Yreka · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Yreka

Yreka sets fence heights by setback, with lower limits in the front yard and at corners, and a separate permit in the historic district. The city limits extra garages and other accessory structures in residential zones, and home businesses need a use permit.

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Key points

Fence height: Yreka limits fences to 4 feet in front setbacks, 6 feet in rear and side setbacks, or 8 with lattice at least 50% open.
Accessory structures: In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, Yreka limits an extra garage or carport, and customary residential structures, to 650 square feet.
Home business: Yreka home businesses need a use permit and may employ no one except for housekeeping; on-site sales are not allowed, except cottage food sales.

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

Fences and walls

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Corner visibility	No higher than 3 feet within 35 feet of the corner. Applies: Fences, hedges and screen plantings on corner lots, within 35 feet of the property corner next to the intersecting streets. § 16.46.050 · code text as to any corner lot, no such fence, hedge or screen planting shall exceed three feet in height within thirty-five feet from the property corner adjacent to the intersecting streets.
Front yard height	At most 4 feet tall. Applies: Fences, walls, hedges and screen plantings within the front yard setback. § 16.46.050 · code text no fence, wall, hedge or screen planting of any kind shall hereafter be constructed or grown to exceed four feet in height within the area encompassed by the front yard setback as detailed in the zoning code.
Side and rear yard height	At most 6 feet tall. Applies: Within the rear yard setback, and within the side yard setback up to the front yard setback line. § 16.46.050 · code text Nor shall the same exceed six feet in height within the area encompassed by the rear yard setback or the side yard setback to the front yard setback line. At most 6 feet, plus up to 2 feet of lattice and framing, for 8 feet in total. Applies: Fences or walls in side or rear yards; the extra 2 feet must be lattice and framing at least 50% open to light and air. § 16.46.050 · code text Fences or walls in the side or rear yards may not exceed six feet in height, except to allow up to two feet of lattice and framing that is at least fifty percent open to the passage of light and air when viewed horizontally.
Permit	The owner may apply to the planning commission for a minor conditional use permit to exceed 3 feet. Applies: Corner lots, within 35 feet of the property corner next to the intersecting streets; the owner must show no traffic hazard exists. § 16.46.050 · code text The owner of such property may apply for a minor conditional use permit for a greater height by a showing that no hazard exists to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. A separate historic district permit is required. Applies: Fences in the historic district, which must also meet the historic district requirements. § 16.46.050 · code text Fences within the historic district must meet the requirements of the historic district; a separate historic district permit is required.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Size or lot coverage	At most 650 square feet of floor area. Applies: R-1 zone: a garage or carport in addition to the required garage or carport. § 16.18.060 · code text Garage or carport, in addition to required garage or carport, not exceeding six hundred fifty square feet of floor area. At most 650 square feet of floor area. Applies: R-1 zone: usual and customary structures that go with a home. § 16.18.060 · code text Usual and customary structures associated with a residence (not exceeding six hundred fifty square feet of floor area). At most 650 square feet of floor area. Applies: R-3 zone: a garage or carport in addition to the required garage or carport. § 16.22.060 · code text Garage or carport in addition to required garage or carport not exceeding six hundred and fifty square feet of floor area. At most 650 square feet of floor area. Applies: R-3 zone: usual and customary structures that go with a home. § 16.22.060 · code text Usual and customary structures associated with a residence (not exceeding six hundred and fifty square feet of floor area). At most 650 square feet of floor area. Applies: R-2 zone: a garage or carport in addition to the required garage or carport. § 16.20.060 · code text Garage or carport, in addition to required garage or carport, not exceeding six hundred and fifty square feet of floor area. At most 650 square feet of floor area. Applies: R-2 zone: usual and customary structures that go with a home. § 16.20.060 · code text Usual and customary structures associated with a residence (not exceeding six hundred and fifty (650) square feet of floor area)

Running a business from home

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Employees	No employees, except those needed for housekeeping. Applies: General home occupations. § 16.46.020 · code text No person employed except such as is necessary for house keeping purposes;
Permit	A use permit, which the Planning Director may grant. Applies: General home occupations. § 16.46.020 · code text Applications for a use permit for a home occupation may be granted by the Planning Director provided the use is in compliance with subsection (A) above.
Businesses not allowed	selling commodities on the premises Applies: general home occupations, except direct sales for cottage food operations allowed by state law § 16.46.020 · code text No commodity shall be sold upon the premises, with the exception of direct sales for cottage food operations, as allowed by state law;

Pets, chickens and bees

Yreka code What Yreka's code adds
Large animals	Not allowed in the city, except with a planning director permit on property of at least 5 acres. Applies: Horses, mules, fowl, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or other ruminants. § 8.04.020 · code text It is unlawful for any person to keep, stable, corral or otherwise maintain within the city limits any horse, mule, fowl [25] [3], ass, sheep, goat, swine, cattle or ruminant, or any number of such animals except as specifically provided herein;
Permit	A planning director permit; owners within 300 feet are notified and may object within 15 days; valid 1 year. Applies: Keeping horses, mules, fowl, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or ruminants on property of at least 5 acres. § 8.04.020 · code text a permit may be obtained for the maintenance of any such animal or animals

Other Yreka rules on this

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

Living in a trailer on a lot (§ 5.12.020)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Yreka?

Yreka limits fences to 4 feet in front setbacks, 6 feet in rear and side setbacks, or 8 with lattice at least 50% open.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Yreka?

In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, Yreka limits an extra garage or carport, and customary residential structures, to 650 square feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Yreka?

Yreka home businesses need a use permit and may employ no one except for housekeeping; on-site sales are not allowed, except cottage food sales.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Yreka?

Yreka's code: Not allowed in the city, except with a planning director permit on property of at least 5 acres. (Horses, mules, fowl, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or other ruminants.) (§ 8.04.020); A planning director permit; owners within 300 feet are notified and may object within 15 days; valid 1 year. (Keeping horses, mules, fowl, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or ruminants on property of at least 5 acres.) (§ 8.04.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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Yreka Municipal Code — full text

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