Yuba City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Yuba City

Yuba City sets fence heights by yard for one- and two-family homes and ties accessory building height to setbacks. Only people who live in the home may conduct a home business there.

Ask about building on your lot in Yuba City See coverage

Key points

Fence height: For one- and two-family homes, Yuba City limits fences to 3 feet in front or street side yards, 6 feet in other required yards.
Accessory buildings: Yuba City ties accessory building height to setbacks: 10 feet with 5-foot rear and side yards, 15 feet with a 10-foot rear yard.
Home business: In Yuba City, only the inhabitants of the residence may conduct a home business.

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

Fences and walls

Yuba City code For one- and two-family homes, Yuba City limits fences to 3 feet in front or street side yards, 6 feet in other required yards.

All 3 Yuba City rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Yuba City code Yuba City ties accessory building height to setbacks: 10 feet with 5-foot rear and side yards, 15 feet with a 10-foot rear yard.

All 11 Yuba City rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Employees	No employees. Only the people who live in the home may run the business. § 8-5.8027 · code text An income producing activity customarily conducted within a residence or residential accessory building, only by the inhabitants thereof, which use is incidental to and does not change the character of the residential use of the property.

Lot splits under SB 9

Yuba City code Neither new lot can be smaller than 40% of the original lot's area. Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 9 Yuba City rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Yuba City code The Building Official approves and issues needed permits when the application meets the City checklist; electronic filing and signatures accepted. Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit is issued promptly for a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan.

All 3 Yuba City rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Pool barrier	The enclosure must fully surround the water and not be easy for small children to climb. Applies: Artificial water 1 foot or more deep, including portable or temporary pools. § 7-11.03 · code text The enclosure shall not be constructed in such a manner that would make it easily climbable by small children.
Maintenance and empty pools	Owners must keep an enclosure fully around the water so small children cannot reach it. Applies: Artificial water 1 foot or more deep, including portable or temporary pools. § 7-11.03 · code text shall keep and maintain on the lot or premises upon which the swimming pool, hot tub, spa, fish pond, wading pool, or any other artificial body of water is located, and completely surrounding the body of water, lot or premises a enclosure sufficient to make the body of water inaccessible to small children.

Building in a flood zone

Yuba City code A development permit is required before construction or development begins in a special flood hazard area. No fill, new building, substantial improvement or other development unless an engineer or architect certifies no rise in flood levels.

All 6 Yuba City rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
When a grading permit is needed	A grading permit is needed for 50 cubic yards or more. Applies: Projects under 50 cubic yards are exempt only if cuts and fills are under 2 feet, slopes under 10%, and drainage is not blocked. § 7-16.09 · code text The volume of material graded is less than 50 cubic yards;
Grading without a permit	Minor projects meeting all: under 50 cubic yards, cuts/fills under 2 feet, drainage unchanged, stable slopes under 10%. Applies: Single-family lots under ½ acre (12,780 square feet) must also meet these rules; mitigation agreements or other conditions may still require approval. § 7-16.09 · code text Single-family residential lots less than one-half acre (12,780 square feet) which also meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Exemptions	No fee for lot line adjustments, parcel mergers, or remodels and rebuilds that keep the same use. Applies: Development impact fee set by City Council resolution; these do not count as development permits. § 8-10.101 · code text As used in this section, "development permit" means a zoning or rezoning of property, a conditional use permit, subdivision map, building permit, or other permit for construction or reconstruction but does not include a lot line adjustment, the merger of parcels or a building permit for remodeling or reconstruction if the use of the structure does not change.

Outdoor lighting

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Shielding	Security lights must be shielded so they do not cause glare on streets or neighboring properties. Applies: Lights for security on private property, in all districts. § 8-5.5803 · code text In all districts lighting erected to provide illumination of private property for security purposes shall be shielded so as not to produce obtrusive glare onto the public right-of-way or adjoining properties.

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

Yuba City code 1 guest space for each 10 units. 1 space per unit.

All 5 Yuba City rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Alarm permit	An alarm permit is required. § 4-10.040 · code text No person shall cause an alarm system to be installed, connected, operated or maintained upon any property within the City without first obtaining an alarm permit.

Signs on homes

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Signs that need no permit	1 address sign and 1 name plate per residence; not more than 4 square feet. Applies: Address signs and name plates. § 8-5.6305 · code text Each residence and establishment may post one address sign and one name plate, not to exceed four square feet.
Other temporary signs	Garage or yard sale signs: up to 2, each up to 5 square feet and 6 feet high. Applies: On private property with the owner's permission; put up no earlier than 24 hours before the sale, remove within 24 hours after. § 8-5.6305 · code text Limited to two such signs, having a maximum of five square feet each and not to exceed six feet high, located on private property with the property owner's permission. Signs may not be erected prior than 24 hours to the event and shall be removed no later than 24 hours of the conclusion of the sale.

Trash and recycling carts

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Required collection service	an owner must request adequate refuse collection service within 15 days of occupancy; otherwise the collector gives written notice that service is required § 6-3.08 · code text When an owner fails to request adequate refuse collection service within 15 days of occupancy of a property, the collector(s) will give the owner written notification that such service is required.

Other Yuba City rules on this

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

Parking or storing RVs and trailers at home (§ 4-9.1402)
Noise rules (Ch. 4-17)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Yuba City?

In Yuba City, only the inhabitants of the residence may conduct a home business.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Yuba City?

Yuba City's code: The enclosure must fully surround the water and not be easy for small children to climb. (Artificial water 1 foot or more deep, including portable or temporary pools.) (§ 7-11.03).

What are the grading rules in Yuba City?

Yuba City's code: A grading permit is needed for 50 cubic yards or more. (Projects under 50 cubic yards are exempt only if cuts and fills are under 2 feet, slopes under 10%, and drainage is not blocked.) (§ 7-16.09); Minor projects meeting all: under 50 cubic yards, cuts/fills under 2 feet, drainage unchanged, stable slopes under 10%. (Single-family lots under ½ acre (12,780 square feet) must also meet these rules; mitigation agreements or other conditions may still require approval.) (§ 7-16.09).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Yuba City?

Yuba City's code: Security lights must be shielded so they do not cause glare on streets or neighboring properties. (Lights for security on private property, in all districts.) (§ 8-5.5803).

Can I run a family child care home in Yuba City?

California law sets this for every city, including Yuba City: 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 Yuba City?

Yuba City's code: An alarm permit is required. (§ 4-10.040).

What signs may I put up at my home in Yuba City?

Yuba City's code: 1 address sign and 1 name plate per residence; not more than 4 square feet. (Address signs and name plates.) (§ 8-5.6305); Garage or yard sale signs: up to 2, each up to 5 square feet and 6 feet high. (On private property with the owner's permission; put up no earlier than 24 hours before the sale, remove within 24 hours after.) (§ 8-5.6305).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Yuba City?

Yuba City's code: an owner must request adequate refuse collection service within 15 days of occupancy; otherwise the collector gives written notice that service is required (§ 6-3.08).

General information, not legal advice.

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