Pleasant Hill · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill limits accessory structures over 4 feet tall to 500 square feet each and 600 in total in most residential districts, with more in R-15 and R-20. Loud power equipment, on-premises vehicle repair, animal raising and commercial cannabis are not allowed as home occupations.

Ask about building on your lot in Pleasant Hill See coverage

Key points

Right-of-way permit: A hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way needs a permit, with stated exceptions.
Accessory height: In residential zones, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet with a flat roof and 14 feet with a pitched roof.
Home businesses: A home occupation needs a Zoning Administrator permit and may have 1 nonresident employee or volunteer on site at a time.

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

Fences and walls

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Permit	Yes. A permit is required. Applies: Hedges, shrubs, plants, fences or similar structures in a right-of-way, except where the code allows otherwise. § 11.05.150 · code text No person may plant or maintain a hedge, shrub or other planting, or fence or similar structure, except as provided in PHMC § 11.05.160, in a right-of-way without a permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures with a flat roof in residential zones. § 18.15.060 · code text The height of an accessory structure shall not exceed 12 feet for a flat roof and 14 feet for a pitched roof: No more than 14 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures with a pitched roof in residential zones. § 18.15.060 · code text The height of an accessory structure shall not exceed 12 feet for a flat roof and 14 feet for a pitched roof: No more than 3 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures in a required front or corner side setback. Arbors are allowed under separate rules. § 18.15.060 · code text An accessory structure in a required front or corner side setback shall not exceed three feet in height except that arbors are allowed within the required front or corner side setback, subject to the following standards: No more than 8 feet high from finished grade. Applies: Arbors in a required front or corner side setback. § 18.15.060 · code text Not more than eight feet in height from finished grade;
Size or lot coverage	No more than 500 square feet each and 600 square feet in total on the lot. Applies: Accessory structures over 4 feet tall in the R-6, R-7, R-10, R-10A or RMD zones and similar PUDs. § 18.15.060 · code text The total floor area of each accessory structure more than four feet in height shall not exceed 500 square feet. The maximum cumulative total for all accessory structures on the lot shall not exceed 600 square feet. No more than 600 square feet each and 800 square feet in total on the lot. Applies: Accessory structures over 4 feet tall in the R-15 and R-20 zones and similar PUDs. § 18.15.060 · code text The total floor area of each accessory structure more than four feet in height shall not exceed 600 square feet. The maximum cumulative total for all accessory structures on the lot shall not exceed 800 square feet. No more than 500 square feet each and 600 square feet in total on the lot. Applies: Accessory structures over 4 feet tall in the MFVL, MFL, MFM, MFH or MFVH zones and similar PUDs. § 18.15.060 · code text The total floor area of each accessory structure more than four feet in height shall not exceed 500 square feet. The maximum cumulative total for all accessory structures on the lot shall not exceed 600 square feet. No more than 500 square feet each and 600 square feet in total on the lot. Applies: Accessory structures over 4 feet tall in all other residential zones. § 18.15.060 · code text For all other residential zoning districts not listed in subsections A.1 through A.4 of this section, the total floor area of each accessory structure more than four feet in height shall not exceed 500 square feet. The maximum cumulative total for all accessory structures on the lot shall not exceed 600 square feet. No more than 15 square feet of covered area. Applies: Arbors in a required front or corner side setback. § 18.15.060 · code text Not more than 15 square feet of covered area;
Side and rear setback	No setback is required. Applies: Structures 18 inches high or less. § 18.15.060 · code text Structure less than or equal to 18 inches in height: none required. At least 3 feet. Applies: Structures between 18 inches and 8 feet high. § 18.15.060 · code text Structure between 18 inches and eight feet in height: minimum of three feet. At least 3 feet, plus extra setback equal to the height above 8 feet. Applies: Structures over 8 feet high. Not more than the zone's minimum side yard setback. § 18.15.060 · code text Structure greater than eight feet in height: minimum of three feet plus an additional setback equal to the height that the accessory structure is above eight feet, but not to exceed the applicable minimum required side yard setback for the underlying zoning district.

Running a business from home

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Employees	No more than 1 nonresident employee or volunteer on site at any time. § 18.15.130 · code text The home occupation does not involve more than one nonresident employee or volunteer on site at any time;
Permit	A Home Occupation Permit from the Zoning Administrator is required. Applies: Before starting a home business. § 18.15.130 · code text In order to engage in a home occupation an individual must first obtain a Home Occupation Permit from the Zoning Administrator.
Businesses not allowed	Activities that involve use of loud power equipment, or otherwise create excessive noise, which interferes with the surrounding residential use § 18.15.130 · code text Activities that involve use of loud power equipment, or otherwise create excessive noise, which interferes with the surrounding residential use; Activities that generate exhaust or other air pollutants or emissions § 18.15.130 · code text Activities that generate exhaust or other air pollutants or emissions; Activities which involve the raising or slaughtering of animals § 18.15.130 · code text Activities which involve the raising or slaughtering of animals; On-premises vehicle repair § 18.15.130 · code text On-premises vehicle repair; Business of firearm sales Applies: Existing, approved Home Occupation Permits before January 4, 2016 are exempt under the stated conditions § 18.15.130 · code text Activities that involve engaging in the business of firearm sales. Commercial cannabis uses or activities, including operation of a cannabis retailer, cannabis delivery service, and/or storage of cannabis beyond personal-use amounts § 18.15.130 · code text Any commercial cannabis uses or activities, including, but not limited to, the operation of a cannabis retailer, cannabis delivery service, and/or the storage of cannabis in excess of those amounts allowed for personal use in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 11362.1 et seq.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic submittal is allowed. § 14.75.050 · code text The building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.

Tree removal

Pleasant Hill code No permit before removal; a permit must be submitted within 5 days after removal. No permit required.

All 13 Pleasant Hill rules on tree removal, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Swimming pools

Pleasant Hill code What Pleasant Hill's code adds
Pool barrier	Fenced as the California Building Code requires. § 18.75.050 · code text Swimming pools and hot tubs shall be fenced as required by the California Building Code.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from property lines and structures, measured from the pool's outer edge. Applies: Applies to in-ground swimming pools and hot tubs. § 18.75.050 · code text In-ground swimming pools and hot tubs shall be, at a minimum, three feet from property lines and structures.

Other Pleasant Hill rules on this

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

Keeping animals in residential zones (§ 18.15.090) — residential zones
Keeping pigeons (§§ 9.05.030–9.05.070)
SB 9 two-unit projects (§ 18.15.180) — single-family zones only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pleasant Hill?

A hedge, fence or similar structure in a right-of-way needs a permit, with stated exceptions.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Pleasant Hill?

In residential zones, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet with a flat roof and 14 feet with a pitched roof.

Can I run a business from my home in Pleasant Hill?

A home occupation needs a Zoning Administrator permit and may have 1 nonresident employee or volunteer on site at a time.

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

Pleasant Hill's code: Electronic submittal is allowed. (§ 14.75.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Pleasant Hill?

Pleasant Hill's code: Fenced as the California Building Code requires. (§ 18.75.050); At least 3 feet from property lines and structures, measured from the pool's outer edge. (Applies to in-ground swimming pools and hot tubs.) (§ 18.75.050).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Pleasant Hill property

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

Ask your question

More on Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Pleasant Hill

Buying & selling in Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill overview