Grass Valley · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Grass Valley

Grass Valley sets its own limits for fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the setback the fence stands in and on how open its upper part is.

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Key points

Fence height: Grass Valley limits fences to 36 in in front and street side setbacks, 6 ft elsewhere, or 8 ft if open above 6 ft.
Accessory structures: Grass Valley limits detached accessory structures other than garages to 15 ft; they must stand at least 5 ft from the house.
Home businesses: Grass Valley home businesses may use 25% of the ground floor, with at most 8 vehicle trips daily and 1 client at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	At most 6 feet. Applies: Outside a required setback. § 17.30.040 · code text Outside of a required setback \| 6 ft. (1) Up to 8 feet. Applies: Outside front and street side setbacks. The part above 6 feet must be open design, or a Minor Use Permit must allow a solid fence. § 17.30.040 · code text A fence or wall up to eight feet in height may be allowed when the portions above six feet are of an open fencing design (e.g., lattice, wrought iron or grille work); or where a solid fence up to eight feet is authorized by Minor Use Permit.
Front yard height	At most 36 inches. Applies: Within the front or street side setback. § 17.30.040 · code text Within front or street side setback \| 36 in.
Side and rear yard height	At most 6 feet. Applies: Within an interior side or rear setback. § 17.30.040 · code text Within interior side or rear setback \| 6 ft. (1)
Permit	A building permit for any fence or wall in a flood area on the federal flood insurance rate map. Applies: Fences or walls over 6 feet, with open upper parts or a Minor Use Permit, may also need a building permit. § 17.30.040 · code text A fence or wall in an area subject to flooding identified on a federal flood insurance rate map (FIRM) on file in the department shall require a building permit

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: For accessory structures other than detached garages. Not in traditional community development zones, or where a minor use permit allows more height. § 17.44.020 · code text The height of an accessory structure other than a detached garage shall not exceed fifteen feet, except for parcels located within any zone identified in Chapter 17.21 (traditional community development zones) or except where a greater height is authorized through minor use permit approval.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 500 square feet in total. Applies: For all accessory structures together in the required side and rear setbacks. § 17.44.020 · code text Where permitted, the aggregate coverage of accessory structures in required side and rear setbacks shall not exceed five hundred square feet. Up to 400 square feet for each home. Applies: For an accessory greenhouse in the R-E zone. § 17.44.020 · code text An accessory greenhouse may occupy up to four hundred square feet for each dwelling unit in the R-E zone; and one thousand square feet or five percent of the parcel area, whichever is smaller, in the R-1 zone. Up to 1,000 square feet or 5% of the parcel area, whichever is smaller. Applies: For an accessory greenhouse in the R-1 zone. § 17.44.020 · code text An accessory greenhouse may occupy up to four hundred square feet for each dwelling unit in the R-E zone; and one thousand square feet or five percent of the parcel area, whichever is smaller, in the R-1 zone.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: For accessory structures. ADUs follow separate rules. § 17.44.020 · code text An accessory structure shall maintain side and rear setbacks of at least five feet. ADUs shall instead comply with the requirements of Section 17.44.190 (ADUs). 0 feet on one side and at least 8 feet from the other side property line. Applies: For a garage, when the neighbor grants a maintenance easement and the director approves. § 17.44.020 · code text When a maintenance easement is granted by the owner of the adjacent parcel to the approval of the director, a garage may be built to the side property line on that side (i.e., zero lot line development), but shall be located at least eight feet from the other side property line. At least 5 feet from side property lines. Applies: For a garage without an approved maintenance easement for building on the lot line. § 17.44.020 · code text Otherwise, a garage shall be set back a minimum of five feet from side property lines. At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: For a garage. § 17.44.020 · code text A garage shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet. Applies: From the main home and from other accessory structures. § 17.44.020 · code text An accessory structure shall maintain at least a five-foot separation from other accessory structures and the primary dwelling unit. The 5-foot separation from the house does not apply. Applies: Patio covers open on at least 3 sides. They may be in the rear setback, no closer than 5 feet to a property line. § 17.44.020 · code text The five-foot separation from the primary dwelling unit required by Subparagraph E.1.c (separation between structures), above does not apply;

