Buellton · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Buellton

Buellton sets fence and gatepost heights by location and ties taller ones to land use permits. The city limits patio covers and trellises in the rear setback and sets space, visitor and employee limits for home businesses.

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Key points

Fence height: Buellton front-yard fences step down from 6 feet at the setback line to 3 feet at the street; higher needs a minor use permit.
Patio covers: Buellton limits trellises and patio covers in the rear yard setback to 15 feet, or 10 feet next to permanent open space.
Home business: Buellton home businesses may use one room, have at most 5 visitors at a time, and employ only dwelling occupants; they need zoning clearance.

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

Fences and walls

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	8 feet or less without a land use permit. Applies: Fences and walls outside setbacks; taller ones need a zoning clearance. § 19.04.102 · code text Outside of setbacks \| Fences and walls 8 ft. or less in height Gateposts 10 ft. or less in height Gateposts of 10 feet or less without a land use permit. Applies: Outside setbacks; taller gateposts need a zoning clearance. § 19.04.102 · code text Outside of setbacks \| Fences and walls 8 ft. or less in height Gateposts 10 ft. or less in height 6 feet or less without a land use permit. Applies: Fences and walls at or beyond the front setback line; taller ones need a minor use permit. § 19.04.102 · code text At or beyond front setback line \| Fences and walls 6 ft. or less in height Gateposts less than 8 ft. Gateposts under 8 feet without a land use permit. Applies: At or beyond the front setback line; taller gateposts need a minor use permit. § 19.04.102 · code text At or beyond front setback line \| Fences and walls 6 ft. or less in height Gateposts less than 8 ft.
Front yard height	6 feet at the setback line, sloping down to at most 3 feet at the street property line. Applies: Between the front setback line (or street side of a corner lot) and the street line; higher needs a minor use permit. § 19.04.102 · code text 6 ft. at setback line, decreasing in height to a maximum of 3 ft. at street property line (see illustration) At most 3 feet at the street property line. Applies: Front yard or street side of a corner lot; higher needs a minor use permit. § 19.04.102 · code text 6 ft. at setback line, decreasing in height to a maximum of 3 ft. at street property line (see illustration)
Side and rear yard height	8 feet or less without a land use permit. Applies: Fences and walls in a side or rear setback, at least 20 feet from a street right-of-way; otherwise a minor use permit. § 19.04.102 · code text Side or rear setback \| Fences and walls 8 ft. or less in height Gateposts 10 ft. or less in height that are not closer than 20 ft. to the right-of-way of any street Gateposts of 10 feet or less without a land use permit. Applies: In a side or rear setback, at least 20 feet from a street right-of-way; otherwise a minor use permit. § 19.04.102 · code text Side or rear setback \| Fences and walls 8 ft. or less in height Gateposts 10 ft. or less in height that are not closer than 20 ft. to the right-of-way of any street
Permit	No land use permit for fences and walls of 6 feet or less, and gateposts under 8 feet. Applies: At or beyond the front setback line. § 19.04.102 · code text Fences and walls 6 ft. or less in height Gateposts less than 8 ft. A minor use permit for fences and walls over 6 feet, or gateposts over 8 feet. Applies: At or beyond the front setback line. § 19.04.102 · code text Minor use permit for fences and walls more than 6 ft. or gateposts more than 8 ft. in height A minor use permit for fences and walls over 8 feet, or gateposts over 10 feet. Applies: Side or rear setback. Also needed for any fence, wall or gatepost closer than 20 feet to a street right-of-way. § 19.04.102 · code text Minor use permit for fences and walls more than 8 ft. or gateposts more than 10 ft. in height, or closer than 20 ft. to the right-of-way of any street No land use permit for fences and walls of 8 feet or less, and gateposts of 10 feet or less. Applies: Outside setbacks. § 19.04.102 · code text Outside of setbacks \| Fences and walls 8 ft. or less in height Gateposts 10 ft. or less in height A zoning clearance for fences and walls over 8 feet, or gateposts over 10 feet. Applies: Outside setbacks. § 19.04.102 · code text Zoning clearance for fences and walls more than 8 ft. or gateposts more than 10 ft. in height

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 15 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Trellises and patio covers in the rear yard setback. § 19.04.160 · code text Trellises and patio covers may be located within the rear yard setback when no closer than 15 feet to the rear property line, or no closer than ten feet to the rear property line when adjacent to a permanently dedicated open space area. At least 10 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Trellises and patio covers in the rear yard setback, next to permanently dedicated open space. § 19.04.160 · code text Trellises and patio covers may be located within the rear yard setback when no closer than 15 feet to the rear property line, or no closer than ten feet to the rear property line when adjacent to a permanently dedicated open space area.
No permit needed up to	Up to 120 square feet of roof area without a land use permit. Applies: One-story detached sheds, playhouses, gazebos, pergolas and similar; up to 12 feet tall; no plumbing or electrical. Building permits may still apply. § 19.02.030 · code text Small Accessory Buildings. One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, gazebos, pergolas and similar uses, provided such buildings do not exceed 12 feet in height, the roof area does not exceed 120 square feet, and no plumbing or electrical work is required.

