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Woodland · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Woodland

Woodland sets fence heights by location and openness, with lower limits for solid front-yard fences. The city limits accessory building height and total size, and home businesses need a Zoning Clearance.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Woodland limits solid front-yard fences to 3 feet 6 inches, rear and interior side fences to 7 feet; over 6 needs a building permit.
  • Accessory buildings: Woodland limits detached accessory buildings in residential zones to 16 feet, and all accessory structures to 75% of the main home's floor area.
  • Home business: Woodland home businesses may use 25% of livable area or 500 square feet, whichever is less; no client visits except personal instruction.

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

Fences and walls

Woodland code Woodland limits solid front-yard fences to 3 feet 6 inches, rear and interior side fences to 7 feet; over 6 needs a building permit.

All 12 Woodland rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Woodland code Woodland limits detached accessory buildings in residential zones to 16 feet, and all accessory structures to 75% of the main home's floor area.

All 13 Woodland rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Woodland code Woodland home businesses may use 25% of livable area or 500 square feet, whichever is less; no client visits except personal instruction.

All 10 Woodland rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Lot splits under SB 9

Woodland code Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot's area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 5 Woodland rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Woodland code What Woodland's code adds
Equipment and alarms
  • Equipment within 10 feet of a neighboring home's living area must be in a soundproof enclosure.
    Applies: Filter, heating and maintenance systems and equipment.
    § 17.64.090 · code text
    All filter, heating, and maintenance systems and equipment shall not be located within any required setback adjacent to a public street, or within three feet of an interior side or rear property line, or within 10 feet of the living area of any dwelling unit on an adjacent parcel unless located within a soundproof enclosure.
  • Not in any required setback next to a public street.
    Applies: Filter, heating and maintenance systems and equipment.
    § 17.64.090 · code text
    All filter, heating, and maintenance systems and equipment shall not be located within any required setback adjacent to a public street, or within three feet of an interior side or rear property line, or within 10 feet of the living area of any dwelling unit on an adjacent parcel unless located within a soundproof enclosure.
  • Not within 3 feet of an interior side or rear property line.
    Applies: Filter, heating and maintenance systems and equipment.
    § 17.64.090 · code text
    All filter, heating, and maintenance systems and equipment shall not be located within any required setback adjacent to a public street, or within three feet of an interior side or rear property line, or within 10 feet of the living area of any dwelling unit on an adjacent parcel unless located within a soundproof enclosure.
Setback from property lines
  • At least 10 feet.
    Applies: From the street-side property line, measured to the outside wall of the pool or spa.
    § 17.64.090 · code text
    The outside wall of the water containing portion of any swimming pool or spa shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from the street side property line.
  • 5 feet.
    Applies: Street-side setback where a masonry subdivision perimeter wall encloses the lot.
    § 17.64.090 · code text
    Where the lot is enclosed by a masonry subdivision perimeter wall, the street side setback is five feet.
  • At least 5 feet.
    Applies: From interior side and rear property lines, measured to the outside wall of the pool or spa.
    § 17.64.090 · code text
    The outside wall of the water containing portion of any swimming pool or spa shall be located a minimum of five feet from the interior side and rear property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

Woodland code Yes, up to 2 beehives per lot. Yes, up to 4 beehives per lot.

All 6 Woodland rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Woodland code What Woodland's code adds
Floodplain permit
  • A development permit is required before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area.
    § 15.08.130 · code text
    A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards established in Section 15.08.070.
Building in a floodway
  • No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other development unless an engineer certifies no rise in flood elevation.
    § 15.08.220 · code text
    Prohibit encroachments including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor
  • The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone.
    § 15.08.170 · code text
    In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation, as determined by this community.
  • The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation.
    Applies: New or substantially improved homes in flood zones other than A and AO.
    § 15.08.170 · code text
    In all other zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation,

Outdoor lighting

Woodland code Recommended: color temperature of no more than 3,000 Kelvins. At most 16 feet tall.

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

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)

Group homes and residential care

Woodland code Parking spaces beyond 4 must be in a garage or screened from public view. Allowed in Residential Low (R-L), Neighborhood Preservation (N-P) and Residential Low-Medium (R-LM) zones.

All 3 Woodland rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Woodland code What Woodland's code adds
Alarm permit
  • An alarm permit is required.
    § 5.16.090 · code text
    No user shall cause an alarm system to be installed, or thereafter connected or operated upon any property, without first obtaining an alarm system permit.
When a permit can be revoked
  • Excessive false alarms.
    Applies: A ground for suspension or revocation; the code does not define "excessive".
    § 5.16.160 · code text
    Where an alarm system actuated excessive false alarms;
  • The permit may be revoked.
    Applies: The alarm system generated excessive false alarms and its permit was suspended during the 12 months before the hearing.
    § 5.16.160 · code text
    If an alarm system has generated excessive false alarms, and the permit for such alarm system has been suspended during the 12 months prior to the date on which the suspension/revocation hearing is held, the Police Chief may revoke the permit.

Signs on homes

Woodland code What Woodland's code adds
Signs that need no permit
  • No permit is required to install or place temporary signs.
    Applies: Temporary signs.
    § 17.72.060 · code text
    No permits are required for the installation and placement of any temporary signs.
Other temporary signs
  • Signs may not be displayed more than 30 days in a calendar year.
    § 17.72.060 · code text
    May not be displayed for a period of time exceeding 30 days in a calendar year.
  • Maximum 16 square feet.
    Applies: All Residential and Public and Open Space Zones; total area of all temporary signs at any one time.
    § 17.72.060 · code text
    Total Area of all Temporary Signs at Any One Time | Max. 16 sf. 1
  • No limit on the number of signs, but total area must not exceed 16 square feet.
    Applies: All residential and public and open space zones.
    § 17.72.060 · code text
    Number of Signs | Unlimited except that the total sign area must not exceed 16 sf.

Trash and recycling carts

Woodland code Every owner or occupant in the City must subscribe to solid waste, recyclable materials and organic waste collection services. Remove containers no later than 24 hours after collection.

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

Historic homes

Woodland code Over 50 years old or eligible for listing: Director can request a historic survey with demolition or structural alteration application. Planning Commission approval is required.

All 6 Woodland rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Woodland rules on this

Woodland'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

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Woodland?

Woodland's code: At least 10 feet. (From the street-side property line, measured to the outside wall of the pool or spa.) (§ 17.64.090); 5 feet. (Street-side setback where a masonry subdivision perimeter wall encloses the lot.) (§ 17.64.090).

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

Woodland's code: A development permit is required before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15.08.130); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in an A zone.) (§ 15.08.170).

Can I run a family child care home in Woodland?

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

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Woodland?

Woodland's code: An alarm permit is required. (§ 5.16.090); Excessive false alarms. (A ground for suspension or revocation; the code does not define "excessive".) (§ 5.16.160).

What signs may I put up at my home in Woodland?

Woodland's code: No permit is required to install or place temporary signs. (Temporary signs.) (§ 17.72.060); Signs may not be displayed more than 30 days in a calendar year. (§ 17.72.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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