Loomis · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Loomis

Loomis' code sets fence heights by setback, district and fence design, limits accessory structures, and controls home businesses. A home business needs director approval and a town business license.

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Key points

Fence height: Town code limits solid front setback fences to 3 feet and side and rear setback fences to 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Town code limits detached accessory structures to 15 feet; a minor use permit may allow more on lots of 20,000 square feet or larger.
Home businesses: A home business may use one room or 25% of the floor area, whichever is greater, with one client or family at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Corner visibility	At most 3 feet tall. Applies: In sight visibility areas at intersections of alleys, streets and driveways. § 13.30.040 · code text At intersections of alleys, streets, and driveways within sight visibility areas. See 13.30.050(E) (Height Limit at Street Corners). \| 3 ft.
Height anywhere on the lot	At most 8 feet tall. Applies: In a zone where no setback is required, and not next to a street. § 13.30.040 · code text Within a zone where no setback is required, and not adjacent to a street \| 8 ft. Fences can be as tall as the height limit for buildings in that zone. Applies: Outside a required setback. § 13.30.040 · code text Outside of a required setback \| As determined by the height limit for structures within the applicable zoning district. Fences and walls may be up to 8 feet tall. Applies: Only if the part above 6 feet has an open design, such as lattice or wrought iron. A building permit may be required. § 13.30.040 · code text Fences and walls may be allowed up to eight feet in height when the portions of the fence above six feet are of an open design (e.g., lattice, wrought iron or grille work), provided that a building permit may be required.
Front yard height	Berms, solid walls and solid fences can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In the front yard setback, in all districts. § 13.30.040 · code text Within front yard setback \| Berms, solid wall or fencing: 3 ft. for all districts Open fencing can be at most 6 feet tall anywhere in the front setback. Applies: In the RA, RE and RR districts. § 13.30.040 · code text Open fencing (See subsection F of this section): 6 ft. anywhere within front setback in the RA, RE and RR districts Open fencing can be at most 3 feet tall, the same as solid fencing. Applies: In the front setback in all districts other than RA, RE and RR. § 13.30.040 · code text 3 ft. as required for solid fencing in all other districts.
Side and rear yard height	Solid walls and fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: In side and rear yard setbacks. § 13.30.040 · code text Within side and rear yard setbacks \| Solid wall or fencing: 6 ft. Berms can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In side and rear yard setbacks. § 13.30.040 · code text berms shall not exceed 3 ft.
Permit	Yes. A building permit is required. Applies: For a fence or wall in a flood area shown on a Federal Flood Insurance Rate Map. § 13.30.040 · code text A fence or wall in an area subject to flooding identified on a Federal Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) on file in the department shall require a building permit A building permit may be required. Applies: For fences and walls up to 8 feet tall where the part above 6 feet has an open design. § 13.30.040 · code text provided that a building permit may be required.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Maximum height	At most 15 feet tall. Applies: For detached accessory structures. Lots of 20,000 square feet or more may get a greater height with a minor use permit. § 13.42.260 · code text The height of an accessory structure shall not exceed fifteen feet, except on lots having a lot area of twenty thousand square feet or larger where a greater height is authorized through minor use permit approval.
