Trinity County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Trinity County

Trinity County's code applies only in unincorporated areas. It sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home occupations, and home-occupation rules depend on minor or major type.

Ask about building on your lot in Trinity County See coverage

Key points

Fence height: In R-1 and R-2 districts, Trinity County limits fences to 6 feet, or 3 feet in a required front yard on reversed frontage.
Accessory structures: Trinity County limits detached accessory structures, except agricultural ones, to 25 feet unless a planning commission use permit allows more.
Home businesses: For minor home occupations, Trinity County allows at most 2 visiting vehicles at a time and 1 off-site employee.

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

Trinity County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Trinity County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

Trinity County code What Trinity County's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet. Applies: Fences and walls in the single-family (R-1) district. § 17.16.130 · code text Such fences and walls shall not exceed six feet in height. No more than 6 feet. Applies: Fences and walls in the duplex residential (R-2) district. § 17.16.130 · code text Such fences and walls shall not exceed six feet in height.
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet. Applies: Any required front yard on reversed frontage, single-family (R-1) district. § 17.16.130 · code text In any required front yard on reversed frontage, the same shall not exceed three feet. No more than 3 feet. Applies: Any required front yard on reversed frontage, duplex residential (R-2) district. § 17.16.130 · code text In any required front yard on reversed frontage, the same shall not exceed three feet.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Trinity County code What Trinity County's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 25 feet. Applies: Detached accessory structures, except agricultural ones; more height only with a planning commission use permit. § 17.30D.040 · code text The maximum height for a detached accessory structure shall be limited to twenty-five feet, provided that additional height may be permitted upon first securing a planning commission use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.32 of this title.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet. Applies: Interior side yard; detached accessory buildings outside commercial, industrial and public facility zones. § 17.30D.040 · code text c. Interior side yard \| 5 feet minimum At least 10 feet. Applies: Street side yard of corner lots; detached accessory buildings outside commercial, industrial and public facility zones. § 17.30D.040 · code text d. Street side yard (corner lots) \| 10 feet minimum At least 5 feet. Applies: Rear yard; detached accessory buildings outside commercial, industrial and public facility zones. § 17.30D.040 · code text e. Rear yard \| 5 feet minimum

Running a business from home

Trinity County code What Trinity County's code adds
Space used	No more than 2.5% of the gross lot area, up to 10,000 square feet in total. Applies: Major home businesses, allowed only in UNC, RR, A and AF zones on parcels larger than 1 acre. § 17.30B.060 · code text A major home occupation use, or combination of such uses on a single property, shall not occupy more than two and one-half percent of the gross lot area, up to a maximum of ten thousand total square feet.
Customer visits	No more than 2 vehicles visiting the site at one time. Applies: Minor home businesses on a single site. § 17.30B.060 · code text A minor home occupation use or combination of minor home occupations n a single site shall not involve more than two vehicles visiting the site at any one time No more than an average of 6 vehicles a week, including customers, clients and deliveries. Applies: Minor home businesses on a single site. § 17.30B.060 · code text or exceed an average of six vehicles a week. This provision shall apply to vehicles used by customers, clients, and shipping/delivery services. Customers, employees and deliveries only 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Applies: All home businesses; other hours only when a use permit sets them. § 17.30B.050 · code text The primary hours of operation for home occupations shall be limited to seven a.m. to eight p.m. Monday through Saturday, and eight a.m. to five p.m. Sundays.
Employees	No more than 1 employee who lives off-site. Applies: Minor home businesses on a single site. § 17.30B.060 · code text A minor home occupation or combination of minor home occupations on a single site may include employment of no more than one individual who resides off-site No more than 3 employees who live off-site. Applies: Major home businesses on a single property. § 17.30B.060 · code text Major home occupation uses may include employment of a maximum of three individuals who reside off-site
Permit	No use permit. Applies: Home businesses without any of the features listed in the use-permit table. § 17.30B.040 · code text Home occupation uses that do not have characteristics identified in the table do not require a use permit A use permit from the planning director. Applies: Minor home business on a parcel under 5 acres or a shared private road, with qualifying vehicle traffic or off-site employees. § 17.30B.040 · code text Minor home occupation use, except small family day care homes and small residential care facilities, located on a parcel under 5 acres in size and/or located on a shared-privately maintained road or driveway, and involving one or both of the following characteristics: a] Use generates vehicle traffic as provided in Section 17.30B.060 (A)(5) b] Use includes employment on-site of an individual as provided in Section 17.30B.060 (A)(4) A use permit from the planning director. Applies: Minor home business in a detached accessory structure larger than the home's gross square footage. § 17.30B.040 · code text Minor home occupation use conducted in a detached accessory structure that has floor area that exceeds the gross square footage of the related residence on the property. A use permit from the planning director. Applies: Major home business within 500 feet of a single-family home on another property. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use located within 500 feet from a single-family dwelling located off-site. A use permit from the planning director. Applies: Major home business in a PR, SC, FH or RD-1 overlay zone. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupations located in a Plan Review (PR), Scenic Conservation (SC), Flood Hazard (FH), or Recreational District (RD-1) overlay zone. A use permit from the planning director. Applies: Major home business on a parcel under 20 acres that uses outdoor area for storage or business work. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use, located on a parcel under 20 acres in size, that utilizes area outside a building for storage or to conduct all or part of regular business operations. A use permit from the planning director. Applies: Major home business with vehicle access from a shared, privately maintained road or driveway. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use located on property that has vehicle access provided from/by a shared-privately maintained road or driveway. A use permit from the Planning Commission. Applies: Major home business on a parcel under 5 acres. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use located on a parcel under 5 acres in size. Required Finding. A use permit from the Planning Commission. Applies: Major home business mainly selling stocked goods, supplies or products, and open to the public. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use involving retail sales of stocked merchandise, supplies, or products as the primary purpose of the business, and is open to the public. A use permit from the Planning Commission. Applies: Major home business with hours outside the standard primary hours. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use involving primary hours of operation other than those provided in Section 17.30B.050 (G) A use permit from the Planning Commission. Applies: Major home business over 10,000 square feet that still meets the 2.5% lot-area limit. § 17.30B.040 · code text Major home occupation use that satisfies the 2.5% ratio of lot area standard but would exceed 10,000 square feet as provided in Section 17.30B.060 (B)(4)

