Winters · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Winters
Winters sets residential fence heights by setback, with lower limits in front and near street corners, and building permits for taller fences. The city limits accessory structure coverage and height, and home businesses need zoning administrator approval.
Key points
- Fence height: Winters limits residential fences to 3 feet 6 inches in front setbacks and near street corners, and 6 feet elsewhere.
- Accessory structures: Winters limits accessory structures to 30% of the required rear yard; free-standing ones within R-district side and rear setbacks, 15 feet.
- Home business: Winters home businesses: 15% of the home, at most 400 sq ft; no more than an average of 4 customers or deliveries daily.
Each rule below is marked Winters code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Winters code Winters limits residential fences to 3 feet 6 inches in front setbacks and near street corners, and 6 feet elsewhere.
All 7 Winters rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Winters code Winters limits accessory structures to 30% of the required rear yard; free-standing ones within R-district side and rear setbacks, 15 feet.
All 5 Winters rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Winters code Winters home businesses: 15% of the home, at most 400 sq ft; no more than an average of 4 customers or deliveries daily.
All 6 Winters rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
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Pets, chickens and bees
Winters code 1 large animal for each 20,000 gross square feet of lot. Enclosures at least 50 feet from neighbors' homes and 20 feet from side or rear lines; not in front setback.
All 4 Winters rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Building in a floodway |
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|---|---|
| Height of the lowest floor |
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Noise and construction hours
Winters code 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays; not allowed at any time on Sundays or holidays.
All 7 Winters rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| 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 |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Winters code Inclusionary rules apply to developments of 5 or more residential units. 15 percent of the total residential units: 6 percent very low income and 9 percent low or moderate income.
All 3 Winters rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
Winters code At least 50 percent of required spaces must be covered or enclosed, with at least 1 per unit. In-kind replacement is required when a garage or carport space is converted to another use.
All 6 Winters rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Winters code Every owner of a premises must subscribe for solid waste service Green waste must be placed in green containers or in a pile.
All 5 Winters rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Winters rules on this
Winters's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Draining a pool (§ 13.08.200)
- Facility fees for new construction (§ 15.76.030)
- Drainage impact fee (§ 15.90.030)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Winters?
Winters's code: Reviewed administratively as a nondiscretionary permit; the permit can issue once the application meets all checklist requirements. (Applies to a complete application.) (§ 15.110.060); Electronic submittal of the application is allowed. (§ 15.110.050).
What are the rules for building in a Winters flood zone?
Winters's code: The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A Zone.) (§ 15.64.160); The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in zones other than A and AO.) (§ 15.64.160).
Can I run a family child care home in Winters?
California law sets this for every city, including Winters: 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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