Corte Madera · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Corte Madera

Corte Madera limits accessory structures in the required rear yard in its R-1 and R-1-A zones. A fence in a right-of-way or watercourse needs a permit.

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Key points

Accessory structures: In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.
Fences: City rule: a fence in a right-of-way or watercourse needs a permit.

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

Fences and walls

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Permit	Yes. A permit is required. Applies: Fences built in a public right-of-way or a watercourse. § 12.40.010 · code text No tree, hedge, shrub, fence, trellis, or similar structure shall be planted, or erected in a right-of-way or watercourse without a permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 10 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures in the required rear yard in the R-1 zone. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard;
Size or lot coverage	No more than 12% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1 zone structures enclosed on more than 1 side. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than twelve percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side, that not more than an additional twelve percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more, and that no structures shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. No more than an additional 12% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1 zone structures open on 3 sides or more. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than twelve percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side, that not more than an additional twelve percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more, and that no structures shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. No more than 8% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1-A zone structures enclosed on more than 1 side. § 18.08.320 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than eight percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side; that not more than an additional eight percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more; and that no structure shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. No more than an additional 8% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1-A zone structures open on 3 sides or more. § 18.08.320 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than eight percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side; that not more than an additional eight percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more; and that no structure shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. An additional 2% of site coverage. Applies: R-1 lots over 4,500 square feet, added to the 40% coverage, for unenclosed structures no taller than 10 feet. § 18.08.220 · code text Such lots may add an additional two percent for unenclosed structures no greater than ten feet in height, including but not limited to arbors, trellises and covered decks or patios. The first 120 square feet is not counted in floor area. Applies: Enclosed detached accessory structures other than garages in the R-1 and R-1-A zones. § 18.08.220 · code text Enclosed detached accessory structures (other than garages), not subject to Subsection (g)(3)(A)(iv) of this section, except that the first one hundred twenty square feet shall be exempted from the sum total of such structures;
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from rear and side property lines. Applies: Accessory structures in the required rear yard in the R-1 zone. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than twelve percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side, that not more than an additional twelve percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more, and that no structures shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line.

Lot splits under SB 9

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Neither new lot may be smaller than 40% of the original lot's area. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits in the R-1, R-1-A, R-1-B or R-1-C zones. § 18.31A.040 · code text Neither resulting parcel shall be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the parcel proposed for the subdivision.
Unit size	A unit may be up to 1,200 square feet. Applies: Only if the unit meets the setbacks of the T3 Edge Neighborhood Zone. § 18.31A.050 · code text If the unit complies with the setbacks for the T3 Edge Neighborhood Zone, as set forth in Section 22.03.030 of the Municipal Code, the unit size may be a maximum of 1,200 square feet. Units may be up to 800 square feet. Applies: Applies to new units in a two-unit development; a unit that meets the T3 Edge Neighborhood Zone setbacks may be up to 1,200 square feet. § 18.31A.050 · code text Any modifications of development standards shall be the minimum modification necessary to avoid physically precluding two units of 800 square feet each on each parcel.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to both lots created by an urban lot split. § 18.31A.040 · code text Both resulting parcels are no smaller than 1,200 square feet.
Setbacks	Rear and side setbacks must be at least 4 feet. Applies: Applies to new units in a two-unit development or on lots from an urban lot split. § 18.31A.050 · code text the required rear and side yard setbacks shall be a minimum of four feet No setback is required. Applies: Only for an existing legal structure, or one rebuilt in the same place and to the same size. § 18.31A.050 · code text no setback shall be required for an existing legally created structure, or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing legally created structure.
Standards	New units may be no more than 16 feet high. Applies: Applies to new units in a two-unit development, unless the unit meets T3 Edge Neighborhood Zone setbacks or must be raised in the flood plain. § 18.31A.050 · code text the maximum height of any new dwelling units shall not exceed 16 feet Up to 20 feet high, only as far as needed for the required elevation. Applies: Only for a flood-plain unit that must be raised by law and does not meet T3 Edge Neighborhood Zone side or rear setbacks. § 18.31A.050 · code text that unit may exceed 16 feet in height only to the extent necessary to accommodate the required elevation and only up to a maximum of 20 feet in height. Each new lot must have street frontage. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits; the Zoning Administrator must grant an exception if this rule would prevent the new lot. § 18.31A.040 · code text Parcels shall have frontage on a street. Each new lot must have access to, provide access to, or border the public vehicle right-of-way. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits. § 18.31A.040 · code text Each resulting parcel shall have access to, provide access to, or adjoin the public vehicular right-of-way.
Parking	1 parking space per unit. Applies: New two-unit development units; none required within a one-half mile walk of a high-quality transit or major transit stop, or 1 block of car-share parking. § 18.31A.050 · code text One parking space shall be required per unit constructed via the procedures set forth in this section

