Albany · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Albany

Albany sets fence heights by yard in R Districts and limits accessory structure height by distance from the property line. Home businesses need a city business license, and some uses are not allowed.

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Key points

Fence height: Albany limits fences to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet elsewhere in R Districts; 8 feet next to parks.
Accessory structures: Albany limits accessory structures to 12 feet when more than 3 feet from the property line, and 8 feet 6 inches within 3 feet.
Home business: Albany home businesses need a business license; auto repair, barbershops, beauty parlors, clinics, kennels and medical offices are not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

Albany code What Albany's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 3 feet tall within 10 feet of a driveway edge or 25 feet of a street corner. Applies: Fences, walls, hedges and other visual obstructions in the street side yard of a corner lot. § 20.24.110 · code text In the street side yard of a corner lot, any fence, wall, hedge, or other visual obstruction, shall not exceed three (3) feet in height within ten (10) feet of the intersection of a street line with the outside line of any driveway, or within twenty-five (25) feet of the intersection of any two (2) street lines.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, walls and hedges can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: In any R District, unless the code states another limit. § 20.24.110 · code text Except as otherwise provided below, no fence, wall or hedge shall exceed six (6) feet in height in any R District, or eight (8) feet in height in any C District.
Front yard height	Front yard fences, walls and hedges can be no more than 3 feet tall. Applies: In any required front yard in any R District. § 20.24.110 · code text In any R District any fence, wall hedge, or other visual obstruction shall not exceed three (3) feet in height within any required front yard.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, walls or hedges can be up to 8 feet tall. Applies: Only along interior lot lines next to public recreation areas such as parks, playgrounds and bicycle paths. § 20.24.110 · code text The maximum height of fences, walls or hedges shall be eight (8) feet along interior lot lines which are adjacent to public recreational facilities such as parks, playgrounds and bicycle paths.
Permit	An encroachment permit is needed to build into a public right-of-way; nothing may extend over a sidewalk. Applies: Fences, walls, gates, hedges, retaining walls, or plants with less than 7 feet of clearance underneath, in a public right-of-way. § 20.24.110 · code text No fence, wall, gate, hedge or retaining wall, nor any portion of a tree or other vegetation having a vertical clearance of less than seven (7) feet, shall encroach upon any public right-of-way without an encroachment permit, nor, in any case, upon any sidewalk within a public right-of-way.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Albany code What Albany's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet tall. Applies: Accessory structures more than 3 feet from the property line; roof pitch can be no more than 45 degrees. § 20.24.130 · code text The maximum height of an accessory structure shall be twelve (12) feet, except that within three (3) feet of the property line, an accessory structure shall not exceed eight (8) feet six (6) inches in height, as measured from the top of the foundation, and no roof pitch shall exceed forty-five (45°) degrees. No more than 8 feet 6 inches tall, measured from the top of the foundation. Applies: Accessory structures within 3 feet of the property line. § 20.24.130 · code text The maximum height of an accessory structure shall be twelve (12) feet, except that within three (3) feet of the property line, an accessory structure shall not exceed eight (8) feet six (6) inches in height, as measured from the top of the foundation, and no roof pitch shall exceed forty-five (45°) degrees. Flag and light poles can be up to 16 feet tall. Applies: Only if they are set back at least 3 feet from side and rear lines. § 20.24.130 · code text Flag and light poles may be a maximum of sixteen (16) feet provided a 3-foot side and rear setback is maintained. Basketball hoops and similar sports fixtures can be up to 14 feet tall. Applies: Only if they are set back at least 3 feet from side and rear lines. § 20.24.130 · code text Basketball hoop with backboard or similar sports fixture may be a maximum of fourteen (14) feet provided a 3-foot side and rear setback is maintained.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 30% of the required rear setback area or 30% of the whole rear yard, whichever is greater. Applies: All accessory buildings and structures on the lot together. § 20.24.130 · code text No accessory building or structure, nor the aggregate of two (2) or more accessory structures shall occupy more than thirty (30%) percent of the required rear setback area, or more than thirty (30%) percent of the entire rear yard, whichever is greater. No more than 36 square feet. Applies: Tree houses. § 20.24.130 · code text Maximum size. Thirty-six (36) square feet.
Side and rear setback	Either within 6 inches of the side or rear lot line, or at least 3 feet away. Applies: Side and rear lot lines; no windows, doors or vents within 3 feet of the property line. § 20.24.130 · code text Accessory structures shall be within six (6) inches of the side or rear lot line or shall be set back at least three (3) feet from side or rear property line. At least 6 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Outdoor cooking areas and fire pits. § 20.24.130 · code text Shall be setback from side and rear property lines by six (6) feet. At least 3 feet from any property line. Applies: Tree houses and their ladders or other ways up. § 20.24.130 · code text No tree house or means of access (e.g. ladder) shall be within three (3) feet of a property line.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the house. § 20.24.130 · code text No accessory structure shall be closer than six (6) feet to the main building on the lot, nor located in a required front setback area.