Size or lot coverage	Total coverage up to 500 square feet, or 10% of those setback areas, whichever is greater. Applies: For all accessory structures together in the required side and rear yard setbacks. § 13.42.260 · code text The aggregate coverage of accessory structures in required side and rear yard setbacks shall not exceed five hundred square feet, or ten percent of the combined area of the required side and rear yard setbacks for the primary dwelling, whichever is greater. Total coverage up to 10% of the required side and rear setback area, or 500 square feet, whichever is greater. Applies: For all accessory structures together in the required side and rear yard setbacks. § 13.42.260 · code text The aggregate coverage of accessory structures in required side and rear yard setbacks shall not exceed five hundred square feet, or ten percent of the combined area of the required side and rear yard setbacks for the primary dwelling, whichever is greater. Up to 400 square feet for each dwelling unit. Applies: For a greenhouse in the RS, RM and RH zoning districts. § 13.42.260 · code text An accessory greenhouse may occupy up to four hundred square feet for each dwelling unit in the RS, RM, and RH zoning districts, Up to 1,000 square feet or 5% of the parcel area, whichever is smaller. Applies: For a greenhouse in the RA, RE and RR zoning districts. § 13.42.260 · code text and one thousand square feet or five percent of the parcel area, whichever is smaller, in the RA, RE, and RR zoning districts. Up to 5% of the parcel area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller. Applies: For a greenhouse in the RA, RE and RR zoning districts. § 13.42.260 · code text and one thousand square feet or five percent of the parcel area, whichever is smaller, in the RA, RE, and RR zoning districts. The front of a garage can be no wider than 25 feet. Applies: For garages of single- or multifamily homes in the RS-5, RS-7, RM and RH zoning districts. § 13.42.260 · code text The front facade of any garage shall not exceed a width of twenty-five feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from side and rear lines. Applies: For detached accessory structures no taller than 10 feet. Taller ones follow the zoning district setbacks. § 13.42.260 · code text An accessory structure not exceeding ten feet in height shall maintain side and rear yard setbacks of at least five feet. At least 5 feet from side property lines. Applies: For garages in RS-5, RS-7, RM and RH, unless a maintenance easement allows building to one side line. § 13.42.260 · code text Otherwise, a garage shall be set back a minimum of five feet from side property lines; At least 8 feet from the other side property line. Applies: For garages in RS-5, RS-7, RM and RH built to one side line under a director-approved maintenance easement. § 13.42.260 · code text When a maintenance easement is granted by the owner of the adjacent parcel to the approval of the director, a garage may be built to the side property line on that side, but shall be located at least eight feet from the other side property line. At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: For garages in the RS-5, RS-7, RM and RH zoning districts. § 13.42.260 · code text A garage shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the rear property line; No part can be closer than 10 feet to a property line. Applies: For a patio cover in the required rear yard setback. § 13.42.260 · code text No part of the patio cover shall be closer than ten feet to a property line.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from other accessory structures and the main house. Applies: For detached accessory structures. § 13.42.260 · code text An accessory structure shall maintain a six-foot separation from other accessory structures and the primary dwelling unit. The 6-foot separation from the main house does not apply. Applies: For a patio cover, attached or detached, open on at least 3 sides, in the required rear yard setback. § 13.42.260 · code text The six-foot separation from the main dwelling required by subsection (C)(1) above does not apply;

