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Citrus Heights · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Citrus Heights

Citrus Heights sets fence heights by setback area, limits the height and total size of accessory structures, and limits home business space, visitors and employees. Taller or longer fences seen from a street need Design Review.

Key points

  • Fence height: Fences are limited to 3 feet in front and street-side setbacks and 8 feet in side and rear setbacks, as seen from neighbors.
  • Accessory structures: Detached accessory structures are limited to 16 feet, and all accessory structures combined to 2,400 square feet, unless a minor use permit allows more.
  • Home businesses: Home businesses are limited to 20% or 400 square feet of the home, whichever is greater, and 2 visitors an hour, 8 a day.

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

Fences and walls

Citrus Heights code What Citrus Heights's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 2 feet 6 inches high.
    Applies: Sight visibility areas at intersections of alleys, streets and driveways.
    § 106.30.050 · code text
    At intersections of alleys, streets, and driveways within sight visibility areas. See 106.30.060.E (Height Limit at Street Corners). | 2' 6"
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 3 feet in the street side setback.
    Applies: Fencing over 3 feet needs at least 3 feet setback from property line or sidewalk. Lawful pre-November 6, 2006 fences may be replaced in place.
    § 106.30.050 · code text
    Within required street side setback | 3 ft. See also Section 106.30.060.E (Height Limit at Street Corners).
  • No more than 8 feet, as seen from a neighboring parcel or right-of-way.
    Applies: Required side and rear yard setbacks. Up to 10 feet with Design Review approval.
    § 106.30.050 · code text
    Within required side and rear yard setbacks | 8 ft as the fence appears from a parcel or right-of-way abutting the site, 10 ft as the fence appears on the site. See Figure 3-2. (1)
  • No more than 10 feet, as seen from the site itself.
    Applies: Required side and rear yard setbacks.
    § 106.30.050 · code text
    Within required side and rear yard setbacks | 8 ft as the fence appears from a parcel or right-of-way abutting the site, 10 ft as the fence appears on the site. See Figure 3-2. (1)
Front yard height
  • No more than 3 feet in the required front yard setback.
    Applies: The front yard fence setback is 20 feet in RD-1 through RD-15 and 25 feet in RD-20 through RD-30.
    § 106.30.050 · code text
    Within required front yard setback | 3 ft (2)
Permit
  • Design Review is required.
    Applies: Fences or walls visible from a public right-of-way that are taller than 8 feet, longer than 200 feet, or in a commercial zone.
    § 106.30.050 · code text
    Design Review in compliance with Section 106.62.040 (Design Review) shall be required for a fence or wall that is visible from a public right-of-way and:

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Citrus Heights code What Citrus Heights's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 16 feet.
    Applies: Detached accessory structures. Taller only if the 5-foot setback grows 1 foot for each foot above 16 feet, or with a minor use permit.
    § 106.42.200 · code text
    An accessory structure shall not exceed a maximum height of 16 feet.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 2,400 square feet for all accessory structures combined.
    Applies: Residential accessory structures, unless a Minor Use Permit allows more.
    § 106.42.200 · code text
    The combined square footage of all accessory structures shall not exceed 2,400 square feet unless authorized through Minor Use Permit approval.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and interior side lines.
    Applies: Detached patio covers open on at least 3 sides, which may be in the rear setback. At least 12.5 feet from a street side line.
    § 106.42.200 · code text
    No part of a detached patio cover shall be closer than five feet to a rear property line, five feet to interior side, and 12.5 feet to street side property line.
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side and rear lines.
    Applies: Detached accessory structures. The setback grows 1 foot for each foot of height above 16 feet.
    § 106.42.200 · code text
    An accessory structure shall maintain interior side and rear setbacks of at least five feet; except that the Director may authorize a minimum side and/or rear setback of three feet.
  • At least 3 feet from the interior side or rear line.
    Applies: Only when the Director allows it.
    § 106.42.200 · code text
    An accessory structure shall maintain interior side and rear setbacks of at least five feet; except that the Director may authorize a minimum side and/or rear setback of three feet.
Distance from the house
  • At least 5 feet from other accessory structures and the main home.
    Applies: Detached accessory structures. Does not apply to patio covers or carports.
    § 106.42.200 · code text
    An accessory structure shall maintain at least a five-foot separation from other accessory structures and the primary dwelling unit.

