Escalon · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Escalon

Escalon sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and its distance from a street or alley, and some businesses may not run from a home.

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Key points

Fence height: In residential zones, Escalon limits fences to 3 feet in front and street side yards and 8 feet in other required yards.
Accessory buildings: Escalon limits accessory buildings in residential zones to one story and 15 feet; those over 450 square feet need planning commission approval.
Home businesses: Escalon limits a home business to 25% of the home's floor area, with resident employees only and one customer vehicle at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Corner visibility	Walls, fences and hedges no higher than 30 inches above the curb. Applies: Traffic view triangle on corner lots in any zone allowing fences: 25 feet along the front and side property lines, joined diagonally. § 17.41.030 · code text walls, fences, hedges, or other physical obstructions shall not exceed a maximum of 30 inches above the curb. A traffic view area is the area within a triangular area formed by lines extending 25 feet along the front and side property lines from the intersecting point of the front property line and street side property line, and a diagonal line connecting the two lines.
Height anywhere on the lot	A gateway or entry arbor no higher than 8 feet. Applies: Any zone; open design, no wider than 6 feet or deeper than 4 feet, 1 per street frontage. § 17.41.030 · code text but in no case shall a gateway or entryway arbor be higher than eight feet
Front yard height	Walls, fences and hedges no higher than 3 feet. Applies: In a required front yard in residential zones. § 17.41.030 · code text In residential zones, walls, fences and hedges within a required front yard, side yard adjacent to a street or alley, or that portion of a required rear yard within 15 feet of a street or alley where adjacent to the side yard shall not exceed a maximum height of three feet. The city planner may allow fences up to 6 feet high. Applies: Residential use on a lot in a nonresidential zone, in the front setback, if extra height is needed to protect the residential use. § 17.41.030 · code text However, the city planner may allow front yard fences up to six feet in height within the front setback where a finding is made that such additional height is required to protect the residential use of the property.
Side and rear yard height	Walls, fences and hedges no higher than 3 feet. Applies: Residential zones; side yard next to a street or alley, or rear yard area within 15 feet of a street or alley. § 17.41.030 · code text In residential zones, walls, fences and hedges within a required front yard, side yard adjacent to a street or alley, or that portion of a required rear yard within 15 feet of a street or alley where adjacent to the side yard shall not exceed a maximum height of three feet. Walls, fences and hedges no higher than 8 feet. Applies: Other required yard areas in residential zones. § 17.41.030 · code text Within required yard areas other than identified above, walls, fences and hedges shall not exceed a maximum height of eight feet. Side yard fence height may step up from 3 feet to 8 feet. Applies: Only as approved by the city planner; not on the street side yard of corner lots. § 17.41.030 · code text Side yard fence height may be graduated from three feet to eight feet as approved by the city planner, except on street side yard of corner lots.
Permit	A building permit is required for fences over 7 feet high. Applies: Residential zones. § 17.41.030 · code text Fences over a height of seven feet require a building permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high and 1 story. Applies: Accessory buildings in residential zones. § 17.12.010 · code text Are not over 15 feet high and are no more than one story.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 15% of the lot. Applies: The lot area is counted without the required building setbacks. § 17.12.010 · code text Do not occupy more than 15 percent of the lot, to be calculated exclusive of the required building setbacks. Over 450 square feet needs planning commission approval. Applies: Accessory structures in residential zones. § 17.12.010 · code text Any accessory structure in excess of 450 square feet requires the approval of the planning commission.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any side and 10 feet from any rear property line. Applies: Accessory buildings in residential zones; not in a required front or side yard. § 17.12.010 · code text Are at least five feet from any side and 10 feet from any rear property line, except in the R-3 zone where no setback is required by this subsection when the property line is adjacent to any nonresidential zone or nonresidential use. No setback is required. Applies: R-3 zone, where the property line is next to a nonresidential zone or nonresidential use. § 17.12.010 · code text Are at least five feet from any side and 10 feet from any rear property line, except in the R-3 zone where no setback is required by this subsection when the property line is adjacent to any nonresidential zone or nonresidential use. A 5-foot rear setback is allowed. Applies: An accessory structure used for storage only and not designed for any occupancy. § 17.12.010 · code text An accessory structure to be used for storage only and not designed for any occupancy (such as a gazebo or workshop) may have a five-foot rear setback.
No permit needed up to	Accessory buildings of 120 square feet or less need no building permit. Applies: A building permit is required for accessory buildings larger than 120 square feet. § 17.12.010 · code text Accessory buildings require a building permit if larger than 120 square feet.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet. Applies: Measured from any other structure on the same lot. § 17.12.010 · code text Are at least five feet from any other structure located on the same lot.

