Atwater · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Atwater

Atwater sets fence heights by location and material, with lower limits in exterior setbacks. Small accessory structures are exempt from the accessory rules, and home businesses need a permit and are limited in size.

Ask about building on your lot in Atwater See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Atwater limits wood fences to 7 feet on interior property lines and 3 feet in exterior setbacks; open chainlink there, at most 4 feet.
Small structures: In Atwater, one accessory structure per lot under 120 square feet and under 8 feet tall is exempt from the city's accessory rules.
Home business: Atwater home businesses may use 1/4 of the main residence or 400 square feet, whichever is smallest; only residents may work there.

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

Fences and walls

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 7 feet high. Applies: Wood fences on interior property lines. § 17.16.065 · code text Fences constructed from wood may not exceed seven feet in height on the interior property lines, but may not exceed three feet in height in exterior setbacks or within the clear-zone. No more than 3 feet high. Applies: Wood fences in exterior setbacks or within the clear-zone. § 17.16.065 · code text Fences constructed from wood may not exceed seven feet in height on the interior property lines, but may not exceed three feet in height in exterior setbacks or within the clear-zone. Up to 4 feet high. Applies: Chainlink fences without slats, or similar fences that do not block the view, within exterior setbacks. § 17.16.065 · code text A chainlink fence without slats or similar type, which does not block the view, may be four feet high within exterior setbacks.
Side and rear yard height	Up to 7 feet high. Applies: Wood fences in the exterior side yard of any corner lot, set back 10 feet from the property line. § 17.16.065 · code text On all corner lots, exterior side yard fence constructed from wood may be seven feet in height, set back ten feet from the property line.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
No permit needed up to	Less than 120 square feet of roof area and less than 8 feet in overall height. Applies: Exempt from the accessory building rules. Only 1 exempt structure per residential lot. It may not be in any front yard or easement. § 17.06.016 · code text An accessory building or structure which contains less than 120 square feet of projected roof area and is less than eight feet in overall height is exempt from the provisions of this chapter;

Running a business from home

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
Space used	No more than 1/4 of the home's floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is smaller. Applies: One home business, including storage and supply space. § 17.75.040 · code text The total floor area used for the occupation including area for storage and supplies shall be limited to one-fourth of the floor area of the main residence or 400 square feet whichever is smallest. The Planning Commission may allow an additional 200 square feet. Applies: With a second home occupation permit. § 17.75.040 · code text With a second home occupation permit the Planning Commission may grant an additional 200 square feet.
Employees	Only residents may do the work. No non-resident may be employed. Applies: When the business is conducted inside the residence. § 17.75.040 · code text The occupation shall be conducted entirely by resident occupants and shall not employ any person who is not a resident when conducted within the residence.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 17.75.050 · code text Planning staff shall review the application and issue the home occupation permit.
Businesses not allowed	on-premise commercial activity such as buying or selling a product directly to a customer Applies: telephone or mail order sales are allowed § 17.75.040 · code text On premise commercial activity such as buying or selling a product directly to a customer is not permitted. Telephone or mail order sales are permitted.

