Pinole · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Pinole

Pinole sets height, setback and yard-coverage limits for each type of accessory structure; those under 120 square feet and under 8 feet tall are exempt from planning approval only. Home occupations need a city business license, and their permits renew each year.

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Key points

Fences: Pinole has a chapter on fences, walls and screening (Chapter 17.42).
Accessory buildings: Enclosed solid-roof accessory buildings: at most 15 feet tall, 5 feet from side and rear lines, at most 50% of required yard area.
Home business size: A home occupation may use 1 room or 25% of the dwelling, whichever is greater, with up to 3 customer visits per day.

Each rule below is marked Pinole 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

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Enclosed buildings with a solid roof. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Enclosed Solid Roof Building \| Not permitted \| 5 ft. (1) \| 5 ft.(1), (2) \| 6 ft. \| 0 ft. (1),(3) \| 50% required yard area \| 15 ft. \| 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater \| No more than 16 feet high. Applies: Landscape features. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Landscape Features \| No minimum \| 3 ft. \| 10 ft. \| 6 ft. \| No minimum \| Not applicable \| 16 ft. \| 1 or 1 per 400 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater \| No more than 5 feet high. Applies: Pools and spas. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Pools/spas \| Not permitted \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. (4) \| 50% required yard area \| 5 ft. \| 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater \|
Size or lot coverage	No more than 50% of the required yard area in total. Applies: Enclosed buildings with a solid roof. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Enclosed Solid Roof Building \| Not permitted \| 5 ft. (1) \| 5 ft.(1), (2) \| 6 ft. \| 0 ft. (1),(3) \| 50% required yard area \| 15 ft. \| 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater \| No more than 50% of the required yard area in total. Applies: Pools and spas. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Pools/spas \| Not permitted \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. (4) \| 50% required yard area \| 5 ft. \| 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater \|
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Enclosed buildings with a solid roof, standard rule. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Enclosed Solid Roof Building \| Not permitted \| 5 ft. (1) \| 5 ft.(1), (2) \| 6 ft. \| 0 ft. (1),(3) \| 50% required yard area \| 15 ft. \| 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater \| At least 3 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Exempt enclosed or solid-roofed accessory structures under 120 square feet and under 8 feet high. § 17.30.030 · code text b. In order to maintain necessary fire breaks, all combustible accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from side and rear property lines with a minimum six (6)-foot separation between any structures. At least 3 feet from all interior property lines. Applies: Exempt landscape features under 120 square feet and under 8 feet high. § 17.30.030 · code text a. In order to maintain necessary fire breaks, combustible landscape features shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from all interior property lines with a minimum six (6)-foot separation between any structures. At least 5 feet, measured from the water's edge. Applies: Pools and spas. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Pools/spas \| Not permitted \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. (4) \| 50% required yard area \| 5 ft. \| 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater \| At least 3 feet from all side and rear property lines. Applies: Pool and spa equipment. § 17.30.040 · code text (4) Measurement from water's edge. Related equipment shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from all side and rear property lines.
No permit needed up to	Under 120 square feet. Applies: Enclosed or solid-roofed structures under 8 feet high, not in a required front yard. Exempt from planning approval only; a building permit may be needed. § 17.30.030 · code text Enclosed and/or solid-roofed accessory structures that are less than one hundred and twenty (120) square feet in size with no portion of the structure equal to or greater than eight (8) feet in height and subject to compliance with the following requirements. Under 120 square feet. Applies: Landscape features under 8 feet high. Exempt from planning approval only; a building permit may still be needed. § 17.30.030 · code text Landscape features that are less than one hundred and twenty (120) square feet in size with no portion of the feature equal to or greater than eight (8) feet in height and subject to compliance with the following requirement.
Distance from the house	No separation is required. Applies: Attached accessory buildings only, which may share a wall with the main building. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Enclosed Solid Roof Building \| Not permitted \| 5 ft. (1) \| 5 ft.(1), (2) \| 6 ft. \| 0 ft. (1),(3) \| 50% required yard area \| 15 ft. \| 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater \| At least 6 feet from the main building. Applies: Accessory buildings no more than 15 feet high that sit within 5 feet of the side or rear line. § 17.30.040 · code text (1) Accessory buildings not exceeding fifteen (15) feet in height at the highest point may be built within five (5) feet to the side and/or rear property line, provided that the accessory structure is not less than six (6) feet in distance from the primary building on the parcel. At least 5 feet, measured from the water's edge. Applies: Pools and spas. § 17.30.040 · code text \| Pools/spas \| Not permitted \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft.(4) \| 5 ft. \| 5 ft. (4) \| 50% required yard area \| 5 ft. \| 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater \|

Running a business from home

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room or 25% of the home's floor area, whichever is greater. Applies: The business must stay inside a legal structure. § 17.64.050 · code text The home occupation shall be confined completely within a legal structure and shall not occupy more than one (1) room, or the equivalent of twenty-five percent (25%) of the floor area of a dwelling, whichever is greater No more than 200 square feet. Applies: Use of a permitted accessory building. § 17.64.050 · code text or two hundred (200) square feet of a permitted accessory building.
Customer visits	No more than 3 visits per day from customers, clients, patients, students or others served. § 17.64.050 · code text Customer calling on the premises is limited to three (3) visits from customers, patients, clients, students or other person served by the home occupation per day. No customers may visit. Applies: A second home business at the same home. Only 1 home business may have customer visits. § 17.64.050 · code text Otherwise, there is a limit of one (1) additional home occupation for the residence where no customers may visit the business.
Employees	No more than 2 full-time residents of the home. Applies: Employees must live in the home. § 17.64.050 · code text Employment shall be restricted to a maximum of two (2) full-time dwelling unit residents 1 non-resident employee may be allowed. Applies: When the approving authority allows it after making the required findings. § 17.64.050 · code text except where the approving authority allows one (1) non-resident employee, upon the findings listed below.
Permit	A city business license and plan check are required. Home occupation permits must be renewed each year. § 17.64.030 · code text A business license from the city is required for any home occupation consistent with the requirements of this municipal code.
Businesses not allowed	Taxicab, limousine, or pedicab service on-call and available for service; vehicle dispatch from the residence § 17.64.050 · code text Taxicab, limousine, or pedicab service shall not be on-call and available for service. No vehicle shall be dispatched from the residence.

