Before You Build in West Sacramento, CA: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

A building permit is required for any fence over 7 feet in height under the California Residential Code adopted at §15.12. Fences 6 feet or less generally do not require a permit but must still meet §17.22 zoning standards.

Chapter 17.22 caps fence height at 3 feet (or 4 feet if 95% visually open) in front yards, street side yards within 45 feet of a corner, and within 10 feet of a street property line. Interior side and rear yard fences may be up to 7 feet tall.

Title 17 and Title 19 together prohibit fences built with 'non-fencing materials' such as junk, tarps, or scrap. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing are prohibited in residential zones except where required by other law.

Shared boundary fences in California are governed by the Good Neighbor Fence Act (CA Civil Code §841), presuming adjoining owners share the cost equally after 30 days' notice. Spite fences over 10 feet are a private nuisance (§841.4).

Pool construction in West Sacramento must meet the California Building Code and Swimming Pool Safety Act — barriers, anti-entrapment drain covers, and electrical bonding. A building permit and inspections are required.

Above-ground pools holding more than 18 inches of water in West Sacramento require a building permit and the same barrier protection as in-ground pools; ladders must be removable or secured when unattended.

Pools in West Sacramento must be enclosed under the California Building Code and Swimming Pool Safety Act: a barrier at least 60 inches (5 feet) high with self-closing, self-latching gates, plus at least one additional drowning-prevention feature.

WSMC §17.30.040 allows one Accessory Dwelling Unit and one Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit per single-family lot. Maximum floor area is 850 sq ft (1-bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bedroom); lots over one acre may have up to 1,200 sq ft.

Converting an attached garage to a Junior ADU or additional living area is permitted under state ADU law and §17.30.040. The replacement parking requirement is generally waived under California Government Code §65852.2.

Sheds and one-story detached accessory structures under 120 square feet of floor area are exempt from a building permit under California Residential Code §R105.2 adopted at WSMC §15.12 — but must still meet §17.22 and §17.30 setback and lot-coverage standards.

Recreational fires in approved fire pits using clean, dry wood are generally allowed in West Sacramento subject to fire-code clearances and air-district no-burn day restrictions; fires must be attended and a safe distance from structures.

Open burning in West Sacramento is regulated by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District; residential yard-waste burning is generally prohibited in the urban area and barred on no-burn days. Agricultural burns require a permit.

Chapter 13.04 Article IX (Water Conservation) sets year-round permanent water-waste rules: no runoff onto sidewalks/streets, no daytime irrigation between specified hours, and irrigation only on designated days during drought declarations.

Chapter 8.24 Tree Preservation governs the trimming and removal of City-managed and protected trees, including landmark and heritage trees. Permits are required to modify or remove a tree that is protected or managed by the City.

Owners may remove trees on private property in West Sacramento; removal of street trees or protected trees requires city approval, and replacement may be required during development.