King City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in King City

King City sets local limits for fences, accessory buildings, pools, pets, home businesses and SB 9 lot splits. Fence heights depend on the yard and on whether the owner has a fence permit.

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Key points

Fence height: In R districts, front and street-side fences are limited to 3 feet, 4 with a permit; rear and interior side fences to 7 feet.
Accessory buildings: Detached accessory buildings in R districts must be at least 4 feet from the side lot line unless placed directly on it.
Pool fences: Pools and spas need a fence at least 6 feet high with a self-closing gate latched at least 5 feet above the ground.
Pets: At most 4 adult small pets, hens included, on sites up to 6,000 square feet, plus 1 per additional 4,000 square feet; no roosters.
Home businesses: Home businesses need an annual permit and a business license, may use at most 25% of ground-floor area, and involve only resident family.
SB 9 units: SB 9 units in R-1: at most 16 feet, one story, 800 to 1,000 square feet; a lot split makes at most 2 parcels.

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

Fences and walls

King City code What King City's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 3 feet high. Applies: Inside the vision clearance area in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts. § 17.16.090 · code text (2) Located Within the Vision Clearance Area. Maximum of three feet in height. Columns over 3 feet high are not allowed in the vision clearance area. Applies: Concrete or masonry columns in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts. § 17.16.090 · code text Columns exceeding three feet in height are prohibited within the vision clearance area.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet above ground. Applies: R-1 district, without a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.14.090 · code text (i) Without Fence Permit. Maximum of three feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 4 feet above ground. Applies: R-1 district, with a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.14.090 · code text (ii) With Fence Permit. Maximum of four feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 3 feet above ground. Applies: R-2 district, without a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.14.090 · code text (i) Without Fence Permit. Maximum of three feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 4 feet above ground. Applies: R-2 district, with a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.14.090 · code text (ii) With Fence Permit. Maximum of four feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 3 feet above ground. Applies: R-3 district, without a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.16.090 · code text (A) Without Fence Permit. Maximum of three feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 4 feet above ground. Applies: R-3 district, with a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.16.090 · code text (B) With Fence Permit. Maximum of four feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 3 feet above ground. Applies: R-4 district, without a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.16.090 · code text (A) Without Fence Permit. Maximum of three feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point. No more than 4 feet above ground. Applies: R-4 district, with a fence permit: on the front or street side property line, or in the front or street side setback. § 17.16.090 · code text (B) With Fence Permit. Maximum of four feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 7 feet high. Applies: Rear or interior side yards in the R-1 district. § 17.16.090 · code text (4) Located Within a Rear or Interior Side Yard. Maximum of seven feet in height. No more than 7 feet high. Applies: Rear or interior side yards in the R-2 district. § 17.16.090 · code text (4) Located Within a Rear or Interior Side Yard. Maximum of seven feet in height. At most 7 feet; the solid part at most 3 feet, except concrete or masonry columns up to 6 feet. Applies: Applies in rear or interior side yards. Solid part and columns are measured above existing grade. § 17.16.090 · code text (4) Located Within a Rear or Interior Side Yard. Maximum of seven feet in height. The solid portion of the fence cannot exceed three feet in height above existing grade with the exception of concrete or masonry columns, which may extend up to six feet above existing grade with a maximum width of thirty inches. (5) The minimum spacing for concrete or masonry columns is eight feet on center. The height of concrete or masonry columns between fence panels may extend one foot above the allowable fence height. Columns exceeding three feet in height are prohibited within the vision clearance area.
Permit	Fences over 3 and up to 4 feet need a fence permit on front or street side lines or setbacks. Applies: R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 residential districts. § 17.16.090 · code text With Fence Permit. Maximum of four feet in height above the existing elevation of the surface of the ground at such point.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

King City code What King City's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 4 feet from the side lot line, unless built on that line. Applies: Applies to detached accessory buildings in an R district. § 17.48.140 · code text Such accessory building shall not be located within thirty feet of the far side of any alley; or within four feet of the side line of the lot unless located on the side property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from any home on the same or an adjacent lot. Applies: Applies to accessory buildings in an R district not attached to the main building. § 17.48.140 · code text Unless so attached, an accessory building in an R district shall be located on the rear one-half of the lot and at least ten feet from any dwelling building existing or under construction on the same lot, or any adjacent lot.

