Chico · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Chico

Chico sets its own height, size and setback limits for accessory structures and limits fences in required setbacks. A home business that may not meet the city's operating standards needs an administrative use permit.

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Key points

Accessory structures: Accessory structures are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with a use permit; a detached garage, to 700 square feet per unit.
Fence height: Fences and walls in required setbacks are limited to 6 feet; front yards and corner parcels follow Section 19.60.060.
Home businesses: A proposed home business that the Director believes does not meet the operating standards needs an administrative use permit.

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

Fences and walls

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences or walls up to 6 feet above finished grade may stand in required setbacks. Applies: Not on corner parcels or in front yards. Those follow the separate fencing and screening rules. § 19.60.090 · code text Fences or walls 6 feet or less in height above the finished grade of the site; except on corner parcels and within front yards, in compliance with Section 19.60.060-A- 1 -d (Fencing and screening);

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Maximum height	At most 15 feet tall. Applies: For a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop or recreation room. § 19.76.020 · code text Gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop, recreation room \| Side Street side Rear \| 3 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft.; 0 ft. for structures adjacent to an alley. \| 15 ft. 25 ft. with use permit approval Up to 25 feet tall with use permit approval. Applies: For a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop or recreation room. § 19.76.020 · code text Gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop, recreation room \| Side Street side Rear \| 3 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft.; 0 ft. for structures adjacent to an alley. \| 15 ft. 25 ft. with use permit approval At most 15 feet tall. Applies: For a garage or carport. § 19.76.020 · code text Garage or carport \| Front Side Street side Rear \| 20 ft. (3) 4 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft. (5) \| 15 ft.; 25 ft. with use permit approval; 25 ft. for garages with a second-floor dwelling unit; Up to 25 feet tall with use permit approval. Applies: For a garage or carport. § 19.76.020 · code text Garage or carport \| Front Side Street side Rear \| 20 ft. (3) 4 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft. (5) \| 15 ft.; 25 ft. with use permit approval; 25 ft. for garages with a second-floor dwelling unit;
Size or lot coverage	At most 25% of the size of the main building. Applies: For a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop or recreation room. § 19.76.020 · code text 25% of the size of the main structure. (4) At most 700 square feet per dwelling unit, including any workshop or storage space. Applies: For a detached garage or carport. A larger area needs an administrative use permit. § 19.76.020 · code text Garage or carport \| Front Side Street side Rear \| 20 ft. (3) 4 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft. (5) \| 15 ft.; 25 ft. with use permit approval; 25 ft. for garages with a second-floor dwelling unit; \| 700 sq. ft.
Side and rear setback	Side setback of at least 3 feet. Applies: For a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop or recreation room. § 19.76.020 · code text Gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop, recreation room \| Side Street side Rear \| 3 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft.; 0 ft. for structures adjacent to an alley. Street-side setback of 10 feet, or as required for the main building. Applies: For a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop or recreation room. § 19.76.020 · code text Gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop, recreation room \| Side Street side Rear \| 3 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft.; 0 ft. for structures adjacent to an alley. Rear setback of at least 5 feet. Applies: For a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop or recreation room. § 19.76.020 · code text Gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop, recreation room \| Side Street side Rear \| 3 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft.; 0 ft. for structures adjacent to an alley. No rear setback (0 feet) is required. Applies: For single-family homes: a gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, shed, workshop or recreation room next to an alley. § 19.76.020 · code text Gazebo, trellis, greenhouse, patio cover, storage shed, workshop, recreation room \| Side Street side Rear \| 3 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft.; 0 ft. for structures adjacent to an alley. Side setback of at least 4 feet. Applies: For a garage or carport. § 19.76.020 · code text Garage or carport \| Front Side Street side Rear \| 20 ft. (3) 4 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft. (5) Street-side setback of 10 feet, or as required for the main building. Applies: For a garage or carport. § 19.76.020 · code text Garage or carport \| Front Side Street side Rear \| 20 ft. (3) 4 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft. (5) Rear setback of at least 5 feet. Applies: For a garage or carport. § 19.76.020 · code text Garage or carport \| Front Side Street side Rear \| 20 ft. (3) 4 ft. 10 ft. or as required for main structure. 5 ft. (5)

Running a business from home

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Permit	An administrative use permit may be applied for. Applies: When the Director believes a proposed home business does not meet the chapter's operating standards. § 19.20.070 · code text An applicant for a proposed home occupation which the Director believes does not meet the operating standards of this chapter may apply for an administrative use permit in compliance with Chapter 19.25 of these Regulations.

Tree removal

Chico code What Chico's code adds
Permit to remove	Director must issue a removal permit if a tree is dead, dying, diseased, a danger, or blocks utilities or development. Applies: Danger means to health, safety or structures; dying or diseased needs arborist advice; utilities only if pruning cannot work; development only without a feasible alternative. § 16.66.080 · code text 2. The tree is dying or diseased and removal is recommended by an arborist; Yes, a permit from the director is required. Applies: Anyone who wants to remove 1 or more trees. § 16.66.070 · code text Any person wishing to remove one or more trees shall apply to the director for a permit.
Replacement trees	Moving or replacing trees may be required; more than 1-for-1 if the replacement trees are smaller. Applies: As a condition of a land use approval. § 19.68.060 · code text As a condition of permit approval, the relocation of trees proposed for removal, or replacement of the removed trees with other trees planted elsewhere on the site, may be required. Replacement trees may be required on a more than one-for-one basis if the replacement trees are smaller than the trees being removed.

Other Chico rules on this

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

Keeping pets, dogs, bees and other animals at home (§ 19.76.040)
SB 9 two-unit projects and urban lot splits (§ 19.76.220)
Parking RVs, boats and trailers on city streets (§ 10.20.200) — city streets only
Where solar panels go and how they are screened (§ 19.60.100) — new development only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Chico?

Fences and walls in required setbacks are limited to 6 feet; front yards and corner parcels follow Section 19.60.060.

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

Accessory structures are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with a use permit; a detached garage, to 700 square feet per unit.

Can I run a business from my home in Chico?

A proposed home business that the Director believes does not meet the operating standards needs an administrative use permit.

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

Chico's code: Director must issue a removal permit if a tree is dead, dying, diseased, a danger, or blocks utilities or development. (Danger means to health, safety or structures; dying or diseased needs arborist advice; utilities only if pruning cannot work; development only without a feasible alternative.) (§ 16.66.080); Yes, a permit from the director is required. (Anyone who wants to remove 1 or more trees.) (§ 16.66.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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