Running a business from home

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the gross floor area or 1 room, whichever is greater. Applies: For business activities in the main house. § 13.42.120 · code text The main dwelling, and shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the gross floor area or one room, whichever is greater; No more than 1 room or 25% of the gross floor area, whichever is greater. Applies: For business activities in the main house. § 13.42.120 · code text The main dwelling, and shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the gross floor area or one room, whichever is greater;
Customer visits	Only 1 client or family on site at a time. § 13.42.120 · code text On-site presence of clients shall be limited to one client or family at a time. Visitors, customers and deliveries can be no more frequent than is normal for a home. § 13.42.120 · code text The frequency of visitors, customers, or deliveries shall not exceed that normally and reasonably occurring for a residence.
Employees	No on-site employees other than full-time residents of the home. § 13.42.120 · code text A home occupation shall have no on-site employees other than full-time residents of the dwelling.
Permit	Director approval of the home business, together with a town business license. § 13.42.120 · code text The director is authorized to approve one or more home occupation activities accessory to the primary residential use of the site in conjunction with a town business license.
Businesses not allowed	adult entertainment activities/businesses; animal hospitals and boarding facilities; automotive and other vehicle repair and service, painting, storage, or upholstery; repair, reconditioning, servicing, or manufacture of internal combustion or diesel engines or motor vehicles; commercial cabinet or furniture making; contractor's storage yards; dismantling, junk, or scrap yards; exercise studios, except one-on-one personal trainers; medical clinics, laboratories, or doctor's offices; personal services, except licensed massage therapists and physical therapists; on-site sales, except mail order businesses with no stock-in-trade on the site; uses requiring explosives or highly combustible or toxic materials; welding and machine shop operations; other similar uses determined by the director § 13.42.120 · code text The following are examples of business activities that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are, therefore, prohibited as home occupations.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; the permit is issued once a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 11.12.060 · code text The building department shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. The building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Loomis code What Loomis's code adds
Exemptions	No tree permit fee is charged for removing a protected tree when the removal is exempt from mitigation. Applies: Residential lots zoned with a minimum lot size of 4.6 acres or less that can no longer be subdivided. § 13.54.080 · code text No fee shall be required for a tree permit issued for the removal of a protected tree if removal of the tree is exempt from compliance with the mitigation provisions of this chapter pursuant to Section 13.54.060(A). Pruning is exempt from the mitigation rules. Applies: Only if the pruning does not harm the condition of any protected tree. § 13.54.060 · code text Pruning of trees covered under this chapter is exempt provided the pruning activity does not interfere with the condition of any protected tree. Removing dead, dying or hazardous trees does not require mitigation. Applies: Only trees rated 0, 1 or 2 by the Town Manager, Town Arborist or an approved arborist. § 13.54.060 · code text The removal of dead, dying, or hazardous trees, as determined by the Town Manager, the Town Arborist, or an arborist approved by the Town Manager (rated a 0 "dead," or 1 "dying or hazardous," or 2 "major corrective care needed") shall not require mitigation. Removal is exempt from mitigation, but a tree permit is still required. Applies: Only residential lots zoned with a minimum lot size of 4.6 acres or less that can no longer be subdivided. § 13.54.060 · code text Removal of protected trees from a residential parcel that is zoned with a minimum allowed lot size of 4.6 acres or less, provided the parcel can no longer be subdivided. Emergency response and abatement are exempt from mitigation. § 13.54.060 · code text Emergency response and abatement as set forth in Section 13.54.170 of this chapter. Removing or moving trees for traffic line-of-sight is exempt from mitigation. Applies: Only when the Town Manager or Town Engineer requires it to keep adequate line-of-sight distances. § 13.54.060 · code text Removal or relocation of trees necessary to maintain adequate line-of-sight distances as required or determined by the Town Manager or Town Engineer are exempt from the mitigation provisions of this chapter.
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree permit from the Town Manager is required. Applies: Applies to removing or destroying a protected tree within Town limits. § 13.54.070 · code text It shall be unlawful to perform any of the following acts with respect to a protected tree within the Town limits without a tree permit issued by the Town Manager:
Replacement trees	The owner must make every effort to replace the tree on the property. Applies: Applies when a protected tree is removed. § 13.54.080 · code text The property owner removing a protected tree will make every effort to replace the tree on the property, in accordance with Section 13.54.090.

Other Loomis rules on this

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

Keeping animals at home (§ 13.42.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Loomis?

Town code limits solid front setback fences to 3 feet and side and rear setback fences to 6 feet.

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

Town code limits detached accessory structures to 15 feet; a minor use permit may allow more on lots of 20,000 square feet or larger.

Can I run a business from my home in Loomis?

A home business may use one room or 25% of the floor area, whichever is greater, with one client or family at a time.

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

Loomis's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review; the permit is issued once a complete application meets the checklist and standard plan. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 11.12.060).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Loomis?

Loomis's code: No tree permit fee is charged for removing a protected tree when the removal is exempt from mitigation. (Residential lots zoned with a minimum lot size of 4.6 acres or less that can no longer be subdivided.) (§ 13.54.080); Pruning is exempt from the mitigation rules. (Only if the pruning does not harm the condition of any protected tree.) (§ 13.54.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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