed permits are issued when the application meets the checklist and safety standards; electronic applications and signatures accepted. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 15.04.110).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Waterford?

R districts: pools at least 5 feet from rear and side lot lines, and 10 feet on a corner lot's street side.

What are the rules for building in a Waterford flood zone?

Waterford's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (Construction or development in any area of special flood hazard.) (§ 15.32.130); At least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the FIRM depth number. (New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number.) (§ 15.32.155).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Waterford?

Waterford's code: Set by resolution after a public hearing, based on facility needs, and adjusted yearly for inflation. (City public facilities fees; adjusted each March 1 using the Engineering News Record construction cost index.) (§ 3.60.090).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Waterford?

Waterford's code: Site lighting must keep direct light rays on the site. (§ 17.44.090); Indirect or diffused, or shielded or aimed away from neighbors and public rights-of-way. (Security lighting in any district.) (§ 17.44.090).

What are the garage sale rules in Waterford?

A finance director permit is required, 1 per applicant in any 12-month period; 1 sign at the sale site during sale hours only.

Can I run a family child care home in Waterford?

California law sets this for every city, including Waterford: 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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