Running a business from home

Citrus Heights code What Citrus Heights's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 20% or 400 square feet of the main home's habitable floor area, whichever is greater.
    Applies: Area used in the main home or an accessory structure.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    The home occupation may be conducted in the primary dwelling or an accessory structure on the subject property provided that the area does not exceed 20 percent or 400 square feet of the habitable floor area of the primary dwelling, whichever is greater.
Customer visits
  • No more than 2 business visitors per hour.
    Applies: Only between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    The home occupation shall be operated so as to not require more than two business visitors per hour, not to exceed a total of eight business visitors per day, only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.;
  • No more than 8 business visitors per day.
    Applies: Only between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    The home occupation shall be operated so as to not require more than two business visitors per hour, not to exceed a total of eight business visitors per day, only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.;
  • No more than 4 clients on the site at the same time.
    Applies: Tutoring or instruction. The daily client limits still apply.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    except that in the case of tutoring or instruction (e.g., academic subjects, arts and crafts, music, swimming, etc.), a maximum of four clients are allowed on the site at the same time, subject to the limitations of this Section on the total number of clients per day.
Employees
  • No more than 1 employee on-site at any one time.
    Applies: Full-time residents of the home do not count. More than 1 on-site at a time needs a Minor Use Permit.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    A home occupation shall have no more than one employee on-site at any one time, or more than one employee reporting to work in any given day, not including the full-time residents of the dwelling.
  • No more than 1 employee reporting to work in any given day.
    Applies: Full-time residents of the home do not count.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    A home occupation shall have no more than one employee on-site at any one time, or more than one employee reporting to work in any given day, not including the full-time residents of the dwelling.
Permit
  • A city business license is required.
    § 106.42.100 · code text
    A home occupation shall comply with the City's Business License requirements.
  • A general business license is required.
    Applies: Unless the business is specifically exempt elsewhere in the business license chapter.
    § 22-70 · code text
    Unless specifically exempt elsewhere in this chapter, a general business license shall be required for any business or activity operated or conducted as a home occupation, as home occupation is defined by the city's zoning code.
  • A valid, unrevoked CAMTC certificate and a home occupation business license are required.
    Applies: Massage therapy run as a home occupation.
    § 22-650 · code text
    It shall be unlawful to conduct massage therapy as a home occupation massage therapist without obtaining a valid and unrevoked CAMTC certificate and a home occupation business license pursuant to this Code.

Lot splits under SB 9

Citrus Heights code What Citrus Heights's code adds
Standards
  • Subdivision standards may not block 2 units of less than 800 square feet on either new lot.
    Applies: Applies to an urban lot split.
    § 82-754 · code text
    The following objective standard shall apply to urban lot splits provided the objective subdivision standard shall not be imposed if it would have the effect of physically precluding the construction of two units on either of the resulting parcels in a unit size of less than 800 square feet.
  • Each lot must front or directly reach a public street; a recorded easement at least 20 feet wide counts.
    § 82-754 · code text
    Each lot shall have frontage on or direct access to a public street. To be considered direct access, the proposed lot split may allow one lot to access a public street by way of a recorded 20-foot minimum width easement.
  • Each lot must meet the minimum lot area without counting the creekside setback area.
    Applies: Applies to lots next to or crossed by a watercourse shown on the city's creek map.
    § 82-754 · code text
    Lots proposed adjacent to or crossed by a watercourse shown on Figure 3-1 of section 106.30.040 shall meet the minimum lot area exclusive of the creekside setback requirements.
  • No setback is required.
    Applies: Applies to an existing structure or one rebuilt in the same place and to the same size.
    § 82-752 · code text
    No setback shall be required for an existing structure or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure.
Setbacks
  • Side and rear setbacks are 4 feet.
    Applies: Applies to side and rear lot lines, except an existing structure or one rebuilt in the same place and size.
    § 82-752 · code text
    Except for those circumstances described in section 82-752(2) above, the setback for side and rear lot lines shall be four feet.
Owner occupancy
  • Applicant signs an affidavit to live in one unit as their main home for at least 3 years from approval.
    Applies: Does not apply to a community land trust or qualified nonprofit corporation.
    § 82-756 · code text
    That applicant intends to occupy one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of approval.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Citrus Heights code What Citrus Heights's code adds
EV charger permit
  • The building official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the checklist; electronic submittal is allowed.
    Applies: Applies to EV charging stations.
    § 18-603 · code text
    The building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this article and associated supporting documents.
Solar permit process
  • Administrative approval and issuance of all required permits or authorizations.
    Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application that meets the checklist.
    § 18-592 · code text
    Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
  • Only 1 inspection is required.
    Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.
    § 18-592 · code text
    Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building and safety division for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