Lot splits under SB 9

Pinole code Each new parcel must be between 40% and 60% of the original parcel size. Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet.

All 15 Pinole rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

RV and boat parking

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
Size limit	Oversized: over 7.5 feet high or wide, over 22 feet long with trailer, or over 10,000 pounds rated weight. Applies: An oversized vehicle may not park more than 3 hours at any location in the city. § 10.78.010 · code text Vehicle (including load length, if any) exceeds 22 feet (in combination with any attached trailers or other vehicles);
Parking on the street	At most 3 hours. Applies: Oversized vehicles anywhere in the city; more time while loading, unloading or serving a property on that block. § 10.78.010 · code text no person shall park an oversized vehicle for more than three (3) hours at any location within city limits except: Extra time needed to finish the work, beyond the 3 hours. Applies: Loading or unloading property. § 10.78.010 · code text While loading or unloading property, and for a time in addition to the three (3) hour period, which is necessary to complete the work;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. Applies: The charger may not be energized until permit, final inspection, and city and utility approval. § 15.58.050 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Electronic submittal is allowed. § 15.58.050 · code text The Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process	Expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review; permit issued when the checklist and standard plan are met. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the city's checklist and standard plan. § 15.56.060 · code text The Building Division shall implement the following administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite the approval of small residential rooftop solar energy system applications.
Review time	Within 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the city's checklist and standard plan. § 15.56.060 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the City's checklist and standard plan, the Building Division shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit or authorization within three (3) business days.

Tree removal

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree removal permit from the Community Development Director. Applies: Protected trees on undeveloped or vacant land, or land under development needing a building permit. § 17.96.040 · code text Any person desiring to cut down, destroy or remove one (1) or more protected trees on any undeveloped, vacant property or land under development that requires a building permit in the city, shall file an application for a tree removal permit application with the Community Development Director. File the application at least 10 days before removal. Applies: Protected tree removal not involving development. § 17.96.040 · code text If the protected tree removal does not involve development, the application shall be filed not less than ten (10) days prior to the time desired for the physical removal of the protected tree. Yes; decided with the development approval after a public hearing, or by the Planning Commission after a building permit. Applies: Protected trees removed as part of a development. § 17.96.060 · code text The protected tree(s) removal permit applications for protected trees sought to be removed for development shall be considered by the body given the authority to render the initial decision of said discretionary development approval. Yes, a Director's permit; granted for diseased, dangerous or damaging trees that milder measures cannot fix. Applies: Removal due to tree health; the permit is void if not used within 1 year. § 17.96.050 · code text The Community Development Director shall grant the permit if he or she makes either of the following findings:
Replacement trees	Plant extra trees, beyond required landscaping, equal in value to the protected trees removed. Applies: Removal approved with a development; the reviewing body may require this or an in-lieu fee. § 17.96.060 · code text Plant trees as part of the development over and above the landscaping that would otherwise be required at a value equal to the value of the protected tree(s) that will be removed; Pay an in-lieu fee equal to the value of the protected trees removed. Applies: Removal approved with a development; the reviewing body may require this or replacement planting. § 17.96.060 · code text Pay an in-lieu fee to the city in an amount equal to the value of the protected tree(s) that will be removed. Replace it with a tree of the same species, as close in size as reasonably possible. Applies: A protected tree required to remain dies during the 3-year guarantee period. § 17.96.080 · code text The guarantee shall include the applicant's agreement to replace any protected tree, which is to be saved, but that dies during the guarantee period with a tree of the same species as close in size as is reasonably possible

Other Pinole rules on this

Pinole'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. 17.42)
Keeping bees and other animals at home (§ 6.04.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pinole?

Pinole has a chapter on fences, walls and screening (Chapter 17.42). Pinole also has a related rule: Fences, walls and screening (Ch. 17.42).

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

Enclosed solid-roof accessory buildings: at most 15 feet tall, 5 feet from side and rear lines, at most 50% of required yard area.

Can I run a business from my home in Pinole?

A home occupation may use 1 room or 25% of the dwelling, whichever is greater, with up to 3 customer visits per day.

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

Pinole's code: Oversized: over 7.5 feet high or wide, over 22 feet long with trailer, or over 10,000 pounds rated weight. (An oversized vehicle may not park more than 3 hours at any location in the city.) (§ 10.78.010); At most 3 hours. (Oversized vehicles anywhere in the city; more time while loading, unloading or serving a property on that block.) (§ 10.78.010).

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

Pinole's code: The Building Official approves an application meeting the city checklist and issues all needed permits. (The charger may not be energized until permit, final inspection, and city and utility approval.) (§ 15.58.050); Electronic submittal is allowed. (§ 15.58.050).

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

Pinole's code: Yes, a tree removal permit from the Community Development Director. (Protected trees on undeveloped or vacant land, or land under development needing a building permit.) (§ 17.96.040); File the application at least 10 days before removal. (Protected tree removal not involving development.) (§ 17.96.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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