Placer County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Placer County

In unincorporated Placer County, the county code limits combined retaining walls and fences in side and rear yards and sets limits on home occupations. These county rules apply only in unincorporated areas, and auto repair or painting is not allowed as a home occupation.

Ask about building on your lot in Placer County See coverage

Key points

Retaining wall fences: Side or rear yards, outside front and street-side setbacks: retaining wall and fence combined at most 8 feet, or 10 if approved.
Home businesses: Home occupations on one site: at most 3 patrons at a time and 15 per day; 1 non-resident employee at a single-family home.

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

Placer County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Placer County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

Placer County code What Placer County's code adds
Side and rear yard height	Up to 8 feet high, measured from the lowest finished grade. Applies: A retaining wall and fence together in a side or rear yard, not in a required front or street-side setback. § 17.54.020 · code text The height of a retaining wall and fence may be up to eight feet in height, as measured from the lowest finished grade, when such a fence and retaining wall would be located in a side or rear yard area, and not within any required front or street-side setback. Up to 10 feet high. Applies: A retaining wall and fence together in any side or rear yard, if approved as part of the project design. § 17.54.020 · code text The height of a retaining wall and fence on any side or rear yard area may be up to 10 feet in height if approved by the granting authority as part of the project design.

Running a business from home

Placer County code What Placer County's code adds
Space used	No more than 5,000 square feet of growing area. Applies: Plant nursery home businesses. The growing area must not be easily seen from the street. § 17.56.120 · code text The growing area must not exceed 5,000 square feet.
Customer visits	No more than 3 patrons at the site at one time. Applies: All home businesses on one site combined. Occasional garage or yard sales are the exception. § 17.56.120 · code text No home occupation or combination of home occupations on a single site shall involve more than three patrons visiting the site at any one time and a maximum of 15 patrons per day except for occasional garage/yard sales. No more than 15 patrons per day. Applies: All home businesses on one site combined. Occasional garage or yard sales are the exception. § 17.56.120 · code text No home occupation or combination of home occupations on a single site shall involve more than three patrons visiting the site at any one time and a maximum of 15 patrons per day except for occasional garage/yard sales.
Employees	Up to 1 employee besides the people who live in the home. Applies: Home businesses run from a single-family detached home. § 17.56.120 · code text One employee other than the actual residents of the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation when operated from a single-family detached home. Up to 2 employees besides the residents. Applies: Home businesses on at least 4.6 acres. § 17.56.120 · code text There shall be no other individuals employed at the residence or reporting on-site, unless the home occupation is located on at least 4.6 acres, in which case a maximum of two such employees may be permitted.
Permit	A zoning clearance or other land use permit approving a home occupation business license is required. § 17.56.120 · code text A zoning clearance or other land use permit granting approval of a home occupation business license shall be approved only if the proposed home occupation satisfies each of the following criteria:
Businesses not allowed	commercial retail sales, except as allowed pursuant to subsection (C)(8); auto repair or painting; any outdoor business activity not otherwise consistent with this chapter § 17.56.120 · code text For guidance, the following and similar uses are not allowed as home occupations: commercial retail sales (except as allowed pursuant to subsection (C)(8)); auto repair or painting; any outdoor business activity not otherwise consistent with this chapter.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Placer County code What Placer County's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited administrative permit review. Applies: Electric vehicle charging stations. § 15.04.160 · code text the building official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: EV charging station permit applications. § 15.04.160 · code text the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this section and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures
Solar height and setbacks	At least 7.5 feet. Applies: Side or rear setback for ground-mounted solar 6 feet tall or less on residential parcels, unless the zone allows less. § 17.56.350 · code text Systems which are six feet tall or less: seven and one-half feet At least 10 feet. Applies: Side or rear setback for ground-mounted solar 8 feet tall or less on residential parcels, unless the zone allows less. § 17.56.350 · code text Systems which are eight feet tall or less: Ten feet At least 15 feet. Applies: Side or rear setback for ground-mounted solar 10 feet tall or less on residential parcels, unless the zone allows less. § 17.56.350 · code text Systems which are 10 feet tall or less: 15 feet At least 15 feet. Applies: Side or rear setback for ground-mounted solar over 10 and under 15 feet tall on residential parcels. § 17.56.350 · code text Systems which are more than 10 feet tall and less than 15 feet tall: 15 feet
Solar permit process	The expedited permit covers systems up to 10 kilowatts AC nameplate or 30 kilowatts thermal. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.04.150 · code text A solar energy system that is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal. Electronic submittal by email or internet; only one inspection. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar permit applicants. § 15.04.150 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email or the Internet shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	Same day over the counter, or 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar, once the application is complete. § 15.04.150 · code text Once deemed complete, the building services division shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications.

