Lafayette · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lafayette

Lafayette's city code limits accessory buildings that stand in a required setback or yard. The limits cover their height and how much of a required rear yard they may cover.

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Key points

Height in setbacks: City code limits accessory buildings built in a required setback, front, side or rear yard to 12 feet.
Rear yard coverage: City code limits accessory buildings to 30% of a required rear yard.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lafayette code What Lafayette's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet high. Applies: Accessory buildings built in the required front, side or rear setback of the main building. § 6-526 · code text (1) Accessory buildings, 12 feet;
Size or lot coverage	No more than 30% of a required rear yard. § 6-517 · code text An accessory building or accessory use may occupy not more than 30 percent of a required rear yard.

Lot splits under SB 9

Lafayette code At least 4 feet from side and rear lines. District front, side, rear and secondary front setbacks apply, relaxed where they would block 2 units of 800 square feet.

All 14 Lafayette rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lafayette code What Lafayette's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	Panels may not exceed the zoning district's building height limit. Applies: Required to qualify for expedited review as a small home rooftop solar system. § 3-1002 · code text The solar panel or module array, when installed on a rooftop, does not exceed the building height limit of the zoning district in which it is located.
Solar permit process	Expedited, streamlined review. You may apply electronically, permits may be issued electronically, and required fees must be paid. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems. § 3-1002 · code text The following expedited, streamlined permitting process applies to applications for a building permit to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system:

Tree removal

Lafayette code No tree permit, documentation, replacement trees or fee needed to remove excluded species. No tree permit, documentation, replacement trees or fee needed.

All 22 Lafayette rules on tree removal, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Lafayette code What Lafayette's code adds
Bees	No more than 2 beehives. Applies: Applies to parcels of 6,000 to 40,000 square feet. § 6-595 · code text (A) Parcels 6,000 square feet—40,000 square feet maximum of two; No more than 6 beehives. Applies: Applies to parcels of 40,001 square feet to 5 acres. § 6-595 · code text (B) Parcels 40,001 square feet—Five acres maximum of six; No more than 12 beehives. Applies: Applies to parcels of more than 5 acres. § 6-595 · code text (C) Parcels more than five acres maximum of 12.
Large animals	A land use permit is required to keep livestock. Applies: R-10, R-12 and R-15 districts. Parcels of at least 40,000 square feet; no more than 1 head per 20,000 square feet. § 6-523 · code text In the R-10, R-12 and R-15 zoning districts a land use permit shall be obtained for the keeping of livestock.
Permit	Yes. A beekeeping permit is required before placing hives; owners within 300 feet are notified. Applies: Applies to keeping bees. § 6-595 · code text A beekeeping permit is required prior to placement of beehives on a property.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

City code limits accessory buildings built in a required setback, front, side or rear yard to 12 feet. City code limits accessory buildings to 30% of a required rear yard.

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

Lafayette's code: Panels may not exceed the zoning district's building height limit. (Required to qualify for expedited review as a small home rooftop solar system.) (§ 3-1002); Expedited, streamlined review. You may apply electronically, permits may be issued electronically, and required fees must be paid. (Applies to small home rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 3-1002).

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

Lafayette's code: No more than 2 beehives. (Applies to parcels of 6,000 to 40,000 square feet.) (§ 6-595); No more than 6 beehives. (Applies to parcels of 40,001 square feet to 5 acres.) (§ 6-595).

General information, not legal advice.

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