Skip to content

Shasta County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Shasta County

Shasta County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It limits the total size of accessory structures and sets rules for home businesses, which only residents may run.

Key points

  • Accessory size: With a legal residence, all accessory structures may total 2,500 sq ft, with listed exclusions; without one, 1,000 sq ft.
  • Home businesses: A home business may use 25% of the home, or 400 sq ft in a garage or accessory building; customer trips need a permit.

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

Shasta County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Shasta County have their own codes and their own pages.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Shasta County code What Shasta County's code adds
Size or lot coverage
  • All accessory structures together can be at most 2,500 square feet, unless an administrative permit is approved.
    Applies: With a legal home. Not counting 600 square feet of attached garage, or up to 2 detached structures under 120 square feet each.
    § 17.88.140 · code text
    On property with a legally established residence, the combined total floor area of all such accessory structures, attached and detached, does not exceed two thousand five hundred square feet excluding six hundred square feet of garage space when attached to and part of the residence, and excluding up to two legal detached structures less than one hundred twenty square feet of floor area each, unless an administrative permit is first approved.
  • All accessory structures together can be at most 1,000 square feet.
    Applies: On property with no legal home, counting structures under 120 square feet.
    § 17.88.140 · code text
    The combined total floor area of all accessory structures, including structures less than one hundred twenty square feet, shall not exceed one thousand square feet.
  • May be more than 1,000 square feet, up to the 2,500-square-foot limit and its permit rules.
    Applies: When a legal home is built at the same time and all home permits are approved.
    § 17.88.140 · code text
    If a legal residence will be constructed concurrently on the property and all required permits for the residence have been approved, the combined total floor area of all accessory structures may exceed one thousand square feet, subject to the permitting requirements and size limitations of subsection B.2.a of this section

Running a business from home

Shasta County code What Shasta County's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 25% of the home's floor space.
    Applies: For a home business inside the home.
    § 17.88.175 · code text
    The floor space occupied by a home occupation shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the floor space of the dwelling unit if located within the dwelling unit, or four hundred square feet if in an attached garage or residential accessory building;
  • No more than 400 square feet.
    Applies: For a home business in an attached garage or residential accessory building.
    § 17.88.175 · code text
    The floor space occupied by a home occupation shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the floor space of the dwelling unit if located within the dwelling unit, or four hundred square feet if in an attached garage or residential accessory building;
Customer visits
  • No customer vehicle trips.
    Applies: Without an administrative permit.
    § 17.88.175 · code text
    It will generate no customer vehicle trips. If the home occupation will generate customer vehicle trips, an administrative permit must be secured, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.88.205.
  • Up to 6 customer vehicle trips per day.
    Applies: On lots of 1 acre or less, for home businesses with customer trips.
    § 17.88.205 · code text
    If the lot is one acre or less in size, up to six customer vehicle trips may be permitted daily;
  • Up to 10 customer vehicle trips per day.
    Applies: On lots larger than 1 acre, for home businesses with customer trips.
    § 17.88.205 · code text
    If the lot is larger than one acre in size, up to ten customer vehicle trips may be permitted daily.
Employees
  • Only people who live in the home may run or work in the business.
    § 17.88.175 · code text
    It shall be conducted only by persons residing in the dwelling unit in which the home occupation exists. No other persons may be engaged in or employed for purposes of a home occupation;
Permit
  • An administrative permit is required.
    Applies: When the home business will bring customer vehicle trips.
    § 17.88.175 · code text
    If the home occupation will generate customer vehicle trips, an administrative permit must be secured, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.88.205.
Businesses not allowed
  • displaying or selling stock-in-trade on the premises, except articles produced on the premises
    § 17.88.175 · code text
    Except for articles produced on the premises, no stock-in-trade may be displayed or sold on the premises;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Shasta County code What Shasta County's code adds
EV charger permit
  • Allowed in all zones without discretionary review.
    Applies: Only if the station would not cause a specific adverse impact.
    § 17.88.080 · code text
    Electric vehicle charging stations are a permitted use in all zone districts and are not subject to discretionary review provided the following criteria is met:

Swimming pools

Shasta County code What Shasta County's code adds
Pool barrier
  • Chain link, vertical slats no more than 4 inches apart, or masonry meet the rule.
    § 8.48.040 · code text
    Chain link fencing or vertical slat fencing with maximum slat spacing of four inches or masonry meet the requirements of this section.
  • Openings may not let a 4-inch-diameter sphere pass through.
    Applies: Other materials or structures approved by the building official; openings other than doors or gates.
    § 8.48.040 · code text
    provided, that no opening in these materials or structures, other than openings for doors or gates, allows a sphere four inches in diameter to pass through it.
  • Every door or gate must completely fill its opening.
    § 8.48.050 · code text
    Every door or gate in any enclosing structure required by Section 8.48.030 shall completely fill any opening in the enclosing structure provided for the door or gate.
Barrier height
  • At least 5 feet high.
    Applies: Outdoor pools; the enclosure must be in place before the pool is built.
    § 8.48.040 · code text
    unless and until the area proposed for the swimming pool is first enclosed and surrounded by a fence or wall at least five feet high.
Gates
  • Self-closing, self-latching devices on the inside, keeping it securely closed, at least 4 feet above the ground.
    § 8.48.050 · code text
    Every door or gate shall be equipped with self-closing and self-latching devices on the interior side of the enclosing structure that are capable of keeping the door or gate securely closed and are located not less than four feet above ground level.
  • Locks may replace the self-closing, self-latching devices but must stay locked when the pool is not in use.
    Applies: Doors and gates with locks.
    § 8.48.050 · code text
    Locks may be used in lieu of these self-closing and self-latching devices; provided, doors and gates equipped with locks are locked shut at all times when the swimming pool is not in actual use.

Pets, chickens and bees

Shasta County code What Shasta County's code adds
Bees
  • Africanized honey bees may not be kept.
    § 6.08.110 · code text
    No person shall willingly and knowingly keep an apiary of Africanized honey bees.

Other Shasta County rules on this

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

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Shasta County?

With a legal residence, all accessory structures may total 2,500 sq ft, with listed exclusions; without one, 1,000 sq ft.

Can I run a business from my home in Shasta County?

A home business may use 25% of the home, or 400 sq ft in a garage or accessory building; customer trips need a permit.

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

Shasta County's code: Allowed in all zones without discretionary review. (Only if the station would not cause a specific adverse impact.) (§ 17.88.080).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Shasta County?

Shasta County's code: Chain link, vertical slats no more than 4 inches apart, or masonry meet the rule. (§ 8.48.040); Openings may not let a 4-inch-diameter sphere pass through. (Other materials or structures approved by the building official; openings other than doors or gates.) (§ 8.48.040).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Shasta County?

Shasta County's code: Africanized honey bees may not be kept. (§ 6.08.110).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Shasta County property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Shasta County