Pacifica · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Pacifica

Pacifica limits fence heights by yard and near street corners, and limits accessory buildings in the rear setback. With Planning Director approval, a 3-foot fence may be extended to 4 feet with open work fence material.

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Key points

Fence heights: Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.
Rear-setback buildings: Accessory buildings in the rear setback are limited to 12 feet tall, and detached nondwelling ones there to 600 square feet in total.
Home business permit: A home occupation in Pacifica needs a permit from the Zoning Administrator.

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

Fences and walls

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 3 feet within 25 feet of a street corner, measured at the property line. Applies: For corner lots. § 9-4.2503 · code text nor exceed three (3′) feet in height within the required front yard of any dwelling, or, for corner lots, within twenty-five (25′) feet of a street corner measured at the property line.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet. Applies: Within the required front yard of any home. § 9-4.2503 · code text nor exceed three (3′) feet in height within the required front yard of any dwelling, or, for corner lots, within twenty-five (25′) feet of a street corner measured at the property line. Up to 4 feet. Applies: A fence or wall limited to 3 feet may be raised with open work fence material, with Planning Director approval. § 9-4.2503 · code text Fences or walls limited to three (3′) feet in height may be vertically extended up to four (4′) feet with open work fence material, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, subject to approval of the Planning Director, who shall consider the compatibility of the fence design with its site and surrounding uses.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet, unless the law requires otherwise. Applies: In a required side yard behind the required front yard, or in any required rear yard. § 9-4.2503 · code text No fence, hedge, wall, or screen planting of any kind shall be constructed or grown to exceed six (6′) feet in height (unless otherwise required by law) within any required side yard to the rear of the required front yard of any dwelling or within any required rear yard;
Permit	Planning Director approval is needed to raise a 3-foot fence to 4 feet with open work material. Applies: For fences in the required front yard or within 25 feet of a street corner. § 9-4.2503 · code text Commercial fences may not exceed six (6′) feet in height, unless additional height is allowed with a site development permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet. Applies: For an accessory building in the rear setback. § 9-4.2704 · code text Building height shall not exceed twelve (12′) feet;
Size or lot coverage	No more than 600 square feet in total. Applies: For all detached non-living accessory structures together in the rear setback of a lot. § 9-4.2704 · code text The total area covered by detached nondwelling accessory structures located in the rear setback of a lot may not exceed 600 square feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 1½ feet from the side and rear lot lines. Applies: For a detached accessory building in the rear setback, used only for non-living uses like a garage or storage, in residential districts. § 9-4.2704 · code text At least a one-and-one-half (1½) foot setback is provided from the side and/or rear lot line,
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet. Applies: Every part of a detached accessory building, from any building existing or being built on the same lot. § 9-4.2704 · code text All portions of the accessory building shall be located at least five (5′) feet from any building existing or under construction on the same lot;

Running a business from home

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Permit	A permit from the Zoning Administrator. § 9-4.3102 · code text No person shall commence or carry on any home occupation, as set forth in Section 9-4.3101 of this article, within the City without first having procured a permit from the Zoning Administrator.

RV and boat parking

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Where it may be parked	Not on any public beach; on private property only with the owner's express consent. Applies: Applies to motorized boats and boat trailers. § 4-10.205 · code text No person shall store or park any motorized vessel or vessel trailer on any public beach, nor place, leave or store any motorized vessel or vessel trailer on private property without the express consent of the owner.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
EV charger permit	A City building permit is required; electronic filing is allowed; the City approves administratively by issuing the permit. § 8-7.07 · code text A City building permit is required to install an electric vehicle charging station.

Tree removal

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Exemptions	Removal at once is allowed on order of the Director, the Public Safety Director, or a designee. Applies: Applies when the tree's condition needs immediate action for the safety of life, health or property. § 4-12-09 · code text the tree may be removed immediately upon the order of the Director or the Director of the Department of Public Safety or his or her designee. The Director or City staff decides whether a permit is needed. Applies: Applies to dead or dying trees. § 4-12.04 · code text The Director or the Director's appointed City staff will assess the need for a permit related to dead/dying tree(s).
Penalty	A penalty at a damage rate set by the Director, paid into the city's Tree Fund. Applies: Applies when not following tree protection rules damages or destroys a tree. § 4-12.11 · code text the Director may issue a Stop Work Order until a mitigation plan has been reviewed and approved by the Director and shall be subject to a penalty, at a damage rate determined and periodically revised by the Director.
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Applies to protected trees or City trees, including removal on private land or required by a building permit. § 4-12.04 · code text Any person who desires to remove a protected tree or City tree as defined in Chapter 14 of Title 4 this Code shall apply in writing to the Director No separate removal permit; the required tree protection plan covers removal. Applies: Applies to projects needing a discretionary approval, or work within 50 feet of a protected tree, when such a plan is required. § 4-12.11 · code text Such projects are exempt from obtaining a tree removal permit from the Director pursuant to Section 4-12.06.
Replacement trees	At least 2 replacement trees for every healthy tree removed. Applies: Applies to removal under a tree removal permit. § 4-12.04 · code text replacement planting of a minimum of two (2) replacement trees for every otherwise healthy tree removed May have to pay the mature tree's value minus 2 replacement trees, or its full value instead of replanting. Applies: Applies when on-site replacement is not feasible. § 4-12.04 · code text may be required to pay the replacement value of the mature protected tree minus the cost of the two (2) replacement trees or payment of the full replacement value of a mature tree or trees in lieu thereof if on-site replacement is not feasible. The same species as the removed tree, or one of similar mature size. Applies: Applies to replacement trees. § 4-12.04 · code text Replacement tree shall be the same species as the tree removed or a species of similar mature stature, unless otherwise specified by the Director. At least 1.5 inches caliper and at least 15-gallon size, unless the Director approves otherwise. Applies: Applies to replacement tree size. § 4-12.04 · code text Replacement tree shall be a minimum of one and one-half (1.5") inches measured with calipers and at least a 15-gallon tree, unless otherwise approved by the Director. More replacement trees are required. Applies: Applies when the first replacement trees fail to establish. § 4-12.04 · code text in the event the original replacement tree(s) fail to establish, a subsequent replacement tree(s) shall be required.

Other Pacifica rules on this

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

Pools and low decks in required yards (§ 9-4.2708)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pacifica?

Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

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

Accessory buildings in the rear setback are limited to 12 feet tall, and detached nondwelling ones there to 600 square feet in total.

Can I run a business from my home in Pacifica?

A home occupation in Pacifica needs a permit from the Zoning Administrator.

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

Pacifica's code: Not on any public beach; on private property only with the owner's express consent. (Applies to motorized boats and boat trailers.) (§ 4-10.205).

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

Pacifica's code: A City building permit is required; electronic filing is allowed; the City approves administratively by issuing the permit. (§ 8-7.07).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Pacifica?

Pacifica's code: Removal at once is allowed on order of the Director, the Public Safety Director, or a designee. (Applies when the tree's condition needs immediate action for the safety of life, health or property.) (§ 4-12-09); The Director or City staff decides whether a permit is needed. (Applies to dead or dying trees.) (§ 4-12.04).

General information, not legal advice.

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