Running a business from home

King City code What King City's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the ground floor's gross floor area. § 17.77.040 · code text A home occupation shall not occupy more than twenty-five percent of the gross floor area of the ground floor.
Customer visits	Customers or clients may not visit regularly. Applies: The city manager or designee may approve incidental visits. § 17.77.040 · code text The use shall not allow customers or clientele to regularly visit dwellings. However, incidental visits may be permitted, such as, but not limited to music lessons, if approved by the city manager, or designee.
Employees	Only family members who live in the home may work in the business. § 17.77.040 · code text No persons, other than members of the family who reside on the premises, shall be engaged in such activity.
Permit	Yes, a home occupation permit, valid 1 year and renewed each year; a current city business license is also needed. § 17.77.040 · code text A home occupation permit is not valid until a current city business license is obtained and shall be valid only for the person to whom it is issued for one year, to be renewed annually.
Businesses not allowed	Automotive and other vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, painting or storage § 17.77.060 · code text (1) Automotive and other vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, painting or storage; Barber and beauty shop § 17.77.060 · code text (2) Barber and beauty shop; Carpentry and cabinet making § 17.77.060 · code text (3) Carpentry and cabinet making; Welding and machine operation § 17.77.060 · code text (4) Welding and machine operation; Medical offices, clinics and laboratories § 17.77.060 · code text (5) Medical offices, clinics and laboratories; Animal hospitals and grooming facilities § 17.77.060 · code text (6) Animal hospitals and grooming facilities; Contractor’s storage yards Applies: Parking of one vehicle not exceeding one and one-half ton carrying capacity may be permitted § 17.77.060 · code text (7) Contractor’s storage yards; provided, however, that the parking of one vehicle not exceeding one and one-half ton carrying capacity may be permitted; Exercise studios § 17.77.060 · code text (8) Exercise studios; Musical, dancing, and educational instruction having more than three students at any one time and more than three classes per day § 17.77.060 · code text (9) Musical, dancing, and educational instruction having more than three students at any one time and more than three classes per day; Junk yards § 17.77.060 · code text (10) Junk yards;

Lot splits under SB 9

King City code SB 9 units in R-1: at most 16 feet, one story, 800 to 1,000 square feet; a lot split makes at most 2 parcels.

All 12 King City rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

King City code What King City's code adds
EV charger permit	A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits, after the building official approves. Applies: Applies to all EV charging stations. § 12.18.060 · code text All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the city relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the system.

Swimming pools

King City code What King City's code adds
Barrier height	At least 6 feet high. Applies: Applies to the fence and self-closing, latched gate around pools and spas. § 17.48.150 · code text Pools and spas shall be completely enclosed by a fence and a self-closing, latched gate not less than six feet in height.
Equipment and alarms	Filter and heating systems at least 6 feet from side or rear lot lines and 12 feet from neighbors' homes. Applies: Applies to pool and spa equipment. The planning commission may reduce these setbacks with a use permit. § 17.48.150 · code text (b) Filter and heating systems for pools or spas shall not be closer than six feet to any side lot line or rear lot line, or closer than twelve feet to any dwelling other than the owner’s.
Gates	Gates must self-close and latch, with the latch at least 5 feet above the ground. § 17.48.150 · code text Pools and spas shall be completely enclosed by a fence and a self-closing, latched gate not less than six feet in height. The gate latch shall not be less than five feet above the ground.
Setback from property lines	At least 6 feet from rear or side lot lines. Applies: R districts; a use permit may approve a reduction. § 17.48.150 · code text Such pools or spas shall not be located closer than six feet to any rear lot line or side lot line. At least 10 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: R districts, corner lots where the rear line abuts a side line; a use permit may approve a reduction. § 17.48.150 · code text On the street side of any corner lot where the rear lot line abuts a side lot line, no pool or spa shall be located closer than ten feet to such side lot line. At least 50 feet from the front property line. Applies: R districts, when the pool is not on the rear half of the lot; a use permit may approve a reduction. § 17.48.150 · code text Swimming pools and spas in R districts shall be constructed either on the rear one-half of the lot or a minimum distance of fifty feet from the front property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

King City code At most 4 adult small pets, hens included, on sites up to 6,000 square feet, plus 1 per additional 4,000 square feet; no roosters.

All 4 King City rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in King City?

In R districts, front and street-side fences are limited to 3 feet, 4 with a permit; rear and interior side fences to 7 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in King City?

Detached accessory buildings in R districts must be at least 4 feet from the side lot line unless placed directly on it.

Can I run a business from my home in King City?

Home businesses need an annual permit and a business license, may use at most 25% of ground-floor area, and involve only resident family.

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

King City's code: A building permit and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical permits, after the building official approves. (Applies to all EV charging stations.) (§ 12.18.060).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in King City?

Pools and spas need a fence at least 6 feet high with a self-closing gate latched at least 5 feet above the ground.

General information, not legal advice.

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King City Municipal Code — full text

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