Anderson · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Anderson

Anderson limits fences and hedges, with a lower limit between the front setback line and the street and on corner lots. The city also sets setbacks for detached accessory buildings and requires a permit for home businesses.

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Key points

Fence height: Anderson fences: at most 6 feet without a use permit; 3 feet between the front setback line and street, except in AG zones.
Accessory buildings: Anderson sets detached accessory buildings 5 feet from the rear property line unless it abuts an alley; side and front yards follow main-building rules.
Home business: Anderson requires a home occupation permit for a business in a residence in the R-1, R-2, rural estate, agriculture or natural resource districts.

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

Fences and walls

Anderson code What Anderson's code adds
Corner visibility	Fences, shrubs, hedges and plantings can be no more than 3 feet tall; no trees in the sight distance area. Applies: Corner lots in any zone. § 17.02.130 · code text In the case of corner lots regardless of zone, fences, shrubs, hedges, structures and/or plantings shall not exceed three feet in height. No trees shall be located or planted in the sight distance area.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences and hedges can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Unless a use permit allows more, or the city council or planning commission orders more. § 17.02.130 · code text Fences and hedges shall not exceed six feet in height unless authorized by a use permit or required to exceed such height by order of the city council or planning commission.
Front yard height	Fences and hedges can be no more than 3 feet tall. Applies: Between the front setback line and the street line, except in AG zones. § 17.02.130 · code text On the portion of the lot between the front setback line and the street line and on corner lots on the portion of the lot between the side setback and the street line of the intersecting street, fences and hedges shall not exceed three feet in height except in AG zones.
Side and rear yard height	Fences and hedges can be no more than 3 feet tall. Applies: On corner lots, between the side setback and the line of the side street, except in AG zones. § 17.02.130 · code text On the portion of the lot between the front setback line and the street line and on corner lots on the portion of the lot between the side setback and the street line of the intersecting street, fences and hedges shall not exceed three feet in height except in AG zones. Fences or hedges follow the same height limit as the adjoining part of the side lot. Applies: On a rear lot line that borders a street or a side lot line. § 17.02.130 · code text On any rear lot line contiguous to a street or side lot line, fences or hedges shall conform to height limitations applicable to the contiguous portion of the side lot.
Permit	A use permit is required for fences and hedges over 6 feet tall. Applies: Unless the city council or planning commission orders the greater height. § 17.02.130 · code text Fences and hedges shall not exceed six feet in height unless authorized by a use permit or required to exceed such height by order of the city council or planning commission.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Anderson code What Anderson's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet above the height limit of the zoning district. Applies: Accessory structures such as satellite dishes and gazebos. § 17.02.110 · code text Structure shall not be of a height more than fifteen feet above the height limit established for the district in which it is located.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings, unless the property borders an alley. § 17.02.110 · code text Five feet from the rear property line, unless the property abuts an alley. No rear setback is required. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on property that borders an alley. § 17.02.110 · code text If abutting an alley, no rear setback is required; Same side and front yard rules as the house. Applies: Detached accessory buildings. § 17.02.110 · code text To comply with side and front yard requirements for main buildings; Same side, front and rear yard rules as the house. Applies: Accessory structures such as satellite dishes and gazebos. § 17.02.110 · code text Must comply with side, front and rear yard requirements for the main building;
No permit needed up to	No building permit is needed for 120 square feet of roof area or less. Applies: Detached accessory buildings with no electrical or plumbing fixtures or connections. § 17.02.110 · code text Detached accessory buildings of one hundred twenty square feet or less of projected roof without any electrical or plumbing fixtures or connections are exempt from the requirement for a building permit.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the house; a breezeway may connect them. Applies: Detached accessory buildings. § 17.02.110 · code text May not be located closer than five feet to the main building, but may be connected to the main building with a breezeway.

Running a business from home

Anderson code What Anderson's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: Businesses in a home in the R-1, R-2, rural estate, agriculture or natural resource districts. § 17.08.100 · code text The requirements for any business conducted within a residence in an R-1 district are as provided in Chapter 17.60 of this title.

Lot splits under SB 9

Anderson code 2 parcels of about equal area; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot. At most 800 square feet of floor area per unit.

