Dunsmuir · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir sets its own rules for fences and home businesses. Fences need a permit, and fence height depends on the yard and corner sight lines.

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Key points

Fence height: Dunsmuir requires a fence permit and limits fences to 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in rear and side setbacks.
Home businesses: Dunsmuir limits home businesses to 25% of the home or 400 square feet, whichever is less, and generally 4 client visits a day.

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

Fences and walls

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing over 3 feet in the triangle 25 feet along each street or 10 feet along each alley. Applies: Fences, hedges, walls or similar screening at the street intersection of a corner lot. § 17.92.120 · code text the street intersection of a corner lot shall have no fence, hedge, wall, or equivalent screening exceeding three feet in height within a triangle of twenty-five (25) feet along the side of each street, or ten (10) feet along the side of each alley
Height anywhere on the lot	Up to 2 feet can be added to the height limits. Applies: Sloping sites or grade differences between neighboring sites, with administrative approval after notice to bordering owners. § 17.92.120 · code text up to two (2) feet may be added to the height limits in subsection A of this section and administratively approved
Front yard height	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 4 feet tall. Applies: Within the front yard setback. § 17.92.120 · code text nor shall any fence, wall, hedge, or equivalent screening exceed four (4) feet in height within the area encompassed by the front yard setback. Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Where no front yard setback is required: in the front yard or along the front lot line. § 17.92.120 · code text When there is no requirement for a front yard setback, the maximum height of any fence, wall, hedge, or equivalent screening within a front yard or along the front lot line shall be limited to six (6) feet.
Side and rear yard height	Fences and walls can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Within the rear yard setback, or the side yard setback up to the front yard setback line. § 17.92.120 · code text No fence or wall shall hereafter be constructed to exceed six (6) feet in height within the area encompassed by the rear yard setback or the side yard setback to the front yard setback line
Permit	Yes. An administrative fence permit is required before installing any fence or wall. § 17.92.120 · code text An administrative fence permit shall be obtained from the city prior to the installation of any fence or wall. A conditional use permit is required for a fence, wall or hedge that does not meet the standards. Applies: Extra height on sloping sites can be approved administratively; the permit is issued only 10 days after approval. § 17.92.120 · code text Permits for fences and walls that exceed the height limits in subsection A of this section shall not be issued until ten (10) days have elapsed from the approval thereof

Running a business from home

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the home's floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is less. § 17.96.040 · code text The activity occupies no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit or four hundred (400) square feet, whichever is less.
Customer visits	No more than 1 client or customer at the home at the same time. Applies: A minor with a parent or guardian is the exception. § 17.96.040 · code text Except for a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian, no more than one (1) client/customer is permitted at the residence at the same time. Customer or client visits are limited to 4 per day. Applies: General rule for home businesses. § 17.96.040 · code text Customer or client visits are limited to four (4) per day or six (6) per day for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring). Customer or client visits are limited to 6 per day. Applies: Personal instruction services, such as music lessons or training, art lessons, or academic tutoring. § 17.96.040 · code text Customer or client visits are limited to four (4) per day or six (6) per day for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring).
Employees	No one other than the home's residents can be employed on site. § 17.96.040 · code text No person shall be employed by the home occupation at the premises other than the resident(s) of the dwelling.
Permit	A business license and a home occupation permit are required. § 17.96.040 · code text Subject to issuance of a business license and a home occupation permit, home occupations are permitted in all zoning districts that permit residential uses subject to the following standards:
Businesses not allowed	selling or displaying products for sale on the premises, except cottage food direct sales and as state law allows Applies: products made on the premises may be sold off-site § 17.96.040 · code text With the exception of direct sales for cottage food operations in accordance with Section 17.96.050 (Cottage food operations), and as allowed by state law, no product shall be displayed for sale or sold upon the premises. animal-related services, including grooming or personal care, requiring animals to be present on the residential property Applies: animal-related services § 17.96.040 · code text No animal-related services, including grooming or personal care, requiring animals to be present on the residential property shall be allowed on the premises.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the permit can be issued once the application meets every checklist requirement. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 15.56.060 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the building official as a nondiscretionary permit. You may submit the application electronically. § 15.56.050 · code text The building official shall allow the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application. A written correction notice is available within 10 working days. Applies: Only when the application is incomplete. § 15.56.060 · code text If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within ten (10) working days, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be given to the applicant for resubmission.

Pets, chickens and bees

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old. § 6.12.100 · code text No person, dwelling or other structure shall keep or maintain more than three dogs, which are over the age of four months.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Dunsmuir?

Dunsmuir requires a fence permit and limits fences to 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in rear and side setbacks.

Can I run a business from my home in Dunsmuir?

Dunsmuir limits home businesses to 25% of the home or 400 square feet, whichever is less, and generally 4 client visits a day.

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

Dunsmuir's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the permit can be issued once the application meets every checklist requirement. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 15.56.060); You may submit the application electronically. (§ 15.56.050).

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

Dunsmuir's code: No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old. (§ 6.12.100).

General information, not legal advice.

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