South San Francisco · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in South San Francisco

South San Francisco sets its own limits on fences, accessory buildings and home businesses. Fence height depends on the setback and the fence type, and taller fences need a permit.

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Key points

Fence height: South San Francisco limits fences to 4 feet in front and street-facing side setbacks and 6 feet in interior side and rear setbacks.
Accessory buildings: South San Francisco limits all accessory buildings together to 20% of the main building's footprint or 220 square feet, whichever is greater.
Home businesses: South San Francisco limits home businesses to 450 square feet and residents only; only instruction may bring students, at most 2 at a time.

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

Fences and walls

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Outside required setbacks. § 20.300.006 · code text Outside of required setbacks \| Max. 6 ft.; Max. 8 ft. in residential districts with MUP 1 . Fences can be up to 8 feet tall. Applies: Outside required setbacks in residential districts, with a Minor Use Permit. § 20.300.006 · code text Outside of required setbacks \| Max. 6 ft.; Max. 8 ft. in residential districts with MUP 1 . Fences can be up to 8 feet tall. Applies: Outside required setbacks in residential districts, on top of a retaining wall, if the Chief Planner allows it. § 20.300.006 · code text The Chief Planner may allow up to 8 ft in residential districts and 10 ft in non-residential districts when a fence is located on top of a retaining wall.
Front yard height	Solid fences, walls and dense hedges can be at most 4 feet tall. Applies: Required front and street-facing side setbacks. § 20.300.006 · code text Required front and street-facing side setback \| Opaque: Max. height 4 ft Transparent: May exceed 4 ft in height with MUP
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Required interior side and rear setbacks. § 20.300.006 · code text Required interior side setback and rear setbacks \| Max. 6 ft; Max. 8 ft. in BTP-M, BTP-H, MIM, and MIH districts. Fences can be up to 8 feet tall. Applies: Interior side and rear setbacks in residential districts, on top of a retaining wall, if the Chief Planner allows it. § 20.300.006 · code text The Chief Planner may allow up to 8 ft in residential districts and 10 ft in non-residential districts when a fence is located on top of a retaining wall.
Permit	A Minor Use Permit is required for a see-through fence over 4 feet. Applies: Required front and street-facing side setbacks. § 20.300.006 · code text Transparent: May exceed 4 ft in height with MUP A Minor Use Permit is required for a fence over 6 feet, up to 8 feet. Applies: Outside required setbacks in residential districts. § 20.300.006 · code text Outside of required setbacks \| Max. 6 ft.; Max. 8 ft. in residential districts with MUP 1 .

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
Size or lot coverage	At most 20% of the main building's footprint or 220 square feet, whichever is greater. Applies: Combined footprint of all accessory buildings. § 20.300.002 · code text The combined footprint area of all accessory buildings may not exceed 20 percent of the footprint of the main building or 220 square feet, whichever is greater.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet, except as the code provides. § 20.300.002 · code text The minimum setback for accessory structures is five feet except as provided below: Can sit right on the interior side or rear lot line (0 feet). Applies: Detached structures under 220 square feet, if no roof water drains onto the neighbor and Building Code rules are met. § 20.300.002 · code text Except as provided above, detached accessory structures less than 220 square feet in size may be located on an interior side or rear lot line, provided that the building or structure is constructed so that no water drains from the roof onto an adjacent property, and all Building Code requirements are met.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from the main building, including the roof. § 20.300.002 · code text No detached accessory building shall be located closer than six feet from the main building, inclusive of roof covering.

Running a business from home

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
Space used	No more than 450 square feet. § 20.350.023 · code text The home occupation may not occupy more than 450 square feet.
Customer visits	No customer or client visits, except lessons for no more than 2 students at a time. § 20.350.023 · code text No customer or client visits are permitted except for instructional services for not more than two students at a time.
Employees	No one who does not live there may work on site, paid or unpaid. § 20.350.023 · code text No person not residing on the premises may be employed, either for pay or as an independent contractor or a volunteer, at the site of the home occupation.
Businesses not allowed	Adult-oriented business; ambulance service; automotive repair, painting, body/fender work, upholstering, detailing, washing; beautician or barber services on-site for more than one client at a time; commercial food preparation, food handling, processing or packing, other than specialized cooking or baking; firearms manufacture, sales, or repair; furniture refinishing or upholstery; gymnastic facilities; repair, reconditioning, servicing or manufacture of any internal combustion or diesel engine or of any motor vehicle; repair, fix-it or plumbing shops; medical services except as a secondary office without patient visits; restaurant; retail sales; spa retreat center; tattoo studio; tow truck service; veterinary services and other uses involving domestic animals, except as allowed; welding or machine shop; yoga or exercise studio for more than two clients at a time § 20.350.023 · code text The following uses are not permitted as a home occupation:

RV and boat parking

South San Francisco code In a licensed trailer park or licensed public storage facility. Fully enclosed in a lawfully existing structure.

All 9 South San Francisco rules on rv and boat parking, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited, nondiscretionary administrative permit when the application meets the approved checklist. Applies: EV charging stations; review is limited to local, state, and federal health and safety requirements. § 15.64.060 · code text The building official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging stations.
Solar permit process	Expedited process; apply in person, by mail or electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.62.070 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city’s building department by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. Administrative approval and all required permits once a complete application is received. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar applications that meet the checklist information requirements. § 15.62.080 · code text Upon receipt of a complete application, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
Review time	Deemed approved if not denied in writing within 45 days of receipt. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; unless the delay comes from a reasonable request for more information. § 15.62.080 · code text If an application is not denied in writing within forty-five days from the date of receipt of the application, the application shall be deemed approved, unless that delay is the result of a reasonable request for additional information.

