San Bruno · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Bruno

San Bruno sets its own limits on fences and home businesses, and has a separate section on accessory structures. Fence height depends on the yard and on corner lots.

Ask about building on your lot in San Bruno See coverage

Key points

Fence height: Fences: at most 3 feet in front yards, 6 feet in required side and rear yards, or 8 feet with lattice on top.
Home businesses: A home business may use 200 square feet or 10% of the home, whichever is greater; it needs a permit and business license.
Accessory structures: The city has its own code section on accessory structures.

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

Fences and walls

San Bruno code What San Bruno's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 3 feet. Applies: Residential properties, within 25 feet of the street corner of a corner lot. Community development director approval is also needed. § 12.84.150 · code text In no case shall a fence, hedge, wall or screen planting exceed three feet in height when situated within twenty-five feet of street corner or a corner lot.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet. Applies: Required front yard of any home. § 12.84.150 · code text Exceed three feet in height within the required front yard of any dwelling;
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet, unless otherwise permitted by law. Applies: Required side yard behind the front yard, or any required rear yard. § 12.84.150 · code text Be constructed or grown to exceed six feet in height (unless otherwise permitted by law) within any required side yard to the rear of the required front yard of any dwelling or within any required rear yard. Up to 8 feet in total with 2 feet of lattice on top. Applies: Fences or walls in a required side or rear yard. § 12.84.150 · code text An additional two feet of lattice may be placed on the top of a fence or wall, so that the total height of the structure does not exceed eight feet.

Running a business from home

San Bruno code What San Bruno's code adds
Space used	No more than 200 square feet or 10% of the home's floor area, whichever is greater. Applies: In the home, an accessory building, or both combined. § 12.84.130 · code text It shall not involve more than two hundred square feet or ten percent, whichever is greater, of the dwelling floor area whether the home occupation use is conducted within the dwelling or in an accessory building or a combination of both.
Employees	Only resident family members may work on the premises. Applies: Off-site employees are allowed. The community development director may change this where special conditions exist. § 12.84.130 · code text The home occupation shall not involve the employment of help other than resident members of the family within the residence.
Permit	A permit from the community development director is required. § 12.84.130 · code text No person shall commence or carry on any home occupation, as set forth above, within the city without first having procured a permit from the community development director. A business license is required. Applies: Every home occupation permit holder. § 12.84.130 · code text Every home occupation permittee shall obtain a business license. Community development director approval is required, after notice to directly abutting owners. Applies: Home occupations not in an enclosed building. § 12.84.130 · code text A home occupation not proposed in an enclosed building shall require approval by the community development director, after noticing is provided as described in Chapter 12.132, except the notice shall only be to property owners that directly abut the subject site.

RV and boat parking

San Bruno code What San Bruno's code adds
Where it may be parked	Only in an enclosed garage or a carport. Applies: Trailer coaches or camp cars stored more than 72 hours when not in use. § 4.52.080 · code text No person shall store for more than seventy-two hours any trailer coach or camp car, with the wheels thereof either attached or detached, when not in use, in any other place in the city than in a garage wherein the business of storing automobiles for hire is carried on, or in some other garage consisting of a building enclosed on four sides, or a carport, in which the business of storing automobiles for hire is not carried on.

Solar panels and EV chargers

San Bruno code What San Bruno's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist. Applies: EV charging stations; the application must also meet all applicable laws and health and safety standards. § 11.38.060 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meets the requirements of the city adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits. You can apply electronically. Applies: EV charging station permit applications and their documents. § 11.38.060 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day. Applies: Complete over-the-counter applications for small residential rooftop solar that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 11.36.060 · code text The community development 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 and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Complete electronic applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 11.36.060 · code text The community development 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 and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Solar permit process	Administrative review; a permit is issued for a complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan; 1 inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar energy systems. § 11.36.060 · code text The city community development department shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems within thirty days of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

Swimming pools

San Bruno code What San Bruno's code adds
Pool barrier	The pool, or the part of the yard around it, must be fully enclosed by a fence. § 12.84.100 · code text All swimming pools and hot tubs or the portion of the yard in which said pool or tub is located shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height
Barrier height	At least 6 feet high. § 12.84.100 · code text completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height
Equipment and alarms	Pumps, filters and heaters must be at least 10 feet from any home except the one on the pool lot. § 12.84.100 · code text Pumps, filter, and heating systems for such pools and tubs shall not be located within ten feet of any dwelling other than that located on the lot where the swimming pool or tub is proposed to be located.
Gates	Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. § 12.84.100 · code text all gates shall be self-closing and self-latching.
Setback from property lines	At least 50 feet from the front lot line. Applies: Pools and hot tubs in any district. § 12.84.100 · code text Swimming pools and hot tubs in any district shall be constructed at least fifty feet from the front lot line. At least 5 feet from any rear or side lot line. Applies: Pools and hot tubs. § 12.84.100 · code text Such pool or tub may not be located closer than five feet from any rear lot line or side lot line. At least 10 feet from that lot line. Applies: Street side of a corner lot where the rear of the lot meets the side lot line. § 12.84.100 · code text On the street side of any corner lot where the rear of the lot abuts the side lot line, no pool or tub shall be located closer than ten feet to such lot line.

Other San Bruno rules on this

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

Accessory structures (§ 12.84.140)
No livestock kept in the city (§ 6.36.300)
Heritage tree removal permit (Ch. 8.25)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in San Bruno?

Fences: at most 3 feet in front yards, 6 feet in required side and rear yards, or 8 feet with lattice on top.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in San Bruno?

The city has its own code section on accessory structures. San Bruno also has a related rule: Accessory structures (§ 12.84.140).

Can I run a business from my home in San Bruno?

A home business may use 200 square feet or 10% of the home, whichever is greater; it needs a permit and business license.

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

San Bruno's code: Only in an enclosed garage or a carport. (Trailer coaches or camp cars stored more than 72 hours when not in use.) (§ 4.52.080).

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

San Bruno's code: The building official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist. (EV charging stations; the application must also meet all applicable laws and health and safety standards.) (§ 11.38.060); You can apply electronically. (EV charging station permit applications and their documents.) (§ 11.38.060).

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

San Bruno's code: The pool, or the part of the yard around it, must be fully enclosed by a fence. (§ 12.84.100); At least 6 feet high. (§ 12.84.100).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific San Bruno property

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

Ask your question

More on San Bruno

San Bruno Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in San Bruno

Buying & selling in San Bruno

San Bruno overview