RV and boat parking

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed for any length of time. Applies: Applies to boats, campers, trailers, RVs, house cars, mobile homes and similar vehicles on public property or rights-of-way, except as the code allows. § 10.40.062 · code text No person may park or store, for any period of time, any of the following vehicles, vessels or items, or parts thereof, on public property or rights-of-way except as provided in Section 10.40.063:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
EV charger permit	Approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Applies: Applies to a completed application that meets the checklist, with supporting documents and required fees. § 15.90.060 · code text The building department shall administratively approve an application to install an electric vehicle charging station through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Design review approval is not required. Applies: Applies to outdoor EV charging station installations. § 15.90.040 · code text For outdoor electric vehicle charging stations, design review approval subject to the provisions of chapter 18.30 is not required for installations
Review time	The permit is issued the same business day. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; a complete application submitted over the counter that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.80.060 · code text If the application is submitted over-the-counter, the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit on the same business day that a complete application meeting the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan is submitted The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; a complete application submitted electronically that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.80.060 · code text If the application is submitted electronically, the Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within 3 business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Pets, chickens and bees

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Bees	Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. Applies: A conditional use permit is required; hives must also meet accessory structure setback and lot coverage rules. § 18.21.040 · code text Honey bee hive boxes (colony) shall comply with building location, setback and lot coverage standards for an accessory structure within the district it is located and shall be setback a minimum of twenty feet from an occupied dwelling on an adjacent residential parcel. Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from a public street or public walking or bike trail. Applies: A conditional use permit is required. § 18.21.040 · code text Honey bee hive boxes (colony) shall be located at least twenty feet from a public street or a public pedestrian or bicycle trail.
Chickens	Allowed; a conditional use permit is needed on lots of 5,000 square feet or less. § 18.21.050 · code text In addition to the findings required by Section 18.26.050, the number of chickens per parcel shall not exceed the maximum allowance set forth in this chapter and chicken keeping shall comply with operational standards set forth in this chapter.
Coop setback	Coops must be at least 20 feet away. Applies: Distance from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. § 18.21.080 · code text A chicken coop structure is required to accommodate all chickens and shall comply with building location, setback and lot coverage standards for an accessory structure within the district it is located and shall be setback a minimum of twenty feet from an occupied dwelling on an adjacent residential parcel.
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: For keeping chickens on lots of 5,000 square feet or less, in all zoning districts. § 18.21.050 · code text For any parcel equal to or less than five thousand square feet in area in all zoning districts, an application for conditional use permit shall be filed with the planning department and may be granted or denied by the zoning administrator in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses, and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee. A conditional use permit is required. Applies: For keeping honey bees, in all zoning districts. § 18.21.020 · code text For parcels in all zoning districts, an application for conditional use permit shall be filed with the planning department and may be granted or denied by the zoning administrator in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses, and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee.

Other Corte Madera rules on this

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

Draining a pool into the sewer (§ 21.16.100)
Permit to remove or alter a tree (Ch. 15.50, Art. II)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Corte Madera?

City rule: a fence in a right-of-way or watercourse needs a permit.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Corte Madera?

In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Corte Madera?

Corte Madera's code: Neither new lot may be smaller than 40% of the original lot's area. (Applies to urban lot splits in the R-1, R-1-A, R-1-B or R-1-C zones.) (§ 18.31A.040); A unit may be up to 1,200 square feet. (Only if the unit meets the setbacks of the T3 Edge Neighborhood Zone.) (§ 18.31A.050).

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

Corte Madera's code: Not allowed for any length of time. (Applies to boats, campers, trailers, RVs, house cars, mobile homes and similar vehicles on public property or rights-of-way, except as the code allows.) (§ 10.40.062).

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

Corte Madera's code: Approved administratively through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. (Applies to a completed application that meets the checklist, with supporting documents and required fees.) (§ 15.90.060); Design review approval is not required. (Applies to outdoor EV charging station installations.) (§ 15.90.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Corte Madera?

Corte Madera's code: Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. (A conditional use permit is required; hives must also meet accessory structure setback and lot coverage rules.) (§ 18.21.040); Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from a public street or public walking or bike trail. (A conditional use permit is required.) (§ 18.21.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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