Running a business from home

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home, not counting garages. Applies: Artist studios are not held to this limit. § 19.06.100 · code text A home occupation shall be conducted within not more than one room of the dwelling not including garages, except for artist studios;
Customer visits	No more than 5 customers, patients, clients, students or other people at one time. Applies: On the premises. § 19.06.100 · code text There shall be no more than five customers, patients, clients, students, or other persons served by the occupation upon the premises at any one time;
Employees	None. Only the people who live in the home may work there for the business. § 19.06.100 · code text No employees other than the dwelling occupants shall be permitted on the premises for business purposes;
Permit	Yes. A home occupation application and zoning clearance are needed before the business starts. § 19.06.100 · code text Prior to the commencement of any type of occupation in the home, a home occupation application shall be submitted to the planning department. A minor use permit. Applies: Home businesses that do not meet all the standard home occupation rules. § 19.06.100 · code text Home occupations not consistent with all provisions of subsection (A) may be approved through minor use permit (Section 19.08.110);
Businesses not allowed	appliance, radio or television repair; barber or beauty shop; carpentry or cabinet making; child care of more than six children or instruction for more than three school-aged children or adults (not counting residents of the home); gun or ammunition sales, including by mail order; medical offices or clinics; print shop; welding or machining Applies: Not permitted as standard home occupations; a nonstandard home occupation may be approved through a minor use permit § 19.06.100 · code text The following uses by their operation or nature may interfere with residential welfare and diminish the convenience intended for commercial zones, and therefore shall not be permitted as home occupations:

RV and boat parking

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 24 hours in a row in any 72-hour period. Applies: Trailers, boats and other vehicles without their own power, on any residential street or alley. § 10.01.030 · code text No person shall park a trailer, boat, dumpster or other vehicle without any means of self-propulsion for more than 24 consecutive hours in any 72 consecutive hour period, in any location on any residential highway, street or alley.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
EV charger permit	Exempt from land use permits unless a zoning clearance is required. Applies: A zoning clearance is required only if the city finds a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 19.06.280 · code text Charging stations shall be exempt from land use permit requirements, as set forth in Section 19.02.030 of this title, unless a zoning clearance is required per this section. Approved administratively. Applies: The application meets the checklist's information requirements. § 19.06.280 · code text An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the city, shall be deemed complete and administratively approved. No permit is needed. Applies: Routine operations and maintenance, or like-kind replacement of charging station parts. § 19.06.280 · code text Routine operations and maintenance or like-kind replacements of the components of an electric vehicle charging station shall not be subject to permitting. A permit is needed only if changes materially alter the station's size, type or components. Applies: Charging stations legally set up or permitted before this rule took effect. § 19.06.280 · code text All electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section shall not require a permit issued under this section unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of an electric vehicle charging station.
Solar permit process	No zoning clearance required. Applies: Solar panels on the roof of an existing building or structure. § 19.06.190 · code text When solar panels are located on the roof of an existing building or structure, no zoning clearance shall be required. Zoning clearance required. Applies: Solar panels on the ground. § 19.06.190 · code text When solar panels are located on the ground they shall be classified as accessory structures, and shall require zoning clearance (Section 19.08.100).

Swimming pools

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from any other property line; not allowed in the required front or side yard setback. Applies: Pools, spas and related structures. § 19.06.200 · code text Pools, spas, and appurtenant structures shall not be located in the required front or side yard setback area and shall not be closer than five feet of any other property line.

Other Buellton rules on this

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

Keeping animals in residential zones (§ 19.06.020)
Permit to remove a protected native tree (§ 12.32.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Buellton?

Buellton front-yard fences step down from 6 feet at the setback line to 3 feet at the street; higher needs a minor use permit.

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

Buellton limits trellises and patio covers in the rear yard setback to 15 feet, or 10 feet next to permanent open space.

Can I run a business from my home in Buellton?

Buellton home businesses may use one room, have at most 5 visitors at a time, and employ only dwelling occupants; they need zoning clearance.

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

Buellton's code: No more than 24 hours in a row in any 72-hour period. (Trailers, boats and other vehicles without their own power, on any residential street or alley.) (§ 10.01.030).

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

Buellton's code: Exempt from land use permits unless a zoning clearance is required. (A zoning clearance is required only if the city finds a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 19.06.280); Approved administratively. (The application meets the checklist's information requirements.) (§ 19.06.280).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Buellton?

Buellton's code: At least 5 feet from any other property line; not allowed in the required front or side yard setback. (Pools, spas and related structures.) (§ 19.06.200).

General information, not legal advice.

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