Rocklin · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rocklin

Rocklin sets its own limits on fences and accessory structures on residential lots. Fence height depends on the yard, the lot type and the fence design, and fences near intersections must meet the city's visibility standards.

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Key points

Fence height: Residential fences are limited to 30 inches in the required front setback and 6 feet along and inside side and rear property lines.
Accessory structures: Accessory structures in residential zones have city distance rules of 5 and 10 feet; barns, stables and animal buildings, 20 feet.

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

Fences and walls

Rocklin code What Rocklin's code adds
Corner visibility	No fence, wall or other structure unless it meets the city's visibility requirements in its construction standards. Applies: At intersections. § 17.76.040 · code text Notwithstanding Sections 17.76.010, 17.76.020 and 17.76.030, no fence, wall, or other structure may be erected that is not consistent with the Visibility Requirements contained in the City of Rocklin, Construction Specifications, Improvement Standards, and Standard Drawings approved by the City Council.
Front yard height	Fences and walls can be no more than 30 inches tall, measured from finished grade. Applies: In the required front yard setback of all residential lots, unless another section allows more. § 17.76.010 · code text Within the required front yard setback area of all residential lots fences and walls may be erected to a height not exceeding thirty inches as measured from finished grade, except as allowed in Section 17.76.030. Decorative see-through tubular metal fences can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Required front yard setback of residential lots in the RE, RA and multi-family residential zones. § 17.76.030 · code text Within the required front yard setback area and the required street side yard setback area, as applicable, of residential lots located within the Rural Estate (RE), Rural Agricultural (RA), and multi-family residential zone districts, and all lots in nonresidential zone districts a decorative, nonsolid, tubular metal fence that is designed to allow visibility through and between the fence members may be erected to a maximum height of six feet.
Side and rear yard height	Fences and walls can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Interior and corner residential lots, outside the front setback, along and inside the interior side, street side and rear lines. § 17.76.010 · code text Outside of the required front yard setback area of interior and corner lots fences and walls may be erected along and inside the interior side, street side, and rear property lines to a height not exceeding six feet as measured from finished grade. Fences and walls can be no more than 6 feet tall. Applies: Reverse corner lots, outside the front and street side setbacks, along interior side and rear lines and inside the street side setback line. § 17.76.010 · code text Outside of the required front yard or street side yard setback areas of reverse corner lots (as defined in Section 16.08.187) fences and walls may be erected along and inside the interior side and rear property lines and inside the line that forms the interior boundary of the street side setback to a height not exceeding six feet as measured from finished grade. A 6-foot fence may be allowed. Applies: In the street side setback of a reverse corner lot, if the planning director approves and makes the required findings. § 17.76.030 · code text Notwithstanding the provisions of [Section] 17.76.010, a six-foot fence may be located within the street side yard setback of a reverse corner lot, subject to the approval of the planning director, when he/she can make the required findings that the installation of the fence within the setback is not detrimental to the health, safety, or general welfare of the residents of the city of Rocklin, and that the circumstances presented create a traffic/pedestrian interface that is substantially similar to typical residential lots.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Rocklin code What Rocklin's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any interior side or rear property line. Applies: Accessory structures in any residential zone; front and street side setbacks also apply. § 17.08.090 · code text Said structures shall be a minimum of five feet from any interior side or rear property line and shall comply with the required front and street side yard setbacks as set forth in the applicable zoning. At least 20 feet from any side or rear property line, on the rear half of the lot. Applies: Barns, stables and other buildings for keeping animals. § 17.08.090 · code text Barns and stables, or any other building or structure used for the keeping of animals, shall be located on the rear one-half of the lot and not closer than twenty feet to any side or rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the house, to its rear or side. Applies: Accessory structures in any residential zone. § 17.08.090 · code text Said structures shall be located to the rear or side of the main dwelling unit, not less than ten feet there from.

