East Palo Alto · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in East Palo Alto

East Palo Alto sets its own limits on accessory structures and home businesses. Its fence rule covers a boundary where the land height shifts abruptly between two properties.

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Key points

Accessory structures: East Palo Alto limits one-story detached accessory structures over 120 square feet to 15 feet and 25% of the front or rear yard.
Home businesses: East Palo Alto limits home businesses to 25% of one floor or one room, whichever is less, and 2 clients at a time.
Boundary fences: Where land height shifts abruptly at a property line, East Palo Alto lets the lower owner build a boundary fence up to 8 feet.

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

Fences and walls

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	A boundary fence, wall or hedge can never be more than 8 feet tall. Applies: Where the ground level shifts sharply at the boundary between 2 owners; applies to the lower owner building on the boundary. § 18.26.030 · code text B. Uneven Grade. Whenever there exists an abrupt shift in the height of the land at the boundary between two property owners the lower owner may erect a fence, wall or hedge on the boundary to the height limit, but in no event shall it be more than eight feet in height.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory structures can be at most 15 feet tall. Applies: Residential zones: 1-story detached accessory structures with a footprint over 120 square feet. § 18.24.030 · code text The structure has a height no greater than 15 feet.
Size or lot coverage	Can cover no more than 25% of the front or rear yard. Applies: Residential zones: 1-story detached accessory structures with a footprint over 120 square feet. § 18.24.030 · code text The structure does not occupy more than 25 percent of the front or rear yard. Projected roof area must be less than 1,000 square feet. Applies: Residential zones: 1-story detached accessory structures with a footprint over 120 square feet. § 18.24.030 · code text The structure has a projected roof area of less than 1,000 square feet;
Side and rear setback	At least 6 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Residential zones: 1-story detached accessory structures with a footprint over 120 square feet. § 18.24.030 · code text At least six feet from the rear property line; At least 3 feet from side property lines. Applies: Residential zones: 1-story detached accessory structures with a footprint over 120 square feet. § 18.24.030 · code text At least three feet from side property lines;
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any nearby structure. Applies: Residential zones: 1-story detached accessory structures with a footprint over 120 square feet. § 18.24.030 · code text At least six feet from any adjacent structures.

Running a business from home

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of one floor's gross area or 1 room, whichever is less. § 18.48.110 · code text No more than 25 percent of the gross floor area of one floor of the residence or one room, whichever is less, shall be used for the purpose of home business. Inside the home only; not in the garage, an accessory structure, or outdoor areas of the property. § 18.48.110 · code text The home business shall be restricted to the interior of the dwelling unit and shall not take place on external areas of the subject property, the dwelling's garage, or in any accessory structure;
Customer visits	Only 2 clients are allowed. Applies: In the home at any one time. § 18.48.110 · code text Only two clients shall be allowed in the dwelling at any one time. No more than 12 visits in any 24-hour day by customers arriving by vehicle. § 18.48.110 · code text The home business shall be limited to no more than 12 visits in any one 24-hour day by those customers arriving by vehicle; Customers are allowed only between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. § 18.48.110 · code text Customers of the home business are allowed at the residence only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.;
Employees	Only residents of the home or domestic help can work or report to work there. § 18.48.110 · code text No persons other than residents of the dwelling or domestic help shall work or report to work on the premises;
Permit	A Home Occupation Permit and a business license are required. Applies: Before starting the home business. § 18.48.110 · code text Before the establishment of a home business, the operator of the home business shall first file an application for a Home Occupation Permit and receive approval and shall also obtain a business license issued in compliance with Municipal Code Chapter 5.04.

RV and boat parking

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Parking on the street	No parking between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles and trailers not hitched to a motor vehicle, on any city street or road. § 10.04.130 · code text It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to park, or cause to be parked, an oversized vehicle or trailer unconnected to a motor vehicle on any public street or road under jurisdiction of the City of East Palo Alto between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Solar panels and EV chargers

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited administrative (ministerial) permit review; you may apply online or in person. § 15.13.010 · code text The building official or their designee shall approve or deny a permit for an EVSC within twenty (20) days (applications for twenty-five (25) or fewer charging stations)

Tree removal

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Protected trees; neighbors notified; allowed if dead, dying within 5 years, high risk, invasive, unsound, damaging property, or blocking a good project with replacements. § 18.28.090 · code text Tree removal permit applications shall be reviewed and decided upon by the Director within 30 days of a complete application being submitted.
Replacement trees	The project must include replacement trees. Applies: Applies when a protected tree is removed because it interferes with proposed development, repair or improvement. § 18.28.070 · code text the project will incorporate replacement trees.

Swimming pools

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	All new pools and hot tubs must have covers; covers are encouraged for existing pools. Applies: Applies to new swimming pools and hot tubs. § 17.04.060 · code text Covers shall be required for all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encouraged to be installed for existing pools.

Other East Palo Alto rules on this

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

Animal keeping standards (§ 18.48.050)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in East Palo Alto?

Where land height shifts abruptly at a property line, East Palo Alto lets the lower owner build a boundary fence up to 8 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto limits one-story detached accessory structures over 120 square feet to 15 feet and 25% of the front or rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto limits home businesses to 25% of one floor or one room, whichever is less, and 2 clients at a time.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto's code: No parking between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. (Applies to oversized vehicles and trailers not hitched to a motor vehicle, on any city street or road.) (§ 10.04.130).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto's code: Expedited administrative (ministerial) permit review; you may apply online or in person. (§ 15.13.010).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto's code: Yes, a permit is required. (Protected trees; neighbors notified; allowed if dead, dying within 5 years, high risk, invasive, unsound, damaging property, or blocking a good project with replacements.) (§ 18.28.090); The project must include replacement trees. (Applies when a protected tree is removed because it interferes with proposed development, repair or improvement.) (§ 18.28.070).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto's code: All new pools and hot tubs must have covers; covers are encouraged for existing pools. (Applies to new swimming pools and hot tubs.) (§ 17.04.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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