Chowchilla · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Chowchilla

Chowchilla sets fence heights by zone and yard, limits accessory structures placed in rear or side setbacks, and lists home businesses that are not allowed. Some fences and larger accessory structures need a building permit.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards and 7 feet outside them; masonry fences over 3 feet need a building permit.
Accessory structures: In Medium High Density zones, accessory structures in rear or side setbacks are limited to 120 square feet and a 12-foot roof peak.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit; barbershops, salons, massage, pet grooming, tattooing, vehicle repair and medical offices are among the uses not allowed.

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

Fences and walls

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, walls and hedges up to 7 feet. Applies: R-L and R-M zones, outside the required front yard and more than 5 feet from a street side line on corner or cul-de-sac lots. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted, except that in a required front yard or within five feet of a street side property line on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height. Fences, walls and hedges up to 7 feet. Applies: R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones, outside the required front yard and the required side yard on corner or cul-de-sac lots. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted except that in a required front yard, or a required side yard on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height except as allowed by subsections (2) and (4) below.
Front yard height	Up to 7 feet for a decorative open wrought iron or tubular steel fence, not chain link. Applies: Multi-family uses in R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones, along or within the front and street side yard setback areas. § 18.50.120 · code text A decorative open metal fence of wrought iron or tubular steel (not chain link) not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted along the front and street side property lines or within the front yard and street side yard setback areas of multi-family uses. No more than 4 feet in the required front yard. Applies: R-L and R-M zones. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted, except that in a required front yard or within five feet of a street side property line on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height. No more than 4 feet in the required front yard. Applies: R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted except that in a required front yard, or a required side yard on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height except as allowed by subsections (2) and (4) below.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 4 feet in the required side yard. Applies: Corner or cul-de-sac lots in R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted except that in a required front yard, or a required side yard on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height except as allowed by subsections (2) and (4) below.
Permit	A building permit is required for a masonry fence over 3 feet. Applies: Masonry fences taller than 3 feet. Engineered footings are also required. § 18.50.110 · code text A masonry fence exceeding three feet in height shall require engineered footings and a building permit. A building permit is required for other fencing over 7 feet. Applies: Fencing that is not masonry and is taller than 7 feet. Engineered post footings are also required. § 18.50.110 · code text All other fencing exceeding seven feet in height shall require engineered post footings and a building permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Maximum height	Roof ridge no higher than 12 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The roof ridge peak height shall be a maximum of twelve feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 120 square feet of floor area. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The floor area shall be a maximum one hundred twenty square feet. No more than 300 square feet of floor area. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium Density Residential Zone. § 18.12.120 · code text The floor area shall be a maximum three hundred square feet.
Side and rear setback	Walls at least 3 feet from rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The walls shall be at least three feet from rear and side lot lines. Roof eaves at least 2 feet from rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area in the Medium High Density Residential Zone. § 18.14.120 · code text The roof eaves shall be at least two feet from rear and side lot lines.
No permit needed up to	Accessory structures over 120 square feet need a building permit. § 18.14.120 · code text Any accessory structure greater than one hundred twenty square feet shall first secure approval of a building permit.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from other structures. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback area. § 18.14.120 · code text The accessory structure shall be separated from other structures by a minimum of ten feet.

Running a business from home

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: The permit may be denied if the use is on the prohibited list or does not fit with residential activities. § 18.78.040 · code text A home occupation permit may be denied if the director finds that land use proposed for a home occupation is listed in this section, or that the land use is not incidental nor compatible with residential activities.
Businesses not allowed	Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa § 18.78.040 · code text Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa; Fortune telling § 18.78.040 · code text Fortune telling; Kennel or animal boarding § 18.78.040 · code text Kennel or animal boarding; Laboratory, general or medical § 18.78.040 · code text Laboratory, general or medical; Mini-warehouse or self-storage facility § 18.78.040 · code text Mini-warehouse or self-storage facility; Motor vehicle repair or service, minor or major § 18.78.040 · code text Motor vehicle repair or service, minor or major; Office; medical, dental, or optometry § 18.78.040 · code text Office; medical, dental, or optometry; Pet grooming § 18.78.040 · code text Pet grooming; Repair shop, large appliance or equipment § 18.78.040 · code text Repair shop, large appliance or equipment; Specialty construction or trade service where construction activities take place at the site § 18.78.040 · code text Specialty construction or trade service where construction activities take place at the site; Tattooing or body art § 18.78.040 · code text Tattooing or body art; Any other use determined by the director to be not incidental nor compatible with residential activities § 18.78.040 · code text Any other use determined by the director to be not incidental nor compatible with residential activities.

