Los Altos Hills · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Los Altos Hills

Los Altos Hills sets fence, wall and gate heights by distance from the road centerline, and every new or replaced fence needs a zoning or site development permit. Accessory uses and structures in the R-A zone have their own section.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences and walls on property lines or in setbacks not next to a road are limited to 6 feet.
Accessory structures: The code has a section on accessory uses and structures in the R-A zone (§ 10-1.702).

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

Fences and walls

Los Altos Hills code What Los Altos Hills's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences and walls can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: On property lines or in setback areas that are not next to a road right-of-way. § 10-1.507 · code text Fences and walls located on property lines or in setback areas that are not adjacent to a road right-of-way shall not exceed a maximum height of six feet.
Front yard height	Open fences and gates can be at most 4.5 feet tall. Applies: In setback areas next to a road, at the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of open fences and gates at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: four and one-half (4.5) feet. Open fences and gates can be 6 feet tall. Applies: Between the road and the structural setback line, only if at least 45 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Minimum setback from centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way for six feet tall open fences and gates located between adjacent public or private roadways and the structural setback line for the particular property: 45 feet. Solid fences, gates and walls can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In setback areas next to a road, at the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of solid fences, gates, and walls at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: three feet. Solid fences, gates and walls can be 6 feet tall. Applies: Between the road and the structural setback line, only if at least 60 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Minimum setback from centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way for six foot tall solid fences, gates, and walls located between adjacent public or private roadways and the structural setback line for the particular property: 60 feet. Open driveway gates can be at most 4.5 feet tall on average. Applies: At the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of open driveway gates at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: four and one-half (4.5) feet (average). Open driveway gates can average 6 feet tall, with a 7-foot maximum. Applies: Between the road and the structural setback line, only if at least 45 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Minimum setback from centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way for open driveway gates with a six feet average height (seven feet maximum height) located between adjacent public or private roadways and the structural setback line for the particular property: 45 feet. Columns can be at most 6 feet tall, or 7 feet with lights. Applies: At the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of columns at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: six feet; seven feet (with lights).
Permit	Yes. A Zoning or Site Development Permit is needed before building or replacing any fence, wall, gate or column. § 10-1.507 · code text No fence, wall, gate, or column structure shall be erected or replaced without the prior issuance of a Zoning or Site Development Permit from the Town.

Lot splits under SB 9

Los Altos Hills code 2 lots of about equal area; neither smaller than 40% of the original lot's area. At most 900 square feet.

All 22 Los Altos Hills rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Los Altos Hills code What Los Altos Hills's code adds
EV charger permit	Apply by email, or at the Building Division front counter during regular business hours. Applies: EV charging station permits. § 8-11.05 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and associated documents for electric vehicle charging station system permits may be made by email. 1 inspection, scheduled within 3 business days of a request. Applies: EV charging station permits. § 8-11.06 · code text The Building Division inspection shall be scheduled within three business days, upon request, and may include consolidated inspections.
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review; apply by email, Internet or fax; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 8-9.04 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, the Internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: A complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 8-9.05 · code text The Building Division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan The permit is issued the same day, whenever possible. Applies: A complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 8-9.05 · code text whenever possible shall issue a building permit the same day of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Los Altos Hills code What Los Altos Hills's code adds
Exemptions	These trees need not be replaced if a certified arborist confirms in writing they are dead or beyond treatment. Applies: Diseased or dead trees removed for roads, structures in proposed rights-of-way, or rough grading of driveways or parking; land division maps. § 9-1.606 · code text Diseased or dead trees removed in order to facilitate the abovementioned reasons need not be replaced when evidence is submitted in writing by a certified arborist attesting to the fact that the subject trees are dead or are beyond remedial treatment. Removal allowed only when needed for roads, structures in proposed rights-of-way, or rough grading of driveways or parking areas. Applies: Trees over 6 inches in diameter at 4 feet above the ground; tree rules for land division maps. § 9-1.606 · code text Trees of the abovementioned dimensions may be removed only when necessary to facilitate the locating of public and/or private roadways, the placement of structures within the proposed rights-of-way, or for the rough grading of driveways and/or parking areas.
Protected trees	Trees larger than 6 inches in diameter, measured 4 feet above the ground. Applies: Trees covered by the subdivision lot design and development plan rules. § 9-1.606 · code text Trees shall not be removed which are larger than six inches in diameter (approximately 20 inches in circumference) measured at a point four feet above the ground.
Replacement trees	Up to 5 new trees for each one removed, at least 24-inch box, planted within setback lines of adjacent lots. Applies: Trees removed for roads, structures in proposed rights-of-way, or rough grading of driveways or parking; land division maps. § 9-1.606 · code text Trees removed for the abovementioned reasons shall be replaced at a ratio of up to five new trees for every one removed.

Pets, chickens and bees

Los Altos Hills code What Los Altos Hills's code adds
Bees	Give written notice to the City Manager within 5 days after the move begins. Applies: Moving an apiary into or within the Town. § 6-1.805 · code text No apiary shall be moved into the Town or within the confines of the Town without notice in writing being given to the Town's City Manager within five days from the date movement is begun, stating:
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs. Applies: Per street address. § 6-1.408 · code text No more than three dogs may be kept or maintained at any street address within the Town. No more than 1 unspayed female dog. Applies: Per street address. § 6-1.408 · code text No more than one unspayed female dog may be kept or maintained at any street address within the Town. No more than 3 cats. Applies: Per street address. § 6-1.507 · code text No more than three cats may be kept or maintained at any street address within the Town. No more than 1 unspayed female cat. Applies: Per street address. § 6-1.507 · code text No more than one unspayed female cat may be kept or maintained at any street address within the Town.

Other Los Altos Hills rules on this

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

Accessory uses and structures, R-A zone (§ 10-1.702)
Lighting for home pools and spas (§ 10-2.1003)
Draining a pool to the sewer (§ 6-4.444)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Los Altos Hills?

Fences and walls on property lines or in setbacks not next to a road are limited to 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Los Altos Hills?

The code has a section on accessory uses and structures in the R-A zone (§ 10-1.702). Los Altos Hills also has a related rule: Accessory uses and structures, R-A zone (§ 10-1.702).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Los Altos Hills?

Los Altos Hills's code: Apply by email, or at the Building Division front counter during regular business hours. (EV charging station permits.) (§ 8-11.05); 1 inspection, scheduled within 3 business days of a request. (EV charging station permits.) (§ 8-11.06).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Los Altos Hills?

Los Altos Hills's code: These trees need not be replaced if a certified arborist confirms in writing they are dead or beyond treatment. (Diseased or dead trees removed for roads, structures in proposed rights-of-way, or rough grading of driveways or parking; land division maps.) (§ 9-1.606); Removal allowed only when needed for roads, structures in proposed rights-of-way, or rough grading of driveways or parking areas. (Trees over 6 inches in diameter at 4 feet above the ground; tree rules for land division maps.) (§ 9-1.606).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Los Altos Hills?

Los Altos Hills's code: Give written notice to the City Manager within 5 days after the move begins. (Moving an apiary into or within the Town.) (§ 6-1.805); No more than 3 dogs. (Per street address.) (§ 6-1.408).

General information, not legal advice.

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