Amador City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Amador City

Amador City sets fence heights by yard in its R-1 to R-4 zones and limits detached accessory building height. Home businesses need a land use permit and a city business license, and only occupants may be employed on the premises.

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Key points

Fence height: In R-1 to R-4 zones, Amador City limits fences to 4 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in rear or side yards.
Accessory buildings: Amador City limits detached accessory buildings in the R-1 to R-4 zones to 2 stories or 30 feet.
Home business: Amador City home businesses may use at most 50% of the structure's area, and only occupants of the dwelling may be employed there.

Each rule below is marked Amador 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

Amador City code In R-1 to R-4 zones, Amador City limits fences to 4 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in rear or side yards.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Amador City code What Amador City's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 2 stories or 30 feet tall. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 zone. § 17.60.130 · code text No detached accessory building in the R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4 zone may exceed two stories or thirty (30) feet in height.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any interior property line. Applies: Only 2-story accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 zones. § 17.60.130 · code text No accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4 zones; if two stories in height, shall be located nearer than five feet to any interior property line.

Running a business from home

Amador City code Amador City home businesses may use at most 50% of the structure's area, and only occupants of the dwelling may be employed there.

All 5 Amador City rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Amador City code The land value plus 20% toward off-site improvements, for the share of local park the subdivision needs. 5 acres of park land for every 1,000 residents.

All 3 Amador City rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Amador City code What Amador City's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	Outside construction is allowed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Applies: Every day, in or within 500 feet of a residential zone; work at other hours that annoys a reasonable neighbor needs a permit, except emergencies. § 8.08.080 · code text It is unlawful for any person within a residential zone or within a radium of five hundred (500) feet therefrom, to operate equipment or perform any outside construction or repair work on buildings, structures, or projects or to operate any pile driver, power shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, power hoist, or any other construction type device (between the hours of ten p.m. of one day and seven a.m. of the next day) in such a manner that a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area is caused discomfort or annoyance unless beforehand a permit therefor has been duly obtained from (the officer or body of the city having the function to issue permits of this kind).

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

Amador City code What Amador City's code adds
Spaces for a single-family home	1 parking space for each dwelling unit on the same lot, at least 8 feet wide and 20 feet long. Applies: Every dwelling, including multiple dwellings. § 17.64.020 · code text For every dwelling, multiple dwelling, or other structure erected or intended to be used as a dwelling, there shall be provided on the same lot or parcel of land one parking space for each dwelling unit.

Trash and recycling carts

Amador City code What Amador City's code adds
Sorting organics and green waste	Customers must separate residential green and garden waste from general household waste. § 8.13.030 · code text Each customer small be responsible for segregating its residential organic green/ garden from general household waste. Separate garden and green waste from household waste. Only clean garden and green waste goes in the franchisee's green container. § 8.13.030 · code text The customer shall be responsible for the container(s) and maintaining supervision over container(s) at their dwelling or premises, and shall maintain such container(s) in a sanitary and safe condition.
When carts must come back	The customer must remove the container from the road or street no later than 24 hours after collection. § 8.13.040 · code text The customer shall remove the container(s) from the road or street no later than twenty-four (24) hours following collection.

Other Amador City rules on this

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

Parking RVs, campers and trailers on streets (§ 10.08.030) — public streets only
Draining a swimming pool (§ 13.04.600)
Rummage sales: how many days a year (§ 17.60.180)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Amador City?

Amador City limits detached accessory buildings in the R-1 to R-4 zones to 2 stories or 30 feet.

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Amador City?

Amador City's code: Outside construction is allowed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Every day, in or within 500 feet of a residential zone; work at other hours that annoys a reasonable neighbor needs a permit, except emergencies.) (§ 8.08.080).

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

California law sets this for every city, including Amador 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)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Amador City?

Amador City's code: 1 parking space for each dwelling unit on the same lot, at least 8 feet wide and 20 feet long. (Every dwelling, including multiple dwellings.) (§ 17.64.020).

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

Amador City's code: Customers must separate residential green and garden waste from general household waste. (§ 8.13.030); Separate garden and green waste from household waste. Only clean garden and green waste goes in the franchisee's green container. (§ 8.13.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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Amador City Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Amador City

Amador City overview

Zoning districts in Amador City