Running a business from home

Albany code What Albany's code adds
Permit	A city business license is required, with the fee paid. § 20.20.040 · code text The home occupation or business shall make application and pay the required fee for a business license pursuant to the City Code or such applicable ordinance or ordinances of this City as may be hereinafter enacted.
Businesses not allowed	Automobile repair; barbershops and beauty parlors; clinics and hospitals, including veterinarian clinics and hospitals; kennels and other boarding for pets; offices for physicians, dentists and other medical practitioners (a practitioner who works through house calls may use the home for clerical and similar work); other uses that the Community Development Director finds conflict with the purpose of the section § 20.20.040 · code text Automobile repair;

RV and boat parking

Albany code What Albany's code adds
Parking on the street	Up to 48 consecutive hours in front of the home, to load or unload before or after a trip. Applies: Resident police permit for an oversized RV or trailer; never within 100 feet of a corner. Otherwise oversized vehicles may not park on public streets. § 9-10.21 · code text Any resident with a permit issued by the City of Albany Police Department whose oversized recreational vehicle or trailer is parked for a period not to exceed forty-eight (48) consecutive hours in front of his or her residence for the purpose of loading or unloading before or after a trip. A permit for no more than 3 days. Applies: For a resident's guest with an oversized RV. The guest is not a City resident and the vehicle is not registered to a City address. § 9-10.21 · code text A permit not to exceed three (3) days will be issued if:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Albany code What Albany's code adds
Solar permit process	Expedited review. You may apply by email, the Internet or fax, and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems. § 12-14.5 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, the Internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants. Only 1 approved inspection is required. A separate fire inspection may be done. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. § 12-14.6 · code text Only one approved inspection shall be required and performed by the Community Development Department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. A separate fire inspection may be performed. The inspection is scheduled within 2 business days of a request, with a 2-hour inspection window. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. § 12-14.6 · code text An inspection will be scheduled within two (2) business days of a request and provide a two (2) hour inspection window.

Pets, chickens and bees

Albany code What Albany's code adds
Chickens	With a permit, up to 6 female chickens or rabbits. Roosters are not allowed. § 10-6.10 · code text A permit allows an individual to own up to six (6) female chickens or rabbits.
Coop setback	Animal housing must be at least 50 feet from any home or business the owner does not own. Applies: Not required if all bordering property owners give the City unanimous written consent. § 10-6.10 · code text The proposed housing and animals' premises must be separate from the guardian's/owner's house and at least fifty (50') feet from any residence or business not owned by the guardian/owner or, alternatively, every party whose properties border on the area affected by the animal premises must give their unanimous written consent to the City for this permit to be granted.
Permit	A permit from the Community Development and Environmental Resources Department is required. Applies: Applies to keeping chickens or rabbits within City limits. § 10-6.10 · code text It shall be unlawful to keep chickens or rabbits within the City limits unless a proper permit has been issued by the Community Development and Environmental Resources Department.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Albany?

Albany limits fences to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet elsewhere in R Districts; 8 feet next to parks.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Albany?

Albany limits accessory structures to 12 feet when more than 3 feet from the property line, and 8 feet 6 inches within 3 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Albany?

Albany home businesses need a business license; auto repair, barbershops, beauty parlors, clinics, kennels and medical offices are not allowed.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Albany?

Albany's code: Up to 48 consecutive hours in front of the home, to load or unload before or after a trip. (Resident police permit for an oversized RV or trailer; never within 100 feet of a corner. Otherwise oversized vehicles may not park on public streets.) (§ 9-10.21); A permit for no more than 3 days. (For a resident's guest with an oversized RV. The guest is not a City resident and the vehicle is not registered to a City address.) (§ 9-10.21).

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

Albany's code: Expedited review. You may apply by email, the Internet or fax, and electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 12-14.5); Only 1 approved inspection is required. A separate fire inspection may be done. (Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 12-14.6).

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

Albany's code: With a permit, up to 6 female chickens or rabbits. Roosters are not allowed. (§ 10-6.10); Animal housing must be at least 50 feet from any home or business the owner does not own. (Not required if all bordering property owners give the City unanimous written consent.) (§ 10-6.10).

General information, not legal advice.

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