Sand City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Sand City

Sand City sets its own rules for accessory buildings and home businesses. Clinics, barbershops, and business and professional offices may not run from a home.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: An accessory building closer than 5 feet to any property line is limited to 10 feet (city rule).
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit, may use at most 1/4 of the home's floor area, and must be run only by residents.

Each rule below is marked Sand City 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

Sand City code What Sand City's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 10 feet high at the exterior line. Applies: Accessory buildings closer than 5 feet to any property line. § 18.62.070 · code text No accessory building closer than five feet to any property line shall exceed 10 feet in height at the exterior line.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any lot line. Applies: Accessory buildings not used as homes, when no unpierced solid masonry wall and gutter system is provided. § 18.62.070 · code text If no such wall and gutter system is provided, such accessory building shall not be closer than five feet to any lot line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from any home on the same lot. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in an R district; includes homes under construction. § 18.62.070 · code text Unless so attached, an accessory building in an R district shall be located at least 10 feet from any dwelling existing or under construction on the same lot.

Running a business from home

Sand City code What Sand City's code adds
Space used	No more than 1/4 of the home's floor area. § 18.62.110 · code text Home occupations shall be conducted solely by resident occupants in their residence; provided, that not more than one-quarter (1/4) of the area of the floor of such residence shall be used for such purposes;
Employees	Only people who live in the home may run the business. § 18.62.110 · code text Home occupations shall be conducted solely by resident occupants in their residence; provided, that not more than one-quarter (1/4) of the area of the floor of such residence shall be used for such purposes;
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 18.62.110 · code text Home occupation uses, as described in Chapter 18.04 of this title, shall be allowable with the issuance of a home occupation permit.
Businesses not allowed	Clinics; barbershops; cosmetology establishments; business and professional offices; retail or wholesale dealerships involving the storing of more than 50 pounds of merchandise on the premises § 18.04.280 · code text Clinics, barbershops, cosmetology establishments, business and professional offices and retail or wholesale dealerships involving the storing of more than 50 pounds of merchandise on the premises shall not be deemed to be home occupations.

Lot splits under SB 9

Sand City code What Sand City's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the lot area of the parcel being split. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits (SB 9). § 17.55.040 · code text Neither resulting parcel shall be smaller than 40% of the lot area of the parcel proposed for the subdivision.
Minimum new lot size	Both new parcels must be at least 1,200 square feet. § 17.55.040 · code text Both resulting parcels are no smaller than 1,200 square feet.
Setbacks	4 feet. Applies: Applies to required rear and side yard setbacks. § 17.55.040 · code text required rear and side yard setbacks shall equal four feet No setback is required. Applies: Applies to an existing legal structure, or one rebuilt in the same location and to the same dimensions. § 17.55.040 · code text no setback shall be required for an existing legally created structure or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing legally created structure.
Standards	The city must waive or modify any standard that would prevent 2 units of 800 square feet on each parcel. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits (SB 9). Changes are the minimum needed. § 17.55.040 · code text Any modifications of development standards shall be the minimum modification necessary to avoid physically precluding two units of 800 square feet each on each parcel. Each new parcel must have access to, provide access to, or adjoin the public right-of-way. § 17.55.040 · code text Each resulting parcel shall have access to, provide access to, or adjoin the public right-of-way. Each unit needs its own gas, electric and water connection to the utility, unless the Building Official waives it. Applies: Applies to adjacent or connected dwelling units. § 17.55.040 · code text The proposed dwelling units shall provide a separate gas, electric, and water utility connection directly between each dwelling unit and the utility, unless otherwise waived by the City's Building Official.
Owner occupancy	The applicant signs an affidavit to live in one unit as their main home for at least 3 years. Applies: Counted from approval of the urban lot split. Does not apply to a community land trust or qualified nonprofit corporation. § 17.55.040 · code text the applicant intends to occupy one of the housing units on the newly created lots as its principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split.
Parking	1 parking space per unit on a parcel created by an urban lot split. Applies: None required within 1/2 mile walking distance of a high-quality transit corridor stop or major transit stop, or within 1 block of car-share parking. § 17.55.040 · code text One space shall be required per unit constructed on a parcel created pursuant to the procedures in this section

Solar panels and EV chargers

Sand City code What Sand City's code adds
Solar permit process	Permit applications may be submitted electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small home rooftop solar system permit applicants. § 15.14.050 · code text Electronic submission of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The permit is issued the same day. Applies: Applies to complete over-the-counter small home rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.14.060 · code text The Building Department shall issue a building permit or other applicable nondiscretionary permit the same day for "over-the-counter" applications The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Applies to complete electronic small home rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 15.14.060 · code text or within one to three business days for electronically submitted applications upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Tree removal

Sand City code What Sand City's code adds
Exemptions	Emergency action needed right away for the safety of life or property because a tree is hazardous. Applies: Applies to an emergency caused by the tree's hazardous or dangerous condition. § 16.12.100 · code text There was an emergency caused by the hazardous or dangerous condition of the tree which required the action to be taken immediately for the safety of life or property, as provided in Section 16.12.080 of this chapter.
Permit to remove	Yes. A permit is needed to remove, poison, kill or trim more than 1/3 of a significant tree's green foliage. Applies: Except for the cases listed in the code. § 16.12.030 · code text no person shall perform or cause to be performed, the removal, cutting down, or trimming of more than one-third of the green foliage of, poisoning, or otherwise killing or destroying any significant tree as defined in this chapter until a significant tree removal permit approval has been obtained.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Sand City?

An accessory building closer than 5 feet to any property line is limited to 10 feet (city rule).

Can I run a business from my home in Sand City?

A home business needs a permit, may use at most 1/4 of the home's floor area, and must be run only by residents.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Sand City?

Sand City's code: Neither new parcel may be smaller than 40% of the lot area of the parcel being split. (Applies to urban lot splits (SB 9).) (§ 17.55.040); Both new parcels must be at least 1,200 square feet. (§ 17.55.040).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Sand City?

Sand City's code: Permit applications may be submitted electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small home rooftop solar system permit applicants.) (§ 15.14.050); The permit is issued the same day. (Applies to complete over-the-counter small home rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.14.060).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Sand City?

Sand City's code: Emergency action needed right away for the safety of life or property because a tree is hazardous. (Applies to an emergency caused by the tree's hazardous or dangerous condition.) (§ 16.12.100); Yes. A permit is needed to remove, poison, kill or trim more than 1/3 of a significant tree's green foliage. (Except for the cases listed in the code.) (§ 16.12.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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