Tree removal

Rocklin code What Rocklin's code adds
Exemptions	No mitigation is required to remove a dead, dying or diseased oak tree. Applies: Undeveloped property, when the director finds the tree is a risk of injury to people or property. § 17.77.050 · code text No mitigation shall be required for removing a dead, dying or diseased tree from an undeveloped property. No mitigation is required to remove a dead or diseased oak tree. Applies: Developed single-family, duplex or triplex lots, when the director finds the tree is a risk to people or property. § 17.77.045 · code text If the director determines that the tree is dead or diseased to such an extent, or is in such a manner that the tree poses a risk of injury to person or property, no mitigation shall be required.
Permit to remove	Yes, a tree preservation plan permit, issued through the development application review. Applies: Applies to healthy oak trees on undeveloped property. § 17.77.050 · code text No healthy oak tree shall be removed from such property until the review process is completed and a tree preservation plan permit has been issued. Yes, an oak tree removal permit. Applies: Dead, dying or diseased oaks on undeveloped property with no tree preservation plan permit pending. § 17.77.050 · code text a property owner may apply for an oak tree removal permit to remove a dead, dying or diseased oak tree from an undeveloped property where no tree preservation plan permit is pending. Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Applies to oak removal on developed single-family, duplex or triplex lots. § 17.77.045 · code text With respect to tree removal applications for single-family residential, duplex or triplex developed lots, the director shall issue the permit after conclusion of the meetings described in Section 17.77.040(D), unless the applicant voluntarily withdraws the application.
Replacement trees	Mitigation is required. Applies: Applies to removing oak trees from undeveloped property. § 17.77.050 · code text Removal of oak trees from undeveloped property shall require mitigation. Plant 5 trees on site for each heritage oak removed. Applies: Healthy heritage oak removed from a single-family, duplex or triplex lot; the owner may pay a fee instead. § 17.77.045 · code text Replacing each heritage oak tree removed with five trees on site Plant 2 trees on site for each nonheritage tree removed. Applies: Healthy nonheritage oak removed from a single-family, duplex or triplex lot; the owner may pay a fee instead. § 17.77.045 · code text and each nonheritage tree removed with two trees on site No more than 5 replacement trees are required on any one lot. Applies: Applies to oak removal from a single-family, duplex or triplex lot. § 17.77.045 · code text the maximum number of replacement trees required to be planted on any one lot shall not exceed five. A fee per tree removed, set by city council resolution, paid into the Rocklin oak tree preservation fund. Applies: Healthy oak removed from a single-family, duplex or triplex lot; instead of or along with replacement trees. § 17.77.045 · code text Payment of a fee for each tree removed in an amount set by resolution of the city council into the Rocklin oak tree preservation fund.

Swimming pools

Rocklin code What Rocklin's code adds
Pool barrier	An enclosure must separate the pool from the home. Applies: This is 1 of the 2 required safety features. § 17.08.150 · code text The city of Rocklin requires one of the two required safety features to be an enclosure which isolates the swimming pool from the residence. The enclosure must be installed before the pool is filled with water. § 17.08.150 · code text The enclosure must be installed before water is placed in the pool and must comply with all other applicable provisions of this section and Chapter 17.76.
Equipment and alarms	Home doors opening directly to the pool that do not meet the door rules need exit alarms. Applies: Applies when the home is part of the required enclosure. § 17.08.150 · code text All residence doors providing direct access to the pool that do not meet these requirements shall be equipped with exit alarms.
Gates	Enclosure gates and home doors opening directly to the pool must self-close, self-latch and swing away from the pool. Applies: Applies when the home is part of the required enclosure. § 17.08.150 · code text When the residence is used as part of the required enclosure, all residence doors providing direct access to the pool and any gates in such enclosure shall be self-closing, self-latching, and swing away from the pool.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from any property line. Applies: Applies to pool filter and heating systems. § 17.08.150 · code text Filter and heating systems for swimming pools shall not be located closer than three feet from any property line. At least 3 feet. Applies: Rear yard setback for pools in residential zones. § 17.08.150 · code text There shall be a rear yard setback of at least three feet, and interior side yard setbacks shall be a minimum of three feet on one side and a minimum of five feet on the opposite side. At least 3 feet. Applies: Interior side yard setback on one side, for pools in residential zones. § 17.08.150 · code text There shall be a rear yard setback of at least three feet, and interior side yard setbacks shall be a minimum of three feet on one side and a minimum of five feet on the opposite side. At least 5 feet. Applies: Interior side yard setback on the opposite side, for pools in residential zones. § 17.08.150 · code text There shall be a rear yard setback of at least three feet, and interior side yard setbacks shall be a minimum of three feet on one side and a minimum of five feet on the opposite side.

