Building on your lot in Yolo County

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

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

Fences and walls

Yolo County code What Yolo County's code adds
Corner visibility	No fence, wall or hedge over 3 feet within a triangle reaching 25 feet each way from the sidewalk intersection. Applies: Corner lots. Measured along the inside face of the sidewalk, or along the right-of-way line where there is no sidewalk. § 8-2.1005 · code text On a corner lot, a fence, wall or hedge over three (3) feet in height, measured from the curb gutter grade, shall not be located in a triangular area measured twenty-five (25) feet along the inside face of the sidewalk in either direction from the sidewalk intersection.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, walls and hedges may be up to 7 feet tall anywhere on the property. Applies: Residential (R) zones, unless a lower limit applies. § 8-2.1005 · code text Fences, walls and hedges may be located anywhere on a property in Residential (R) Zones up to a maximum height of seven (7) feet, except as noted herein:
Front yard height	No more than 3 feet tall. Applies: Residential (R) zones; in the front yard setback, within 4 feet of the sidewalk or edge of pavement. § 8-2.1005 · code text Within the front yard setback, they do not exceed three (3) feet in height for a distance of four (4) feet from the sidewalk or edge of pavement, to provide site distance for cars backing into the roadway from the driveway. 1 foot of lattice may be added to any 3-foot front yard fence. Applies: Only if the lattice is at least 50% open. § 8-2.1005 · code text One (1) foot of lattice may be added to any three (3) foot front yard fence provided that the lattice is at least fifty (50) percent open. Up to 6 feet tall. Applies: In the front yard setback, behind the 10-foot setback on an interior lot or at the 15-foot setback on a corner lot. § 8-2.1005 · code text Within the front yard setback, they do not exceed six (6) feet in height, if they are located behind the ten (10) foot setback in the front yard of an interior lot and at the fifteen (15) foot setback in the front yard on a corner lot.
Side and rear yard height	Up to 6 feet tall along the street side yard. Applies: Corner lots, set back at least 10 feet from the property line. § 8-2.1005 · code text On a corner lot, if not exceeding six (6) feet in height and set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the property line, they may be located along the street side yard.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Yolo County code What Yolo County's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves and issues needed permits when the application meets the County checklist; electronic filing and signatures accepted. Applies: Electric vehicle charging station permits. § 7-4.104 · code text Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.

Other Yolo County rules on this

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

Rules for a private swimming pool (§ 8-2.1011)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Yolo County?

In R zones, county fences are limited to 7 feet, and 3 feet in the front setback within 4 feet of the sidewalk. On corner lots, fences over 3 feet are not allowed in a triangle 25 feet along the sidewalk from the intersection.

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

Yolo County's code: The Building Official approves and issues needed permits when the application meets the County checklist; electronic filing and signatures accepted. (Electric vehicle charging station permits.) (§ 7-4.104).

General information, not legal advice.