Tree removal

Placer County code What Placer County's code adds
Exemptions	No tree permit needed for removal approved with a tentative subdivision map. Applies: Area east of Sierra Summit; not if the subdivision involves a land use conversion. § 12.20.040 · code text Such permit shall be unnecessary for the removal of trees proposed to be removed as approved in connection with the approval by the agency of a tentative map under the subdivision ordinance, except where such subdivision involves a land use conversion No tree permit needed for removal allowed by a grading permit. Applies: Area east of Sierra Summit. § 12.20.040 · code text or for the removal of trees as permitted under a permit issued pursuant to the grading ordinance Single-family homes do not post the tree-protection deposit required for discretionary projects. Applies: Deposit for discretionary projects during construction. § 19.50.080 · code text For discretionary projects, (single-family residences exempt) a ten thousand dollar ($10,000.00) deposit
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree cutting permit is required. Applies: East of Sierra Summit: cutting, moving, removing, killing or materially damaging any live tree 6 inches DBH or more. § 12.20.040 · code text No person shall cut down, move, remove, kill, or materially damage any live tree six inches dbh or over, or attach any appurtenance to a tree, without first having obtained a tree cutting permit Yes, a minor tree permit is required; apply at least 10 days before. Applies: Removing a protected tree or working in its protected zone outside a discretionary project, such as single-family lots. § 19.50.070 · code text Any person desiring to conduct any development activity or remove one or more protected trees, where such development activity or removal is not associated with a discretionary project, shall make application to the planning services division for a minor tree permit
Protected trees	Any live tree 6 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH). Applies: Area east of Sierra Summit. § 12.20.040 · code text No person shall cut down, move, remove, kill, or materially damage any live tree six inches dbh or over, or attach any appurtenance to a tree, without first having obtained a tree cutting permit

Pets, chickens and bees

Placer County code What Placer County's code adds
Bees	No more than 2 bee colonies. Applies: Residential Single-Family (RS) zone. § 6.32.030 · code text no more than two colonies may be kept in the Residential Single-Family RS zone district No more than 5 colonies per acre, and at most 100 hives in one location. Applies: RA, RF, RES, AE, F, FOR, O and TPZ-AG zones. § 6.32.030 · code text All other zone districts (RA, RF, RES, AE, F, FOR, O, TPZ,-AG) may keep no more than five colonies per acre, not to exceed a total of 100 hives in one location. Hives at least 25 feet from neighboring property lines, unless behind a 6-foot flyway barrier or over 12 feet up. Applies: Non-commercial apiaries. § 6.32.030 · code text Non-commercial apiaries must be set back 25 feet from neighboring property boundaries unless:
Permit	Yearly apiary registration with the commissioner. Applies: All beekeepers. § 6.32.030 · code text All beekeepers must register with the commissioner as required under the Apiary Protection Act.

Other Placer County rules on this

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

SB 9 lot splits (§ 16.20.370)
Draining a swimming pool (§ 13.12.110)
Pool and spa barriers at homes (§ 15.04.320)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Placer County?

Side or rear yards, outside front and street-side setbacks: retaining wall and fence combined at most 8 feet, or 10 if approved.

Can I run a business from my home in Placer County?

Home occupations on one site: at most 3 patrons at a time and 15 per day; 1 non-resident employee at a single-family home.

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

Placer County's code: Expedited administrative permit review. (Electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.04.160); Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (EV charging station permit applications.) (§ 15.04.160).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Placer County?

Placer County's code: No tree permit needed for removal approved with a tentative subdivision map. (Area east of Sierra Summit; not if the subdivision involves a land use conversion.) (§ 12.20.040); No tree permit needed for removal allowed by a grading permit. (Area east of Sierra Summit.) (§ 12.20.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Placer County?

Placer County's code: No more than 2 bee colonies. (Residential Single-Family (RS) zone.) (§ 6.32.030); No more than 5 colonies per acre, and at most 100 hives in one location. (RA, RF, RES, AE, F, FOR, O and TPZ-AG zones.) (§ 6.32.030).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Placer County property

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

Ask your question

More on Placer County

Placer County Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Placer County

Buying & selling in Placer County

Placer County overview