Pets, chickens and bees

Rocklin code What Rocklin's code adds
Bees	Bees must be kept at least 500 feet from any building where people or animals live or are kept. § 6.44.080 · code text Bees shall be kept at least five hundred feet from any building or structure in which persons or animals normally live or are kept.
Large animals	1 horse on 30,000 square feet or more; 2 on 1 acre net or more; plus up to 2 young. Applies: Horses or similar large animals; Annexation Area overlay zone only. § 17.07.030 · code text One horse or similar large quadruped where the lot is not less than thirty thousand square feet, and two horses or similar large quadrupeds where the lot area is one acre net or greater. Up to a total of two immature offspring may also be allowed. 3 horses or similar large animals, plus up to 2 young. Applies: Annexation Area overlay zone only, on lots of 2 acres net or more. § 17.07.030 · code text Three horses or similar large quadrupeds and up to a total of two immature offspring where the lot area is two acres net or greater. 4 adult sheep or goats plus young (at most 12 total) on lots of at least 30,000 square feet. Applies: Annexation Area overlay zone only; on lots of 1 acre net or more, 6 adults plus young (at most 15 total). § 17.07.030 · code text Four mature animals and their immature offspring (not to exceed twelve animals in total) where the lot is not less than thirty thousand square feet, and six mature animals and their immature offspring (not to exceed fifteen animals in total) where the lot area is one acre net or greater.
Permit	An administrative special use permit for more horses or similar large animals. Applies: Annexation Area overlay zone only, on lots over 2 acres net. § 17.07.030 · code text Additional horses or other similar large quadrupeds may be kept on lots in excess of two acres net, in a number to be determined by the director of economic and community development. An administrative special use permit is required for the keeping of additional horses or similar large quadrupeds. An administrative special use permit for more sheep or goats. Applies: Annexation Area overlay zone only, for more sheep or goats than the lot-size limits allow. § 17.07.030 · code text Additional animals may be kept, in a number to be determined by the director of economic and community development. An administrative special use permit is required for the keeping of additional animals. A use permit from the economic and community development director. Applies: Annexation Area overlay zone only; horses with sheep or goats on one lot, only on sites over 1 acre. § 17.07.030 · code text The keeping of horses and any other similar large quadrupeds, as well as, sheep and goats on a single lot may only be permitted on sites greater than one acre in size and only with prior approval of a use permit from the economic and community development director.

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Rocklin?

Residential fences are limited to 30 inches in the required front setback and 6 feet along and inside side and rear property lines.

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

Accessory structures in residential zones have city distance rules of 5 and 10 feet; barns, stables and animal buildings, 20 feet.

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

Rocklin's code: No mitigation is required to remove a dead, dying or diseased oak tree. (Undeveloped property, when the director finds the tree is a risk of injury to people or property.) (§ 17.77.050); No mitigation is required to remove a dead or diseased oak tree. (Developed single-family, duplex or triplex lots, when the director finds the tree is a risk to people or property.) (§ 17.77.045).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Rocklin?

Rocklin's code: An enclosure must separate the pool from the home. (This is 1 of the 2 required safety features.) (§ 17.08.150); Home doors opening directly to the pool that do not meet the door rules need exit alarms. (Applies when the home is part of the required enclosure.) (§ 17.08.150).

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

Rocklin's code: Bees must be kept at least 500 feet from any building where people or animals live or are kept. (§ 6.44.080); 1 horse on 30,000 square feet or more; 2 on 1 acre net or more; plus up to 2 young. (Horses or similar large animals; Annexation Area overlay zone only.) (§ 17.07.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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