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Lassen County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lassen County

Lassen County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It limits accessory building height in R-1 districts and sets home business size, staff and visit limits, with more allowed under a use permit.

Key points

  • Accessory buildings: In R-1 districts, county code limits accessory buildings to 20 feet or the main building's height, whichever is lower, unless the review committee approves.
  • Home businesses: Without a use permit, a home business is limited to 150 square feet and resident workers; at most 8 customer visits per business day.

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

Lassen County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Lassen County have their own codes and their own pages.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lassen County code What Lassen County's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 20 feet or the main building's height, whichever is lower.
    Applies: Accessory buildings in an R-1 district, unless the architectural review committee approves more.
    § 18.22.050 · code text
    (B) Accessory buildings: limited to twenty feet or the height of the main building, whichever is lower, unless approved by the architectural review committee, in which case buildings up to thirty-five feet may be allowed;
  • Up to 35 feet.
    Applies: Accessory buildings in an R-1 district, with architectural review committee approval.
    § 18.22.050 · code text
    (B) Accessory buildings: limited to twenty feet or the height of the main building, whichever is lower, unless approved by the architectural review committee, in which case buildings up to thirty-five feet may be allowed;
Side and rear setback
  • At least 20 feet from any side or rear line.
    Applies: Accessory buildings used as private stables. Also at least 50 feet from the front line and from homes on adjacent parcels.
    § 18.102.060 · code text
    Accessory buildings used as private stables shall be located not less than twenty feet from any side or rear property line, not less than fifty feet from the front property line, and not less than fifty feet from any dwelling unit located on an adjacent parcel.
  • At least 5 feet from any alley.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings. They may not encroach on any recorded easement or right-of-way.
    § 18.102.060 · code text
    Detached accessory buildings shall be located not less than five feet from any alley and shall not encroach on any easement or right-of-way of record.

Running a business from home

Lassen County code What Lassen County's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 150 square feet.
    Applies: Without a use permit.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    No more than one hundred fifty square feet shall be used in conduct of the home occupation;
  • Up to 750 square feet.
    Applies: In R zoning districts, with a Class I use permit.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    In "R" zoning districts, up to seven hundred fifty square feet of area may be used in conduct of the home occupation.
  • Up to 1,020 square feet.
    Applies: Other zones with legal homes, with a Class I use permit. No more than 50% of the home's residential floor area.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    In other zoning districts where residences have been legally established, up to one thousand twenty square feet of area may be used in conduct of the home occupation, provided the total number of square feet of the home occupation area does not exceed more than fifty percent of the total number of square feet used for residential purposes in the building(s);
Customer visits
  • No more than 8 customer visits per business day.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    There shall be no more than eight customer visits per business day;
Employees
  • Only people who live on the property may work there.
    Applies: Without a use permit.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    No employee shall work on the premises other than persons who reside on the property;
  • Up to 2 full-time equivalent employees, with no more than 4 part-time employees.
    Applies: In addition to residents of the property, with a Class I use permit.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    Up to two full-time equivalent employees, provided there shall be no more than four part-time employees, in addition to persons who reside on the property;
Permit
  • A Class I use permit is required.
    Applies: To allow non-resident employees, more floor area, on-site sales or rentals, approved hazardous materials, or screened outdoor storage.
    § 18.102.090 · code text
    Upon securing a Class I use permit the following may be allowed, provided that the use shall not, as determined by the planning commission, adversely affect the residential character of the neighborhood:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lassen County code What Lassen County's code adds
EV charger permit
  • Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the permit can be issued once the application meets every checklist requirement.
    Applies: Applies to EV charging systems in unincorporated areas of the county.
    § 12.10.060 · code text
    The application shall be administratively reviewed by the chief building official as a nondiscretionary permit.
  • A written correction notice is available within 10 working days.
    Applies: Only when the application is incomplete.
    § 12.10.060 · code text
    If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within ten working days, detailing all deficiencies in the application
  • You may submit the application electronically.
    Applies: Applies to EV charging station applications.
    § 12.10.050 · code text
    The chief building official shall allow the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application.
  • Routine operation, maintenance or like-kind replacement does not need a permit.
    Applies: Only for EV charging systems legally set up or permitted before this chapter took effect.
    § 12.10.030 · code text
    Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements shall not require a permit.

Pets, chickens and bees

Lassen County code What Lassen County's code adds
Large animals
  • At least 1 acre; 2 large animals on 1 acre, plus 1 more per 20,000 square feet over 1 acre.
    Applies: Horses, cows, ostriches, llamas or other large animals, unless the zoning code says otherwise.
    § 18.108.230 · code text
    The minimum lot area upon which a horse, cow, ostrich, llama or other large animal may be kept is one acre, and two large animals may be kept on such area. One additional large animal may be kept for each twenty thousand square feet by which a parcel of land exceeds one acre.
  • No more than 1 goat, hog, sheep or similar animal per 7,000 square feet.
    Applies: Applies to goats, hogs, sheep and similar livestock.
    § 18.108.230 · code text
    Not more than one goat, or one hog, or one sheep or similar livestock shall be kept for every seven thousand square feet of area.
  • Stables at least 20 feet from side lot lines and at least 50 feet from the front lot line.
    Applies: Applies to stables.
    § 18.108.230 · code text
    Stables shall be located midway between the side lot lines, but in no case closer than twenty feet to the side lot lines, and not closer than fifty feet to the front lot line.

Other Lassen County rules on this

Lassen County'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 big can a shed or accessory building be in Lassen County?

In R-1 districts, county code limits accessory buildings to 20 feet or the main building's height, whichever is lower, unless the review committee approves.

Can I run a business from my home in Lassen County?

Without a use permit, a home business is limited to 150 square feet and resident workers; at most 8 customer visits per business day.

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

Lassen County's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the permit can be issued once the application meets every checklist requirement. (Applies to EV charging systems in unincorporated areas of the county.) (§ 12.10.060); A written correction notice is available within 10 working days. (Only when the application is incomplete.) (§ 12.10.060).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Lassen County?

Lassen County's code: At least 1 acre; 2 large animals on 1 acre, plus 1 more per 20,000 square feet over 1 acre. (Horses, cows, ostriches, llamas or other large animals, unless the zoning code says otherwise.) (§ 18.108.230); No more than 1 goat, hog, sheep or similar animal per 7,000 square feet. (Applies to goats, hogs, sheep and similar livestock.) (§ 18.108.230).

General information, not legal advice.

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