El Cerrito · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in El Cerrito

El Cerrito sets its own limits on home businesses. They cover floor area, daily trips, employees and the business types that may not run from a home.

Ask about building on your lot in El Cerrito See coverage

Key points

Business size: El Cerrito limits a home business to 300 square feet or 40% of the home's floor area, whichever is less.
Trips and staff: El Cerrito allows up to 5 round trips a day, and 1 non-resident employee with extra parking or within 1/4 mile of BART.

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

Running a business from home

El Cerrito code What El Cerrito's code adds
Space used	No more than 300 square feet or 40% of the home's floor area, whichever is less. § 19.20.100 · code text A home occupation shall not exceed 300 square feet or 40 percent of the residential unit floor area, whichever is less.
Customer visits	Up to 5 round trips per day by employees, deliveries or visitors. § 19.20.100 · code text Up to five roundtrips per day by employees, deliveries, or visitors to the home occupation are permitted.
Employees	1 full-time employee who does not live in the home. Applies: Only if 1 extra off-street parking space is provided on the site beyond the spaces required for the home. § 19.20.100 · code text One non-resident full-time employee is permitted if an additional off-street parking space is provided on the subject site beyond the number of spaces required for the residential use, 1 full-time employee who does not live in the home. Applies: For a home within 1/4 mile of a BART station, no extra parking space is required for the employee. § 19.20.100 · code text One non-resident full-time employee is permitted if an additional off-street parking space is provided on the subject site beyond the number of spaces required for the residential use, except that if the home occupation is conducted in a unit that is within ¼ mile of a BART station, no parking is required for the employee.
Permit	An administrative use permit is required. Applies: Only for exceptions to the home occupation standards. § 19.20.100 · code text Exceptions to this section shall require an administrative use permit. An annual business license tax must be paid. Applies: Applies to every person doing business as a home occupation. § 4.32.245 · code text Every person engaged in business in a home occupation as defined in this chapter shall pay the annual license tax set in the master fee schedule.
Businesses not allowed	adult businesses as defined in Section 19.20.023; personal instruction services for more than two students at one time; accommodation of paying guests except as otherwise permitted by Section 19.20.050; beauty parlors with more than one hair stylist; boarding and treatment of animals § 19.20.100 · code text The following uses are not permitted as a home occupation: adult businesses as defined in Section 19.20.023, personal instruction services for more than two students at one time, accommodation of paying guests except as otherwise permitted by Section 19.20.050, beauty parlors with more than one hair stylist, and the boarding and treatment of animals.

Solar panels and EV chargers

El Cerrito code What El Cerrito's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review: approved if it meets the approved checklist and standards; the building official acts within 5 business days. Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. The 5 business days start once the application is complete. § 16.14.060 · code text Once the building official determines a permit application is complete, he or she shall act on the permit within five business days of that determination. EV charging stations are exempt from design review. § 16.14.060 · code text All electrical vehicle charging stations are exempt from design review.

Tree removal

El Cerrito code What El Cerrito's code adds
Protected trees	Any tree, shrub or plant marked for protection in the development approval, plus any other public trees and shrubs. Applies: During any construction project, these trees must be guarded with protectors or fences that meet ANSI A300 Standards. § 13.28.100 · code text the person in charge of such work shall protect any tree, shrub or plant identified for protection in the development approval process and any other public trees and shrubs
Replacement trees	Mitigation may include the city planting replacement trees at your expense, plus fees for permits, removal, planting and establishment. Applies: When a construction project cannot meet ANSI A300 Standards and will harm the long-term health of a public tree. § 13.28.100 · code text Mitigation may include the planting of a replacement tree(s) by the city at the person's own expense. The city may charge fees to cover the costs associated with permitting, removal of an existing tree, planting, and the establishment of a new tree.

