Yolo County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Yolo County

Yolo County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It sets residential fence heights by distance from the street, with a sight triangle on corner lots.

Ask about building on your lot in Yolo County See coverage

Key points

Fence height: In R zones, county fences are limited to 7 feet, and 3 feet in the front setback within 4 feet of the sidewalk.
Corner lots: On corner lots, fences over 3 feet are not allowed in a triangle 25 feet along the sidewalk from the intersection.

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

Yolo County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Yolo County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

Yolo County code In R zones, county fences are limited to 7 feet, and 3 feet in the front setback within 4 feet of the sidewalk. On corner lots, fences over 3 feet are not allowed in a triangle 25 feet along the sidewalk from the intersection.

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

Solar panels and EV chargers

Yolo County code What Yolo County's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves and issues needed permits when the application meets the County checklist; electronic filing and signatures accepted. Applies: Electric vehicle charging station permits. § 7-4.104 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.

Building in a flood zone

Yolo County code What Yolo County's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is required before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. § 8-4.403 · code text A Development Permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazards established in Section 8-4.302.
Building in a floodway	No new building or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; measured at any point in the county. § 8-4.506 · 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 (1) foot at any point within the County of Yolo. No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other new development unless an engineer certifies no base flood elevation rise. Applies: Inside an adopted regulatory floodway. § 8-4.506 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the County of Yolo shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 8-4.501 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 Zones, elevated at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation. At least 1 foot above the FIRM depth number, measured from the highest nearby grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a depth number on the FIRM. § 8-4.501 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM by at least one (1) foot, or elevated at least three (3) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 3 feet above the highest nearby grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no depth number on the FIRM. § 8-4.501 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM by at least one (1) foot, or elevated at least three (3) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 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. § 8-4.501 · code text In an A Zone, without BFE’s specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation, as determined under Section 8-4.402(c).

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)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Yolo County code Projects of fewer than 10 units use the in-lieu fee option instead of the for-sale affordable housing requirement. Projects of fewer than 7 units use the in-lieu fee option instead of the multifamily rental affordable housing requirement.

All 11 Yolo County rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Yolo County code 1 space per dwelling unit. One and one-half (1 1/2) spaces per dwelling unit

All 4 Yolo County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Yolo County code Subscribe to weekly Discarded Materials Collection from an authorized County Franchisee. Bi-weekly Recyclables Collection and Organics Collection services are required.

All 6 Yolo County rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Historic homes

Yolo County code Design review is required for future construction or exterior alterations. Historic Preservation Commission review.

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

Other Yolo County rules on this

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

Rules for a private swimming pool (§ 8-2.1011)
Fire district impact fees (Title 3, Ch. 16)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Yolo County?

Yolo County's code: The Building Official approves and issues needed permits when the application meets the County checklist; electronic filing and signatures accepted. (Electric vehicle charging station permits.) (§ 7-4.104).

What are the rules for building in a Yolo County flood zone?

Yolo County's code: A development permit is required before any construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. (§ 8-4.403); The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 8-4.501).

Can I run a family child care home in Yolo County?

California law sets this for every city, including Yolo County: 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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