Santa Maria · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Maria

Santa Maria sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence and wall limits differ in Neotraditional Neighborhoods, and vehicle or vessel repair for pay is not allowed on residential property.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator authorizes otherwise.
Accessory height: A single-story accessory structure behind the main building: at most 9 feet at the property line, 14 feet at 5 feet from it.
Home businesses: No customers or employees may come to a home business, except music lessons and 1-person testing; a city business license is required.

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

Fences and walls

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
Front yard height	No higher than 3 feet. Applies: Required front yards. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls shall not exceed a height of three feet within any required front yard, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back 10 feet or more from the back of sidewalk or front property line and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. Up to 6 feet. Applies: Interior side lines and front yard; 10 feet or more behind the sidewalk or front line; no longer than 1/3 of parcel width. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls shall not exceed a height of three feet within any required front yard, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back 10 feet or more from the back of sidewalk or front property line and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. No higher than 3 feet. Applies: Directly behind the public utility easement in Neotraditional Neighborhoods. § 12-27.02 · code text Fencing shall not exceed a height of three feet immediately behind the public utility easement, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back five feet or more from the back sidewalk and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. Up to 6 feet. Applies: Neotraditional Neighborhoods; interior side lines and front yard; 5 feet or more behind the sidewalk; no longer than 1/3 of parcel width. § 12-27.02 · code text Fencing shall not exceed a height of three feet immediately behind the public utility easement, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back five feet or more from the back sidewalk and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. Trellises and arbors up to 9 feet. Applies: Front yard only; at least 10 feet from property lines and driveways, no wider than 10 feet, and not against the corner cutback rules. § 12-27.02 · code text Trellises and arbors, not exceeding nine feet in height, may be located in the front yard provided that they do not conflict with the provisions of Section 12-27.03, that they are at least 10 feet from property lines and driveways, and that they are no wider than 10 feet.
Side and rear yard height	No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Required side yards, unless the Zoning Administrator allows otherwise. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls erected within required side yards shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Side yards in Neotraditional Neighborhoods, outside the public utility easement. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls shall be located outside of the public utility easement and shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator allows otherwise. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls erected within rear yards shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 9 feet high at the property line. Applies: Single-story accessory structures behind the main building that extend into the interior side and rear yards. § 12-27.01 · code text the accessory structure does not exceed nine feet in height at the property line Up to 14 feet high at 5 feet from the property line. Applies: Single-story accessory structures behind the main building that extend into the interior side and rear yards. § 12-27.01 · code text and increase progressively to 14 feet in height at a point five feet from the property line Up to 20 feet. Applies: Detached accessory structures that extend into a rear yard next to a public alley. § 12-27.01 · code text a detached accessory structure projecting into a rear yard adjacent to a public alley may be up to 20 feet in height
Size or lot coverage	No more than 25% of the required rear yard. Applies: All structures in the required rear yard combined. § 12-27.01 · code text all structures in the required rear yard do not cover more than 25% of the required rear yard
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from all property lines. Applies: Accessory structures behind the main building connected by a trellis, breezeway or qualifying unconditioned room. § 12-27.01 · code text the accessory structure so connected is set back a minimum of three feet from all property lines
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from any dwelling or structure on the same lot. Applies: Detached accessory structures. § 12-27.01 · code text Detached accessory structures shall be located at least five feet from any dwelling or structure on the same lot

Running a business from home

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
Customer visits	No customers, suppliers, clients or patients may come to the home. Applies: Except music lessons, and school readiness testing for 1 person at a time by a resident. § 12-29.07 · code text There shall be no customers, suppliers or employees, clients or patients coming to the home in connection with the home occupation, except for the following: 1 person at a time. Applies: School readiness testing and counseling done only by a resident, as a secondary use. § 12-29.07 · code text (b) School readiness testing and counseling activities for one person at a time, when conducted solely by a resident of the home, as a secondary use, in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter and the Santa Maria Municipal Code. Allowed. Applies: Music lessons, as permitted under the city's zoning rules. § 12-29.07 · code text (a) Music lessons as permitted by Section 12-6.04(g);
Employees	No employees may come to the home. Applies: General rule for home occupations. § 12-29.07 · code text There shall be no customers, suppliers or employees, clients or patients coming to the home in connection with the home occupation, except for the following:
Permit	A valid city business license and a signed statement that the operator knows the city rules. Applies: Business owners or operators in a residential zone. § 12-29.04 · code text Any business owner or operator operating in a residential zoning district shall sign and file a statement indicating his or her awareness of City regulations applicable to the operation of home occupations, and that owner/operator must also have a valid City business license.
Businesses not allowed	vehicle or vessel repair for compensation Applies: residentially zoned property § 12-29.02.1 · code text It shall be unlawful to engage in vehicle or vessel repair, as defined in subsection (b), on residentially zoned property for compensation.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the City checklist. Electronic applications and signatures are accepted. § 9-56.040 · code text the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this Ordinance and associated supporting documentations.
Review time	A nondiscretionary building permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Complete small home rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan. § 9-52.060 · code text The Community Development Department shall issue a nondiscretionary building permit within three business days of receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

Pets, chickens and bees

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
Bees	Yes, no more than 4 hives. Applies: Applies to lots smaller than 10,000 square feet. § 5-3.703 · code text No more than four hives shall be maintained on lots having less than 10,000 square feet in area. Up to 4 hives, plus 1 more for each 5,000 square feet of lot area over 10,000 square feet. Applies: Applies to lots larger than 10,000 square feet. § 5-3.703 · code text On lots having more than 10,000 square feet in area, no more than one additional hive may be maintained for each 5,000 square feet of additional lot area. Yes. Hives must be at least 10 feet from property lines, unless kept 8 feet or more above the ground. § 5-3.703 · code text No hives shall be located within 10 feet of any property line except when situated and maintained eight feet or more above adjacent ground level.
Permit	Registration with the County Agricultural Commissioner is required. Applies: Applies to each bee colony. § 5-3.702 · code text Each colony shall be registered with the County Agricultural Commissioner.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Santa Maria?

Fences are limited to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator authorizes otherwise.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Santa Maria?

A single-story accessory structure behind the main building: at most 9 feet at the property line, 14 feet at 5 feet from it.

Can I run a business from my home in Santa Maria?

No customers or employees may come to a home business, except music lessons and 1-person testing; a city business license is required.

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

Santa Maria's code: The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the City checklist. Electronic applications and signatures are accepted. (§ 9-56.040); A nondiscretionary building permit is issued within 3 business days. (Complete small home rooftop solar applications that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 9-52.060).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Santa Maria?

Santa Maria's code: Yes, no more than 4 hives. (Applies to lots smaller than 10,000 square feet.) (§ 5-3.703); Up to 4 hives, plus 1 more for each 5,000 square feet of lot area over 10,000 square feet. (Applies to lots larger than 10,000 square feet.) (§ 5-3.703).

General information, not legal advice.

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