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Hughson · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Hughson

Hughson sets its own limits for fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on whether the yard is next to a street.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Hughson limits fences to 3 ft 6 in in front and street-side setbacks; other side and rear yards 6 ft.
  • Accessory buildings: Hughson limits residential accessory buildings to 16 ft or the main building's height, whichever is lower, and 30% of the rear yard.
  • Home businesses: Hughson home businesses may use 20% of living area or 400 sq ft, whichever is less, with at most 2 people, 1 a resident.

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

Fences and walls

Hughson code What Hughson's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No more than 6 feet high, measured from the base of the fence.
    Applies: Front and street-side setbacks have a lower limit of 3 feet 6 inches.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    No fence shall be erected to a height greater than six feet, as measured from the base of the fence, except as provided for in this section.
  • Up to 7 feet high.
    Applies: At a property line marked restricted or nonaccess on a recorded map, with planning commission review and approval.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    A fence up to seven feet in height may be constructed at the property line when that line is shown as "restricted" or "nonaccess" on a recorded map, subject to the review and approval of the planning commission.
  • No more than 8 feet high.
    Applies: One entry gate, trellis or other entry structure in the required front or side setback of each lot.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    One entry gate, trellis or other entry structure may be permitted in the required front or side setback area of each lot, provided the maximum height of the structure does not exceed eight feet and the width does not exceed one foot greater than the driveway width.
Front yard height
  • No more than 3 feet 6 inches high.
    Applies: The front setback.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    No fence shall be erected to a height greater than three feet six inches in the front setback, or in a rear or side setback that is adjacent to a street, as shown in Figure 17.03.028.2.
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 3 feet 6 inches high.
    Applies: Rear or side setbacks next to a street.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    No fence shall be erected to a height greater than three feet six inches in the front setback, or in a rear or side setback that is adjacent to a street, as shown in Figure 17.03.028.2.
  • No more than 6 feet high, measured from the base of the fence.
    Applies: Side and rear yards not next to a street.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    No fence shall be erected to a height greater than six feet, as measured from the base of the fence, except as provided for in this section.
  • A 1-foot extension may be added above the fence height limit.
    Applies: Residential side yards up to the front setback, or rear yards, if the extension is at least 50% see-through, such as lattice.
    § 17.03.028 · code text
    A one-foot extension may be added to the height of fences in side yards up to the front yard setback or rear yards of residential zones; provided, that the extension provides 50 percent or greater visibility; i.e., lattice or trellis.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Hughson code What Hughson's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 16 feet or the main building's height, whichever is lower.
    Applies: Accessory buildings in residential zones.
    § 17.03.004 · code text
    An accessory building in a residential zone shall not exceed the height of the principal structure on the site, or 16 feet, whichever is lower.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 30% of the required rear yard.
    Applies: Accessory buildings.
    § 17.03.004 · code text
    Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the required rear yard.

Running a business from home

Hughson code What Hughson's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 20% of the main living area or 400 square feet, whichever is less.
    Applies: The area mainly used for the home business.
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    The area primarily dedicated to a home occupation shall not exceed 20 percent of the primary living area or 400 square feet, whichever is less.
Employees
  • No more than 2 people in total, and at least 1 must live in the home.
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    The home occupation shall employ at least one resident of the dwelling unit and shall not employ more than a total of two persons.
Permit
  • A zoning clearance is required.
    Applies: Low-impact home businesses.
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    A low-impact home occupation, as defined in this title, that is clearly incidental to the use of the structure or dwelling and meets the performance requirements of this subsection shall be permitted without an administrative permit but shall be required to obtain a zoning clearance subject to the requirements of HMC § 17.04.052.
  • An administrative permit is required.
    Applies: Moderate-impact home businesses.
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Any home occupation that does not qualify as a low-impact home occupation, but that otherwise meets the requirements of this section, shall be considered a moderate-impact home occupation and shall be required to obtain an administrative permit.
  • No permit is needed. They are allowed by right.
    Applies: Small home day care in all residential zones, and in single-family and multifamily homes in commercial zones.
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Small home day care facilities shall be permitted as of right in all residential zones and in single-family and multiple-family dwellings that are found in commercial zoning districts.
  • An administrative permit is required.
    Applies: Large home day care in residential zones, and in single-family and multifamily homes in commercial zones.
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Large home day care facilities in residential zones and in single-family and multiple-family dwellings that are found in commercial zoning districts shall be subject to an administrative permit.
Businesses not allowed
  • Uses which entail the repair, manufacture, processing or alteration of goods, materials or objects intended for sale, where equipment or process creates an adverse impact on the neighborhood
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Those which entail the repair, manufacture, processing or alteration of goods, materials or objects, intended for sale where equipment or process is used which creates an adverse impact on the neighborhood.
  • Harboring, training or raising of dogs, cats, birds or other animals
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Those which entail the harboring, training or raising of dogs, cats, birds or other animals.
  • Vehicle painting, repair, and/or body and fender work
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Those which entail vehicle painting, repair and/or body and fender work.
  • Barbershops, beauty parlors, nail salons, music schools, dancing schools, business schools, or schools of any kind with organized classes
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Barbershops, beauty parlors, nail salons, music schools, dancing schools, business schools or schools of any kind with organized classes.
  • Retail sales, rental or display of goods or products at the home that cause an adverse impact on residential uses within 300 feet by increasing traffic and unreasonably interfering with parking and/or street and sidewalk use
    Applies: where the sales, rentals or display create the specified adverse impact
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Those uses which involve retail sales, rental or display of goods or products at the home if such sales, rentals or display will create an adverse impact upon residential uses within 300 feet of the proposed home occupation by causing an increase in traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, which unreasonably interferes with parking and/or use of the streets and sidewalks by residents within 300 feet of the proposed home occupation.
  • Gun sales
    Applies: residential zones, except existing permitted uses as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title
    § 17.03.044 · code text
    Gun sales are prohibited in residential zones except for existing permitted uses as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Hughson code What Hughson's code adds
Solar permit process
  • Administrative approval when a complete application meets the checklist; apply in person or electronically; one inspection.
    Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.
    § 15.16.030 · code text
    Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations within one to three business days of receipt of application.
Review time
  • 1 to 3 business days.
    Applies: Applies to complete small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist.
    § 15.16.030 · code text
    Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations within one to three business days of receipt of application.

Other Hughson rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Hughson?

Hughson limits fences to 3 ft 6 in in front and street-side setbacks; other side and rear yards 6 ft.

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

Hughson limits residential accessory buildings to 16 ft or the main building's height, whichever is lower, and 30% of the rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in Hughson?

Hughson home businesses may use 20% of living area or 400 sq ft, whichever is less, with at most 2 people, 1 a resident.

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

Hughson's code: Administrative approval when a complete application meets the checklist; apply in person or electronically; one inspection. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.16.030); 1 to 3 business days. (Applies to complete small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist.) (§ 15.16.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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Hughson Municipal Code — full text

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