San Leandro · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Leandro

San Leandro sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Limits depend on the zoning district, and a home business needs a home occupation permit and a business license renewed each year.

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Key points

Fence height: Residential fences: at most 3 feet in front or corner side yards on a street and 7 feet elsewhere; RO District, 6 feet.
Accessory structures: In the RD, RM and RS Districts, accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and 500 square feet each, excluding accessory dwelling units.
Home businesses: A home business may use 500 square feet or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less; only residents may work on site.

Each rule below is marked San Leandro 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 Leandro code What San Leandro's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 7 feet high. Applies: Residential, Open Space and Public/Semi-Public districts, outside required front or corner side yards on a street. Some districts and corner lots differ. § 4.04.364 · code text Except as provided for in Subsections B.1 through B.3 of this section, the maximum height of a fence, wall, or hedge shall be seven feet except in required front or corner side yards abutting a street where the maximum height shall be three feet. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: RO district, outside required front or corner side yards next to a street. § 4.04.364 · code text The maximum height of a fence, wall, or hedge in the RO District shall be six feet except in required front or corner side yards abutting a street where the maximum height shall be three feet. Up to 6 feet high. Applies: RO corner lots, street side behind the house: rises 1 foot per 2½ feet back from the street line. Area in front planted and irrigated. § 4.04.364 · code text Starting from the back wall of the house, the maximum height of a fence, wall, or hedge on a corner lot in the RO, RS, RS-40, RS-VP or RD District shall follow the gradient formula diagram below, which allows for an increase in height of one foot for each two and one-half feet back from the street side property line, up to a maximum of six feet in the RO District, and seven feet in the RS, RS-40, RS-VP and RD Districts. Up to 7 feet high. Applies: RS, RS-40, RS-VP and RD corner lots, street side behind the house: rises 1 foot per 2½ feet back. Area in front planted and irrigated. § 4.04.364 · code text Starting from the back wall of the house, the maximum height of a fence, wall, or hedge on a corner lot in the RO, RS, RS-40, RS-VP or RD District shall follow the gradient formula diagram below, which allows for an increase in height of one foot for each two and one-half feet back from the street side property line, up to a maximum of six feet in the RO District, and seven feet in the RS, RS-40, RS-VP and RD Districts. Solid part no more than 3 feet above finished grade. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in the RS-VP district. The part from 3 to 7 feet must be glass. § 4.04.364 · code text the maximum height of a solid fence, wall or hedge in the RS-VP District shall be no more than three feet above finished grade.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet high. Applies: Required front or corner side yards next to a street in Residential, Open Space and Public/Semi-Public districts. § 4.04.364 · code text Except as provided for in Subsections B.1 through B.3 of this section, the maximum height of a fence, wall, or hedge shall be seven feet except in required front or corner side yards abutting a street where the maximum height shall be three feet.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

San Leandro code What San Leandro's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures in the RD, RM and RS districts. Over 12 feet requires a 5-foot setback. § 2.04.348 · code text Greater than 12 feet up to 15 feet No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Accessory buildings in the RO district. § 2.04.380 · code text Accessory buildings may not exceed 15 feet in height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 500 square feet. Applies: Any single accessory structure in the RD, RM and RS districts, not counting accessory dwelling units. § 2.04.348 · code text No single structure, excluding accessory dwelling units as regulated by Section 2.04.388 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), shall occupy more than 500 square feet. Counts toward the 50% total lot coverage limit. Applies: RS, RD and RM-3000 districts. § 2.04.348 · code text The coverage of accessory structures on the lot shall be part of the 50 percent total lot coverage allowed in the RS, RD, and RM-3000 Districts. Counts toward the 60% total lot coverage limit. Applies: RM-2500 and RM-2000 districts. § 2.04.348 · code text Accessory structures in the RM-2500 and RM-2000 Districts shall meet the total lot coverage requirement of 60 percent Counts toward the 70% total lot coverage limit. Applies: RM-1800 district. § 2.04.348 · code text accessory structures in the RM-1800 District shall meet the total lot coverage requirement of 70 percent. No more than 40% of the required rear or side yard area in total. Applies: Accessory structures in the RO district. § 2.04.380 · code text Accessory structures shall not occupy more than 40 percent of the required rear or side yard area in the aggregate No more than 30% of the required yard areas. Applies: Each single accessory structure in the RO district. § 2.04.380 · code text and no single structure may occupy more than 30 percent of the required yard areas.
Side and rear setback	0 feet. Applies: RD, RM and RS districts: structures up to 8 feet high and 120 square feet or less that need no building permit. § 2.04.348 · code text 8 feet and 120 square feet or less and not required to obtain a building permit under the City of San Leandro Building Code \| 0 feet At least 3 feet. Applies: Accessory structures over 8 feet and up to 12 feet high in the RD, RM and RS districts. § 2.04.348 · code text Greater than 8 feet up to 12 feet \| 3 feet At least 5 feet. Applies: Accessory structures over 12 feet and up to 15 feet high in the RD, RM and RS districts. § 2.04.348 · code text Greater than 12 feet up to 15 feet \| 5 feet
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from other structures on the lot. Applies: Accessory structures in the RD, RM and RS districts. § 2.04.348 · code text Accessory structures must maintain a six foot separation from other structures on the lot. At least 15 feet from a home. Applies: Accessory buildings in the RO district. § 2.04.380 · code text but shall not be located within 15 feet of a dwelling

