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Suisun City · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Suisun City

Suisun City sets its own limits on fences and home businesses. Fence height depends on the zone, the yard and how open the fence is.

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Key points

  • Fence height: In RL and RM zones, front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet if solid or 4 feet if at least 50% open.
  • Home businesses: Suisun City requires a business license for a home business; the planning commission may allow one non-resident employee.

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

Fences and walls

Suisun City code What Suisun City's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot
  • Combined height can be at most 10 feet.
    Applies: A fence or wall on top of a retaining wall, measured from the ground at the base of the retaining wall.
    § 18.34.040 · code text
    Where a fence or wall rests on a retaining wall, the overall combined height may not exceed ten feet, as measured from the ground level at the bottom of the retaining wall to the top of the fence or wall, as shown in Figure 18.34.01.
Front yard height
  • Solid fences can be at most 3 feet tall.
    Applies: Front yards in RL and RM zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    Front yard | 3 ft. max. if solid
  • Fences can be at most 4 feet tall if at least 50% open.
    Applies: Front yards in RL and RM zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    4 ft. max if 50% or more open
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences, hedges and walls can be at most 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Side and rear yards behind the front setback line in any residential district.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    The height of side and rear yard fences, hedges, or walls behind the front setback line in any residential district shall not exceed six feet.
  • Fences can be at most 6 feet tall if set back 5 feet.
    Applies: Side yards other than interior side yards, in RL and RM zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    Side yard | 6 ft. max if 5 ft. setback provided
  • Fences can be at most 3 feet tall.
    Applies: Within the 5-foot setback of side yards other than interior side yards, in RL and RM zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    3 ft. max. if within 5 ft. setback
  • Fences can be at most 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Interior side yards in RL and RM zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    6 ft. max. on interior side yard
  • Fences can be at most 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Rear yards in RL and RM zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    Rear yard | 6 ft. max.
  • Fences can be at most 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Perimeter fences in RH1, RH2 and RMU zones.
    § 18.34.010 · code text
    RH1, RH2, 2 RMU | Perimeter | 6 ft. max.

Running a business from home

Suisun City code What Suisun City's code adds
Employees
  • Only residents can work, but 1 non-resident employee may be allowed.
    Applies: The planning commission may allow the non-resident employee if all listed conditions are met.
    § 18.50.030 · code text
    Employment shall be confined to the residents of the dwelling unit except that one employee who is not a resident may be allowed by the planning commission provided the following conditions are met:
Permit
  • A business license is required.
    Applies: Granted when the business meets all listed home business conditions.
    § 18.50.030 · code text
    A business license shall be granted where the conduct and operation of the proposed business meets all of the following conditions:
Businesses not allowed
  • In-home sales with stock in trade kept at the licensed address
    Applies: in-home sales (such as Tupperware or Avon) are allowed only when no stock in trade is kept at the licensed address
    § 18.50.040 · code text
    In-home sales, such as Tupperware, Avon, Fuller Brush and the like, provided there is no stock in trade kept at the licensed address;
  • Contractors keeping equipment of any kind at the licensed address
    Applies: contractors are allowed only when no equipment of any kind is kept at the licensed address
    § 18.50.040 · code text
    Contractors, provided no equipment of any kind is kept at the licensed address;
  • Mail order services with stock in trade kept on the premises
    Applies: mail order services are allowed only when no stock in trade is kept on the premises
    § 18.50.040 · code text
    Mail order services where no stock in trade is kept on the premises;

Pets, chickens and bees

Suisun City code What Suisun City's code adds
Permit
  • An administrative permit from the planning director.
    Applies: Keeping beehives.
    § 6.20.028 · code text
    An administrative permit shall be issued by the planning director for uses specified by this chapter where such use meets criteria for assuring that the use does not create such potential impact on residents of properties adjoining lots or parcels upon which beehives are maintained.

Other Suisun City rules on this

Suisun City'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 tall can a fence be in Suisun City?

In RL and RM zones, front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet if solid or 4 feet if at least 50% open.

Can I run a business from my home in Suisun City?

Suisun City requires a business license for a home business; the planning commission may allow one non-resident employee.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Suisun City?

Suisun City's code: An administrative permit from the planning director. (Keeping beehives.) (§ 6.20.028).

General information, not legal advice.

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Suisun City Municipal Code — full text

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