San Anselmo · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Anselmo

San Anselmo sets its own rules for keeping hens, pool barriers, trailer storage, rooftop solar permits and SB 9 lot splits. Hens need a residential chicken-keeping permit and must be kept away from neighboring residences.

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Key points

Hens: Keeping hens needs a town permit: at most 6 hens, or up to 12 with written consent of all adjacent owners or special circumstances.
Pool barriers: Pool barriers must be at least 5 feet tall; a barrier or compliant pool cover must be in place before any water is added.
SB 9 splits: SB 9 splits in R-1 zones make 2 near-equal parcels, each at least 1,200 square feet and 40% of the original parcel.
Trailer storage: Trailers and camp cars kept on the owner's property must be screened from the street and neighbors, within permitted height limits.
Rooftop solar: Complete rooftop solar applications are processed the same day over the counter or in 1 to 3 business days electronically.

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

Lot splits under SB 9

San Anselmo code What San Anselmo's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Two lots of about equal area; neither smaller than 40% of the original lot. Applies: Urban lot splits in the R-1, R-1-H or R-1-C zones. § 10-4.304 · code text The parcel map divides an existing parcel to create no more than two (2) new parcels of approximately equal lot area provided that one (1) parcel shall not be smaller than forty (40%) percent of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision.
Minimum new lot size	Neither the new lot nor the original lot may be smaller than 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to the new lot and the original lot. § 10-4.304 · code text Neither the newly created lot nor the original lot shall be smaller than one thousand and two hundred (1,200) square feet.
Setbacks	4 feet from the side and rear lot lines. Applies: Applies to a newly created home. § 10-4.405 · code text A setback of four (4) feet from the side and rear lot lines is required for a newly created dwelling unit. No setback is required. Applies: Only for an existing home, or one rebuilt in the same place and to the same size. § 10-4.405 · code text no setback shall be required for an existing dwelling unit or a dwelling unit constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing dwelling unit.
Standards	Each new lot must have access to, provide access to, or border a right-of-way. Applies: Applies to each newly created lot. § 10-4.305 · code text Each newly created parcel shall have access to, provide access to, or adjoin a right-of-way. Town standards may not prevent 2 units on either new lot, or units of at least 800 square feet. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits and two-unit developments. § 10-4.305 · code text the Town shall not impose objective zoning standards, objective subdivision standards, or objective design review standards that would have the effect of physically precluding the construction of two (2) dwelling units on either of the newly created parcels or that would result in a dwelling unit size of less than eight hundred (800) square feet.

RV and boat parking

San Anselmo code What San Anselmo's code adds
Where it may be parked	On the owner's own property. Applies: A trailer or camp car on its owner's property, only if screened from the street and neighboring sites. § 5-5.04 · code text The parking or storage of any trailer or camp car on the property of its owner provided that the unit is screened as viewed from off-street and adjacent sites by a solid fence that conforms to the permitted height limits, vegetation, structures or topography
Screening and surface	Screened by a solid fence, plants, structures or terrain; fences must meet the allowed height limits. Applies: Applies to parking or storage on the owner's property. § 5-5.04 · code text The parking or storage of any trailer or camp car on the property of its owner provided that the unit is screened as viewed from off-street and adjacent sites by a solid fence that conforms to the permitted height limits, vegetation, structures or topography May not block the view of people and vehicles on the sidewalk or street, or be a nuisance. Applies: Applies to the trailer, camp car, or required screening. § 5-5.04 · code text provided that the trailer or camp car or any required screening does not obstruct the view of pedestrians and vehicles on the adjacent sidewalk and/or street and does not otherwise constitute a nuisance
Living in an RV	Backyard camping or sleeping in a vehicle that is not a trailer is not banned. Applies: Only on developed property with the owner's, lessee's or occupant's permission. § 5-5.04 · code text Backyard camping or sleeping in a vehicle that does not meet the definition of a trailer in Section 5-5.01 on developed property with the permission of the owner, lessee, or occupant.

Solar panels and EV chargers

San Anselmo code What San Anselmo's code adds
EV charger permit	Approved administratively, with all required permits issued, when the application is complete and meets the checklist. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 9-8.4 · code text Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. You may submit the application electronically. Applies: Applies to EV charging station permit applications and documents. § 9-8.4 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the Town's building division by electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. Only 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to EV charging station installations. § 9-8.4 · code text Only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the Building Official.
Review time	Permit issued the same day over the counter, or within 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; complete applications meeting the approved checklist and standard plan. § 9-21.6 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Swimming pools

San Anselmo code What San Anselmo's code adds
Pool barrier	A barrier at least 5 feet tall meeting building code, or an ASTM F1346 pool cover, must be in place. Applies: Before any water goes in the pool, including for curing the pool walls. § 9-1.203 · code text Before water is placed in a pool for any reason, including the curing of the pool walls, a barrier at least 5' tall conforming to the requirements of CBC Section 3109 must be in place or a pool cover complying with ASTM F1346 must be installed and operational.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet tall. Applies: Applies to barriers around a swimming pool. § 9-1.203 · code text Barriers enclosing a swimming pool must be at least 5' tall.

Pets, chickens and bees

San Anselmo code What San Anselmo's code adds
Chickens	With a permit, up to 6 hens; up to 12 with all neighbors' written consent or special circumstances. Applies: All residential zoning districts; the Planning Director approves the higher limit. § 5-1.05 · code text Maximum of six hens. A residential chicken-keeping permit allows a property owner to keep a maximum of six hens. However, the Planning Director may approve a permit to allow up to twelve hens with written consent of all adjacent property owners or when special circumstances exist that would mitigate any impacts from a larger number of hens including, but not limited to, large parcel size, distance from adjoining parcels, and use of adjacent sites.
Coop setback	Coops must be at least 25 feet away. Applies: Distance from neighboring homes. § 5-1.05 · code text Chicken coops shall be located at least twenty five feet from neighboring residences.
Permit	A residential chicken-keeping permit is required. Applies: Applies to keeping hens anywhere in the Town of San Anselmo. § 5-1.05 · code text No person shall keep hens within the municipal limits of the Town of San Anselmo without a permit issued by the Town of San Anselmo.

Other San Anselmo rules on this

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

Permit to remove trees on private property (Title 4, Ch. 13)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in San Anselmo?

SB 9 splits in R-1 zones make 2 near-equal parcels, each at least 1,200 square feet and 40% of the original parcel.

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

Trailers and camp cars kept on the owner's property must be screened from the street and neighbors, within permitted height limits.

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

Complete rooftop solar applications are processed the same day over the counter or in 1 to 3 business days electronically.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in San Anselmo?

Pool barriers must be at least 5 feet tall; a barrier or compliant pool cover must be in place before any water is added.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in San Anselmo?

Keeping hens needs a town permit: at most 6 hens, or up to 12 with written consent of all adjacent owners or special circumstances.

General information, not legal advice.

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