Oroville · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Oroville

Oroville sets fence heights by yard, with lower limits near intersections and in the Downtown Historic Overlay. Low-impact home occupations are allowed as of right, while moderate-impact ones need an administrative permit.

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Key points

Fence heights: Residential fences: at most 42 inches in front setbacks, 7 feet in interior side and rear yards; over 7 feet needs a building permit.
Accessory limits: Detached accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with development review committee approval; detached garages to 700 square feet unless approved.
Home business size: Home occupations: at most 20% of gross floor area or 300 square feet, whichever is less; low-impact ones up to 3 visits a day.

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

Fences and walls

Oroville code What Oroville's code adds
Corner visibility	Up to 42 inches. Applies: In the sight distance area at an intersection, only for open fences no more than 50% solid. Over 30 inches needs a development review permit. § 17.12.020 · code text Fences may be erected up to 42 inches in height within the sight distance area provided that the fence is an open fence that is no more than 50% solid. No more than 30 inches. Applies: In residential districts, within a controlled vision triangle at an intersection. § 17.12.020 · code text Within a controlled area vision triangle \| 30 inches [4]
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 7 feet. Applies: Residential districts: interior side and rear yards and outside required setbacks. 42 inches in front and street side setbacks. Higher with a building permit. § 17.12.020 · code text If a retaining wall is combined with a fence or wall, the combined height may reach a maximum height of 11 feet above grade (7 foot maximum fence with a 4 foot maximum retaining wall) along the streetside and rear property lines without a building permit, as shown in Figure 17.12.020-2. No more than 11 feet combined: a fence up to 7 feet on a retaining wall up to 4 feet. Applies: Along street side and rear property lines. No building permit is needed. § 17.12.020 · code text If a retaining wall is combined with a fence or wall, the combined height may reach a maximum height of 11 feet above grade (7 foot maximum fence with a 4 foot maximum retaining wall) along the streetside and rear property lines without a building permit, as shown in Figure 17.12.020-2. No more than 10 feet high. Applies: In residential districts, only for a decorative arch, trellis or entry feature along a street, no more than 10 feet wide. § 17.12.020 · code text The decorative features shall be limited to 10 feet in width and 10 feet in height.
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches. Applies: In residential districts, within the required front yard setback. § 17.12.020 · code text Within required front yard setback \| 42 inches [1] Up to 7 feet. Applies: Residential districts, outside the required front yard or at the building's front façade, whichever is less. Not in the Downtown Historic Overlay. § 17.12.020 · code text Height can be increased above 42 inches to a maximum height of 7 feet if constructed outside of the required front yard or at the point equal to the building's front façade, whichever is less. No more than 42 inches anywhere in the front yard. Applies: For properties in the Downtown Historic Overlay (DH-O), from the front property line to the building's front façade. § 17.12.020 · code text For properties within the Downtown Historic Overlay (DH-O), the fence height shall not exceed 42 inches anywhere in the front yard.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 7 feet. Applies: In residential districts, within the interior side or rear yard setback. Higher with a building permit. § 17.12.020 · code text Within interior side or rear yard setback \| 7 feet [2]
Permit	Yes, a building permit for any fence or wall over 7 feet. Applies: In residential districts. § 17.12.020 · code text Height can be increased above 7 feet with a building permit. Yes, a development review permit for fences over 30 inches, up to 42 inches. Applies: Within the sight distance area, with planning division review and approval. § 17.12.020 · code text Fences over 30 inches in height, to a maximum height of 42 inches, within the sight distance area shall require administrative review and approval by the planning division through a development review permit No building permit is needed. Applies: For a fence on a retaining wall along street side and rear property lines, up to 11 feet combined. § 17.12.020 · code text the combined height may reach a maximum height of 11 feet above grade (7 foot maximum fence with a 4 foot maximum retaining wall) along the streetside and rear property lines without a building permit

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Oroville code What Oroville's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet. Applies: For detached accessory buildings. Up to 25 feet with development review committee approval. § 17.12.090 · code text Accessory structure \| 15′ No more than 25 feet. Applies: For detached accessory structures over 15 feet, only with development review committee approval. § 17.12.090 · code text Accessory structure over 15 feet in height \| 25′ 1
Size or lot coverage	No more than 700 square feet. Applies: For a detached garage. Larger needs development review committee approval. § 17.12.090 · code text Detached garage \| 700 sq. ft. 3 No more than 25% of the main building's floor area. Applies: For all other detached accessory structures. Larger needs development review committee approval. § 17.12.090 · code text All other accessory structures \| 25% of the floor area of the main structure 3 May cover no more than 50% of the required minimum rear setback for main buildings. Applies: For detached accessory buildings. § 17.12.090 · code text Detached accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 50% of the required minimum rear setback for main buildings.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: When the rear lot line is not on an alley. Main-building side setbacks apply, except 1 building of 120 square feet or less. § 17.12.090 · code text In all other cases, the accessory building shall have a required minimum rear setback of 5 feet. 0 feet: it may be built on the rear lot line. Applies: Only when the rear lot line borders an alley. § 17.12.090 · code text A detached accessory building may be constructed on the rear lot line, provided that the rear lot line abuts an alley.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main building's foundation. § 17.12.090 · code text A detached accessory building shall be set back at least 6 feet from the foundation of the main building.

