Willows · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Willows

Willows sets fence heights by yard in its R districts and sets a rear setback for detached accessory buildings. Home businesses need a use permit, and only the family member living there may carry them on.

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Key points

Fence height: In R districts, Willows limits fences to 3½ feet inside the 25-foot front yard setback and 6 feet in side and rear yards.
Accessory buildings: Willows sets detached accessory buildings 3 feet from the rear property line; no rear setback is required where the lot abuts an alley.
Home business: Willows home businesses may use 25% of the dwelling's floor space or 50% of an accessory building; use permit, no other employees.

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

Fences and walls

Willows code What Willows's code adds
Front yard height	three and one-half feet Applies: inside the 25-foot front yard setback in R districts § 18.110.050 · code text In R districts, fences in side and rear yards may not exceed six feet in height and may not exceed three and one-half feet in height inside the 25-foot front yard setback.
Side and rear yard height	Fences may be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Side and rear yards in R districts. § 18.110.050 · code text In R districts, fences in side and rear yards may not exceed six feet in height and may not exceed three and one-half feet in height inside the 25-foot front yard setback.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Willows code What Willows's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings, unless the property abuts an alley. § 18.110.020 · code text Three feet from the rear property line, unless the property abuts an alley. No rear setback is required. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on property that abuts an alley. § 18.110.020 · code text If abutting an alley, no rear setback is required.

Running a business from home

Willows code Willows home businesses may use 25% of the dwelling's floor space or 50% of an accessory building; use permit, no other employees.

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

RV and boat parking

Willows code What Willows's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 48 consecutive hours in any 7-day period. Applies: Applies to trailers, camp cars and similar equipment on any public street, alley or other public place. § 10.50.110 · code text Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to park or stand any trailer, camp car or any other similar type of equipment owned, operated or controlled by such person, in or upon any public street, court, drive, alley or other public place in the city for more than 48 consecutive hours within any period of seven days.

Pets, chickens and bees

Willows code What Willows's code adds
Large animals	Not allowed. Swine, cattle, horses and other livestock may not be kept. Applies: Applies within city limits. § 6.05.130 · code text It shall be unlawful and it is hereby declared to be a nuisance for any person to keep or maintain any swine, cattle, horses, or other livestock within the limits of the city.

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

Willows code At most 6 square feet, 8 feet high, 30 days; 1 sign facing each adjacent street; no permit required. Permitted.

All 3 Willows rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Willows rules on this

Willows'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 tall can a fence be in Willows?

In R districts, Willows limits fences to 3½ feet inside the 25-foot front yard setback and 6 feet in side and rear yards.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Willows?

Willows sets detached accessory buildings 3 feet from the rear property line; no rear setback is required where the lot abuts an alley.

Can I run a family child care home in Willows?

California law sets this for every city, including Willows: 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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