Tree removal

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
Exemptions	Trimming is allowed without a permit. Applies: Applies to trimming a protected tree. § 13.30.030 · code text Trimming of a protected tree is allowed without such a permit.
Permit to remove	Yes, to remove, prune or materially alter a protected tree. Applies: Applies to protected trees; trimming is allowed without a permit. § 13.30.030 · code text No protected tree shall be removed, pruned, or otherwise materially altered without a permit except as provided in this section. Trimming of a protected tree is allowed without such a permit.
Replacement trees	The trees must be replaced, or the city reimbursed. Applies: Applies to protected trees damaged or destroyed by construction. § 13.30.030 · code text Protected trees that have been damaged or destroyed by construction shall be replaced or the city shall be reimbursed, as provided in Section 13.30.080.

Swimming pools

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
Pool barrier	The pool, or the whole property, must be walled or fenced from the street and neighbors. § 20.300.013 · code text The swimming pool or spa, or the entire property on which it is located, shall be walled or fenced from the street or from adjacent properties; A masonry wall or solid fence. Applies: Applies to pools less than 30 feet from a lot line, on the side facing that line. § 20.300.013 · code text where located less than 30 feet to any lot line, shall be screened by a masonry wall or solid fence not less than six feet in height on the side facing the lot line.
Barrier height	At least 6 feet high. Applies: Applies to pools less than 30 feet from a lot line, on the side facing that line. § 20.300.013 · code text where located less than 30 feet to any lot line, shall be screened by a masonry wall or solid fence not less than six feet in height on the side facing the lot line.
Equipment and alarms	Equipment must be mounted and enclosed so it cannot be heard from any other lot. Applies: Applies to pool filters and pumps. § 20.300.013 · code text All equipment shall be mounted and enclosed so that its sound is not audible from any other lot. Filters at least 15 feet from the main building on a neighboring lot. Applies: Pool and spa filtration equipment; pools, spas and equipment may not be in the front or street side yard. § 20.300.013 · code text Swimming pool or spa filtration equipment shall not be closer than 15 feet to the main building on an adjoining lot.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from all interior side and rear lot lines. Applies: Measured to the outside wall of the water-holding part of the pool or spa. § 20.300.013 · code text The outside wall of the water-containing portion of any swimming pool or spa shall be located at least five feet from all interior side and rear lot lines.

Pets, chickens and bees

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
Large animals	Enclosed at night when not in use; not tied within 100 feet of a home without the occupant's written consent. Applies: Applies to horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows, cattle, goats and sheep. § 9.08.080 · code text No person shall stake or tie, or leave staked or tied, or allow within one hundred feet of any inhabited residence such animal without the written consent of the occupant of said residence. Stables at least 50 feet from a neighboring property line. Applies: Horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows and cattle; only on lots of at least 1 acre, no more than 2 per lot. § 9.08.080 · code text The minimum distance of any stable building from any neighboring property line shall be fifty feet, and from any neighboring house shall be one hundred fifty feet. Stables at least 150 feet from a neighboring house. Applies: Horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows and cattle; only on lots of at least 1 acre, no more than 2 per lot. § 9.08.080 · code text The minimum distance of any stable building from any neighboring property line shall be fifty feet, and from any neighboring house shall be one hundred fifty feet. Stables at least 50 feet from an occupied home on the same lot. Applies: Horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows and cattle; only on lots of at least 1 acre, no more than 2 per lot. § 9.08.080 · code text The minimum distance of any stable building from any occupied residence in the same lot as such stable is situated shall be fifty feet. Corrals at least 35 feet from the neighboring property line. Applies: Horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows and cattle; only on lots of at least 1 acre, no more than 2 per lot. § 9.08.080 · code text The minimum distance of any animal corral from the neighboring property line shall be thirty-five feet.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco limits fences to 4 feet in front and street-facing side setbacks and 6 feet in interior side and rear setbacks.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco limits all accessory buildings together to 20% of the main building's footprint or 220 square feet, whichever is greater.

Can I run a business from my home in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco limits home businesses to 450 square feet and residents only; only instruction may bring students, at most 2 at a time.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco's code: Expedited, nondiscretionary administrative permit when the application meets the approved checklist. (EV charging stations; review is limited to local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.) (§ 15.64.060); Expedited process; apply in person, by mail or electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems.) (§ 15.62.070).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco's code: Trimming is allowed without a permit. (Applies to trimming a protected tree.) (§ 13.30.030); Yes, to remove, prune or materially alter a protected tree. (Applies to protected trees; trimming is allowed without a permit.) (§ 13.30.030).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco's code: The pool, or the whole property, must be walled or fenced from the street and neighbors. (§ 20.300.013); A masonry wall or solid fence. (Applies to pools less than 30 feet from a lot line, on the side facing that line.) (§ 20.300.013).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in South San Francisco?

South San Francisco's code: Enclosed at night when not in use; not tied within 100 feet of a home without the occupant's written consent. (Applies to horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows, cattle, goats and sheep.) (§ 9.08.080); Stables at least 50 feet from a neighboring property line. (Horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cows and cattle; only on lots of at least 1 acre, no more than 2 per lot.) (§ 9.08.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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