Patterson · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Patterson

Patterson sets setbacks for each type of accessory structure and limits primary and accessory structures together to 60 percent of the lot. Home businesses need a home occupation use permit and a city business license, and many trades and offices are not allowed.

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Key points

Fences: Patterson has a chapter on fences, walls and screening (Chapter 18.70).
Shed height: Closed-roof structures such as sheds are limited to 12 feet and 1 story; 12 to 16 feet needs a conditional use permit.
Home business size: A home occupation may use at most 1 room or 10 percent of the main building's floor area, whichever is greater; no on-site customers.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Patterson code What Patterson's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet and 1 story. Applies: For closed-roof structures like sheds, pool houses and gazebos. 12 to 16 feet needs a conditional use permit. § 18.62.040 · code text 12 ft (one story)
Size or lot coverage	Main and accessory buildings together may cover no more than 60% of the lot. § 18.62.040 · code text Maximum aggregate lot coverage by primary and accessory structures is not to exceed sixty percent of the lot.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from interior side and rear lines, and 5 feet from an alley. Applies: For closed-roof structures such as sheds, pool houses and gazebos. § 18.62.040 · code text 3 ft; increase to 5 ft for High Density Residential \| 3 ft rear 5 ft alley At least 5 feet. Applies: For closed-roof structures in High Density Residential areas. § 18.62.040 · code text 3 ft; increase to 5 ft for High Density Residential At least 5 feet from the interior side line and 10 feet from the rear or alley. Applies: For open attached structures. § 18.62.040 · code text 5 ft \| 10 ft At least 3 feet from interior side and rear lines. Applies: For open-roof structures. § 18.62.040 · code text 3 ft \| 3 ft At least 3 feet from the interior side line and 5 feet from the rear line. Applies: For pools and spas. § 18.62.040 · code text 3 ft \| 5 ft No minimum setback. Applies: For detached decks. § 18.62.040 · code text No minimum \| No minimum At least 5 feet from interior side and rear lines. Applies: For play equipment. § 18.62.040 · code text 5 ft \| 5 ft At least 5 feet from interior side and rear lines. Applies: For carports. § 18.62.040 · code text 5 ft \| 5 ft
Distance from the house	No minimum distance. Applies: For detached decks. § 18.62.040 · code text No minimum

Running a business from home

Patterson code What Patterson's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room or 10% of the main building's floor area, whichever is greater. § 18.64.030 · code text Not more than one room or ten percent of the floor area of the main building, whichever is greater, shall be used for the home occupation.
Customer visits	No business customers on site. Applies: The general rule, unless a listed exception applies. § 18.64.030 · code text Business customers are not allowed on site unless otherwise excepted by this chapter. No more than 3 students at one time. Applies: For swimming lessons, music lessons and similar instruction. § 18.64.030 · code text Swimming lessons, music lessons, and other similar instructions, when given to no more than three students at one time.
Employees	No non-resident employees at the home. Off-site employees or partners are allowed if they do not work or report there. § 18.64.030 · code text Off-site employees or partners are permitted so long as they do not work or report for work at the subject property.
Permit	A home occupation use permit. Applies: For all home-based businesses. § 18.16.060 · code text A home occupation use permit shall be required for all home-based businesses. A city business license. Applies: Required right after the home occupation approval takes effect. § 18.16.060 · code text Immediately following the effective date of an approved home occupation, the applicant shall obtain a city business license.
Businesses not allowed	Repair or reconditioning of motorized vehicles or equipment on site; manufacturing, including cabinet shops and similar uses; repair or reconditioning of major household appliances; repair or reconditioning of boats or recreational vehicles; medical, dental and chiropractic clinics and offices and counseling services; furniture repair, restoration, and upholstery; beauty/barber shops, including nail and skin care salons; real estate offices; weapons and ammunition sales and service; welding shops; animal clinics and pet grooming shops; massage establishments § 18.64.040 · code text The following uses are expressly prohibited as home occupations:

RV and boat parking

Patterson code What Patterson's code adds
Size limit	Oversized means over 18 feet long, 80 inches wide or 82 inches high, or rated 10,000 pounds or more. Applies: Oversized vehicles may not park on any public street, highway or alley at any time; size includes any trailer or camper. § 10.22.010 · code text For the purpose of this chapter, the term "oversized vehicle" means any vehicle which has a manufacturer's gross weight rating of ten thousand pounds or more, or any vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or dolly or bed mounted camper the dimensions of which exceed eighteen feet in length, eighty inches in width or eighty-two inches in height.
Parking on the street	Up to 24 hours in a row. Applies: Residents with a city permit, parked in front of their home to load or unload before and after a trip. § 10.22.020 · code text Any resident with a permit issued by the city whose oversized noncommercial vehicle or trailer is parked for a period not to exceed twenty-four consecutive hours in front of his or her residence for the purpose of loading or unloading before and after a trip. Up to 7 days. Applies: A city permit for a non-resident guest of a city resident, with the vehicle registered outside the city. § 10.22.020 · code text A permit not to exceed seven days will be issued if:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Patterson code What Patterson's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. Applies: Electric vehicle charging stations; the station may not be energized or used until the city approves it. § 15.60.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Solar permit process	Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are allowed as resources permit. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.59.030 · code text The expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply with the applicable requirements contained in this title, Buildings and Construction, and all of the following: The application is approved and all permits issued once it is complete and meets all state building codes. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.59.030 · code text Upon confirmation, by the department that the application and supporting documentation are complete and meet all requirements of the California Building Standards Codes, the department shall approve the application and issue all required permits.

Pets, chickens and bees

Patterson code What Patterson's code adds
Chickens	Yes; no more than 6 adult chickens per parcel. Applies: LR low density residential, DR downtown residential and ER estate residential zones. § 7.60.030 · code text No more than six adult chickens are allowed per parcel; provided, that if a person has more than six adult poultry, the keeping of additional chickens shall require a conditional use permit consistent with the provision in Chapter 18.18.
Coop setback	At least 15 feet. Applies: From any property line. § 7.60.030 · code text Be located at least fifteen feet from any property line; At least 10 feet. Applies: From any building people live in. § 7.60.030 · code text Be located at least ten feet from any inhabitable building;
Permit	A conditional use permit is required for more chickens. Applies: More than 6 adult poultry. § 7.60.030 · code text if a person has more than six adult poultry, the keeping of additional chickens shall require a conditional use permit consistent with the provision in Chapter 18.18. A permit from the city manager is required first. Applies: Keeping an animal not otherwise allowed as a household pet. § 7.58.020 · code text Any animal for which a permit has first been obtained from the city manager pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Pet limit	No more than 3 cats 6 weeks old or older. § 7.58.020 · code text not to exceed three cats six weeks of age or older. No more than 5 birds in total at any time. Applies: Kept caged inside a dwelling at all times. § 7.58.020 · code text Any bird, any total number not to exceed five at any one time, continuously kept caged and within the confines of a dwelling house. No more than 10 mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or squirrels in total at any time. Applies: Caged inside a dwelling, or at least 40 feet from any home's doors or windows, on the rear 1/3 of the lot. § 7.58.020 · code text Any mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster or squirrel in a total number not to exceed ten at any one time, continuously kept caged and within the confines of a dwelling house, or only at a distance of forty feet or more from the window or door of any residence or other building used for human habitation, and only on the rear of one-third of the lot.

Other Patterson rules on this

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

Fences, walls and screening (Ch. 18.70)
Draining a pool to the sewer (§ 13.02.590)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Patterson?

Patterson has a chapter on fences, walls and screening (Chapter 18.70). Patterson also has a related rule: Fences, walls and screening (Ch. 18.70).

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

Closed-roof structures such as sheds are limited to 12 feet and 1 story; 12 to 16 feet needs a conditional use permit.

Can I run a business from my home in Patterson?

A home occupation may use at most 1 room or 10 percent of the main building's floor area, whichever is greater; no on-site customers.

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

Patterson's code: Oversized means over 18 feet long, 80 inches wide or 82 inches high, or rated 10,000 pounds or more. (Oversized vehicles may not park on any public street, highway or alley at any time; size includes any trailer or camper.) (§ 10.22.010); Up to 24 hours in a row. (Residents with a city permit, parked in front of their home to load or unload before and after a trip.) (§ 10.22.020).

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

Patterson's code: The building official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. (Electric vehicle charging stations; the station may not be energized or used until the city approves it.) (§ 15.60.040); Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are allowed as resources permit. (Small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.59.030).

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

Patterson's code: Yes; no more than 6 adult chickens per parcel. (LR low density residential, DR downtown residential and ER estate residential zones.) (§ 7.60.030); At least 15 feet. (From any property line.) (§ 7.60.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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