Fresno · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Fresno

Fresno sets its own limits for fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard, the fence material and the type of home, and accessory structure height depends on parcel size.

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Key points

Fence height: Fresno limits single-unit home fences in required front yards to 3 ft, or 4 ft for iron 80% open; other yards 6 ft.
Accessory structures: Fresno limits accessory structures to 12 ft on parcels up to 10,000 sq ft; 16 ft on larger ones 10 ft from all lines.
Home businesses: Fresno home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; only personal instruction may have client visits.

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

Fences and walls

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences may be no more than 6 feet tall anywhere on the lot. Applies: Single-unit homes, in yards other than those with their own limit. § 15-2006 · code text Fences up to six feet in height may be installed. Fences, regardless of location on the site, shall not exceed six feet in height. Fences may be no more than 6 feet tall anywhere on the lot. Applies: Multi-unit districts, in yards other than those with their own limit. § 15-2006 · code text Fences up to six feet in height may be installed on property lines. Fences, regardless of location on the site, shall not exceed six feet in height.
Front yard height	Fences may be up to 4 feet tall. Applies: Single-unit homes, in any required front yard setback. Only wrought iron or tubular steel fences at least 80% open (no more than 20% opaque). § 15-2006 · code text A fence up to four feet in height may be installed within any required front yard setback. Fences may be up to 3 feet tall. Applies: Single-unit homes, in any required front yard setback, for all other fence materials. § 15-2006 · code text A fence up to three feet in height may be placed within any required front yard setback. Front yard fences may be up to 4 feet tall, of any material. Applies: Parcels in the Pinedale Neighborhood Plan area. Fences must also meet the intersection visibility rules. § 15-2006 · code text Front yard fences on parcels within the Pinedale Neighborhood Plan area may be up to four feet in height in the front yard, regardless of material, however fences shall comply with Section 15-2018, Intersection Visibility.
Side and rear yard height	Fences may be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Single-unit homes, in street-side yards. § 15-2006 · code text Fences up to six feet in height may be installed within any required street-side yard setback. Fences may be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Multi-unit districts, in street-side yards on lots whose street-side yard is 125 feet long or less. § 15-2006 · code text Fencing up to six feet in height may be placed within any street-side yard. Fences may be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Multi-unit districts, lots with street-side yards over 125 feet long; the fence sits at the district's main building setback minus 5 feet. § 15-2006 · code text Fencing up to six feet in height may be placed per the main building setback of the underlying district minus five feet. Fences may be up to 6 feet tall, including on property lines. Applies: Multi-unit districts, in yards other than those with their own limit. § 15-2006 · code text Fences up to six feet in height may be installed on property lines.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Maximum height	Accessory structures may be no more than 12 feet tall, measured from ground level. Applies: Parcels of 10,000 square feet or less in residential districts. § 15-2004 · code text Accessory Structures shall be no greater than 12 feet high measured from the ground level to the finished height of the structure. Accessory structures may be up to 16 feet tall. Applies: Parcels over 10,000 square feet in residential districts, only if the structure is at least 10 feet from all property lines. § 15-2004 · code text Accessory Structures located a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines may be up to 16 feet high. The Director may allow more height, up to the height of the main building. Applies: Only when the accessory structure matches the main building in materials and architectural style. § 15-2004 · code text The Director may allow additional height not to exceed the height of the main building provided the Accessory Structure is designed, in terms of materials and architectural styles, to match the main building.
Side and rear setback	The same setbacks as the base and overlay district that applies. Applies: Single-unit districts, interior side and rear yards, when the accessory structure is closer than 6 feet to the main building. § 15-2004 · code text If the Accessory Structure is located closer than six feet from the main building, the Accessory Structure shall comply with the setbacks of the applicable Base and Overlay District. No setback needed: it may sit on the interior side or rear property line. Applies: Single-unit districts, when the accessory structure is 6 feet or more from the main building. § 15-2004 · code text If the Accessory Structure is located six feet away or farther from the main building, it may be located on the interior or rear property line. At least 5 feet from interior side and rear lot lines. Applies: Multi-unit districts not next to a single-unit district. Next to one, the greater of the district or operative plan setback applies. § 15-2004 · code text ii. All Other Districts. Five feet.
No permit needed up to	No building permit is needed up to 120 square feet. Applies: Tree houses and play structures. Over 120 square feet, a building permit is required. § 15-2004 · code text When exceeding 120 square feet, a building permit is required.

Running a business from home

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Space used	The business may use no more than 25% of the home's floor area. Applies: Counts all space used only for the business, including storage. § 15-2735 · code text The space exclusively devoted to the home occupation (including any associated storage) shall not exceed 25 percent of the residential unit floor area.
Customer visits	No customer or client visits, except for personal instruction such as music lessons, art lessons or tutoring. § 15-2735 · code text No customer or client visits are permitted except for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring). No more than 8 clients or students per day. Applies: Personal instruction only, such as music lessons or tutoring, with no more than 3 at one time. Other home businesses may have no visits. § 15-2735 · code text A total of eight clients and/or students per day may be permitted, however there may be no more than three clients/students at any one time. No more than 3 clients or students at any one time. Applies: Personal instruction services. § 15-2735 · code text A total of eight clients and/or students per day may be permitted, however there may be no more than three clients/students at any one time.
Employees	Only 1 employee or independent contractor who does not live in the home may work there. § 15-2735 · code text One employee or independent contractor other than residents of the dwelling may be permitted to work at the location of a home occupation.
Permit	A Zoning Clearance is required for each home business. § 15-2735 · code text A Zoning Clearance is required for each home occupation, pursuant to the provisions of Article 51, Zone Clearance.
Businesses not allowed	Display or sale of products or merchandise from the site, except by mail, telephone, Internet, or other mode of electronic communication, unless permitted per Cottage Food Preparation Applies: home occupations involving the display or sale of products or merchandise § 15-2735 · code text Home occupations involving the display or sale of products or merchandise are not permitted from the site except by mail, telephone, Internet, or other mode of electronic communication, unless permitted per Cottage Food Preparation as detailed below. Commercial kitchens § 15-2735 · code text Commercial kitchens are prohibited.

