Folsom · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Folsom

Folsom sets fence and accessory-building limits for its Historic District. It also requires a permit to run a business from home.

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Key points

Fence height: In the H-D Historic District, Folsom limits fences to 42 inches in front yards and 6 feet in rear and side yards.
Accessory buildings: In the historic district, Folsom limits accessory buildings to 15 feet, no taller than the main building, and 50% of the required rear yard.
Home businesses: Folsom requires a home occupation permit to run a business from home.

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

Fences and walls

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
Front yard height	Front yard fences may be no more than 42 inches tall. Applies: Only in the H-D Historic District. § 17.52.440 · code text Fence height in front yards shall not exceed 42 inches in height.
Side and rear yard height	Side and rear yard fences may be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Only in the H-D Historic District. § 17.52.440 · code text Rear and side yard fencing shall not exceed 6 feet in height.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory buildings may be no more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Historic district only. They may also be no taller than the main building on the lot. § 17.52.480 · code text Accessory buildings shall not exceed fifteen feet in height, as measured using the methodology in Section 17.02.110.
Size or lot coverage	Detached accessory buildings may cover no more than 50% of a required rear yard. Applies: Historic district only. Accessory dwelling units do not count. § 17.52.480 · code text Detached accessory buildings (with the exception of accessory dwelling units) may occupy a maximum of fifty percent of the area of a required rear yard. All accessory buildings together may be no more than 50% of the main building's square footage. Applies: Historic district only. Total of all accessory buildings on the parcel, not counting accessory dwelling units. § 17.52.480 · code text The total square footage of all accessory buildings on a single parcel, excluding residential accessory dwelling units, shall not exceed fifty percent of the total square footage of the primary building on the same parcel.
Side and rear setback	Accessory buildings must be at least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Historic district only. § 17.52.480 · code text Accessory buildings shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the front yard lot line, five feet from the rear yard lot line, five feet from the interior side-yard lot line, ten feet from the street side-yard lot line and five feet from all other buildings on the property. Accessory buildings must be at least 5 feet from the interior side lot line. Applies: Historic district only. § 17.52.480 · code text Accessory buildings shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the front yard lot line, five feet from the rear yard lot line, five feet from the interior side-yard lot line, ten feet from the street side-yard lot line and five feet from all other buildings on the property. Accessory buildings must be at least 10 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: Historic district only. § 17.52.480 · code text Accessory buildings shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the front yard lot line, five feet from the rear yard lot line, five feet from the interior side-yard lot line, ten feet from the street side-yard lot line and five feet from all other buildings on the property.
Distance from the house	Accessory buildings must be at least 5 feet from all other buildings on the property. Applies: Historic district only. § 17.52.480 · code text Accessory buildings shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the front yard lot line, five feet from the rear yard lot line, five feet from the interior side-yard lot line, ten feet from the street side-yard lot line and five feet from all other buildings on the property.

Running a business from home

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 17.61.080 · code text The decision of the planning, inspections and permitting department concerning the issuance or denial of a home occupation permit shall be final unless an appeal is submitted in writing

RV and boat parking

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
Parking on the street	No storing on the street; the vehicle must move at least 1 mile within every 72 hours in a row. Applies: Applies to RVs and utility trailers on any city street. § 10.20.280 · code text A recreational vehicle or utility trailer shall be considered stored when it has been left standing upon a street without having been moved at least one mile within a seventy-two-consecutive-hour period. A 72-hour extension permit may be requested up to 4 times per year. Applies: Only if the vehicle and parking spot pose no public hazard. § 10.20.280 · code text A person may request, up to a maximum of four times per year, a seventy-two-hour extension permit from the city to park a recreational vehicle or utility trailer on the street; provided, that the size and the condition of the recreational vehicle or utility trailer and the parking location do not otherwise pose a public hazard.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
EV charger permit	The chief building official approves a complete application and issues all permits; the charger stays unpowered until city approval. Applies: Applies to installing an electric vehicle charging station. § 14.35.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the chief building official that the permit application and supporting documents are complete and meet the requirements of the application checklist, and that the application is consistent with all applicable laws, the chief building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all necessary permits.
Solar permit process	Fast administrative review; e-mail or fax filing; permits issue when a complete application meets the checklist and fees are paid. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review. § 14.34.050 · code text Upon confirmation by the building division that the application and supporting documentation, including payment of applicable fees, is complete and meets the requirements of the checklist, the building division shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Tree removal

Folsom code Emergency removal of limbs or trees damaged by extreme weather, chance events or accidents beyond the owner's control. Removing a dead or dying protected tree, as an arborist finds or the city arborist verifies, if replacement is done.

