Skip to content

Oakland · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Oakland

Oakland sets its own fence heights for residential zones. Massage therapists working from home have their own rules; other home businesses fall under Chapter 17.112.

Key points

  • Fence height: Oakland limits residential fences to 42 inches in front and corner street side yards and 8 ft in most other yards.
  • Home massage: City rule: a massage therapist working from home needs a massage therapist permit and may have no one else working there.

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

Fences and walls

Oakland code What Oakland's code adds
Front yard height
  • Fences can be at most 42 inches tall.
    Applies: Minimum front yards and corner street side yards in residential areas; 6 feet with small project design review or in some rear street side yards.
    § 17.108.140 · code text
    In any minimum front yard, or any minimum side yard on the street side of a corner lot: forty-two (42) inches, except that six (6) feet is permitted in the following cases:
  • Fences can be up to 6 feet tall instead of 42 inches.
    Applies: Corner street side yards within the greater of 35 feet from the rear lot line or main building's rear; or with small project design review.
    § 17.108.140 · code text
    In any minimum front yard, or any minimum side yard on the street side of a corner lot: forty-two (42) inches, except that six (6) feet is permitted in the following cases:
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences can be at most 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Minimum rear yard within 10 feet of a street line next to the lot, in residential zones or on residential properties.
    § 17.108.140 · code text
    In any minimum rear yard if within ten (10) feet of a street line that abuts the lot: six (6) feet.
  • Fences can be at most 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Any other minimum yard or court in residential zones or on residential properties.
    § 17.108.140 · code text
    In any other minimum yard or court: eight (8) feet;

Running a business from home

Oakland code What Oakland's code adds
Employees
  • No one other than the massage therapist can be employed.
    Applies: Massage therapists working alone from their own home; other home businesses follow the general home occupation rules.
    § 5.36.070 · code text
    No person other than the massage therapist shall be employed in the conduct of the home occupation solo practitioner.
Permit
  • A massage therapist permit is required.
    Applies: Massage therapists working alone from home, before giving massages at home or on out-calls; other home businesses follow the general rules.
    § 5.36.070 · code text
    All home occupation solo practitioners must obtain a massage therapist permit before providing any massage services within his or her own residence or on an out-call massage basis.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Oakland code What Oakland's code adds
Review time
  • Same day for over-the-counter applications; 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications.
    Applies: Applies to complete small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.
    § 15.33.090 · code text
    The Bureau of Building shall approve the application and issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit on the same day for over-the-counter applications (or within one to three business days for electronic applications) of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Solar permit process
  • You may apply electronically; electronic signatures are accepted.
    Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.
    § 15.33.080 · code text
    Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.

Swimming pools

Oakland code What Oakland's code adds
Pool barrier
  • The fence must stop anyone, including small children, from crawling or passing through.
    Applies: Applies to the fence, except at gates.
    § 8.36.010 · code text
    Said fence shall be constructed so as to prevent any person, including small children, from crawling or passing through the same except at gates therein
  • Part of the enclosure may be a house or other permanent structure connected to the fence.
    Applies: An alternative enclosure using a dwelling or other permanent structure.
    § 8.36.010 · code text
    or is enclosed in part by such fence, and in part by a dwelling house or other permanent structure to which such fence is connected to form a complete enclosure at least four feet in height.
  • The Building Inspector may approve another enclosure method that adequately protects small children.
    Applies: Requires a written application with satisfactory plans, pictures or other descriptions.
    § 8.36.010 · code text
    the Building Inspector of the city is authorized upon written application, accompanied by plans, pictures or other descriptive materials satisfactory the Building Inspector, to approve any other method or means of fencing or enclosing a swimming pool that will afford adequate protection to small children.
Barrier height
  • At least 4 feet high.
    Applies: Applies to a fence completely surrounding the pool or the lot.
    § 8.36.010 · code text
    Every person in possession of land upon which is situated a swimming pool shall at all times maintain on the lot or premises upon which such pool is located and completely surrounding such pool, lot or premises, a fence not less than four feet in height
Gates
  • Gates need a self-closing or self-latching device and must stay securely closed when the pool is not in use.
    Applies: Applies to gates in the pool enclosure.
    § 8.36.010 · code text
    which gates shall be equipped with a self-closing or self-latching device designed to keep, and capable of keeping, such gate securely closed at all times when the swimming pool is not in use.

Pets, chickens and bees

Oakland code What Oakland's code adds
Chickens
  • Yes, if the enclosure is more than 20 feet from any home, church or school; no roosters.
    Applies: Not on property with an apartment house or hotel, or in a business district.
    § 6.04.320 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person to keep any ducks, geese, chickens or other fowls in any enclosure in the City unless the exterior boundaries of said enclosures are more than twenty (20) feet from any dwelling, church or school.
  • No.
    Applies: Applies to property with an apartment house or hotel, or in a business district.
    § 6.04.290 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person to raise, or keep, live chickens, ducks, geese or other fowl in any enclosure or yard on property occupied by an apartment house or hotel or in a business district in the City, except when such fowl or animals are kept within a bona fide produce market, commission house or store for purposes of trade and, while so kept, are confined in small coops, boxes or cages.
Coop setback
  • More than 20 feet from any home, church or school.
    Applies: Applies to enclosures with ducks, geese, chickens or other fowl.
    § 6.04.320 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person to keep any ducks, geese, chickens or other fowls in any enclosure in the City unless the exterior boundaries of said enclosures are more than twenty (20) feet from any dwelling, church or school.
Pet limit
  • No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old, unless the owner shows adequate space and no nuisance.
    Applies: Per premises.
    § 6.04.400 · code text
    A. Except as provided in Subsection (B) below, it is unlawful for any person to keep on any one (1) premises more than three (3) dogs more than four (4) months old, unless the owner can demonstrate that the premises provides adequate space and the keeping of such dogs does not constitute a nuisance or pose a threat to the health or safety of the dogs.

Other Oakland rules on this

Oakland'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 Oakland?

Oakland limits residential fences to 42 inches in front and corner street side yards and 8 ft in most other yards.

Can I run a business from my home in Oakland?

City rule: a massage therapist working from home needs a massage therapist permit and may have no one else working there.

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

Oakland's code: Same day for over-the-counter applications; 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. (Applies to complete small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.33.090); You may apply electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants.) (§ 15.33.080).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Oakland?

Oakland's code: The fence must stop anyone, including small children, from crawling or passing through. (Applies to the fence, except at gates.) (§ 8.36.010); Part of the enclosure may be a house or other permanent structure connected to the fence. (An alternative enclosure using a dwelling or other permanent structure.) (§ 8.36.010).

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

Oakland's code: Yes, if the enclosure is more than 20 feet from any home, church or school; no roosters. (Not on property with an apartment house or hotel, or in a business district.) (§ 6.04.320); No. (Applies to property with an apartment house or hotel, or in a business district.) (§ 6.04.290).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Oakland property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Oakland