Lot splits under SB 9

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. Applies: Applies to each parcel created by the split. § 17.26.090 · code text One parcel shall not be smaller than forty percent of the lot area of the original parcel;
Minimum new lot size	Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to both newly created parcels. § 17.26.090 · code text Both newly created parcels shall be no smaller than one thousand two hundred square feet each;
Standards	The split may create no more than 2 new parcels. Applies: Applies to an urban lot split. § 17.26.060 · code text The urban lot split will subdivide an existing parcel to create no more than two new parcels; No more than 2 dwelling units of any type per parcel. Applies: Applies to each parcel in an urban lot split, counting main homes, ADUs, JADUs and state two-unit housing. § 17.26.060 · code text The parcel proposed for subdivision shall not result in more than two dwelling units of any type per parcel involved in an urban lot split, including principal dwelling units, ADUs and JADUs, and residential development permitted by Cal. Government Code Section 65852.21; Each parcel must have 1 principal unit. Applies: Applies to each parcel. § 17.26.060 · code text One principal unit is required per parcel; Allowed only on parcels located entirely in a single-family zoning district. § 17.26.060 · code text The parcel shall be located entirely within a single-family zoning district; The 2 new parcels must have about equal lot area. Applies: Applies to the two new parcels. § 17.26.090 · code text The two new parcels shall be of approximately equal lot area; Each new parcel must front a public street or alley. Applies: Applies to each proposed parcel. § 17.26.090 · code text Each of the proposed parcels shall have public right-of-way frontage (public street or alley) abutting the original parcel; No flag lots, and no lots with a narrow strip reaching to or along the street frontage. Applies: Applies to newly created lots. § 17.26.090 · code text A flag lot, or a lot with a narrow projecting strip of land extending to or along a public right-of-way frontage, shall not be permitted;
Owner occupancy	The applicant signs an affidavit to live in one unit as their main home for at least 3 years. Applies: Counted from the lot split approval. A community land trust or qualified nonprofit does not need the affidavit. § 17.26.020 · code text An application shall include an affidavit stating that the applicant intends to occupy one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split.