Running a business from home

Oroville code What Oroville's code adds
Space used	Mainly within 20% of the gross floor area or 300 square feet, whichever is less. Applies: For all home occupations, including storage of materials and products. § 17.16.040 · code text The home occupation, including storage of materials and products, shall be confined principally to 20% of the gross floor area or 300 square feet, whichever is less.
Customer visits	No more than 3 customer or business visits each day. Applies: For a low-impact home occupation. § 17.16.040 · code text No more than 3 customer or other business-related visits shall be conducted on the premises each day.
Employees	No more than 1 employee who does not live in the home. § 17.16.040 · code text It shall not employ more than one person who is not a resident of the dwelling unit.
Permit	No permit needed; allowed by right. Applies: For a low-impact home occupation that meets all the listed requirements. § 17.16.040 · code text A home occupation that meets the following requirements shall be considered a low-impact home occupation and shall be allowed as of right in any dwelling unit: An administrative permit. Applies: For a moderate-impact home occupation, which does not qualify as low-impact. § 17.16.040 · code text Any home occupation that does not qualify as a low-impact home occupation, but that otherwise meets the requirements of this section, shall be considered a moderate-impact home occupation and shall be required to obtain an administrative permit.

RV and boat parking

Oroville code What Oroville's code adds
Living in an RV	No more than 24 hours, except in a trailer court; no cooking in a trailer outside a trailer court. Applies: Applies to trailer houses used for sleeping or living. § 12.44.010 · code text It is unlawful to park or place any trailer house used for sleeping or living purposes within the city for any period of time exceeding 24 hours, except in a trailer court

Solar panels and EV chargers

Oroville code What Oroville's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	No more than 3 feet above the roof at its highest point. Applies: Applies to roof-mounted photovoltaic panel systems. § 17.16.180 · code text Photovoltaic panel systems attached to a roof may not project more than 3 feet above the roof at its highest point. More than 3 feet and up to 12 feet above the roof only with a use permit. Applies: Applies to roof-mounted projections. § 17.16.180 · code text Projections greater than 3 feet but no more than 12 feet are permitted with the approval of a use permit.
Solar permit process	Zoning Clearance. Applies: Tier 1 systems that power only on-site uses, roof- or ground-mounted, in residential districts. § 17.16.180 · code text Tier 1 \| Zoning Clearance \| Zoning Clearance

Tree removal

Oroville code No permit or mitigation when immediate removal is needed to prevent imminent injury or substantial property damage. Exempt: removing an interior live oak, unless it qualifies as a heritage tree.

All 24 Oroville rules on tree removal, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Swimming pools

Oroville code What Oroville's code adds
Equipment and alarms	Pool equipment must be enclosed, covered, or shielded from view of neighbors and public rights-of-way. Applies: Applies to swimming pools and related uses. § 17.12.090 · code text All mechanical equipment associated with swimming pools and related uses shall be enclosed, covered, or shielded so that it is not visible from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from all property lines. § 17.12.090 · code text Swimming pools and related uses shall maintain a 5-foot setback from all property lines.

Other Oroville rules on this

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

Animal keeping (§ 17.16.120)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Oroville?

Residential fences: at most 42 inches in front setbacks, 7 feet in interior side and rear yards; over 7 feet needs a building permit.

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

Detached accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet, or 25 feet with development review committee approval; detached garages to 700 square feet unless approved.

Can I run a business from my home in Oroville?

Home occupations: at most 20% of gross floor area or 300 square feet, whichever is less; low-impact ones up to 3 visits a day.

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

Oroville's code: No more than 24 hours, except in a trailer court; no cooking in a trailer outside a trailer court. (Applies to trailer houses used for sleeping or living.) (§ 12.44.010).

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

Oroville's code: No more than 3 feet above the roof at its highest point. (Applies to roof-mounted photovoltaic panel systems.) (§ 17.16.180); More than 3 feet and up to 12 feet above the roof only with a use permit. (Applies to roof-mounted projections.) (§ 17.16.180).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Oroville?

Oroville's code: Pool equipment must be enclosed, covered, or shielded from view of neighbors and public rights-of-way. (Applies to swimming pools and related uses.) (§ 17.12.090); At least 5 feet from all property lines. (§ 17.12.090).

General information, not legal advice.

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