Willits · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Willits

Willits sets its own limits on accessory structures and home businesses. Accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the required rear yard, and some businesses may not run from a home.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Willits limits detached accessory structures closer than 3 feet to a side or rear line to 6 feet, 6 inches and 100 square feet.
Home businesses: Willits limits a home business to one room or 50% of the ground floor, whichever is greater, with no employees.

Each rule below is marked Willits 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

Willits code Willits limits detached accessory structures closer than 3 feet to a side or rear line to 6 feet, 6 inches and 100 square feet.

All 5 Willits rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Willits code Willits limits a home business to one room or 50% of the ground floor, whichever is greater, with no employees.

All 5 Willits rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Willits code What Willits's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in the -FP zone. Applies: Within the -FP zone. § 17.40.060 · code text No person shall begin any construction or development within the -FP zone without first obtaining a development permit from the building official.
Height of the lowest floor	At or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 17.40.080 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. At least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number in feet on the FIRM. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 17.40.080 · 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 with no depth number on the FIRM. § 17.40.080 · 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 with no base flood elevation on the FIRM. § 17.40.080 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 17.40.070(F).

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Willits code What Willits's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	one and one-half parking spaces Applies: studio or efficiency dwelling unit, or one or two bedroom dwelling unit, located in a multiple dwelling or apartment house § 17.52.030 · code text One and one-half parking spaces for each studio or efficiency dwelling unit and for each one or two bedroom dwelling unit located in a multiple dwelling or apartment house; 2 parking spaces. Applies: Units with 3 or more bedrooms in multiple dwellings and apartment houses. § 17.52.030 · code text Two parking spaces for each dwelling unit having three or more bedrooms located in multiple dwellings and apartment houses;
Spaces for a single-family home	2 parking spaces. Applies: One-family dwellings. § 17.52.030 · code text Two parking spaces for each one-family dwelling or four parking spaces for each two-family dwelling;

Signs on homes

Willits code Remove signs within 10 days after the election date. No fee or permit for political signs; applicant posts a $25 cash bond and files a map of sign locations.

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

Trash and recycling carts

Willits code Remove containers before 6 p.m. on the day of collection. Not left at curbside later than six p.m. following the date and time for scheduled collection

All 4 Willits rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Willits rules on this

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

Draining a pool into the sewer (§ 13.04.260)
Fire district impact fee (Ch. 15.06)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Willits's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development begins in the -FP zone. (Within the -FP zone.) (§ 17.40.060); At or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 17.40.080).

Can I run a family child care home in Willits?

California law sets this for every city, including Willits: 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)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Willits?

Willits's code: one and one-half parking spaces (studio or efficiency dwelling unit, or one or two bedroom dwelling unit, located in a multiple dwelling or apartment house) (§ 17.52.030); 2 parking spaces. (Units with 3 or more bedrooms in multiple dwellings and apartment houses.) (§ 17.52.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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