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Mendocino County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Mendocino County

Mendocino County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It sets fence heights and accessory-building setbacks; home occupations have separate inland, coastal and Town of Mendocino chapters.

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Key points

  • Fence height: County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.
  • Garages and sheds: The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.
  • Home occupations: Home occupations fall under county chapters: Ch. 20.156 inland, Ch. 20.448 in the coastal zone, Ch. 20.696 in the Town of Mendocino.

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

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

Fences and walls

Mendocino County code What Mendocino County's code adds
Corner visibility
  • The Department of Transportation sets the size of the clear visibility area.
    Applies: Applies at intersections of streets, alleys and driveways.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    At intersections of streets, alleys, and driveways within the clear visibility area | Consult Department of Transportation for required dimensions of clear visibility area
Height anywhere on the lot
  • View-blocking fences and hedges up to 8 feet high.
    Applies: All locations except the required front yard and the clear visibility area at intersections. Fences over 7 feet need a building permit.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    All other locations on a lot or parcel except at intersections (see below) | 8 feet 1
Front yard height
  • View-blocking fences and hedges up to 3 1/2 feet high.
    Applies: Required front yard. Loose wire mesh fences that let 90% of light through have no height limit.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    Required front yard | 3½ feet
Permit
  • A building permit is required for fences over 7 feet.
    Applies: Applies to fences over 7 feet.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    Fences over seven (7) feet require a building permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Mendocino County code What Mendocino County's code adds
Side and rear setback
  • At least 4 feet from rear property lines without street frontage.
    Applies: Detached garages, sheds or similar buildings no more than 15 feet high at the ridge and 500 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    A detached garage, detached storage shed, or similar detached accessory building not exceeding fifteen (15) feet in height at the ridge and five hundred (500) square feet of floor area shall observe a four (4) foot setback from rear property lines that do not have street frontage.
  • At least 4 feet from the side or rear property line.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels under 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels less than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be located on the rear one-third of the lot, not less than four (4) feet from the side or rear property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.
  • At least 50 feet from any property line.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels over 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels greater than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be not less than fifty (50) feet from any property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.
Distance from the house
  • At least 40 feet from any dwelling.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels over 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels greater than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be not less than fifty (50) feet from any property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.
  • At least 40 feet from any dwelling.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels under 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels less than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be located on the rear one-third of the lot, not less than four (4) feet from the side or rear property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Mendocino County code What Mendocino County's code adds
EV charger permit
  • Expedited administrative approval and all required permits once the application is complete and consistent with the rules.
    Applies: Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.
    § 18.50.035 · code text
    Upon confirmation by the Building Official that the application is complete and meets the requirements of the checklist, and is consistent with this chapter, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
  • Electronic filing is offered, by a method the department chooses; electronic signatures may be used.
    Applies: Permit applications for electric vehicle charging stations.
    § 18.50.035 · code text
    The Department of Planning and Building Services shall provide for the electronic submittal of electric vehicle charging station permit applications, though the method of electronic submittal shall be at the Department's discretion and electronic submittal of applications is not required.
Solar permit process
  • Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with fees; complete applications meeting the checklist get administrative approval and all permits.
    Applies: Small residential rooftop solar energy systems; fees are the required processing and inspection fees.
    § 18.40.035 · code text
    The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the Department of Planning and Building Services in person, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees.

Other Mendocino County rules on this

Mendocino 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 tall can a fence be in Mendocino County?

County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Mendocino County?

The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.

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

Home occupations fall under county chapters: Ch. 20.156 inland, Ch. 20.448 in the coastal zone, Ch. 20.696 in the Town of Mendocino. Mendocino County also has a related rule: Home occupations (Ch. 20.156) — inland zoning code; Home occupations in the coastal zone (Ch. 20.448) — coastal zone only; Home occupations in the Town of Mendocino (Ch. 20.696) — Town of Mendocino only.

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

Mendocino County's code: Expedited administrative approval and all required permits once the application is complete and consistent with the rules. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 18.50.035); Electronic filing is offered, by a method the department chooses; electronic signatures may be used. (Permit applications for electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 18.50.035).

General information, not legal advice.

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