Emeryville · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Emeryville

Emeryville sets its own limits on fences in residential zones and bans some home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and on how open the fence is.

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Key points

Fence height: Emeryville limits front and street side fences to 3 feet if solid or 4-1/2 feet if at least 50% open; rear yards, 6 feet.
Banned businesses: Emeryville does not allow home businesses that sell firearms or ammunition, adult entertainment businesses, or commercial cannabis activity.

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

Fences and walls

Emeryville code What Emeryville's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	A fence or wall up to 6 feet high. Applies: Residential zones; anywhere on a lot outside the required yards. § 9-4.505 · code text A maximum six-foot (6') fence or wall may be located anywhere on a lot that is not within a required yard.
Front yard height	Solid fences and walls no higher than 3 feet. Applies: In a required front yard or street side yard in residential zones. § 9-4.505 · code text The maximum height of solid fences and walls in a required front yard or street side yard shall be three feet (3'). No higher than 4 1/2 feet. Applies: Fences that are at least 50% open, in a required front yard or street side yard in residential zones. § 9-4.505 · code text The maximum height of fences that are not less than fifty percent (50%) open in a required front yard or street side yard shall be four and one-half feet (4-1/2').
Side and rear yard height	Fences and walls no higher than 6 feet. Applies: Residential zones; required rear yard, including one next to a street, or interior side yard. § 9-4.505 · code text The maximum height of fences and walls in a required rear yard, including a rear yard abutting a street, or in an interior side yard shall be six feet (6').

Running a business from home

Emeryville code What Emeryville's code adds
Businesses not allowed	selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring any firearm or ammunition § 9-5.602 · code text It is unlawful to engage in the business of selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring any firearm or ammunition as defined in this article as a Home Occupation as such term is defined in Article 8 of this chapter. adult entertainment business § 9-5.303 · code text It is unlawful to establish any adult entertainment business as defined in this article as a Home Occupation as defined in Article 8 of this chapter. commercial cannabis activity § 9-5.2203 · code text It is unlawful to engage in commercial cannabis activity as defined in Section 5-28.03(f) as a home occupation as defined in Article 8 of this chapter.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Emeryville code What Emeryville's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review, limited to whether the application meets local, state and federal health and safety requirements. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 8-23.06 · code text The Chief Building Official shall implement an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. Only 1 inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. § 8-23.06 · code text Only one (1) inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Division for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

Tree removal

Emeryville code What Emeryville's code adds
Penalty	3 times the replacement value fee of the street tree or landscaping, plus any City appraisal costs. Applies: Street trees or landscaping, for violating the chapter or a permit condition. § 7-10.12 · code text shall become liable to the City for a civil penalty three (3) times the replacement value fee of the street tree or landscaping plus the City's incurred appraisal costs, if any.
Replacement trees	You may be required to replace any removed or damaged street tree or landscaping. Applies: Street trees or landscaping, for violating the chapter or a permit condition. § 7-10.12 · code text may be required to replace any removed or damaged street tree or landscaping

Pets, chickens and bees

Emeryville code What Emeryville's code adds
Permit	A permit from the Police Department or another authorized licensing authority. Applies: Keeping any animal that is not a domestic pet in the city. § 6-1.108 · code text No animal which is not a domestic pet shall be kept within the City without first obtaining a permit from the Police Department or other authorized licensing authority.

Other Emeryville rules on this

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

No parking of unattached trailers on posted streets (§ 4-9.31) — on posted public streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Emeryville?

Emeryville limits front and street side fences to 3 feet if solid or 4-1/2 feet if at least 50% open; rear yards, 6 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Emeryville?

Emeryville does not allow home businesses that sell firearms or ammunition, adult entertainment businesses, or commercial cannabis activity.

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

Emeryville's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review, limited to whether the application meets local, state and federal health and safety requirements. (Small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 8-23.06); Only 1 inspection. (Small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 8-23.06).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Emeryville?

Emeryville's code: 3 times the replacement value fee of the street tree or landscaping, plus any City appraisal costs. (Street trees or landscaping, for violating the chapter or a permit condition.) (§ 7-10.12); You may be required to replace any removed or damaged street tree or landscaping. (Street trees or landscaping, for violating the chapter or a permit condition.) (§ 7-10.12).

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

Emeryville's code: A permit from the Police Department or another authorized licensing authority. (Keeping any animal that is not a domestic pet in the city.) (§ 6-1.108).

General information, not legal advice.

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Emeryville Municipal Code — full text

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