Soledad · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Soledad

Soledad sets its own rules for fences next to alleys and drainage channels and for sight distance at intersections, and has a separate section on home occupations.

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Key points

Fence height: On residential lots next to public alleys or drainage channels, fences or walls up to 8 feet need site plan approval (city rule).
Home businesses: The city has a separate code section on home occupations.

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

Fences and walls

Soledad code What Soledad's code adds
Corner visibility	Clear sight lines must be kept where streets, driveways and alleys meet; fence heights may be changed to ensure this. § 17.36.010 · code text Adequate sight distance shall be maintained at all intersecting streets or highways, driveways intersecting a street or alley, and alleys intersecting a street. Building setback and fence height regulations may be modified by the director or the planning commission if it is determined that such action is necessary to insure adequate sight distance.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences or walls can be up to 8 feet tall with site plan approval. Applies: Residential property next to public alleys or drainage channels; not in front or street side yards without a conditional use permit. § 17.36.010 · code text A site plan approval may be granted for the construction of fences or walls conforming to Section 17.36.010 of up to eight feet zero inches in height on all residentially zoned property adjoining public alleys or drainage channels.
Permit	Site plan approval for fences up to 8 feet; front or street side yards need a conditional use permit. Applies: Residential property next to public alleys or drainage channels. § 17.36.010 · code text A site plan approval may be granted for the construction of fences or walls conforming to Section 17.36.010 of up to eight feet zero inches in height on all residentially zoned property adjoining public alleys or drainage channels. Fences shall not extend into front or street side yards unless a conditional use permit is approved by the planning commission.

RV and boat parking

Soledad code What Soledad's code adds
Front-yard parking	No unenclosed RV, boat or trailer parking or storage over 3 consecutive days or 6 days per calendar year. Applies: Required front yards, street side yards of corner lots, or rear yards of double-frontage lots in R zones. § 17.38.340 · code text No portion of any required front yard, exterior side yard of a comer lot, or rear yard of a double frontage lot except as hereafter provided, shall for any period of time in excess of three consecutive days or six days in a calendar year be used for the unenclosed parking or storage of the following: 1 boat, boat and trailer, or utility trailer may be stored on the driveway with a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. Applies: R-1 only, when the side or rear yard cannot feasibly be reached; fully on the paved driveway, not over the sidewalk. § 17.38.340 · code text Subject to first obtaining a Certificate of Zoning Compliance approved by the planning director and payment of applicable fees, not more than one boat, or one trailer and boat combination, or one utility trailer may be allowed when it has been determined by the planning director that due to lack of feasible access, the vehicle cannot be parked or stored in the interior side yard or rear yard area Up to 45 days per calendar year in front, side or rear yards. Applies: With a temporary use permit after showing hardship. § 17.38.340 · code text Upon demonstration of hardship, and subject to first obtaining a temporary use permit pursuant to Section 17.42.015, the storage of the items of property described in subsections B and C of this section may be allowed in front, side or rear yards of sites for a period of time not to exceed forty-five days in any calendar year.
Screening and surface	Covered with a secure tarp or fitted fabric cover in good condition. Applies: R-1 driveway exception for 1 boat, boat and trailer, or utility trailer. § 17.38.340 · code text Is covered with a secure tarp, or fitted fabric cover in good condition.
Size limit	No longer than 20 feet or taller than 10 feet. Applies: A boat and trailer or utility trailer stored on an R-1 driveway under the Certificate of Zoning Compliance exception. § 17.38.340 · code text The trailer/boat combination or utility trailer shall not exceed twenty feet in length or ten feet in height;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Soledad code What Soledad's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist; an inspection follows installation. Applies: EV charging stations. § 15.40.050 · code text An inspection of the station(s) shall be required and performed by the building department.

Swimming pools

Soledad code What Soledad's code adds
Pool barrier	Designed to resist climbing. Applies: Fences around pools and ponds over 18 inches deep in residential districts. § 17.38.320 · code text All swimming pools and ponds shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height, designed to resist climbing.
Barrier height	At least 6 feet high. Applies: Fences fully enclosing pools and ponds over 18 inches deep in residential districts. § 17.38.320 · code text All swimming pools and ponds shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height, designed to resist climbing.
Gates	Self-closing and self-latching. § 17.38.320 · code text All gates shall be self-closing and self-latching.
Permit	A use permit may allow another location, but setbacks may not be cut by more than 50%. Applies: Alternatives to the required front and side setbacks. § 17.38.320 · code text The planning commission may by use permit allow a different location, but in no case shall the foregoing requirements be reduced by more than fifty percent.
Setback from property lines	At least 50 feet from the front lot line. § 17.38.320 · code text Such pools or ponds shall be constructed at least fifty feet from the front line and at least ten feet from the side line of the lot. At least 10 feet from the side lot line. § 17.38.320 · code text Such pools or ponds shall be constructed at least fifty feet from the front line and at least ten feet from the side line of the lot. At least 20 feet from any home other than the owner's. Applies: Pool filter and heating systems. § 17.38.320 · code text Filter and heating systems shall not be located closer than twenty feet to any dwelling other than the owner's.

Pets, chickens and bees

Soledad code What Soledad's code adds
Bees	No, except where this code title specifically allows it. § 6.20.050 · code text It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain within the city, or permit to be kept or maintained upon land within the city owned by or under the control of the person, a hive of bees, except as specifically permitted under provisions of this title.
Pet limit	Up to 4 dogs and 4 cats per household. Applies: Animals under 4 months old are not counted. § 6.20.100 · code text A household may possess both dogs and cats, but no more than four of each. For purposes of this section, animals under the age of four months shall not be counted.

Other Soledad rules on this

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

Home occupations (§ 17.38.140)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Soledad?

On residential lots next to public alleys or drainage channels, fences or walls up to 8 feet need site plan approval (city rule).

Can I run a business from my home in Soledad?

The city has a separate code section on home occupations. Soledad also has a related rule: Home occupations (§ 17.38.140).

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Soledad?

Soledad's code: No unenclosed RV, boat or trailer parking or storage over 3 consecutive days or 6 days per calendar year. (Required front yards, street side yards of corner lots, or rear yards of double-frontage lots in R zones.) (§ 17.38.340); 1 boat, boat and trailer, or utility trailer may be stored on the driveway with a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. (R-1 only, when the side or rear yard cannot feasibly be reached; fully on the paved driveway, not over the sidewalk.) (§ 17.38.340).

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

Soledad's code: The building official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist; an inspection follows installation. (EV charging stations.) (§ 15.40.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Soledad?

Soledad's code: Designed to resist climbing. (Fences around pools and ponds over 18 inches deep in residential districts.) (§ 17.38.320); At least 6 feet high. (Fences fully enclosing pools and ponds over 18 inches deep in residential districts.) (§ 17.38.320).

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

Soledad's code: No, except where this code title specifically allows it. (§ 6.20.050); Up to 4 dogs and 4 cats per household. (Animals under 4 months old are not counted.) (§ 6.20.100).

General information, not legal advice.

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