Swimming pools

El Cerrito code What El Cerrito's code adds
Pool barrier	The fence must completely enclose the pool and have no outside stringers. Applies: Applies to the protective fence around swimming pools. § 19.21.070 · code text All swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a protective fence at least four and one-half feet in height, with no outside stringers. A building may be part of the pool enclosure if all its doors to the pool have self-closing, self-latching gates. Applies: Applies to swimming pools. § 19.21.070 · code text Any building may serve as a portion of the required enclosure so long as all doors leading from such buildings to the pool have self-closing and self-latching gates.
Barrier height	The pool fence must be at least 4.5 feet high. § 19.21.070 · code text All swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a protective fence at least four and one-half feet in height, with no outside stringers.
Equipment and alarms	Filter and heating systems must be enclosed against noise, e.g. a double-walled structure, concrete block or pit, or insulation. Applies: Applies to pools and hot tubs within 40 feet of a lot line. § 19.21.070 · code text All pools and hot tubs located within 40 feet of a lot line shall provide adequate enclosure of all filter and heating systems to prevent noise and other disturbance to adjacent properties. Hot tubs need noise enclosure or screening; in required rear or side yards, 6 to 8 foot evergreen landscaping too. Applies: Hot tubs. Landscaping goes between the tub and the neighbor's fence in residential districts; the Zoning Administrator may waive it if another feature buffers privacy. § 19.21.070 · code text Hot tubs shall be either enclosed or screened to prevent noise and other disturbance to adjacent properties.
Gates	Pool entrances need a self-closing, self-latching gate, with latches at least 4 feet above the ground. Applies: Applies to swimming pools. § 19.21.070 · code text All entrances to the pool shall be protected by a self-closing and self-latching gate with latches installed at least four feet from the ground level. House doors that open into the pool area do not have to meet the latch requirements. Applies: Applies to doors of occupied dwellings that open into the pool area. § 19.21.070 · code text Doors of occupied dwellings opening into pool area need not meet latch requirements.
Setback from property lines	50 feet. Applies: In residential districts: the distance of the pool and its equipment from the front and street lot lines. § 19.21.070 · code text Residential \| 50 ft. \| 5 ft. 5 feet. Applies: In residential districts: the distance of the pool and its equipment from rear and side lot lines not along a street. § 19.21.070 · code text Residential \| 50 ft. \| 5 ft.

Pets, chickens and bees

El Cerrito code Yes, at most 1 beehive, behind the house, at least 20 ft from neighbors' homes, 5 ft from lot lines. Yes, up to 3 beehives.

All 16 El Cerrito rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in El Cerrito?

El Cerrito limits a home business to 300 square feet or 40% of the home's floor area, whichever is less. El Cerrito allows up to 5 round trips a day, and 1 non-resident employee with extra parking or within 1/4 mile of BART.

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

El Cerrito's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review: approved if it meets the approved checklist and standards; the building official acts within 5 business days. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations. The 5 business days start once the application is complete.) (§ 16.14.060); EV charging stations are exempt from design review. (§ 16.14.060).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in El Cerrito?

El Cerrito's code: Any tree, shrub or plant marked for protection in the development approval, plus any other public trees and shrubs. (During any construction project, these trees must be guarded with protectors or fences that meet ANSI A300 Standards.) (§ 13.28.100); Mitigation may include the city planting replacement trees at your expense, plus fees for permits, removal, planting and establishment. (When a construction project cannot meet ANSI A300 Standards and will harm the long-term health of a public tree.) (§ 13.28.100).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in El Cerrito?

El Cerrito's code: The fence must completely enclose the pool and have no outside stringers. (Applies to the protective fence around swimming pools.) (§ 19.21.070); A building may be part of the pool enclosure if all its doors to the pool have self-closing, self-latching gates. (Applies to swimming pools.) (§ 19.21.070).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific El Cerrito property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on El Cerrito

El Cerrito Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in El Cerrito

Buying & selling in El Cerrito

El Cerrito overview