RV and boat parking

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Where it may be parked	Non-permeable surface in a fenced area, or rear or side yard behind a solid wall or fence 5+ feet high. Applies: Applies in single-unit districts. § 15-2405 · code text Recreational Vehicles shall be parked on a non-permeable surface in a fenced area, or in the rear yard or side yard, screened by a wall or solid fence not less than five feet in height. Only in a fully enclosed garage with a non-permeable floor. Applies: Applies in multi-unit residential districts. § 15-2405 · code text Recreational vehicles may not be parked and/or stored in multi-unit districts, unless stored in a fully enclosed garage with a non-permeable surface.
Front-yard parking	Only in the driveway for loading and unloading, up to 72 hours a month, not over the public right-of-way. Applies: Applies in single-unit districts, for loading and unloading. § 15-2405 · code text A Recreational Vehicle may be parked in the driveway for purposes of loading and unloading for up to 72 hours in any month and shall not encroach into the public right-of-way. No; an RV may not stick out past the front of the home. Applies: Applies in single-unit districts, except driveway loading and unloading. § 15-2405 · code text Recreational Vehicles shall not project beyond the front limits of the home.
Screening and surface	Non-permeable surface in a fenced area, or a solid wall or fence 5+ feet high around side or rear parking. Applies: Applies in single-unit districts. § 15-2405 · code text Recreational Vehicles shall be parked on a non-permeable surface in a fenced area, or in the rear yard or side yard, screened by a wall or solid fence not less than five feet in height.
Parking on the street	Up to 72 hours in any month. Applies: Applies in single-unit districts for loading and unloading; the 72 hours count front yard, driveway and street time together. § 15-2405 · code text For purposes of this article, parking for up to 72 hours includes being parked in the front yard, the driveway, and/or the street.
Living in an RV	No; RVs may not be used for sleeping or living. Applies: Except overnight parking where allowed at fraternal or service groups, commercial districts and hospitals. § 15-2405 · code text Recreational Vehicles may not be used for sleeping or habitation, unless permitted per Subsections E, F, and G below.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	At least 36 inches (914 mm) clear on both sides of a horizontal ridge. Applies: Applies to rooftop solar panel arrays. § 10-511205.1 · code text All photovoltaic arrays shall have a minimum 36 in. (914 mm) wide setback on both sides of a horizontal ridge. At least 2 pathways 36 inches (914 mm) wide from lowest roof edge to ridge, on separate roof planes. Applies: Applies to rooftop solar on all buildings; one pathway on the street or driveway side. § 10-511205.1 · code text Not fewer than two 36-inch-wide (914 mm) pathways on separate roof planes, from lowest roof edge to ridge, shall be provided on all buildings. One 36-inch-wide (914 mm) pathway from the lowest roof edge to the ridge for each roof plane with panels. Applies: The pathway is on the same or an adjacent roof plane. § 10-511205.1 · code text For each roof plane with a photovoltaic array, not fewer than one 36-inch-wide (914 mm) pathway from lowest roof edge to ridge shall be provided on the same roof plane as the photovoltaic array, on an adjacent roof plane.

Swimming pools

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Equipment and alarms	All equipment must meet noise standards; baffle or enclose it if needed to reduce noise to acceptable levels. § 15-2005 · code text All equipment shall comply with all applicable noise standards. If needed, equipment shall be baffled and/or enclosed to reduce noise to acceptable levels.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Applies to pools, spas and their features; not allowed in front or street-side yards. § 15-2005 · code text Swimming pools, including slides and decorative features, Jacuzzis, and spas shall not be located in the front or street-side yards, and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from interior side and rear property lines.

Other Fresno rules on this

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

Setback for animal and fowl enclosures (§ 10-203)
Animal keeping at a home (§ 15-2707)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Fresno?

Fresno limits single-unit home fences in required front yards to 3 ft, or 4 ft for iron 80% open; other yards 6 ft.

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

Fresno limits accessory structures to 12 ft on parcels up to 10,000 sq ft; 16 ft on larger ones 10 ft from all lines.

Can I run a business from my home in Fresno?

Fresno home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; only personal instruction may have client visits.

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

Fresno's code: Non-permeable surface in a fenced area, or rear or side yard behind a solid wall or fence 5+ feet high. (Applies in single-unit districts.) (§ 15-2405); Only in a fully enclosed garage with a non-permeable floor. (Applies in multi-unit residential districts.) (§ 15-2405).

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

Fresno's code: At least 36 inches (914 mm) clear on both sides of a horizontal ridge. (Applies to rooftop solar panel arrays.) (§ 10-511205.1); At least 2 pathways 36 inches (914 mm) wide from lowest roof edge to ridge, on separate roof planes. (Applies to rooftop solar on all buildings; one pathway on the street or driveway side.) (§ 10-511205.1).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Fresno?

Fresno's code: All equipment must meet noise standards; baffle or enclose it if needed to reduce noise to acceptable levels. (§ 15-2005); At least 5 feet from interior side and rear property lines. (Applies to pools, spas and their features; not allowed in front or street-side yards.) (§ 15-2005).

General information, not legal advice.

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