Alameda · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Alameda

Alameda's city code sets fence heights by yard on residential properties, with higher limits for see-through fencing. Corner lots also have visibility zones where fences and plants must stay low.

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Key points

Front yards: Alameda limits front-yard fences to 3 feet, or 4 feet with see-through fencing, or 5 with see-through fencing and Planning Director approval.
Side and rear yards: Alameda limits side- and rear-yard fences to 6 feet, or 8 feet with see-through fencing material.

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

Fences and walls

Alameda code What Alameda's code adds
Corner visibility	No fence or other barrier can be taller than 3 feet in a visibility zone. Applies: Visibility zones where 2 vehicle travel ways meet, as set by the City Engineer, usually a triangle with sides of at least 20 feet. § 30-5.14 · code text In visibility zones no barrier shall exceed three (3′) feet in height. Hedges, shrubs and trees can be no higher than 4 feet above the street level at the curb. Applies: On corner lots, within 15 feet of where the property lines meet at the street corner. § 23-3.6 · code text It shall be unlawful for the owners or occupants of any corner lot or premises in the City to keep, permit or maintain hedges, shrubs, trees or any growth between the curb line and the property line or within the private lot or premises for a distance of fifteen (15°) feet measured horizontally from the point of intersection of the property lines at street corners unless the hedges, shrubs, trees or other growth are so trimmed that the height of same shall not exceed four (4°) feet above the level of the street at the curb, except as follows: Trees with trunks bare up to 8 feet above street level do not need to be trimmed. Applies: On corner lots, unless the police Traffic Division finds the tree is a traffic hazard. § 23-3.6 · code text That trees, the main stalks or trunks of which are exposed to a height of eight (8°) feet above the street level need not be so trimmed or cut unless said trees are determined to constitute and be a traffic hazard by the Traffic Division of the City Police Department, which determination of the Traffic Division may be reviewed by the City Planning Board upon written application for such review.
Front yard height	Front yard fences and barriers can be no more than 3 feet tall. Applies: Front yards of residentially zoned or developed properties, unless another part of this rule allows more. § 30-5.14 · code text In front yards on residentially zoned or developed properties barriers shall not exceed three (3′) feet in height except as permitted elsewhere in this subsection. A 3-foot fence can be extended up to 4 feet with see-through fencing. Applies: Barriers otherwise limited to 3 feet, when the added part is see-through fencing material. § 30-5.14 · code text Barriers otherwise limited to three (3′) feet in height may be vertically extended up to four (4′) feet in height with see-through style fencing material. A 3-foot fence can be extended up to 5 feet with see-through fencing, with Planning Director approval. Applies: Barriers otherwise limited to 3 feet; the added part must be see-through, and the Planning Director must approve it. § 30-5.14 · code text Barriers otherwise limited to three (3′) feet in height may be vertically extended up to five (5′) feet with see-through style fencing material, subject to approval by the Planning Director, who shall consider the compatibility of the fence design with its site and surrounding uses.
Side and rear yard height	Side and rear yard fences and barriers can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Side and rear yards of residentially zoned or developed properties, unless another part of this rule allows more. § 30-5.14 · code text In side and rear yards on residentially zoned or developed properties barriers shall not exceed six (6′) feet in height, except as permitted elsewhere in this subsection. A 6-foot fence can be extended up to 8 feet with see-through fencing. Applies: Barriers otherwise limited to 6 feet, when the added part is see-through fencing material. § 30-5.14 · code text Barriers otherwise limited to six (6′) feet in height may be extended up to eight (8′) feet in height with see-through style fencing material. Chain-link fences up to 6 feet tall may be allowed. Applies: Rear and side yards of homes; not street side yards, rear yards of corner or double-frontage lots, or yards next to public or quasi-public uses. § 30-5.14 · code text Chain-link fences up to six (6′) feet in height may be permitted in rear and side yards on residentially developed properties, where such yard is not a street side yard nor a rear yard of a corner or double-frontage lot, and where any such yard is not adjacent to public and quasi-public land uses.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Alameda code What Alameda's code adds
EV-ready new homes	1 parking space must be a Level 2 EV Ready Space. Applies: Applies to residential use with a private, dedicated garage where off-street parking is provided. § 30-7.5 · code text One (1) parking space provided shall be a Level 2 EV Ready Space. 25% of spaces must be at least Level 2 EV Ready, and 25% at least Level 1 EV Ready. Applies: Applies to multifamily shared parking facilities. § 30-7.5 · code text Twenty-five (25%) percent of parking spaces provided shall be at least a Level 2 EV Ready Space. Twenty-five (25%) percent of spaces provided shall be at least a Level 1 EV Ready Space.

Pets, chickens and bees

Alameda code What Alameda's code adds
Chickens	Yes. No more than 6 chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl. § 7-4.1 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by him/her or it in the City, any more than six (6) chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl.
Coop setback	The fowl enclosure must be at least 20 feet from any occupied dwelling. Applies: Applies to chickens and other domestic fowl. Dwellings owned or occupied by the keeper do not count. § 7-4.1 · code text Any such fowl shall be kept in an enclosure, no part of which is within twenty (20°) feet of any dwelling house occupied by human beings, excepting any and all dwelling houses owned or occupied by such person, firm or corporation;
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old. § 7-3.7 · code text it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to maintain on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by him/her or it in the City, more than three (3) dogs over the age of four (4) months.

Other Alameda rules on this

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

Urban lot split standards (SB 9) (§ 30-83.3)
Overnight street parking of large vehicles (§ 8-7.10) — city streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Alameda?

Alameda limits front-yard fences to 3 feet, or 4 feet with see-through fencing, or 5 with see-through fencing and Planning Director approval. Alameda limits side- and rear-yard fences to 6 feet, or 8 feet with see-through fencing material.

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

Alameda's code: 1 parking space must be a Level 2 EV Ready Space. (Applies to residential use with a private, dedicated garage where off-street parking is provided.) (§ 30-7.5); 25% of spaces must be at least Level 2 EV Ready, and 25% at least Level 1 EV Ready. (Applies to multifamily shared parking facilities.) (§ 30-7.5).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Alameda?

Alameda's code: Yes. No more than 6 chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl. (§ 7-4.1); The fowl enclosure must be at least 20 feet from any occupied dwelling. (Applies to chickens and other domestic fowl. Dwellings owned or occupied by the keeper do not count.) (§ 7-4.1).

General information, not legal advice.

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