Sanger · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Sanger

Sanger sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence limits depend on the yard and on whether the fence is open, and sales on the premises are not allowed except for cottage food.

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Key points

Fence height: In the R-A district, front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet if open; on side and rear lines, 6 feet.
Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings in the R-1-6 district are limited to 1 story and 12 feet to plate height (city rule).
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit and must stay in the main building; only residents or family may work there, except cottage food.

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

Fences and walls

Sanger code What Sanger's code adds
Front yard height	No higher than 3 feet; open fences up to 4 feet. Applies: R-A district; required front yard and street side yard of a reversed corner lot; not on parcels of 5 acres or more. § 90-187 · code text No fence, wall or hedge over three feet in height other than an open fence not over four feet in height shall be permitted in any required front yard, or in the required side yard on the street side of a reversed corner lot, except on parcels of five acres or more. Open fences up to 4 feet. Applies: R-A district; required front yard and street side yard of a reversed corner lot; not on parcels of 5 acres or more. § 90-187 · code text No fence, wall or hedge over three feet in height other than an open fence not over four feet in height shall be permitted in any required front yard, or in the required side yard on the street side of a reversed corner lot, except on parcels of five acres or more.
Side and rear yard height	Fences, hedges and walls up to 6 feet. Applies: R-A district; on or inside rear and side lines of interior lots, and on or behind the front setback line. § 90-187 · code text Fences, hedges and walls not greater than six feet in height shall be permitted on or within all rear and side property lines on interior lots and on or to the rear of all front yard setback lines.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Sanger code What Sanger's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 1 story and 12 feet to plate height. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-1-6 district. § 90-294 · code text No accessory building erected in this district shall have a height greater than one story, not to exceed 12 feet, to plate height.

Running a business from home

Sanger code What Sanger's code adds
Employees	Only residents or family members of a resident. Applies: A cottage food operation may employ 1 full-time equivalent employee. § 90-897 · code text There shall be no employment or contracting of help other than a resident of the dwelling or a family member of a resident of the dwelling, with the exception that a cottage food operation is allowed to employ one full-time equivalent employee.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 90-897 · code text A home occupation may be permitted by issuance of a home occupation permit in accordance with this section.
Businesses not allowed	Sales of products on the premises Applies: Cottage food operations may sell their products directly to consumers § 90-897 · code text There shall be no sales of products on the premises, except that products from a cottage food operation may be sold directly to consumers.
Space used	No building or space outside the main building may be used. § 90-897 · code text No building or space outside of the main building shall be used for home occupation purposes.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Sanger code What Sanger's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited permits; a complete application meeting the checklist is approved; the charger may not be energized before city approval. § 90-901 · code text the building official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations

Swimming pools

Sanger code What Sanger's code adds
Permit	A building permit is required; issued only to the owner or a contractor licensed to build pools. Applies: Building a swimming pool. § 14-541 · code text No person except a property owner of the premises for which the application for the permit required by this chapter is being made or a person licensed by the state contractor's licensing board of a category permitting the construction of swimming pools, shall be issued a building permit for the construction of a swimming pool.

Pets, chickens and bees

Sanger code What Sanger's code adds
Pet limit	Fewer than 3 dogs over 4 months old. Applies: Per person; the zoning code controls where it conflicts. § 10-34 · code text No person shall own, keep or harbor three or more dogs over the age of four months; provided, however, that to the extent this section conflicts with the provisions of the city's zoning code, the zoning code shall be controlling.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Sanger?

In the R-A district, front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet, or 4 feet if open; on side and rear lines, 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Sanger?

Accessory buildings in the R-1-6 district are limited to 1 story and 12 feet to plate height (city rule).

Can I run a business from my home in Sanger?

A home business needs a permit and must stay in the main building; only residents or family may work there, except cottage food.

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

Sanger's code: Expedited permits; a complete application meeting the checklist is approved; the charger may not be energized before city approval. (§ 90-901).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Sanger?

Sanger's code: A building permit is required; issued only to the owner or a contractor licensed to build pools. (Building a swimming pool.) (§ 14-541).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Sanger?

Sanger's code: Fewer than 3 dogs over 4 months old. (Per person; the zoning code controls where it conflicts.) (§ 10-34).

General information, not legal advice.

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Sanger Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Sanger

Sanger overview