Rolling Hills · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Rolling Hills

Rolling Hills limits the size of accessory structures such as cabanas, pool houses, guest houses and detached garages.

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Key points

Accessory size: Cabanas, pool houses, guest houses, detached garages and similar accessory structures are limited to 200 square feet (city rule).
Sheds: Sheds that the city code specifically permits in another section are excepted from the 200-square-foot limit.

Each rule below is marked Rolling Hills 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

Rolling Hills code What Rolling Hills's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 200 square feet. Applies: Cabanas, pool houses, guest houses, detached garages and similar accessory structures. Specially permitted sheds are excepted. § 17.16.030 · code text Cabana, pool house, recreation room, storage room, hobby shop, guest house, detached garage and similar accessory structures not to exceed two hundred square feet, subject to the requirements of Section 17.16.200, except for sheds specifically permitted in Section 17.16.200(H).

Lot splits under SB 9

Rolling Hills code What Rolling Hills's code adds
Unit size	More than 500 and no more than 800 square feet. Applies: Applies to each new main home in a two-unit project. § 17.45.050 · code text The total floor area of each primary dwelling built that is developed under this section must be: (I) Less than or equal to eight hundred [square feet]; May not be expanded; limited to its lawful floor area at the time of the two-unit project. Applies: An existing legal main home larger than 800 square feet, built before the two-unit project. § 17.45.050 · code text A primary dwelling that was legally established on the lot prior to the two-unit project and that is larger than eight hundred square feet is limited to the lawful floor area at the time of the two-unit project. May be expanded up to 800 square feet. Applies: An existing legal main home smaller than 800 square feet, expanded after or as part of the two-unit project. § 17.45.050 · code text A primary dwelling that was legally established prior to the two-unit project and that is smaller than eight hundred square feet may be expanded to eight hundred square feet after or as part of the two-unit project.
Standards	No more than 2 homes of any kind may be built on the lot. Applies: Applies to a lot created by an urban lot split. § 17.45.050 · code text No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built on a lot that results from an urban lot split. A two-unit project is allowed, plus any ADU or JADU that state law and the City's ADU rules require. Applies: Applies to a lot not created by an urban lot split. § 17.45.050 · code text A lot that is not created by an urban lot split may have a two-unit project under this section, plus any ADU or JADU that must be allowed under state law and the City's ADU ordinance. New primary dwelling no more than a single story or sixteen feet tall, measured from grade to peak Applies: New primary dwelling unit § 17.45.050 · code text No new primary dwelling unit may exceed a single story or sixteen feet in height, measured from grade to peak of the structure. No rooftop decks are allowed. Applies: Applies to any new or remodeled building on a lot from an urban lot split. § 17.45.050 · code text No rooftop deck is permitted on any new or remodeled dwelling or structure on a lot resulting from an urban lot split.

Pets, chickens and bees

Rolling Hills code What Rolling Hills's code adds
Coop setback	At least 25 feet from side lines in RAS-1, 35 feet in RAS-2; not in front yard or rear setback. Applies: Animal pens, cages, aviaries or similar shelters; also at least 25 feet from a side roadway easement line. § 17.18.040 · code text Such structures shall not be permitted in the front yard or in the rear yard setback and shall be located no less than twenty-five feet from side property line in the RAS-1 zone, thirty-five feet from side property line in the RAS-2 zone and no less than twenty-five feet from side roadway easement line. At least 35 feet from any home, including an attached garage or guest house. Applies: Applies to animal pens, cages, aviaries or similar small animal shelters. § 17.18.040 · code text Such structures shall be located a minimum of thirty-five feet from any residential structure, including attached garage or a guest house.
Large animals	No more than 2 goats within 100 feet, 4 within 300 feet, 5 within 1,000 feet of another's home. Applies: Distances are measured from any home other than the goat keeper's own. § 6.32.050 · code text It is a nuisance to, and no person shall, keep or maintain any goat within fifty feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by said person; or more than two goats within one hundred feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by said person; or more than four goats within three hundred feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by said person; or more than five goats within one thousand feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by said person. No goats within 50 feet of any other person's home. Applies: Applies to goats kept near another person's home. § 6.32.050 · code text It is a nuisance to, and no person shall, keep or maintain any goat within fifty feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by said person;
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Stables or aviaries over 200 square feet, wildlife rehab facilities, corrals over 550 square feet, or riding rings. § 17.18.050 · code text The following animal keeping uses are permitted, provided a conditional use permit has been approved pursuant to Chapter 17.42 and building code requirements are met, including issuance of a building permit. Required permits, such as a building permit and a zone clearance. Applies: Pens, cages, aviaries, stables up to 200 square feet, sheds, shelters, corrals; only on a lot with a legal single-family home, no grading. § 17.18.040 · code text The following animal-keeping uses and structures are permitted, provided that any and all required permits have been obtained (such as a building permit and a zone clearance pursuant to Chapter 17.44), that no grading is required and all Code requirements are met.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Rolling Hills?

Cabanas, pool houses, guest houses, detached garages and similar accessory structures are limited to 200 square feet (city rule). Sheds that the city code specifically permits in another section are excepted from the 200-square-foot limit.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Rolling Hills?

Rolling Hills's code: More than 500 and no more than 800 square feet. (Applies to each new main home in a two-unit project.) (§ 17.45.050); May not be expanded; limited to its lawful floor area at the time of the two-unit project. (An existing legal main home larger than 800 square feet, built before the two-unit project.) (§ 17.45.050).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Rolling Hills?

Rolling Hills's code: At least 25 feet from side lines in RAS-1, 35 feet in RAS-2; not in front yard or rear setback. (Animal pens, cages, aviaries or similar shelters; also at least 25 feet from a side roadway easement line.) (§ 17.18.040); At least 35 feet from any home, including an attached garage or guest house. (Applies to animal pens, cages, aviaries or similar small animal shelters.) (§ 17.18.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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