Running a business from home

San Leandro code What San Leandro's code adds
Space used	No more than 500 square feet or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less. Applies: R districts. The business must be entirely inside a building. § 2.04.220 · code text A home occupation shall be conducted entirely within a building and shall occupy no more than the lesser of 500 square feet or 25 percent of the floor area.
Employees	Only residents may be employed or report to work on site, including independent contractors. § 2.04.220 · code text No one other than a resident of the dwelling shall be employed on site or report to work at the site in the conduct of a home occupation. This prohibition also applies to independent contractors.
Permit	A home occupation permit and a business license are required, renewed each year. Applies: Home businesses in a residential use. The permit stays in effect while the business license is renewed annually. § 2.04.220 · code text A home occupation in a residential use shall require a home occupation permit, obtained by filing a completed application form with the Zoning Enforcement Official.

Swimming pools

San Leandro code What San Leandro's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from an interior property line. Applies: Applies to an unenclosed pool, hot tub or related equipment in a required rear or side yard. § 2.04.344 · code text An unenclosed swimming pool, hot tub and related equipment may occupy a required rear yard or side yard but shall not be within five feet of an interior property line or within ten feet of a street property line. At least 10 feet from a street property line. Applies: Applies to an unenclosed pool, hot tub or related equipment in a required rear or side yard. § 2.04.344 · code text An unenclosed swimming pool, hot tub and related equipment may occupy a required rear yard or side yard but shall not be within five feet of an interior property line or within ten feet of a street property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

San Leandro code What San Leandro's code adds
Chickens	Yes, up to 4 chickens, no roosters. Applies: Applies to parcels of 4,500 square feet or larger. § 4-11-1200 · code text Up to four chickens may be kept on parcels with an area of 4,500 square feet or larger. Up to 10 chickens with an Animal Permit; never more than 10 on any parcel. Applies: Applies to any parcel. Parcels under 4,500 square feet need an Animal Permit for any chickens. § 4-11-1200 · code text Chickens may be kept on parcels of less than 4,500 square feet with an Animal Permit. Up to 10 chickens may be kept on a parcel with an Animal Permit, but in no case may more than 10 chickens be kept on any single parcel.
Coop setback	At least 5 feet. Applies: Measured from any side or rear lot line where the primary use is residential. § 4-11-1205 · code text No coop shall be located less than five feet from any side or rear lot line on which the primary use is residential and 20 feet from an adjacent dwelling. At least 20 feet. Applies: Measured from an adjacent dwelling. § 4-11-1205 · code text No coop shall be located less than five feet from any side or rear lot line on which the primary use is residential and 20 feet from an adjacent dwelling.
Permit	A beekeeping permit is required. Applies: Applies to keeping any number of hives on any lot in the City. § 4-11-1400 · code text A beekeeping permit is required for the keeping of any number of hives on any lot or parcel of land within the City. An Animal Permit is required. Applies: Applies to chickens on parcels under 4,500 square feet, or to keeping up to 10 chickens on a parcel. § 4-11-1200 · code text Chickens may be kept on parcels of less than 4,500 square feet with an Animal Permit. Up to 10 chickens may be kept on a parcel with an Animal Permit, but in no case may more than 10 chickens be kept on any single parcel.

Other San Leandro rules on this

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

Permit for small home rooftop solar (Ch. 7-5, Art. 2)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in San Leandro?

Residential fences: at most 3 feet in front or corner side yards on a street and 7 feet elsewhere; RO District, 6 feet.

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

In the RD, RM and RS Districts, accessory structures are limited to 15 feet and 500 square feet each, excluding accessory dwelling units.

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

A home business may use 500 square feet or 25% of the floor area, whichever is less; only residents may work on site.

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

San Leandro's code: At least 5 feet from an interior property line. (Applies to an unenclosed pool, hot tub or related equipment in a required rear or side yard.) (§ 2.04.344); At least 10 feet from a street property line. (Applies to an unenclosed pool, hot tub or related equipment in a required rear or side yard.) (§ 2.04.344).

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

San Leandro's code: Yes, up to 4 chickens, no roosters. (Applies to parcels of 4,500 square feet or larger.) (§ 4-11-1200); Up to 10 chickens with an Animal Permit; never more than 10 on any parcel. (Applies to any parcel. Parcels under 4,500 square feet need an Animal Permit for any chickens.) (§ 4-11-1200).

General information, not legal advice.

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