RV and boat parking

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
Where it may be parked	Fully inside a lawfully existing structure. Applies: Applies to trailers, campers and RVs in residential zones; otherwise only in a mobile home or travel trailer park. § 17.12.170 · code text Such facilities may be placed, kept or maintained wholly within a structure lawfully existing on the premises; In the rear or side yard setbacks. Applies: Applies to trailers, campers and RVs in residential zones; corner-lot vision clearance still applies. § 17.12.170 · code text Such facilities may be placed within the rear or side yard setbacks. In the front yard. Applies: Applies in residential zones; the vehicle may not overhang the sidewalk or extend into the City right-of-way or corner lot clearance area. § 17.12.170 · code text Such facilities may be placed within the front yard, provided the vehicle does not overhang the sidewalk or extend into the City right-of-way or the corner lot clearance area as specified in Section 17.12.120.
Size limit	Vans and pickups with camper shells no taller than 84 inches do not count as RVs. Applies: Applies to the RV parking rules in residential zones. § 17.12.170 · code text Vans or pickups with camper shells which do not exceed an overall height of 84 inches, or pickups without camper shells are not considered to be recreational vehicles.
Parking on the street	Up to 72 hours on the street. Applies: Applies only for loading, unloading, cleaning, or mowing the lawn. § 17.12.170 · code text Any recreational vehicle mentioned in this section may be parked in the street for a period of 72 hours for loading, unloading, cleaning, or mowing the lawn. Visitors who do not live in Atwater are exempt from the RV rules for 72 hours. § 17.12.170 · code text Visitors who are not residents of the City of Atwater are exempt from the above for a period of 72 hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
EV charger permit	Applications may be sent electronically (e-mail, internet or fax), and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.04.015 · code text the Building Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City's adopted checklist. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations; the application must also meet applicable laws and health and safety standards. § 15.04.015 · code text the Building Official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits.

Swimming pools

Atwater code What Atwater's code adds
Pool barrier	Openings no larger than 6 inches square. Applies: Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool or premises. § 17.75.030 · code text having no opening therein (other than gates or doors as hereinafter provided) larger than six inches square The barrier must be a type children cannot easily climb. Applies: Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool or premises. § 17.75.030 · code text and of a type not readily climbed by children. Main and accessory buildings may serve as part of the fence. § 17.75.030 · code text Main and accessory buildings may be used for fencing purposes.
Barrier height	At least 6 feet tall. § 17.75.030 · code text a fence or solid structure not less than six feet in height
Gates	Self-closing and self-latching; the latch must be placed where small children cannot easily reach it. Applies: Applies to gates or doors through the required enclosure. § 17.75.030 · code text All gates or doors opening through the solid enclosure required by Subsection C. shall, at all times, be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching date securely closed at all times when not in actual use. Such latching device must be so located as not to be easily accessible to small children Does not need to be self-closing and self-latching. Applies: Applies to the door of an occupied dwelling that forms part of the enclosure. § 17.75.030 · code text provided, however, that the door of any dwelling occupied by human beings and forming any part of the enclosure required by Subsection C. need not be so equipped.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from any property line. Applies: Applies to private pools in R districts; above-ground prefabricated pools under 5,000 gallons are exempt. § 17.75.030 · code text It may not be located closer than five feet to any property line of the property on which it is located.

Other Atwater rules on this

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

Permit to keep chickens, goats and other farm animals (Ch. 6.04)
Keeping bees (Ch. 8.08) — bees are not allowed

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Atwater?

Atwater limits wood fences to 7 feet on interior property lines and 3 feet in exterior setbacks; open chainlink there, at most 4 feet.

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

In Atwater, one accessory structure per lot under 120 square feet and under 8 feet tall is exempt from the city's accessory rules.

Can I run a business from my home in Atwater?

Atwater home businesses may use 1/4 of the main residence or 400 square feet, whichever is smallest; only residents may work there.

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

Atwater's code: Fully inside a lawfully existing structure. (Applies to trailers, campers and RVs in residential zones; otherwise only in a mobile home or travel trailer park.) (§ 17.12.170); In the rear or side yard setbacks. (Applies to trailers, campers and RVs in residential zones; corner-lot vision clearance still applies.) (§ 17.12.170).

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

Atwater's code: Applications may be sent electronically (e-mail, internet or fax), and electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.04.015); The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the City's adopted checklist. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations; the application must also meet applicable laws and health and safety standards.) (§ 15.04.015).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Atwater?

Atwater's code: Openings no larger than 6 inches square. (Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool or premises.) (§ 17.75.030); The barrier must be a type children cannot easily climb. (Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool or premises.) (§ 17.75.030).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Atwater property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Atwater

Atwater Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Atwater

Buying & selling in Atwater

Atwater overview