Belmont · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Belmont

Belmont's own code sets limits on keeping animals on residential lots and covers Protected Trees, pool covers and rooftop solar and EV charger permits. Its most concrete local limits are on animals, with lot-size and zone conditions for livestock and pygmy goats.

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Key points

Animal limit: Belmont allows at most 20 adult animals per property; with 5 or more, coops, pens and stables must stay out of required setbacks.
Livestock: Belmont allows 2 horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats on a lot of at least 1 acre, plus 1 per additional half acre.
Pygmy goats: With a city permit, up to 2 pygmy goats are allowed in listed zones; the pen must be at least 100 square feet.
Solar and EV: Belmont gives small rooftop solar expedited review; walk-in solar and EV charger permits issue over the counter or within 1 business day.
Tree removal: Belmont regulates removal of Protected Trees; emergencies and fire hazards that cannot be reasonably mitigated are the listed exceptions.
Pool covers: Belmont requires covers on all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encourages them on existing pools.

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

Solar panels and EV chargers

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
EV charger permit	Walk-in: over the counter or within 1 business day; electronic: within 1-3 business days. Electronic filing is allowed. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. § 7-92 · code text For walk-in applications, the Building Official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits over-the-counter or within 1 business day. For electronic submittals the building official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits within 1—3 business days.
Solar permit process	Fast review with a checklist; the application, documents and electronic signature may be filed electronically. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems. § 7-82 · code text For walk-in applications, the Building Official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits over-the-counter or within 1 business day. For electronic submittals the building official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits within 1 - 3 business days.
Review time	Walk-in: over the counter or within 1 business day; electronic: within 1-3 business days. Applies: Applies to plan review and permits for small rooftop home solar systems. § 7-82 · code text For electronic submittals the building official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits within 1 - 3 business days.

Tree removal

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
Exemptions	Emergency removal of trees damaged by storm, flood, earthquake, fire or disaster, or posing imminent danger as an official determines. Also applies when firefighters fighting a fire decide removal is necessary. § 25-5 · code text The tree is damaged by storms, floods, earthquakes, fires or natural disasters, or firefighting personnel actively engaged in fighting a fire determine that removal of the tree is necessary, or a peace officer, firefighter or other city official acting in their official capacity determines that the tree poses an imminent danger to people or property. A tree an official finds to be a substantial fire hazard that cannot reasonably be reduced. § 25-5 · code text The fire marshal or other city official acting in their official capacity has determined that the tree is a substantial fire hazard that cannot be reasonably mitigated.
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Applies to Protected Trees, except in the listed emergency and fire-hazard cases. § 25-5 · code text Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for a person to remove a Protected Tree without a permit issued in accordance with this chapter.

Swimming pools

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	Covers are required for all new pools and hot tubs and encouraged for existing pools. Applies: Applies to new pools and hot tubs; existing pools are encouraged only. § 25.5-20 · code text Covers shall be required for all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encouraged to be installed for existing pools.

Pets, chickens and bees

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
Coop setback	No part of a coop, cage, pen, stable or runway may be in the required front, side or rear setbacks. Applies: Applies to property housing 5 or more adult animals or fowl. § 5-32 · code text On any property housing five (5) or more adult animals, no part of any such house, coop, cage, stable, barn, shed or runway for such animals or fowl shall be placed within the required front, side or rear setbacks as delineated in the city zoning code.
Large animals	At least a 1-acre lot for 2 animals; 1 more animal per extra ½ acre. Applies: Applies to horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats, except pygmy goats. § 5-33 · code text The minimum lot area upon which any horse, cow, sheep, llama or goat may be kept shall be one (1) acre; and two (2) of such animals may be kept on such a parcel. Up to 2 altered male or female pygmy goats. Applies: Applies in the R-1E, R-1H, R-1A, R-1B, HRO-1, HRO-2, HRO-3 and A zones; a permit is required. § 5-54 · code text Up to two (2) altered male or female pygmy goats shall be permitted in the following zoning districts: R-1E, R-1H, R-1A, R-1B, HRO-1, HRO-2, HRO-3 and A, provided they are contained in appropriate pens or fenced in areas properly sized and constructed, and the area and animals are maintained in a clean, odor-free condition. At most 2 pygmy goats within 10 feet of an adjacent property line. Applies: Applies to pygmy goats, unless the adjacent property's owner and occupant consent in writing. § 5-55 · code text No person shall keep or maintain more than two (2) pygmy goats within ten (10) feet of any adjacent property line, unless written consent of the property owner and occupant of adjacent property allows a variance in the ten (10) foot setback. At least 20 square feet of enclosure per pygmy goat. Applies: Applies to pygmy goat enclosures. § 5-55 · code text In no case shall there be more than one (1) pygmy goat per twenty (20) square feet of enclosure area. No more than 20 adult animals per property. Applies: Applies to any property, for animals and fowl covered by the animal-keeping rules. § 5-32 · code text No more than twenty (20) adult animals shall be permitted upon any property. A pen of at least 100 square feet of land. Applies: Applies to pygmy goat pens. § 5-55 · code text Pygmy goat pens shall consist of a minimum one hundred (100) square feet of land area and may include the pygmy goat enclosure.
Permit	A pygmy goat permit from the community development department. Applies: Applies to keeping up to 2 pygmy goats in the R-1E, R-1H, R-1A, R-1B, HRO-1, HRO-2, HRO-3 and A zones; no breeding or commercial use. § 5-54 · code text Any person keeping or maintaining a pygmy goat in areas provided for in subsection 5.54(a) must obtain a permit in writing from the community development department. Planning commission approval is required. Applies: Applies to keeping horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats in a pasture of 2 or more acres. § 5-33 · code text Subject to the approval of the planning commission, horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats may be kept in a pasture containing two (2) or more acres.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Belmont gives small rooftop solar expedited review; walk-in solar and EV charger permits issue over the counter or within 1 business day.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Belmont?

Belmont regulates removal of Protected Trees; emergencies and fire hazards that cannot be reasonably mitigated are the listed exceptions.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Belmont?

Belmont requires covers on all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encourages them on existing pools.

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

Belmont allows at most 20 adult animals per property; with 5 or more, coops, pens and stables must stay out of required setbacks. Belmont allows 2 horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats on a lot of at least 1 acre, plus 1 per additional half acre. With a city permit, up to 2 pygmy goats are allowed in listed zones; the pen must be at least 100 square feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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Belmont Municipal Code — full text

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