Newark · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Newark

Newark sets its own fence heights, accessory-structure limits and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the front yard, nearness to a street side lot line and arterial streets.

Ask about building on your lot in Newark See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Newark limits fences to 3 ft in required front yards, 6 ft outside them and over 4 ft from a street side line.
Accessory structures: City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 12 ft; in RS and RL districts, to 30% of the required rear yard.
Home businesses: City rule: a general home business may use 20% of the home, with no client visits and no non-resident employees.

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

Fences and walls

Newark code What Newark's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Outside required front yards and more than 4 feet from a street side lot line. § 17.17.040 · code text Fences, walls, hedges, and related structures are limited to a maximum of six feet except as follows: three feet high when located within required front yards or within four feet of a street side lot line, eight feet adjacent to four or more lane arterials for residential uses. Up to 8 feet. Applies: Residential uses next to arterial streets with 4 or more lanes. § 17.17.040 · code text Fences, walls, hedges, and related structures are limited to a maximum of six feet except as follows: three feet high when located within required front yards or within four feet of a street side lot line, eight feet adjacent to four or more lane arterials for residential uses. A hedge may be any height. Applies: Hedges only, with the main trunk more than 4 feet from the street side lot line and within 5 feet of a permitted structure. § 17.17.040 · code text Where the base of the main trunk is further than four feet from the street side lot line and within five feet of a permitted structure, a hedge may be of any height.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet. Applies: In required front yards. § 17.17.040 · code text Fences, walls, hedges, and related structures are limited to a maximum of six feet except as follows: three feet high when located within required front yards or within four feet of a street side lot line, eight feet adjacent to four or more lane arterials for residential uses. Up to 6 feet. Applies: Residential districts, with Director approval and minor use permit; front yard or within 4 feet of a street lot line, next to non-residential use. § 17.17.040 · code text Fences within the front yard and fences within four feet of a street lot line on a lot adjacent to a non-residential use may be up to six feet in height.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 3 feet. Applies: Within 4 feet of a street side lot line. § 17.17.040 · code text Fences, walls, hedges, and related structures are limited to a maximum of six feet except as follows: three feet high when located within required front yards or within four feet of a street side lot line, eight feet adjacent to four or more lane arterials for residential uses. Up to 8 feet. Applies: Residential districts, with Director approval and a minor use permit; outside the required front yard and over 4 feet from a street lot line. § 17.17.040 · code text Fences located outside of a required front yard and more than four feet from a street lot line may be up to eight feet in height.
Permit	Yes. A permit is needed for a hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way. Applies: Unless the code provides otherwise. § 12.08.430 · code text No hedge, shrub, or other planting whatever, fence or similar structure, except as provided in Section 12.08.460, shall be planted, erected or maintained in a right-of-way without a permit. A minor use permit with Director approval is needed for extra fence height. § 17.17.040 · code text The Director may approve additional fence height with a minor use permit, in compliance with the following.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Newark code What Newark's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in residential districts. § 17.17.020 · code text The maximum allowable height of accessory structures is twelve feet except that accessory structures in non-residential districts with a minimum roof pitch of 4:12 may be up to sixteen feet in height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 30% of the required rear yard area. Applies: RS and RL districts; must be in the rear half of the lot; no more than 2, not counting a detached garage. § 17.17.020 · code text In the RS and RL Districts, accessory structures shall be located in the rear half of the lot, shall not occupy more than thirty percent of the required rear yard area.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from interior side and rear property lines. Applies: Accessory structures over 6 feet 6 inches tall or over 120 square feet. § 17.17.020 · code text Accessory structures greater than six feet six inches in height or more than one hundred twenty square feet in size shall be setback a minimum of three feet from interior side and rear property lines.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main building, including the roof. § 17.17.020 · code text Detached accessory structures shall be located a minimum of six feet from the main building, inclusive of roof covering.

Running a business from home

Newark code What Newark's code adds
Space used	No more than 20% of the home's floor area. Applies: General home businesses. § 17.26.140 · code text No more than twenty percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit may be used in the conduct of the home occupation.
Customer visits	No customer or client visits. Applies: General home businesses, except personal instruction services. § 17.26.140 · code text No customer or client visits are permitted except for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring) which may have up to two students at one time. Up to 2 students at one time. Applies: Personal instruction services, such as music lessons, art lessons and academic tutoring. § 17.26.140 · code text No customer or client visits are permitted except for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring) which may have up to two students at one time.
Employees	No employees or independent contractors other than residents of the home. Applies: General home businesses; cottage food operations have their own rule. § 17.26.140 · code text No employees or independent contractors other than residents of the dwelling shall be permitted to work at the location of a home occupation except as otherwise allowed for cottage food operations. 1 full-time equivalent employee, plus the operator and household members living in the home. Applies: Cottage food operations. § 17.26.140 · code text Only the cottage food operator and members of his or her household living in the unit, as well as one full-time equivalent cottage food employee, may participate in a cottage food operation.
Permit	A home occupation permit certified by the director, and a current business license. § 17.26.140 · code text No home occupation shall be conducted without a current business license obtained and maintained pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 5.04, Business Licenses. Minor use permit approval. Applies: Cottage food operations. § 17.26.140 · code text Cottage food operations are allowed subject to minor use permit approval.
Businesses not allowed	Automobile/vehicle sales and services; animal care, sales, and services; eating and drinking establishments; hotels and motels; hospitals and clinics; firearm sales; personal services; retail sales Applies: specific businesses not permitted as home occupations § 17.26.140 · code text The following specific businesses are not permitted as home occupations:

RV and boat parking

Newark code What Newark's code adds
Parking on the street	Must stay hitched; unhitched only up to 4 consecutive hours for pickups or deliveries within 1/2 mile. Applies: Applies to trailers and other towed vehicles on a street. § 10.24.026 · code text trailers and other nonmotorized vehicles may be parked on the street for a period not to exceed four consecutive hours for the purpose of making bona fide pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise to properties within one-half mile.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Newark code What Newark's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic applications and electronic signatures are accepted. § 15.55.040 · code text The building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this article and associated supporting documentation. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by applicant. The building official approves and issues all necessary permits when the application meets the city checklist. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations; the application must also meet all applicable laws and health and safety standards. § 15.55.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city's adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits.

Swimming pools

Newark code What Newark's code adds
Barrier height	A structure or solid fence or wall at least 5 feet high must screen the pool from street and neighbors. Applies: Applies to pools and spas within 50 feet of any lot line. § 17.17.110 · code text Swimming pools and spas located within fifty feet of any lot line shall be screened from view from the street and adjoining properties with a structure or a solid fence or wall at least five feet in height. A masonry wall or solid fence at least 6 feet high. Applies: Applies to pools and spas less than 30 feet from a lot line, on the side facing that line. § 17.17.110 · code text Swimming pools and spas located less than thirty feet to any lot line shall be screened by a masonry wall or solid fence not less than six feet in height on the side facing such lot line.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from interior side and rear lot lines; not in the front or street side setback. Applies: Measured to the outside wall of the water-holding part of the pool or spa. § 17.17.110 · code text The outside wall of the water-containing portion of any swimming pool or spa shall not be located within the required front or street side setback and shall be located at least five feet from all interior side and rear lot lines.

Pets, chickens and bees

Newark code What Newark's code adds
Chickens	Yes, up to 4 hens without a permit; more requires an animal fancier's permit. Applies: Applies to any parcel used mainly for residential purposes. § 6.32.010 · code text More than four hen chickens, or more than eight bantam chickens, or more than three cats or more than three dogs, or more than two of any other pet species.
Coop setback	At least 40 feet from any parcel line or home on the same parcel. Applies: Applies to stalls, barns, corrals, pens, paddocks and exercise areas for livestock. § 6.32.020 · code text shall not be closer than forty feet from any parcel line or dwelling on the same parcel
Large animals	Not on parcels under 1/2 acre; on larger parcels, numbers follow the animal fancier's permit conditions. Applies: Applies to horses, ponies, donkeys, burros, cows, steers, sheep and goats. § 6.32.020 · code text No horses, ponies, donkeys, burros, cows, steers, sheep or goats may be kept on a parcel less than one-half acre in size. The number of animals permitted on larger parcels shall be subject to the animal fancier's permit process and conditions established by the animal control officer.
Permit	An animal fancier's permit is required. Applies: Any rooster, over 4 hens, 8 bantams, 3 cats, 3 dogs, or 2 of another pet species, or over 10 animals combined. § 6.32.010 · code text An animal fancier's permit shall be obtained for: 1. Any rooster; 2. More than four hen chickens, or more than eight bantam chickens, or more than three cats or more than three dogs, or more than two of any other pet species.
Pet limit	Up to 3 dogs and 3 cats; more needs an animal fancier's permit; no more than 10 animals in all. Applies: Applies to any parcel used mainly for residential purposes. § 6.32.010 · code text More than four hen chickens, or more than eight bantam chickens, or more than three cats or more than three dogs, or more than two of any other pet species.

Other Newark rules on this

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

Permit to remove trees on private property (Ch. 8.16) — not needed on smaller developed home lots

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Newark?

Newark limits fences to 3 ft in required front yards, 6 ft outside them and over 4 ft from a street side line.

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

City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 12 ft; in RS and RL districts, to 30% of the required rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in Newark?

City rule: a general home business may use 20% of the home, with no client visits and no non-resident employees.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Newark?

Newark's code: Must stay hitched; unhitched only up to 4 consecutive hours for pickups or deliveries within 1/2 mile. (Applies to trailers and other towed vehicles on a street.) (§ 10.24.026).

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

Newark's code: Electronic applications and electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 15.55.040); The building official approves and issues all necessary permits when the application meets the city checklist. (Applies to EV charging stations; the application must also meet all applicable laws and health and safety standards.) (§ 15.55.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Newark?

Newark's code: A structure or solid fence or wall at least 5 feet high must screen the pool from street and neighbors. (Applies to pools and spas within 50 feet of any lot line.) (§ 17.17.110); A masonry wall or solid fence at least 6 feet high. (Applies to pools and spas less than 30 feet from a lot line, on the side facing that line.) (§ 17.17.110).

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

Newark's code: Yes, up to 4 hens without a permit; more requires an animal fancier's permit. (Applies to any parcel used mainly for residential purposes.) (§ 6.32.010); At least 40 feet from any parcel line or home on the same parcel. (Applies to stalls, barns, corrals, pens, paddocks and exercise areas for livestock.) (§ 6.32.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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