Lincoln · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Lincoln

Lincoln's city code sets fence heights by yard, sets side setbacks for accessory structures in R districts, and limits home businesses. A home business with customer visits needs a conditional use permit.

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Key points

Fence height: City code limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side, side street or rear yards.
Accessory setbacks: In R districts, accessory structures must be 5 feet from the side lot line, or 10 feet from the street side on corner lots.
Home businesses: City code limits a home business to 15% of the home's floor area and at most 2 workers, both living in the home.

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

Fences and walls

Lincoln code What Lincoln's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet. Applies: Fences, hedges and walls in the front yard. A city encroachment permit may be needed. § 18.36.040 · code text Fences, hedges and walls not exceeding four feet in height may occupy the front yard provided they obtain a city encroachment permit if so required by the city engineer.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Side, side street or rear yards, not into the front yard. On a corner lot, at least 5 feet from the side street line. § 18.36.040 · code text Fences, hedges and walls not exceeding six feet in height may occupy any side, side street or rear yard area, provided:
Permit	Yes, a city encroachment permit if the city engineer requires it. Applies: Front-yard fences, hedges and walls up to 4 feet. § 18.36.040 · code text Fences, hedges and walls not exceeding four feet in height may occupy the front yard provided they obtain a city encroachment permit if so required by the city engineer.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lincoln code What Lincoln's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the side lot line. Applies: Accessory structures in any R district. § 18.36.050 · code text an accessory structure located in any "R" district shall not be located within five feet of the side line of the lot At least 10 feet from the street side line. Applies: Accessory structures on corner lots in any R district. § 18.36.050 · code text in the case of a corner lot, within ten feet of the street side line. At least 10 feet from any alley. Applies: Garages with vehicle access onto an alley. § 18.36.050 · code text A garage, attached or detached, which has vehicle access onto an alley shall not be located within ten feet of any alley. At least 5 feet from the alley. Applies: Garages next to an alley with no vehicle access to it. § 18.36.050 · code text A garage, attached or detached, which is located adjacent to an alley but has no vehicle access to the alley may be located no closer than five feet to the alley.

Running a business from home

Lincoln code What Lincoln's code adds
Space used	No more than 15% of the home's total floor area. § 18.62.060 · code text The home occupation(s) shall not require the use of more than 15 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling unit and such use shall be clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling as a residence.
Customer visits	Meeting customers at the home needs a conditional use permit. Applies: Home occupations in any residential district. § 18.62.060 · code text Personal contact with customers at the applicant's residence;
Employees	No more than 2 people, both living in the home. § 18.62.060 · code text The home occupation(s) shall be operated by no more than two individuals, both of whom shall be inhabitants of the dwelling unit.
Permit	No conditional use permit is needed. Applies: Home occupations in any residential district that meet the listed conditions and limits. § 18.62.060 · code text A home occupation shall be permitted without the issuance of a conditional use permit subject to an occupant's compliance with the following conditions and limitations: A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Residential districts: meeting customers at the home, making goods for sale, or 3 or more home occupations in one home. § 18.62.060 · code text home occupations located in any residential district that involve the following activities shall require the issuance of a conditional use permit pursuant to Section 18.62.020.
Businesses not allowed	Commercial food handling, processing, or packing Applies: Home occupation permit issuance § 18.62.060 · code text No home occupation(s) permit(s) shall be issued which involve commercial food handling, processing, or packing.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Lincoln code What Lincoln's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary building permit review, limited to health and safety requirements. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.05.060 · code text The building department shall either approve or deny the issuance of a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications that meet the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan and one to three days for applications submitted by e-mail or facsimile. You may submit the application by email or online. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants. § 15.05.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, or the Internet will be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	Approved or denied the same day. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; over-the-counter applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.05.060 · code text The building department shall either approve or deny the issuance of a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications that meet the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan Approved or denied in 1 to 3 days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; applications sent by email or fax. § 15.05.060 · code text and one to three days for applications submitted by e-mail or facsimile.

Swimming pools

Lincoln code The gap under the barrier may be at most 2 inches, or 4 inches over a solid surface. The gap between the pool top and the barrier may be at most 4 inches.

All 20 Lincoln rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Lincoln code What Lincoln's code adds
Chickens	Yes; no more than 5 hens. Applies: No more than 5 hens and rabbits combined. § 6.36.050 · code text (a) Chickens hens—No more than five.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lincoln?

City code limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side, side street or rear yards.

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

In R districts, accessory structures must be 5 feet from the side lot line, or 10 feet from the street side on corner lots.

Can I run a business from my home in Lincoln?

City code limits a home business to 15% of the home's floor area and at most 2 workers, both living in the home.

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

Lincoln's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary building permit review, limited to health and safety requirements. (Small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.05.060); You may submit the application by email or online. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.) (§ 15.05.050).

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

Lincoln's code: Yes; no more than 5 hens. (No more than 5 hens and rabbits combined.) (§ 6.36.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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