Sonora · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Sonora

Sonora sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and corner location, and home businesses need a permit.

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Key points

Fence height: Sonora limits fences, walls and hedges in required yards to 6 feet, and to 3 feet at residential street corners.
Accessory structures: Sonora limits detached accessory structures in the required rear yard to one story or 12 feet, at least 5 feet from the rear line.
Home businesses: Sonora limits a home business to one room and 25% of the floor area, with at most 3 visits a day and no employees.

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

Fences and walls

Sonora code What Sonora's code adds
Corner visibility	Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 3 feet above natural ground. Applies: Residential corner parcels: the triangle formed by the street rights-of-way and a line between points 30 feet from their intersection. § 17.40.040 · code text provided, that in all residential zones such fence, wall or hedge is not higher than three feet above the natural ground level on corner parcels fronting on two or more intersecting streets, within a triangle formed by the intersecting rights-of-way and a line drawn between points on such rights-of-way thirty feet distance from their point of intersection.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, walls and hedges can be up to 6 feet above natural ground. Applies: In required yards; a lower limit applies at residential street corners. § 17.40.040 · code text A fence, wall or hedge not higher than six feet above the natural ground level may be located on the required yards;

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Sonora code What Sonora's code adds
Maximum height	At most 1 story or 12 feet tall. Applies: Detached accessory structures in the required rear yard. § 17.40.050 · code text Detached accessory structures not higher than one story or twelve feet may be located on the required rear yard up to five feet of the rear parcel line.
Side and rear setback	Can be as close as 5 feet to the rear parcel line. Applies: Detached structures of 1 story or 12 feet or less in the required rear yard. § 17.40.050 · code text Detached accessory structures not higher than one story or twelve feet may be located on the required rear yard up to five feet of the rear parcel line.

Running a business from home

Sonora code What Sonora's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room and no more than 25% of the home's floor area. Applies: Living area or garage only; not in accessory structures, yards or required parking. § 17.59.020 · code text does not occupy more than twenty-five percent of the floor area of the dwelling;
Customer visits	3 visits (6 vehicle trips) per day at most. § 17.59.020 · code text Traffic related to the operation of the business shall be limited to six vehicle trips per day (three visits).
Employees	Employees cannot work at or be sent out from the home. § 17.59.020 · code text Employees shall not work at or be dispatched from the premises nor otherwise be on or about the premises for business purposes;
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. § 17.59.030 · code text An application for a home occupation permit shall be filed with the community development department on a form provided by the department.
Businesses not allowed	on-premises sales or vending of merchandise § 17.59.020 · code text Involves no on-premises sales or vending of merchandise; use involving the storage, sale or use of hazardous, flammable or explosive materials beyond those normally found in a single-family residence § 17.59.020 · code text No use involving the storage, sale or use of any hazardous, flammable or explosive materials, beyond that normally found in a single-family residence shall be allowed as a home occupation.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Sonora code What Sonora's code adds
EV charger permit	Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. § 15.11.040 · code text the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this article and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures Approved, all permits issued, when the application meets the city checklist and all applicable laws and health and safety standards. Applies: EV charging stations; the building official decides; the station may not be energized until the city approves. § 15.11.040 · code text the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits.

Tree removal

Sonora code What Sonora's code adds
Penalty	The city may remove the trees and charge the owners the cost of removal. Applies: When owners do not remove notified dead or diseased trees within 60 days. § 12.20.100 · code text In the event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the city may remove such trees and charge the cost of removal to the owners.
Protected trees	Any tree with a trunk at least 6 inches in diameter. Applies: On any undeveloped lot in the city, when removal is done in anticipation of developing it. § 12.20.110 · code text Removal of any trees having a minimum trunk diameter of six inches, on any undeveloped parcel within the city, in anticipation of developing that parcel is strictly prohibited.

Pets, chickens and bees

Sonora code What Sonora's code adds
Chickens	Yes; up to 3 chickens and rabbits combined; no roosters. Applies: Lots up to 0.49 acre. § 17.77.020 · code text Up to 0.49 acre \| ¼ small non-hoofed animal unit (e.g., 3 chickens; or 2 chickens and one rabbit, or 2 rabbits and one chicken, or 3 rabbits) Yes; up to 1/2 of a small non-hoofed animal unit (1 unit is 12 poultry or rabbits); no roosters. Applies: Lots of 0.5 to 0.74 acre. § 17.77.020 · code text 0.5 to 0.74 acre \| ½ small non-hoofed animal unit Yes; up to 3/4 of a small non-hoofed animal unit (1 unit is 12 poultry or rabbits); no roosters. Applies: Lots of 0.75 to 0.99 acre. § 17.77.020 · code text 0.75 to 0.99 acre \| ¾ small non-hoofed animal unit Yes; 1 small non-hoofed animal unit (12 poultry or rabbits) per acre, up to 24 animals per lot; no roosters. Applies: Lots of 1.0 acre or more. § 17.77.020 · code text 1.0 acre and above \| 1 large hoofed animal unit/a/ per 1 acre or 1 small hoofed animal unit per acre plus 1 small non-hoofed animal unit per 1 acre - up to a maximum of 24 small non-hoofed animals on any single parcel
Large animals	Allowed at 1 large hoofed animal unit per acre. Applies: Lots of 1.0 acre or more. § 17.77.020 · code text 1.0 acre and above \| 1 large hoofed animal unit/a/ per 1 acre or 1 small hoofed animal unit per acre plus 1 small non-hoofed animal unit per 1 acre - up to a maximum of 24 small non-hoofed animals on any single parcel 1 small hoofed animal unit (2 sheep or 2 goats) per acre. Applies: Lots of 1.0 acre or more. § 17.77.020 · code text 1.0 acre and above \| 1 large hoofed animal unit/a/ per 1 acre or 1 small hoofed animal unit per acre plus 1 small non-hoofed animal unit per 1 acre - up to a maximum of 24 small non-hoofed animals on any single parcel Stalls, barns, sheds, corrals and other livestock structures at least 25 feet from the property line. Applies: Structures for keeping hoofed livestock. § 17.77.020 · code text Setbacks for stalls, barns, sheds, corrals or other livestock keeping structures shall be a minimum of twenty-five feet from the property line.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Sonora?

Sonora limits fences, walls and hedges in required yards to 6 feet, and to 3 feet at residential street corners.

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

Sonora limits detached accessory structures in the required rear yard to one story or 12 feet, at least 5 feet from the rear line.

Can I run a business from my home in Sonora?

Sonora limits a home business to one room and 25% of the floor area, with at most 3 visits a day and no employees.

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

Sonora's code: Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (§ 15.11.040); Approved, all permits issued, when the application meets the city checklist and all applicable laws and health and safety standards. (EV charging stations; the building official decides; the station may not be energized until the city approves.) (§ 15.11.040).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Sonora?

Sonora's code: The city may remove the trees and charge the owners the cost of removal. (When owners do not remove notified dead or diseased trees within 60 days.) (§ 12.20.100); Any tree with a trunk at least 6 inches in diameter. (On any undeveloped lot in the city, when removal is done in anticipation of developing it.) (§ 12.20.110).

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

Sonora's code: Yes; up to 3 chickens and rabbits combined; no roosters. (Lots up to 0.49 acre.) (§ 17.77.020); Yes; up to 1/2 of a small non-hoofed animal unit (1 unit is 12 poultry or rabbits); no roosters. (Lots of 0.5 to 0.74 acre.) (§ 17.77.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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