Running a business from home

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the ground floor's gross floor area. § 17.44.100 · code text All home occupation activities shall not occupy more than twenty-five percent of the gross floor area of the ground floor.
Customer visits	No more than 8 vehicle trips per day. Applies: Counts clients, customers, visitors and service visits to the home. § 17.44.100 · code text The home occupation shall be operated so as to not require more than eight vehicle trips per day of clients, customers, visitors, and/or service visits to the residence. 1 client or family at a time. Applies: On site only between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. § 17.44.100 · code text On-site presence of clients or customers shall be limited to one client or family at a time, and only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Employees	No on-site employees except full-time residents of the home. § 17.44.100 · code text A home occupation shall have no on-site employees other than full-time residents of the dwelling; Up to 2 employees who do not live in the home. Applies: Only with use permit approval. § 17.44.100 · code text except that up to two nonresident employees may be allowed with use permit approval.
Permit	A city business license. § 17.44.100 · code text A home occupation shall require a city business license. Minor use permit approval. Applies: For pet grooming as a home occupation in the RE and R-1 zones. § 17.44.100 · code text Pet grooming may be conducted as a home occupation within the RE and R-1 zone when in compliance with this section, and with minor use permit approval; A minor use permit. Applies: For small-scale commercial wood and metal working. § 17.44.100 · code text Small-scale commercial wood and metal working may be authorized by minor use permit as a home occupation,
Businesses not allowed	adult entertainment activities/businesses; animal hospitals and boarding facilities; automotive and other vehicle repair and service, painting, storage, or upholstery; repair, reconditioning, servicing, or manufacture of internal combustion or diesel engines or motor vehicles; construction contractor facilities and storage and other outdoor storage; dismantling, junk, or scrap yards; fitness/health facilities except one-on-one personal trainers; medical clinics, laboratories, or doctor's offices; personal services except licensed massage therapy and physical therapy; vehicle parking or dispatching for automobile wrecking, towing, taxi, or similar passenger or delivery services; on-site sales except qualifying mail order businesses; uses requiring explosives or highly combustible or toxic materials; welding and machine shop operations; wood cutting businesses; and similar uses determined by the director § 17.44.100 · code text The following are examples of business activities that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are, therefore, prohibited as home occupations:

RV and boat parking

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
Size limit	Commercial trailers, semi-trailers, large RVs and travel trailers may not park in residential districts. Applies: Vehicles over 7 ft high, 7.5 ft wide, 20 ft long, or 10,000 lbs rated weight; personal motor homes, campers, boat trailers: 72 hours. § 10.32.180 · code text Vehicle or load height exceeds seven feet;
Parking on the street	Up to 72 hours. Applies: Residential districts; personal-use motor homes, trailer coaches, recreational or camping trailers, truck campers or boat trailers. § 10.32.180 · code text Parking of motor homes, trailer coaches, recreational trailers, truck campers, camping trailers or boat trailers designed for personal use are allowed to park for up to seventy-two hours in a residential district as defined in Chapter 10.72 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited administrative approval when the application is complete and meets the checklist. Applies: Electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.12.060 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official that the application is complete and meets the requirements of the checklist, and is consistent with this chapter, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. Electronic submittal is available. Applies: All electric vehicle charging station permit applications. § 15.12.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and supporting documents shall be made available for all electric vehicle charging station permit applications.
Solar permit process	Administrative, non-discretionary review limited to health and safety; permit issued for a complete application meeting the checklist; only one inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.08.060 · code text The city community development department shall adopt an administrative, non-discretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems within thirty days of the adoption on this chapter.
Review time	Within 5 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar, over the counter or electronic, with a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan. § 15.08.060 · code text For permit applications submitted over-the-counter and electronically, the building department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within five business days of receipt.

Pets, chickens and bees

Grass Valley code What Grass Valley's code adds
Chickens	Yes; no more than 4 chickens; roosters are not allowed. Applies: Allowed zones, plus NC-Flex, NG-2, NG-3, R-2, R-3; lot at least 5,000 sq ft, one single-family home, fenced rear yard; coop in rear yard. § 17.44.030 · code text No more than four chickens shall be kept on any property zoned for such use. Roosters are not permitted.

Other Grass Valley rules on this

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

Tree removal permits and heritage trees (Ch. 12.36)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Grass Valley?

Grass Valley limits fences to 36 in in front and street side setbacks, 6 ft elsewhere, or 8 ft if open above 6 ft.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Grass Valley?

Grass Valley limits detached accessory structures other than garages to 15 ft; they must stand at least 5 ft from the house.

Can I run a business from my home in Grass Valley?

Grass Valley home businesses may use 25% of the ground floor, with at most 8 vehicle trips daily and 1 client at a time.

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

Grass Valley's code: Commercial trailers, semi-trailers, large RVs and travel trailers may not park in residential districts. (Vehicles over 7 ft high, 7.5 ft wide, 20 ft long, or 10,000 lbs rated weight; personal motor homes, campers, boat trailers: 72 hours.) (§ 10.32.180); Up to 72 hours. (Residential districts; personal-use motor homes, trailer coaches, recreational or camping trailers, truck campers or boat trailers.) (§ 10.32.180).

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

Grass Valley's code: Expedited administrative approval when the application is complete and meets the checklist. (Electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.12.060); Electronic submittal is available. (All electric vehicle charging station permit applications.) (§ 15.12.050).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Grass Valley?

Grass Valley's code: Yes; no more than 4 chickens; roosters are not allowed. (Allowed zones, plus NC-Flex, NG-2, NG-3, R-2, R-3; lot at least 5,000 sq ft, one single-family home, fenced rear yard; coop in rear yard.) (§ 17.44.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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