Benicia · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Benicia

Benicia ties accessory structure height in R districts to wall height and roof pitch, and sets setbacks and building separation. The city also has a section on home-based businesses.

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Key points

Accessory structures: In R districts, Benicia limits accessory structure walls to 12 feet and peaks to 15, 18 or 20 feet, depending on roof pitch.
Home business: Benicia has a city section on home-based businesses (§ 17.70.070).

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
Maximum height	Walls no more than 12 feet high. Applies: Wall height of accessory structures in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text The maximum wall height of an accessory structure shall be 12 feet, subject to the provisions of this subsection. No more than 15 feet at the peak. Applies: Accessory structures in R districts with a roof pitch below 4:12. § 17.70.050 · code text Fifteen feet where the roof pitch is below 4:12. No more than 18 feet at the peak. Applies: Accessory structures in R districts with a roof pitch between 4:12 and 6:12. § 17.70.050 · code text Eighteen feet where the roof pitch is between 4:12 and 6:12. No more than 20 feet at the peak. Applies: Accessory structures in R districts with a roof pitch over 6:12. § 17.70.050 · code text Twenty feet where the roof pitch exceeds 6:12.
Size or lot coverage	Counts toward lot coverage and must meet the district's lot coverage limits. Applies: Total floor area of accessory structures more than 4 feet high in RS districts. § 17.70.050 · code text In an RS district, the total gross floor area of accessory structures more than four feet in height shall be counted in computing lot coverage and shall meet the lot coverage requirements of BMC § 17.24.030, No larger than the total area of the main home on the same site. Applies: Any one accessory building in RS districts. § 17.70.050 · code text except that the total area of any one accessory building shall not exceed the total area of the primary residential structure on the same site.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from a rear or side property line. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear yard in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text An accessory structure in a required rear yard shall be located at least five feet from a rear or side property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from any other building on the site. Applies: Accessory buildings in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text A minimum 10-foot distance shall be maintained between an accessory building and any other building on the site; May be reduced to 5 feet. Applies: Only with an exception approved by the development services director, in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text the development services director may authorize an exception to criteria to reduce the separation between buildings to five feet.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves an application that meets the city's checklist and issues all needed permits. Applies: Electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.40.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. You may submit the permit application and supporting documents electronically. Applies: Electric vehicle charging station permit applications. § 15.40.040 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review: a permit is issued when a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan; only one inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.35.060 · code text The building safety division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for express applications, or within one to three working days when in receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Review time	Same day for express applications; within 1 to 3 working days for a complete application. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.35.060 · code text The building safety division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for express applications, or within one to three working days when in receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
Pool barrier	Pools and hot tubs need fencing per city code; more fencing, separation or fixed windows may be required for safety. § 17.70.080 · code text Swimming pools and hot tubs shall be fenced, as required by Chapter 15.20 BMC. Additional fencing, separation, or fixed windows shall be required where, in the judgment of the building official, such features are needed for safety.

Pets, chickens and bees

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
Chickens	Yes: at most 10 chickens or other fowl, and at most 20 birds or rabbits combined per legal lot. Applies: Single-family detached homes in a residential district. § 6.32.040 · code text In single-family detached residences in a residential district, a maximum combination of 20 birds or rabbits per legal lot are permitted, provided all of them are kept at least 20 feet from any neighboring house built or used for human habitation. In no case shall more than 10 chickens or other fowl be permitted. Yes: at most 6 birds, fowl or rabbits combined per legal lot. Applies: Multifamily residences. § 6.32.040 · code text For multifamily residences, a maximum total combination of six birds, fowl or rabbits per legal lot is permitted; provided, that all of them are kept at least 20 feet from any neighboring house built or used for human habitation.
Coop setback	At least 20 feet. Applies: Birds, fowl and rabbits at single-family and multifamily homes, measured from any neighboring house used for living. § 6.32.040 · code text In single-family detached residences in a residential district, a maximum combination of 20 birds or rabbits per legal lot are permitted, provided all of them are kept at least 20 feet from any neighboring house built or used for human habitation.
Large animals	Allowed only in an O-S district, subject to other city code rules. Applies: Pigs, hogs, sheep, oxen, horses, bulls, steers, cows, burros, mules, goats or similar animals. § 6.32.050 · code text It is unlawful to keep any pig, hog, sheep, ox, horse, bull, steer, cow, burro, jack, jenny, mule, goat, or similar animal in the city except that such animals may be kept in an O-S district subject to the provisions of BMC § 17.70.300.
Permit	A permit from the city is required. Applies: Goats kept on private property for weed reduction or abatement. § 6.32.050 · code text except the city may allow goats on public property, or on private property with a permit from the city, for weed reduction or abatement;

Other Benicia rules on this

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

Home-based businesses (§ 17.70.070)
SB 9 urban lot split (§ 16.32.120)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In R districts, Benicia limits accessory structure walls to 12 feet and peaks to 15, 18 or 20 feet, depending on roof pitch.

Can I run a business from my home in Benicia?

Benicia has a city section on home-based businesses (§ 17.70.070). Benicia also has a related rule: Home-based businesses (§ 17.70.070).

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

Benicia's code: The building official approves an application that meets the city's checklist and issues all needed permits. (Electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.40.040); You may submit the permit application and supporting documents electronically. (Electric vehicle charging station permit applications.) (§ 15.40.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Benicia?

Benicia's code: Pools and hot tubs need fencing per city code; more fencing, separation or fixed windows may be required for safety. (§ 17.70.080).

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

Benicia's code: Yes: at most 10 chickens or other fowl, and at most 20 birds or rabbits combined per legal lot. (Single-family detached homes in a residential district.) (§ 6.32.040); Yes: at most 6 birds, fowl or rabbits combined per legal lot. (Multifamily residences.) (§ 6.32.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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