Susanville · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Susanville

Susanville sets its own limits on accessory buildings and home businesses. In residential districts, some businesses, such as vehicle repair and cabinet making, need a conditional use permit.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: Susanville limits accessory buildings in the R-1 district to 15 feet and one story.
Home businesses: Susanville limits a home business to 49% of the home's floor area or one room, whichever is greater, and requires a permit.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Susanville code Susanville limits accessory buildings in the R-1 district to 15 feet and one story.

All 5 Susanville rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Susanville code Susanville limits a home business to 49% of the home's floor area or one room, whichever is greater, and requires a permit.

All 12 Susanville rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Susanville code Electronic applications are allowed. Administrative, nondiscretionary review by the chief building official; the permit is issued once the application meets the checklist.

All 4 Susanville rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Susanville code Fencing must meet the California Building Code. Filters and heaters at least 30 feet from any home but the owner's, unless in a soundproof enclosure.

All 4 Susanville rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Susanville code What Susanville's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes. Applies: Applies in special flood hazard areas. § 15.40.160 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.40.070.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood levels no more than 1 foot. Applies: Applies in zones A1-30 and AE until a regulatory floodway is adopted. The limit applies at any point in the city. § 15.40.230 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city of Susanville No encroachments, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements, unless a registered civil engineer certifies no flood level rise. Applies: Applies within an adopted regulatory floodway, for flood levels during the base flood discharge. § 15.40.230 · code text Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city of Susanville shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 15.40.180 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be at least the flood map's depth number, in feet, above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map gives a depth number. § 15.40.180 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map gives no depth number. § 15.40.180 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, with no base flood elevation on the flood map. § 15.40.180 · code text In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 15.40.150(C).

Building on a hillside

Susanville code What Susanville's code adds
When hillside rules apply	Hillside rules apply where land rises more than 15 feet in 100 feet on average. Applies: Subdivision of hillside lands. Special hillside map rules apply. § 16.28.010 · code text For the purposes of this chapter the term "hillside lands" shall be construed to mean land proposed to be subdivided which has an average difference in elevation of more than 15 feet in a horizontal distance of 100 feet.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Susanville code Homes lawfully in place before final or parcel map approval do not count as new dwelling units. The fee is the fair market value of the land otherwise dedicated, plus 20% toward off-site improvement costs.

All 3 Susanville rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
Zoning	A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)
Business license or fee	A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)
Local rules	Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)
Small home	Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)
Large home	7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)

Signs on homes

Susanville code Signs for single-family residences and home occupations are not permitted. 32 square feet maximum.

All 4 Susanville rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Other Susanville rules on this

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

Distance of animals and poultry from homes (§ 6.04.060)
No living in an RV outside an RV park (§ 15.16.020)
Noise rules (§ 9.04.060)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules for building in a Susanville flood zone?

Susanville's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes. (Applies in special flood hazard areas.) (§ 15.40.160); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 15.40.180).

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Susanville?

Susanville's code: Hillside rules apply where land rises more than 15 feet in 100 feet on average. (Subdivision of hillside lands. Special hillside map rules apply.) (§ 16.28.010).

Can I run a family child care home in Susanville?

California law sets this for every city, including Susanville: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).

General information, not legal advice.

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Susanville Municipal Code — full text

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Susanville overview

Zoning districts in Susanville