All 17 Folsom rules on tree removal, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Swimming pools

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
Permit	An encroachment permit is required before digging if equipment will cross sidewalks or other public improvements. Applies: Applies to pool excavation where equipment crosses existing sidewalks or other public improvements. § 12.20.050 · code text Prior to the commencement of any excavation associated with construction of a swimming pool, where excavation or other equipment, including but not limited to high lifts, front end loaders, dump trucks, forklifts, bobcats, skip loaders, and tractors, will traverse existing sidewalks or other public improvements, an encroachment permit shall be obtained.

Pets, chickens and bees

Folsom code What Folsom's code adds
Chickens	Yes, up to 6 chickens as pets; no roosters. Applies: Applies in any zone other than agricultural or agricultural combining districts. § 7.04.080 · code text Additionally, not more than six chickens, and not more than any combination of two ducks, pigeons and/or rabbits shall be kept as pets within any zoning district of the city other than agricultural or agricultural combining districts,
Coop setback	At least 5 feet from any property line and 20 feet from neighboring homes. Applies: Applies to pet chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits outside agricultural or agricultural combining districts. § 7.04.080 · code text and said animals shall be kept or maintained at least five feet from any property line and at least twenty feet from neighboring dwellings.
Large animals	No more than 1 horse, mule, burro, cow, bull, goat, sheep, hog or donkey. Applies: Applies to premises under 6,000 square feet. § 7.04.080 · code text Not more than one horse, mule, burro, cow, bull, goat, sheep, hog, or donkey shall be kept or permitted upon any premises of an area of less than six thousand square feet No more than 2 such animals; each animal over 2 needs 4,000 more square feet. Applies: Applies to premises under 10,000 square feet; covers horses, mules, burros, cattle, goats, sheep, hogs and donkeys. § 7.04.080 · code text and not more than two horses, mules, burros, cows, bulls, goats, sheep, hogs, or donkeys shall be kept or permitted on any premises of an area less than ten thousand square feet and an additional four thousand square feet of land must be available for each such animal over two. At least 75 feet from any home, school, church, public hall or public building. Applies: Applies to horses, mules, burros, cows, bulls, goats, sheep, hogs or donkeys. § 7.04.080 · code text No horse, mule, burro, cow, bull, goat, sheep, hog, or donkey shall be kept or maintained in the city within seventy-five feet of any dwelling house, school, church, public hall or public building
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs and 3 cats over 4 months old. Applies: Applies per dwelling unit. § 7.04.030 · code text No person shall own or harbor more than three dogs nor more than three cats, over the age of four months, at or in any one dwelling unit, as defined by the city’s zoning code, or at or in any other single industrial or commercial establishment within the city.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Folsom?

In the H-D Historic District, Folsom limits fences to 42 inches in front yards and 6 feet in rear and side yards.

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

In the historic district, Folsom limits accessory buildings to 15 feet, no taller than the main building, and 50% of the required rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in Folsom?

Folsom requires a home occupation permit to run a business from home.

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

Folsom's code: No storing on the street; the vehicle must move at least 1 mile within every 72 hours in a row. (Applies to RVs and utility trailers on any city street.) (§ 10.20.280); A 72-hour extension permit may be requested up to 4 times per year. (Only if the vehicle and parking spot pose no public hazard.) (§ 10.20.280).

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

Folsom's code: The chief building official approves a complete application and issues all permits; the charger stays unpowered until city approval. (Applies to installing an electric vehicle charging station.) (§ 14.35.040); Fast administrative review; e-mail or fax filing; permits issue when a complete application meets the checklist and fees are paid. (Applies to small rooftop home solar systems eligible for fast review.) (§ 14.34.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Folsom?

Folsom's code: An encroachment permit is required before digging if equipment will cross sidewalks or other public improvements. (Applies to pool excavation where equipment crosses existing sidewalks or other public improvements.) (§ 12.20.050).

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

Folsom's code: Yes, up to 6 chickens as pets; no roosters. (Applies in any zone other than agricultural or agricultural combining districts.) (§ 7.04.080); At least 5 feet from any property line and 20 feet from neighboring homes. (Applies to pet chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits outside agricultural or agricultural combining districts.) (§ 7.04.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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Folsom Municipal Code — full text

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