Yreka · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Yreka

Yreka sets fence heights by setback, with lower limits in the front yard and at corners, and a separate permit in the historic district. The city limits extra garages and other accessory structures in residential zones, and home businesses need a use permit.

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Key points

Fence height: Yreka limits fences to 4 feet in front setbacks, 6 feet in rear and side setbacks, or 8 with lattice at least 50% open.
Accessory structures: In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, Yreka limits an extra garage or carport, and customary residential structures, to 650 square feet.
Home business: Yreka home businesses need a use permit and may employ no one except for housekeeping; on-site sales are not allowed, except cottage food sales.

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

Fences and walls

Yreka code Yreka limits fences to 4 feet in front setbacks, 6 feet in rear and side setbacks, or 8 with lattice at least 50% open.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Yreka code In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, Yreka limits an extra garage or carport, and customary residential structures, to 650 square feet.

All 6 Yreka rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Employees	No employees, except those needed for housekeeping. Applies: General home occupations. § 16.46.020 · code text No person employed except such as is necessary for house keeping purposes;
Permit	A use permit, which the Planning Director may grant. Applies: General home occupations. § 16.46.020 · code text Applications for a use permit for a home occupation may be granted by the Planning Director provided the use is in compliance with subsection (A) above.
Businesses not allowed	selling commodities on the premises Applies: general home occupations, except direct sales for cottage food operations allowed by state law § 16.46.020 · code text No commodity shall be sold upon the premises, with the exception of direct sales for cottage food operations, as allowed by state law;

Pets, chickens and bees

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Large animals	Not allowed in the city, except with a planning director permit on property of at least 5 acres. Applies: Horses, mules, fowl, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or other ruminants. § 8.04.020 · code text It is unlawful for any person to keep, stable, corral or otherwise maintain within the city limits any horse, mule, fowl [25] [3], ass, sheep, goat, swine, cattle or ruminant, or any number of such animals except as specifically provided herein;
Permit	A planning director permit; owners within 300 feet are notified and may object within 15 days; valid 1 year. Applies: Keeping horses, mules, fowl, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or ruminants on property of at least 5 acres. § 8.04.020 · code text a permit may be obtained for the maintenance of any such animal or animals

Building in a flood zone

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is required before construction or development begins. Applies: In any special flood hazard area. § 11.34.410 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards established in Section 11.34.320.
Building in a floodway	No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other development unless an engineer or architect certifies no rise in flood levels. Applies: Areas designated as floodways. § 11.34.560 · code text Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor, including a basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved buildings in special flood hazard areas other than Zone AO. § 11.34.510 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. At least the FIRM depth number above the highest nearby grade, or at least 2 feet if none given. Applies: New or substantially improved buildings in Zone AO. § 11.34.510 · code text New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
How the park fee is set	Based on a set uniform land value tied to allowed land use; higher allowed density means higher value per acre. § 15.42.030 · code text the in-lieu fees must be predicated upon an established uniform land value predicated upon the permitted use of the land within the area to be subdivided.
Parkland per 1,000 residents	About 290 square feet of improved park per subdivision resident. § 15.42.030 · code text any inhabitant of a subdivision needs approximately two hundred ninety square feet of improved public park and recreational facilities

Outdoor lighting

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Shielding	Outdoor lights must prevent unreasonable glare on neighbors and sky glare; prismatic lenses and hoods should be used when possible. § 16.46.060 · code text All outdoor lighting shall be designed to prevent unreasonable glare to adjoining properties and controlled by such reasonable means as are practical to prevent sky-reflected glare. Directional prismatic lenses and hooding devices should be utilized when possible.

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

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	Attached garage or carport conversion to living space needs an administrative permit. Provide 1 paved off-street space per converted space. Applies: Existing single-family dwellings built before the ordinance, on a lot under 7,000 square feet; not an accessory dwelling unit. § 16.54.050 · code text For each required garage space or carport space converted, the owner shall provide one off-street parking space on the subject property.

Signs on homes

Yreka code Up to 4 square feet total for each lot. A noncommercial sign may not be up more than 60 total days in a year.

All 6 Yreka rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Where carts are kept	Within the building or on the lot where the building is situated. § 6.08.040 · code text at all times to keep within the building or on the lot on which the building is situated, suitable and sufficient watertight cans or receptacles

Other Yreka rules on this

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

Living in a trailer on a lot (§ 5.12.020)
Yard and garage sales (§ 16.46.090)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Yreka?

Yreka home businesses need a use permit and may employ no one except for housekeeping; on-site sales are not allowed, except cottage food sales.

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

Yreka's code: A development permit is required before construction or development begins. (In any special flood hazard area.) (§ 11.34.410); The lowest floor, including a basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved buildings in special flood hazard areas other than Zone AO.) (§ 11.34.510).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Yreka?

Yreka's code: Based on a set uniform land value tied to allowed land use; higher allowed density means higher value per acre. (§ 15.42.030); About 290 square feet of improved park per subdivision resident. (§ 15.42.030).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Yreka?

Yreka's code: Outdoor lights must prevent unreasonable glare on neighbors and sky glare; prismatic lenses and hoods should be used when possible. (§ 16.46.060).

Can I run a family child care home in Yreka?

California law sets this for every city, including Yreka: 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 Yreka?

Yreka's code: Attached garage or carport conversion to living space needs an administrative permit. Provide 1 paved off-street space per converted space. (Existing single-family dwellings built before the ordinance, on a lot under 7,000 square feet; not an accessory dwelling unit.) (§ 16.54.050).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Yreka?

Yreka's code: Within the building or on the lot where the building is situated. (§ 6.08.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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