Eureka · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Eureka

Eureka sets its own limits on accessory structures and home businesses. Home businesses that meet all standards need a zoning clearance; others need a minor use permit.

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Key points

Home businesses: Eureka limits home businesses to 10 client vehicle trips a day, visits from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 2 on-site non-resident employees.
Accessory structures: In R Districts, Eureka limits accessory structures in required rear yards to 500 square feet or 10% of the yards, whichever is greater.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Eureka code What Eureka's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 500 square feet or 10% of the required rear yards, whichever is greater. Applies: R District; all accessory structures combined in the required rear yards. § 156.038 · code text provided that in the aggregate no more than 500 square feet or 10% of the area of the required rear yards, whichever is greater, shall be covered by structures May cover no more than 60% of a required rear yard next to an alley. Applies: RM or OR District; accessory structures with no habitable rooms. § 156.038 · code text In an RM or OR District, accessory structures containing no habitable rooms may cover not more than 60% of a required rear yard adjoining an alley.
Side and rear setback	At least 15 feet from the center line of the alley. Applies: Sites with a required rear yard next to an alley. § 156.038 · code text On a site with a required rear yard adjoining an alley, accessory structures shall be not less than 15 feet from the center line of the alley

Running a business from home

Eureka code What Eureka's code adds
Customer visits	No more than 10 client or customer vehicle trips per day. Applies: Except on allowed special event days. § 155.304.070 · code text Except when allowed by division (E)(9) below, only ten vehicle trips per day of clients or customers to the residence are allowed. Only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Applies: Applies to client or customer visits. § 155.304.070 · code text Client or customer visits are limited to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. No more than 1 client or customer on-site at a time. Applies: Retail, commercial service and office home occupations. § 155.304.070 · code text For retail, commercial service, and office home occupations, no more than one client or customer may be on-site at any given time. No more than 10 students, clients or customers on-site at a time. Applies: Instruction, tutoring, gyms and similar home occupations, as decided by the director. § 155.304.070 · code text For instructional services, tutoring, gyms, and other similar home occupations as determined by the Director, a maximum of ten students, clients, or customers may be on-site at any given time. Up to 4 special events per year. Applies: The client and customer limits do not apply at these events. § 155.304.070 · code text A home occupation may host up to four special events per year where the client/customer limitations in division (E)(8) above do not apply.
Employees	No more than 2 on-site employees who do not live there. § 155.304.070 · code text A maximum of two on-site non-resident employees is allowed.
Permit	Allowed by right with a zoning clearance. Applies: Home occupations that meet all home occupation standards. § 155.304.070 · code text A home occupation that complies with all standards in division (E) below is permitted by-right with a zoning clearance. May be allowed with a minor use permit. Applies: Home occupations that do not meet 1 or more of the home occupation standards. § 155.304.070 · code text A home occupation that does not comply with one or more standards in division (E) below may be allowed with a minor use permit. A City of Eureka business license is required. § 155.304.070 · code text All persons conducting a home occupation must obtain a City of Eureka business license. Registration or a permit from the Humboldt County Department of Environmental Health. Applies: Cottage food operations, before starting business. § 155.304.070 · code text All cottage food operations must be registered or permitted by Humboldt County Department of Environmental Health before commencing business.

Tree removal

Eureka code What Eureka's code adds
Exemptions	Allowed in emergencies with a zoning clearance: tree in immediate danger of collapse and an imminent threat to public safety. Applies: Hazardous protected trees, in all areas. § 155.304.140 · code text In cases of emergency, a protected tree may be removed or altered if the tree: 1. Presents an immediate danger of collapse; and 2. Poses an imminent threat to the public safety or general welfare.
Permit to remove	A minor or conditional gulch greenway permit. Applies: Removing or altering a protected tree inside GGMA: minor permit for 5 or fewer, conditional permit for more than 5 every 10 years. § 155.304.140 · code text Inside GGMA, removing or altering a protected tree requires either a minor or conditional gulch greenway permit. A tree permit. Applies: Removing or altering more than 5 protected trees outside GGMA every 10 years. § 155.304.140 · code text Outside GGMA, removing or altering more than five protected trees requires a tree permit. A zoning clearance. Applies: Removing or altering 5 or fewer protected trees outside GGMA. § 155.304.140 · code text Removing or altering five or fewer protected trees requires a zoning clearance. A zoning clearance. Applies: Removing or altering a hazardous protected tree, in all areas. § 155.304.140 · code text Removing or altering a hazardous protected tree is allowed in all areas with a zoning clearance as follows: A zoning clearance. Applies: A protected tree outside GGMA within 15 feet of a proposed new structure's footprint, shown on the project site plan. § 155.304.140 · code text Within 15 ft. of structure \| MGG \| ZC A zoning clearance. Applies: A protected tree outside GGMA that blocks a solar energy system; an arborist or RPF report must find removal necessary. § 155.304.140 · code text Blocks solar access \| MGG [1] \| ZC A zoning clearance. Applies: Removal or alteration that the owner's or prospective owner's insurer requires to keep or get coverage. § 155.304.140 · code text A protected tree may be removed or altered with a zoning clearance when required by the property owner's or prospective property owner's insurance company as a condition of maintaining or obtaining coverage, based on evidence of the requirement. A zoning clearance. Applies: Tree removal done under, and in line with, a valid CalFire-approved timber harvesting plan. § 155.304.140 · code text This applies only to tree removal conducted under and in compliance with a valid timber harvesting plan (THP) approved by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). No permit is needed. Applies: Actions affecting a tree that is not protected. § 155.304.140 · code text No permit is required for actions affecting a non-protected tree.
Protected trees	Any tree native to coastal Northern California with a 12-inch diameter or 38-inch circumference or more, measured 4.5 feet up. Applies: Inside gulch greenway management areas (GGMA); native trees as listed in the Calflora or USDA Plants databases. § 155.304.140 · code text In GGMA, a PROTECTED TREE means any tree native to coastal Northern California, as identified in the Calflora database or USDA Plants Database, with a 12-inch diameter, or a circumference of 38 inches, or greater, as measured 4.5 feet above the ground.

Pets, chickens and bees

Eureka code At most 4 beehives per lot. 1 more beehive for each extra 2,500 sq ft, up to 8 beehives per parcel.

All 11 Eureka rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Other Eureka rules on this

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

Urban lot split subdivisions (SB 9) (§ 155.332.030)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In R Districts, Eureka limits accessory structures in required rear yards to 500 square feet or 10% of the yards, whichever is greater.

Can I run a business from my home in Eureka?

Eureka limits home businesses to 10 client vehicle trips a day, visits from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 2 on-site non-resident employees.

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

Eureka's code: Allowed in emergencies with a zoning clearance: tree in immediate danger of collapse and an imminent threat to public safety. (Hazardous protected trees, in all areas.) (§ 155.304.140); A minor or conditional gulch greenway permit. (Removing or altering a protected tree inside GGMA: minor permit for 5 or fewer, conditional permit for more than 5 every 10 years.) (§ 155.304.140).

General information, not legal advice.

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Eureka Municipal Code — full text

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