Biggs · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Biggs

Biggs sets fence heights by yard in residential zones, with taller fences allowed by use permit. The city limits accessory structure coverage and splits home businesses into minor and major types.

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Key points

Fence height: Biggs limits residential front-yard fences to 4 feet (6 with a use permit) and side and rear fences to 6 feet (8 with one).
Accessory structures: Biggs limits all accessory buildings and structures combined to 50% of the rear yard area, and front-yard accessory structures to under 6 feet.
Home business: Biggs minor home businesses use less than 20% of the home with no regular client visits; major ones less than 30%, with 1 non-resident.

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

Fences and walls

Biggs code What Biggs's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 3 feet high. Applies: Any fence, hedge, wall or other improvement in the sight distance zone. No trees or plants may be planted there. § 14.110.080 · code text No fence, hedge, wall or other improvement within the sight distance zone, as defined in Chapter 14.20 BMC, shall exceed three feet in height, and no trees or vegetation shall be planted within the sight distance zone area. No more than 3 feet high. Applies: Fence in a sight visibility triangle within the public right-of-way. § 14.110.080 · code text No fence greater than four feet in height, or three feet in height within a sight visibility triangle area, may be allowed within the public right-of-way.
Front yard height	At most 4 feet. Applies: Front yard in a residential zone, without a use permit. Decorative support posts may be 4 feet 6 inches. § 14.110.080 · code text - Front Yard \| 4' 2 \| 6' At most 6 feet. Applies: Front yard in a residential zone, with a use permit. § 14.110.080 · code text - Front Yard \| 4' 2 \| 6'
Side and rear yard height	At most 6 feet. Applies: Side or rear yard in a residential zone, without a use permit. § 14.110.080 · code text - Side Yard \| 6' \| 8' At most 8 feet. Applies: Side or rear yard in a residential zone, with a use permit. § 14.110.080 · code text - Side Yard \| 6' \| 8'
Permit	Yes. A fence permit is required. Applies: To build a new fence (in full or part), structurally change an existing fence, or move an existing fence. § 14.110.080 · code text All actions to construct new fences (complete or partial); structurally alter an existing fence; or move an existing fence shall require the issuance of a fence permit. No fence permit is required. Applies: Repairs that only replace fence boards or worn cross-supports with the same kind, or painting or staining an existing fence. § 14.110.080 · code text A fence permit is not required for repair and maintenance activities to an existing fence where the repair or maintenance activity involves only the in-kind replacement of fence boards or deteriorating cross-supports or the painting or staining of existing fences.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Biggs code What Biggs's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 20 feet. Applies: Detached garages in the front yard area; they must also meet the setbacks for main homes. § 14.110.040 · code text Detached garages are allowed in the front yard area if the detached garage does not exceed 20 feet in height and meets the setback requirements for primary dwellings. Under 6 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in the front yard area; they must also meet the setbacks for main homes. § 14.110.040 · code text Accessory structures are allowed in the front yard area if the accessory structure is under six feet in height and meets the setback requirements for primary dwellings.
Size or lot coverage	All accessory buildings and structures together may cover no more than 50% of the rear yard. § 14.110.040 · code text The total coverage area of all accessory buildings or structures cannot exceed 50 percent of the rear yard area as defined in BMC § 14.20.1055.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet. Applies: Lots smaller than one-half acre, for accessory buildings 6 to 9 feet tall. § 14.110.040 · code text 6' – 9' \| 3' At least 5 feet from any side or rear property line. Applies: Swimming pools. § 14.110.040 · code text Swimming pools may be constructed no closer than five feet to any side or rear property line and no closer than 10 feet to any residential structure. At least 5 feet from any side or rear property line. Applies: Shade structures. § 14.110.040 · code text Shade structures may be constructed no closer than five feet to any side or rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any other building. Applies: All accessory buildings or structures. § 14.110.040 · code text Accessory buildings or structures shall be located no closer than six feet to any other building. At least 10 feet from any home. Applies: Swimming pools. § 14.110.040 · code text Swimming pools may be constructed no closer than five feet to any side or rear property line and no closer than 10 feet to any residential structure.

Running a business from home

Biggs code What Biggs's code adds
Space used	Less than 30% of the home's gross floor area, counting space in accessory buildings. Applies: Major home businesses, unless the business is wholly inside a legal, conforming accessory structure. § 14.150.040 · code text The total floor area used for the home occupation, including area within accessory buildings, shall be less than 30 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit or shall be wholly contained within a legal and conforming accessory structure; Less than 20% of the home's gross floor area, counting space in accessory buildings. Applies: Minor home businesses. § 14.150.030 · code text The total floor area used for the home occupation, including area within accessory buildings, shall be less than 20 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit.
Customer visits	Customer and client visits may not exceed the reasonable, typical level for the neighborhood. Applies: Major home businesses. § 14.150.040 · code text Customer and client visits shall not exceed reasonable and typical visitation levels within the surrounding neighborhood; No regular client or customer visits. Applies: Minor home businesses. § 14.150.030 · code text There shall be no regular client or customer visits.
Employees	Only people who live in the home, plus up to 1 other person. Applies: Major home businesses. § 14.150.040 · code text Employment shall be limited to persons residing on the premises, plus up to one additional person; Only people who live in the home. Applies: Minor home businesses. § 14.150.030 · code text Employment shall be limited to persons residing on the premises.

Pets, chickens and bees

Biggs code What Biggs's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 8 cats. Applies: Per street address. § 5.30.020 · code text No family or person, or group of persons, may own or control, or have in their possession, at any one street address within the city limits of the city of Biggs, more than a total of eight cats.

Other Biggs rules on this

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

Living in an RV or trailer on a lot (Ch. 14.140)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Biggs?

Biggs limits residential front-yard fences to 4 feet (6 with a use permit) and side and rear fences to 6 feet (8 with one).

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

Biggs limits all accessory buildings and structures combined to 50% of the rear yard area, and front-yard accessory structures to under 6 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Biggs?

Biggs minor home businesses use less than 20% of the home with no regular client visits; major ones less than 30%, with 1 non-resident.

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

Biggs's code: No more than 8 cats. (Per street address.) (§ 5.30.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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More on Biggs

Biggs Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Biggs

Buying & selling in Biggs

Biggs overview