Tree removal

Citrus Heights code What Citrus Heights's code adds
Exemptions
  • Removal is allowed when the review authority specifically approves it in the approved site plan.
    Applies: Applies to native trees 9 inches or more, only in the Oak Avenue - Wachtel Way planning area.
    § 106.50.110 · code text
    The tree is located within the right-of-way of an approved street or specifically approved for removal by the review authority as part of the approved site plan.
  • Removal is allowed when needed to remove diseased growth, for fire or flood control, or for paths and trails.
    Applies: Applies to native trees 9 inches or more, only in the Oak Avenue - Wachtel Way planning area.
    § 106.50.110 · code text
    The removal is necessary for: the elimination of diseased growth; fire prevention and control; flood prevention and control; or as may be required for pedestrian, bicycle or equestrian paths and trails.
  • The Director may waive the site plan when the permit is to remove dead or hazardous trees.
    Applies: Applies to a Tree Permit application.
    § 106.39.030 · code text
    the requirement for a site plan may be waived by the Director if the permit is for removal of dead trees or hazardous trees.
Protected trees
  • Any native tree 9 inches or more in diameter, measured 54 inches above the ground.
    Applies: Only in the Oak Avenue - Wachtel Way planning area.
    § 106.50.110 · code text
    No native tree with a diameter of nine inches or more, measured at 54 inches above the ground shall be damaged or removed unless:
Replacement trees
  • The project or permit must include measures to protect remaining trees or replace the trees removed.
    Applies: Required to approve a Tree Permit.
    § 106.39.070 · code text
    Measures have been incorporated into the project or permit to mitigate impacts to remaining trees or to replace the trees removed.

Other Citrus Heights rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Citrus Heights?

Fences are limited to 3 feet in front and street-side setbacks and 8 feet in side and rear setbacks, as seen from neighbors.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Citrus Heights?

Detached accessory structures are limited to 16 feet, and all accessory structures combined to 2,400 square feet, unless a minor use permit allows more.

Can I run a business from my home in Citrus Heights?

Home businesses are limited to 20% or 400 square feet of the home, whichever is greater, and 2 visitors an hour, 8 a day.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Citrus Heights?

Citrus Heights's code: Subdivision standards may not block 2 units of less than 800 square feet on either new lot. (Applies to an urban lot split.) (§ 82-754); Side and rear setbacks are 4 feet. (Applies to side and rear lot lines, except an existing structure or one rebuilt in the same place and size.) (§ 82-752).

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

Citrus Heights's code: The building official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the checklist; electronic submittal is allowed. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 18-603); Administrative approval and issuance of all required permits or authorizations. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems with a complete application that meets the checklist.) (§ 18-592).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Citrus Heights?

Citrus Heights's code: Removal is allowed when the review authority specifically approves it in the approved site plan. (Applies to native trees 9 inches or more, only in the Oak Avenue - Wachtel Way planning area.) (§ 106.50.110); Removal is allowed when needed to remove diseased growth, for fire or flood control, or for paths and trails. (Applies to native trees 9 inches or more, only in the Oak Avenue - Wachtel Way planning area.) (§ 106.50.110).

General information, not legal advice.

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