All 13 Anderson rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Anderson code What Anderson's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited administrative approval once a complete application meets the city checklist. No use until all required inspections are finaled. § 15.03.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete, meeting the requirements of the checklist, and being consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. A building permit is required. § 15.45.030 · code text A building permit is required to install an electric vehicle charging station.

Swimming pools

Anderson code No more than 2 inches between the ground and the bottom of the barrier. No gap or opening that lets a 4-inch sphere pass.

All 12 Anderson rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Anderson code What Anderson's code adds
Bees	Yes, with a use permit. No more than 2 colonies or nuclei per acre. Applies: Parcel of at least 5 acres. Bees at least 200 feet from public roads, streets, highways, and others' homes or occupied buildings. § 17.02.135 · code text The number of colonies or nuclei shall not exceed two per acre;
Chickens	Yes. 1 hen per 800 square feet of lot area. Applies: Noncommercial hens, no roosters, on an R-1 lot smaller than 8,000 square feet with a home on the same lot. § 17.02.135 · code text One hen chicken per eight hundred square feet of lot area for lots smaller than eight thousand square feet. Yes. No more than 10 hens. Applies: Noncommercial hens, no roosters, on an R-1 lot of 8,000 square feet or larger with a home on the same lot. § 17.02.135 · code text A maximum of ten hen chickens for lot size of eight thousand square feet or larger. Yes. More than 10 hens need a use permit. Applies: Applies in the R-1 district. § 17.02.135 · code text A use permit will be required to increase the number of hen chickens to more than ten on any lot in the R-1 district.
Coop setback	At least 50 feet from a front property line. Applies: Applies to chicken enclosures. § 17.02.135 · code text No chicken enclosures will be permitted within fifty feet of a front property line. At least 35 feet from all structures used for human living. Applies: Applies to chicken enclosures. § 17.02.135 · code text A minimum setback of thirty-five feet will be maintained from all structures dedicated to human habitation. At least 100 feet from any school, hospital or similar institution. Applies: Applies to chicken enclosures. § 17.02.135 · code text A minimum setback of one hundred feet shall be maintained from any school, hospital or other similar institution.
Large animals	At least 50 feet from any home or occupied building. Applies: Swine, sheep, goats, horses, cows or bulls, only with a use permit; at most 1 per acre; lot of 15,000 square feet or more. § 17.02.135 · code text No permit shall be granted for the keeping of any swine, sheep, goat, horse, cow or bull within fifty feet of any residence or occupied building,
Permit	A use permit is required. Applies: Animals or fowl other than household pets and the allowed hen chickens, unless the RE or agricultural zoning district allows them. § 17.02.135 · code text No animal or fowl, except those commonly considered as domestic household pets, and hen chickens as indicated in Subsection 17.02.135.A.3., shall be permitted in any district in the city, except in a rural estate (RE) or agricultural zoning district where the provisions thereof allow such animals, unless authorized by a use permit;
Pet limit	No more than 6 dogs, 6 cats, or 6 in any combination. Applies: Dogs and cats over 4 months old kept in or around a home. More need a kennel license. § 17.02.135 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, or maintain in or about any dwelling, or the curtilage thereof, more than six dogs or six cats, or any combination thereof exceeding a total of six, each of which is over the age of four months, unless the owner has obtained a kennel license under the provisions of this section.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Anderson?

Anderson fences: at most 6 feet without a use permit; 3 feet between the front setback line and street, except in AG zones.

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

Anderson sets detached accessory buildings 5 feet from the rear property line unless it abuts an alley; side and front yards follow main-building rules.

Can I run a business from my home in Anderson?

Anderson requires a home occupation permit for a business in a residence in the R-1, R-2, rural estate, agriculture or natural resource districts.

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

Anderson's code: Expedited administrative approval once a complete application meets the city checklist. No use until all required inspections are finaled. (§ 15.03.040); A building permit is required. (§ 15.45.030).

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

Anderson's code: Yes, with a use permit. No more than 2 colonies or nuclei per acre. (Parcel of at least 5 acres. Bees at least 200 feet from public roads, streets, highways, and others' homes or occupied buildings.) (§ 17.02.135); Yes. 1 hen per 800 square feet of lot area. (Noncommercial hens, no roosters, on an R-1 lot smaller than 8,000 square feet with a home on the same lot.) (§ 17.02.135).

General information, not legal advice.

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