Solar panels and EV chargers

Trinity County code What Trinity County's code adds
EV charger permit	The building official approves and issues permits when the application meets the county checklist; electronic submittal and signatures accepted. § 15.26.040 · code text the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.

Swimming pools

Trinity County code What Trinity County's code adds
Pool barrier	The pool must be completely enclosed by a fence. Applies: Applies to pools in any R district. § 17.30.070 · code text All such swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height, and all gates shall be self-latching.
Barrier height	At least 6 feet high. Applies: Applies to pools in any R district. § 17.30.070 · code text All such swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height, and all gates shall be self-latching.
Equipment and alarms	Filter and heating systems must be at least 20 feet from any home other than the owner's. Applies: Applies to pools in any R district. § 17.30.070 · code text Filter and heating systems for such pools shall not be located closer than twenty feet to any dwelling other than the owner's.
Gates	Gates must be self-latching. Applies: Applies to pools in any R district. § 17.30.070 · code text All such swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least six feet in height, and all gates shall be self-latching.
Permit	A use permit is needed for another pool location, or for the planning commission to reduce these limits by 50%. Applies: Applies to pools in any R district. § 17.30.070 · code text The planning commission may reduce these requirements by fifty percent upon securing a use permit in each case.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from rear and side lot lines. Applies: Applies to pools in any R district. § 17.30.070 · code text Such pool shall not be located closer than five feet from any rear lot line or side line. On the rear half of the lot, or 50 feet from the front lot line, whichever is less. Applies: Pools in any R district, unless the planning commission approves another location with a use permit. § 17.30.070 · code text Swimming pools in any "R" district shall be constructed on the rear half of the lot, or fifty feet from the front lot line, whichever is the less, or unless a different location is approved by the planning commission upon the securing of a use permit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Trinity County?

In R-1 and R-2 districts, Trinity County limits fences to 6 feet, or 3 feet in a required front yard on reversed frontage.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Trinity County?

Trinity County limits detached accessory structures, except agricultural ones, to 25 feet unless a planning commission use permit allows more.

Can I run a business from my home in Trinity County?

For minor home occupations, Trinity County allows at most 2 visiting vehicles at a time and 1 off-site employee.

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

Trinity County's code: The building official approves and issues permits when the application meets the county checklist; electronic submittal and signatures accepted. (§ 15.26.040).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Trinity County?

Trinity County's code: The pool must be completely enclosed by a fence. (Applies to pools in any R district.) (§ 17.30.070); At least 6 feet high. (Applies to pools in any R district.) (§ 17.30.070).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Trinity County property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Trinity County

Trinity County Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Trinity County

Buying & selling in Trinity County

Trinity County overview