RV and boat parking

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Parking on the street	An RV may park on the street for 72 hours or less. Applies: Only to load, unload or prepare the RV for use. Notify the police department before parking. § 10.28.215 · code text A person may park a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 18 of this code, upon any street for a period of seventy-two hours or less, for the purpose of loading, unloading or preparing the vehicle for use, or to carry out emergency repair for a period of twenty-four hours or less; provided, such person shall notify either in person or by telephone the police department of the city before parking the recreational vehicle. An RV may park on the street for 24 hours or less. Applies: Only for emergency repair. Notify the police department before parking. § 10.28.215 · code text A person may park a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 18 of this code, upon any street for a period of seventy-two hours or less, for the purpose of loading, unloading or preparing the vehicle for use, or to carry out emergency repair for a period of twenty-four hours or less; provided, such person shall notify either in person or by telephone the police department of the city before parking the recreational vehicle. A visitor's RV may park on the street for no more than 14 days. Applies: Visitor from outside the city, next to the host home; room available, no safety hazard, building department told before 5 p.m. first business day. § 10.28.215 · code text Where a resident within the city has a visitor from an area other than the city, and that visitor arrives with a recreational vehicle the visitor may park the recreational vehicle in the street adjacent to the host residence for not more than fourteen days; provided, that parking room is available there, that parking the recreational vehicle does not constitute a safety hazard, and that the city building department of the city is notified, in person or by telephone, before five p.m. on the first business day the recreational vehicle is so parked.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
EV charger permit	Applications are reviewed and approved ministerially. Applies: Applies to EV charging station applications that meet the chapter rules and the city's standard permit checklist. § 15.61.040 · code text Applications for electric vehicle charging stations that comply with the requirements of this chapter and the city's standardized permit checklist shall be reviewed and approved ministerially.
Solar permit process	Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of request, with a 2-hour inspection window. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.50.060 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the city for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. An inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request and provide a two-hour inspection window.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Applies to a complete small residential rooftop solar application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.50.060 · code text The city's building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Barrier height	The pool yard fence must be at least 5 feet high. § 15.24.030 · code text All swimming pools, as defined in this chapter, shall be enclosed in a yard with a fence having a minimum height of five feet.
Gates	Gates must self-close and latch automatically; a child 3 feet 6 inches tall cannot open the latch from outside. § 15.24.030 · code text All gates into said yard shall be of a self-closing design with an automatic latching device. The latching device shall be so placed or designed so that a child three feet six inches in height will be unable to operate it from the outside of the fenced area.
Permit	A building permit is required, issued only after a $500 deposit or bond for city right-of-way damage. § 15.24.080 · code text A building permit required by this chapter shall not be issued unless the applicant has deposited with the building inspector a cash bond, certified check, letter of credit or a security bond payable to the city in the sum of five hundred dollars to indemnify the city for any damage to improvements located within the city right-of-way used by contractors.

Pets, chickens and bees

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Chickens	Yes, up to 3 egg-laying hens. Applies: Counts toward the total of 5 domestic animals per household or premises. § 6.04.045 · code text E. Three egg-laying hens.
Pet limit	No more than 5 domestic animals in total. Applies: Per household or on any premises. § 6.04.045 · code text The number of all domestic animals allowed per household or on any premises shall not exceed five animals in total, and not more than: Up to 5 dogs. Applies: Counts toward the total of 5 domestic animals per household or premises. § 6.04.045 · code text A. Five dogs; Up to 5 cats. Applies: Counts toward the total of 5 domestic animals per household or premises. § 6.04.045 · code text B. Five cats; Up to 2 potbellied pigs. Applies: Counts toward the total of 5 domestic animals per household or premises. § 6.04.045 · code text C. Two potbellied pigs; Up to 3 rabbits. Applies: Counts toward the total of 5 domestic animals per household or premises. § 6.04.045 · code text D. Three rabbits;

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Chowchilla?

Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards and 7 feet outside them; masonry fences over 3 feet need a building permit.

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

In Medium High Density zones, accessory structures in rear or side setbacks are limited to 120 square feet and a 12-foot roof peak.

Can I run a business from my home in Chowchilla?

A home business needs a permit; barbershops, salons, massage, pet grooming, tattooing, vehicle repair and medical offices are among the uses not allowed.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla's code: Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. (Applies to each parcel created by the split.) (§ 17.26.090); Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet. (Applies to both newly created parcels.) (§ 17.26.090).

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

Chowchilla's code: An RV may park on the street for 72 hours or less. (Only to load, unload or prepare the RV for use. Notify the police department before parking.) (§ 10.28.215); An RV may park on the street for 24 hours or less. (Only for emergency repair. Notify the police department before parking.) (§ 10.28.215).

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

Chowchilla's code: Applications are reviewed and approved ministerially. (Applies to EV charging station applications that meet the chapter rules and the city's standard permit checklist.) (§ 15.61.040); Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of request, with a 2-hour inspection window. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 15.50.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla's code: The pool yard fence must be at least 5 feet high. (§ 15.24.030); Gates must self-close and latch automatically; a child 3 feet 6 inches tall cannot open the latch from outside. (§ 15.24.030).

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

Chowchilla's code: Yes, up to 3 egg-laying hens. (Counts toward the total of 5 domestic animals per household or premises.) (§ 6.04.045); No more than 5 domestic animals in total. (Per household or on any premises.) (§ 6.04.045).

General information, not legal advice.

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