Los Banos · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Los Banos

Los Banos' city code sets height and setback limits for open structures such as shade canopies, patio covers, pergolas, entry trellises and pools. The city also has an article on cottage food operations.

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Key points

Canopies and pergolas: City code limits shade canopies, patio covers and pergolas in rear or side setbacks to 15 feet.
Home businesses: City code has an article on cottage food operations, which are home kitchen food businesses (Art. 39).

Each rule below is marked Los Banos 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

Los Banos code What Los Banos's code adds
Maximum height	At most 15 feet tall. Applies: For a detached shade canopy open on all sides, in a rear or side setback. Rear setback grows 1 foot per foot above 8 feet. § 9-3.4405 · code text The shade canopy or shade canopy structure shall not exceed fifteen (15′) feet in height. At most 15 feet tall. Applies: Patio cover or pergola open on at least 3 sides, in a rear or side setback. Setbacks grow 1 foot per foot over 8 feet. § 9-3.4405 · code text The patio cover or pergola shall not exceed fifteen (15′) feet in height. At most 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Applies: For an entry trellis or arbor over the walkway between the public sidewalk and the front entrance. § 9-3.4405 · code text provided that the structure shall not exceed ten (10′) feet in height, shall not exceed eight (8′) feet in width, At most 8 feet tall. Applies: For decorative landscape structures of 25 square feet or less in the front yard, outside the public right-of-way and clear vision triangle. § 9-3.4405 · code text Other decorative landscape features (structures) covering no more than 25 square feet and no more than eight (8′) feet tall may be located within the front yard and front yard setback,
Size or lot coverage	Can cover no more than 25 square feet. Applies: For other decorative landscape structures in the front yard and front yard setback. § 9-3.4405 · code text Other decorative landscape features (structures) covering no more than 25 square feet and no more than eight (8′) feet tall may be located within the front yard and front yard setback,
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from rear and interior side property lines. Applies: For a detached shade canopy in the rear or side setback. The rear setback grows 1 foot per foot of height above 8 feet. § 9-3.4405 · code text No part of a shade canopy or shade canopy structure shall be closer than three (3′) feet to the rear property line, three (3′) feet to interior side property line, and ten (10′) feet to street side property line of a reverse corner lot. At least 10 feet from the street side property line. Applies: For a detached shade canopy on a reverse corner lot. § 9-3.4405 · code text No part of a shade canopy or shade canopy structure shall be closer than three (3′) feet to the rear property line, three (3′) feet to interior side property line, and ten (10′) feet to street side property line of a reverse corner lot. At least 3 feet from rear and interior side property lines. Applies: For a patio cover or pergola in the rear or side setback. The setback grows 1 foot per foot of height above 8 feet. § 9-3.4405 · code text No part of a patio cover or pergola shall be closer than three (3′) feet to the rear property line, three (3′) feet to interior side property line, and ten (10′) feet to street side property line of a reverse corner lot. At least 10 feet from the street side property line. Applies: For a patio cover or pergola on a reverse corner lot. The setback grows 1 foot per foot of height above 8 feet. § 9-3.4405 · code text No part of a patio cover or pergola shall be closer than three (3′) feet to the rear property line, three (3′) feet to interior side property line, and ten (10′) feet to street side property line of a reverse corner lot. At least 3 feet from both the front and side property lines. Applies: For an entry trellis or arbor over the walkway to the front entrance. § 9-3.4405 · code text provided that the structure shall not exceed ten (10′) feet in height, shall not exceed eight (8′) feet in width, shall be at least three (3′) feet from the front property line and at least three (3′) feet from the side property line, At least 3 feet from the rear and side property lines. Applies: For an in-ground swimming pool in the rear or side yard. § 9-3.4405 · code text An in-ground swimming pool may be located in the rear or side yard, with a minimum of a three (3′) foot setback between the pool and the rear and side property lines and a five (5′) foot setback between the pool and the principal dwelling. At least 3 feet from the rear and side property lines. Applies: For an above-ground swimming pool in the rear or side yard. § 9-3.4405 · code text An above-ground swimming pool may be located in the rear or side yard, with a minimum of a three (3′) foot setback between the pool and the rear and side property lines and a five (5′) foot setback between the pool and the principal dwelling.
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from the main house. Applies: For an in-ground swimming pool. § 9-3.4405 · code text An in-ground swimming pool may be located in the rear or side yard, with a minimum of a three (3′) foot setback between the pool and the rear and side property lines and a five (5′) foot setback between the pool and the principal dwelling. At least 5 feet from the main house. Applies: For an above-ground swimming pool. § 9-3.4405 · code text An above-ground swimming pool may be located in the rear or side yard, with a minimum of a three (3′) foot setback between the pool and the rear and side property lines and a five (5′) foot setback between the pool and the principal dwelling.

RV and boat parking

Los Banos code In the side or rear yard. 1 RV or utility trailer allowed, fully on a paved driveway, driveway extension or improved parking area.

All 13 Los Banos rules on rv and boat parking, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Los Banos code What Los Banos's code adds
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 8-6.06 · code text The Building Department shall complete the building permit approval or denial process, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications or between one and three business days where such over-the-counter approval is not authorized or feasible.
Review time	Same day. Applies: Over-the-counter applications. § 8-6.06 · code text The Building Department shall complete the building permit approval or denial process, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications between one and three business days Applies: over-the-counter approval is not authorized or feasible § 8-6.06 · code text or between one and three business days where such over-the-counter approval is not authorized or feasible.

Pets, chickens and bees

Los Banos code What Los Banos's code adds
Bees	No, keeping bees is not allowed. Applies: Within the city. § 6-1.9004 · code text No person shall keep or maintain within the City any stand of bees.
Large animals	Livestock may be kept only if the Zoning Code expressly allows it. Applies: Within city limits. § 6-1.9001 · code text No person shall stable, keep, pasture or maintain livestock within the limits of the City, unless expressly allowed to do so by the Zoning Code.

Other Los Banos rules on this

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

Cottage food operations (Art. 39) — home kitchen food businesses

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

City code limits shade canopies, patio covers and pergolas in rear or side setbacks to 15 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Los Banos?

City code has an article on cottage food operations, which are home kitchen food businesses (Art. 39). Los Banos also has a related rule: Cottage food operations (Art. 39) — home kitchen food businesses.

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

Los Banos's code: Expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems.) (§ 8-6.06); Same day. (Over-the-counter applications.) (§ 8-6.06).

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

Los Banos's code: No, keeping bees is not allowed. (Within the city.) (§ 6-1.9004); Livestock may be kept only if the Zoning Code expressly allows it. (Within city limits.) (§ 6-1.9001).

General information, not legal advice.

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Los Banos Municipal Code — full text

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Los Banos overview