San Joaquin · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in San Joaquin
San Joaquin sets its own limits on fences and home businesses. Taller fences need a conditional use permit, but a solid fence may never exceed 8 feet.
Key points
- Fence height: Fences, walls and hedges are limited to 3 feet in front yards and 6 feet in required rear and side yards (city rule).
- Home businesses: A home business may use at most 25% of the home's floor area, including storage (city rule).
Each rule below is marked San Joaquin 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 Joaquin code Fences, walls and hedges are limited to 3 feet in front yards and 6 feet in required rear and side yards (city rule).
All 5 San Joaquin rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Running a business from home
| Space used |
|
|---|---|
| Businesses not allowed |
|
Solar panels and EV chargers
San Joaquin code You can apply electronically with supporting documents; electronic signatures are accepted. The permit is issued once the application meets the city checklist; the charger cannot be energized until approved.
All 5 San Joaquin rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
San Joaquin code Openings in the fence or structure can be no larger than 6 inches in any direction, except doors or gates. Horizontal openings, other than gates or doors, can be no more than 4 inches.
All 10 San Joaquin rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
San Joaquin code No more than 4 household pets in any combination. No more than 2 potbellied pigs.
All 3 San Joaquin rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Signs on homes
| Election and other noncommercial signs | |
|---|---|
| Signs that need no permit | |
| For-sale and open-house signs |
|
Trash and recycling carts
| Where carts are kept |
|
|---|
Other San Joaquin rules on this
San Joaquin's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Yard sale permit (Ch. 114)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a business from my home in San Joaquin?
A home business may use at most 25% of the home's floor area, including storage (city rule).
Can I run a family child care home in San Joaquin?
California law sets this for every city, including San Joaquin: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
What signs may I put up at my home in San Joaquin?
San Joaquin's code: 32 square feet maximum (Political campaign signs) (§ 152.03); Remove 2 weeks after the election (Political campaign signs) (§ 152.03).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in San Joaquin?
San Joaquin's code: In water-resistant containers in the public alley next to the property; if no alley, in the rear yard (Residences and businesses receiving city garbage service; at the front curbline on collection days) (§ 96.02); In the rear yard area of the property (If there is no alley next to the property) (§ 96.02).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific San Joaquin property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question