Running a business from home

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the home's gross floor area. § 5.30.010 · code text not more than 25 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation.
Customer visits	No more than 1 customer vehicle parked at the home. Applies: Counts customer vehicles parked at the residence at any one time. § 5.30.010 · code text No more than one customer vehicle is to be parked at the residence at any one time.
Employees	No employees other than residents of the household. § 5.30.010 · code text No employees other than residents of the household hosting the home occupation shall be associated with the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit from the city is required before starting. § 5.30.010 · code text In no case shall a home occupation be conducted without prior issuance of a home occupation permit by the city.
Businesses not allowed	Medical, therapy or chiropractic clinics; barber or beauty shops; pet grooming; real estate offices; photographic studio except limited developing for sale elsewhere; music lessons for classes of four or more; T.V., audio or appliance repair; cabinet shop, furniture manufacturer or upholstery repair; automotive repair or maintenance or other automotive services; bicycle, lawn mower, small engine or tool repair or maintenance; welding; adult entertainment facility/business; psychic readings, palm readings, or similar uses as determined by the city planner § 5.30.010 · code text The following uses shall not be permitted to be home occupations: child day care for more than 12 children § 5.30.010 · code text Child day care for more than 12 children.

RV and boat parking

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles or trailers over 20 ft long, 7 ft wide or 7 ft high may not park on residential streets. Applies: Monday through Friday, except holidays, unless an exception or permit applies. Pickups under 25 ft long and 82 inches high are not oversized. § 10.12.045 · code text "Oversized vehicle" means any vehicle or trailer which exceeds 20 feet in length; or exceeds seven feet in width; or exceeds seven feet in height, exclusive of such projecting lights or devices as are expressly allowed pursuant to the California Vehicle Code as it exists, or hereafter may be amended.
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours. Applies: Loading, unloading or cleaning an oversized vehicle or trailer parked on a public street. § 10.12.045 · code text To any person loading, unloading, or cleaning an oversized vehicle or trailer as long as said oversized vehicle or trailer is parked on a public street for no more than 72 hours. No more than 24 consecutive hours. Applies: Temporary or emergency repairs to an oversized vehicle or trailer. § 10.12.045 · code text To any person making temporary or emergency repairs to an oversized vehicle or trailer not to exceed 24 consecutive hours.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Solar permit process	A building permit or other nondiscretionary permit is issued within a reasonable time after a complete application. Applies: Unless the director decides a use permit is needed; the application must meet the approved checklist, standard plan and chapter requirements. § 15.52.060 · code text Unless the director determines a use permit is warranted, city staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan and this chapter.

Swimming pools

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Pool barrier	The pool must be enclosed as the building official requires. § 17.41.180 · code text Every person who owns or possesses any property where there is a swimming pool shall enclose the pool in the manner and as required by the building official.
Equipment and alarms	No pool equipment in required front yards; in required side yards, at least 5 feet from property lines. § 17.41.180 · code text No mechanical equipment for operating a swimming pool shall be located in a required front yard nor within five feet of a property line when located in a required side yard.
Permit	No zoning approval is needed. Applies: When the pool's use is incidental to the use of its lot, including private homes. § 17.41.180 · code text When use of a swimming pool is incidental to the use of the zoning plot on which it is located, no zoning approval is required.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from any property line, and not in a required front yard or required street side yard. § 17.41.180 · code text No swimming pool shall be located within three feet of a property line, nor in a required front yard, nor in a required side yard along a street.

Pets, chickens and bees

Escalon code What Escalon's code adds
Large animals	Goats, sheep and hogs are not allowed; 1 pot belly pig may be allowed. § 6.08.020 · code text No roosters, ducks, turkeys, geese, pea fowl, guinea fowl, goats, sheep or hogs, except one pot belly pig may be allowed.
Pet limit	No more than 6 small animals. Applies: Only if none are kept for commercial use. § 6.08.020 · code text Not more than six small animals may be kept, provided none are kept for commercial use. No more than 4 dogs or cats over 10 weeks old. Applies: Only if none are kept for commercial use. § 6.08.020 · code text Not more than four of such animals may be dogs or cats over 10 weeks of age.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Escalon?

In residential zones, Escalon limits fences to 3 feet in front and street side yards and 8 feet in other required yards.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Escalon?

Escalon limits accessory buildings in residential zones to one story and 15 feet; those over 450 square feet need planning commission approval.

Can I run a business from my home in Escalon?

Escalon limits a home business to 25% of the home's floor area, with resident employees only and one customer vehicle at a time.

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

Escalon's code: Vehicles or trailers over 20 ft long, 7 ft wide or 7 ft high may not park on residential streets. (Monday through Friday, except holidays, unless an exception or permit applies. Pickups under 25 ft long and 82 inches high are not oversized.) (§ 10.12.045); No more than 72 hours. (Loading, unloading or cleaning an oversized vehicle or trailer parked on a public street.) (§ 10.12.045).

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

Escalon's code: A building permit or other nondiscretionary permit is issued within a reasonable time after a complete application. (Unless the director decides a use permit is needed; the application must meet the approved checklist, standard plan and chapter requirements.) (§ 15.52.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Escalon?

Escalon's code: The pool must be enclosed as the building official requires. (§ 17.41.180); No pool equipment in required front yards; in required side yards, at least 5 feet from property lines. (§ 17.41.180).

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

Escalon's code: Goats, sheep and hogs are not allowed; 1 pot belly pig may be allowed. (§ 6.08.020); No more than 6 small animals. (Only if none are kept for commercial use.) (§ 6.08.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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