Williams · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Williams

Williams limits fence height by yard, with lower fences toward the street and fence setbacks at corner intersections. Detached accessory buildings have height, size and setback limits.

Ask about building on your lot in Williams See coverage

Key points

Front fences: City rule: fences between the front building line and the street are limited to 3 feet; in street side yards, 4 feet.
Side and rear: City rule: fences in interior side and rear yards are limited to 6 feet; 10 feet next to an arterial or collector street.
Corner lots: City rule: on corner lots, fences and walls must be set back at least 20 feet from street and alley lot-line intersections.
Accessory height: City rule: detached accessory buildings, except small sheds, are limited to 1 story or 17 feet, whichever is lower.
Accessory size: City rule: outside R-E, accessory buildings except small sheds are limited to 25% of required rear yard or 600 sq ft, whichever is less.
Setbacks: City rule: detached accessory buildings must be at least 3 feet from interior side and rear lot lines and 6 feet from other buildings.

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

Fences and walls

Williams code City rule: fences between the front building line and the street are limited to 3 feet; in street side yards, 4 feet. City rule: fences in interior side and rear yards are limited to 6 feet; 10 feet next to an arterial or collector street. City rule: on corner lots, fences and walls must be set back at least 20 feet from street and alley lot-line intersections.

All 6 Williams rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Williams code City rule: detached accessory buildings, except small sheds, are limited to 1 story or 17 feet, whichever is lower. City rule: outside R-E, accessory buildings except small sheds are limited to 25% of required rear yard or 600 sq ft, whichever is less. City rule: detached accessory buildings must be at least 3 feet from interior side and rear lot lines and 6 feet from other buildings.

All 8 Williams rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	Panels more than 6 feet above grade must meet detached accessory building setbacks. Applies: Solar arrays not mounted on a roof, on residential lots. § 17.01.050.9 · code text If the highest point on the panels is more than six feet above grade, the panels shall be set back as if they were detached accessory buildings.

Tree removal

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Exemptions	Replacement is optional if a newly approved landscape plan does not require it. Applies: Trees required by a development approval. § 17.02.120.8 · code text replacement is optional if: 1. A new landscape plan is approved that does not require their replacement Replacement is optional. Applies: A tree required by a development approval, planted on a single-family or duplex lot and removed by a later owner. § 17.02.120.8 · code text or 2. The tree was installed on a single-family detached or duplex lot and then removed by a subsequent owner.
Replacement trees	Replace it with a tree that has a similar canopy at maturity. Applies: Any tree required by a development approval. § 17.02.120.8 · code text Any tree that is required by a development approval shall be replaced with a tree that has a comparable canopy at maturity

Swimming pools

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 6 feet from the rear property line, or outside any rear utility easement if that is greater. Applies: Measured from the outside wall of the pool. § 17.01.050.6 · code text Rear: The greater of: Six feet, measured from the outside wall of the pool.

Pets, chickens and bees

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Bees	Hives must be at least 500 feet from any building where people or animals live or are kept. § 6.48.080 · code text Bees shall be kept at least five hundred feet from any building or structure in which persons or animals normally live or are kept.
Chickens	Yes, with an annual chicken permit and a permitted coop. § 6.48.015 · code text Each property keeping chickens MUST have a permit. Chicken permits are twenty-five dollars annually.
Permit	An annual chicken permit ($25) and a one-time coop permit ($40). Applies: Properties that keep chickens. § 6.48.015 · code text Each property keeping chickens MUST have a permit. Chicken permits are twenty-five dollars annually.

Building in a flood zone

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed for any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 15.30.150 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.30.070.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered civil engineer certifies no increase in base flood levels. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway. § 15.30.220 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the City of Williams shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises the base flood by at most 1 foot. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted. § 15.30.220 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the City of Williams.
Height of the lowest floor	1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.30.170 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated one foot above the base flood elevation. 1 foot higher than the FIRM depth number, measured above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number. § 15.30.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height one foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least at the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone when the FIRM gives no depth number. § 15.30.170 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height one foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone with no base flood elevation on the FIRM. § 15.30.170 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated one foot above the base flood elevation; as determined under Subsection 15.30.140.C.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Exemptions	Rebuilding development damaged by declared disaster, emergency, fire, flood or other calamity; non-equivalent rebuilds count as new construction. Applies: City development fees; claim the exemption by the building permit application. § 3.14.090 · code text Reconstruction of any existing residential, commercial or industrial development project that is damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster, as declared by the Governor of the State of California, a local emergency declared by the city council or from fire, flood or other private calamity. Replacement within 12 months of demolition, if no larger and adding no vehicle trips; added square footage pays fees. Applies: City development fees; claim the exemption by the building permit application. § 3.14.090 · code text The replacement building is not larger than the existing building and produces no additional vehicular trips over and above those produced by the existing use, as determined by the city administrator in consultation with the city engineer;

Noise and construction hours

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Quiet hours	10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Applies: Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on any public street or public area. § 9.14.020 · code text Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing upon any public street or public area between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m.

Outdoor lighting

Williams code three-tenths foot candle, measured vertically, and three-tenths foot candle, measured horizontally Lights must be deflected, shaded and aimed away from adjacent properties.

All 6 Williams rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Williams code What Williams's code adds
Hours	8 a.m. to 6 p.m. § 5.15.050 · code text No person shall conduct any portion of a garage sale event between the hours of six p.m. and eight a.m.
How long a sale may last	No more than 3 consecutive days, or 2 consecutive weekends. § 5.15.050 · code text No person shall conduct a garage sale for longer than three consecutive days, or two consecutive weekends, and each such period shall constitute a single "garage sale event."
Sales per year	No more than 4 sale events. Applies: Per street address or per person, in any 12-month period. § 5.15.050 · code text No more than four garage sale events shall be conducted at the same street address, or by the same person, within the same twelve-month period.

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)

Signs on homes

Williams code Noncommercial temporary signs up to 30 square feet per sign. Temporary signs with noncommercial messages are allowed at all times.

All 5 Williams rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Williams rules on this

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

Parking RVs on the street (§ 10.32.340) — on public streets

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Williams?

Williams's code: Replace it with a tree that has a similar canopy at maturity. (Any tree required by a development approval.) (§ 17.02.120.8); Replacement is optional if a newly approved landscape plan does not require it. (Trees required by a development approval.) (§ 17.02.120.8).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Williams?

Williams's code: At least 6 feet from the rear property line, or outside any rear utility easement if that is greater. (Measured from the outside wall of the pool.) (§ 17.01.050.6).

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

Williams's code: Yes, with an annual chicken permit and a permitted coop. (§ 6.48.015); Hives must be at least 500 feet from any building where people or animals live or are kept. (§ 6.48.080).

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

Williams's code: A development permit is needed for any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.30.150); 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.30.170).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Williams?

Williams's code: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on any public street or public area.) (§ 9.14.020).

What are the garage sale rules in Williams?

Williams's code: No more than 4 sale events. (Per street address or per person, in any 12-month period.) (§ 5.15.050); 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (§ 5.15.050).

Can I run a family child care home in Williams?

California law sets this for every city, including Williams: 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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