Home › California › Los Altos

Los Altos, California: what can you build or do?

Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Los Altos's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.

Last reviewed 2026-10-05

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  Yes. Los Altos allows ADUs on single-family lots with ministerial approval within 60 days: one attached ADU, one detached ADU (up to 850 sq ft for one bedroom or 1,200 sq ft for two or more, 18 ft tall, 4-ft side and rear setbacks) and up to two junior ADUs of 500 sq ft inside the house. Owner occupancy is required only for a JADU.Allowed with a permit
• Backyard Chickens
  Yes. In Los Altos single-family (R1) districts you may keep one small animal, such as a chicken, duck or rabbit, per 1,000 sq ft of lot area, so a 10,000 sq ft lot allows 10 in total. Coops can't be in the front setback and must be at least 10 ft from side and rear property lines.Allowed
• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  No. Los Altos prohibits short-term rentals, meaning paid stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days, in every zoning district, and no permit is available. You can rent your home or ADU for 30 days or longer.Not allowed
• Fences
  Fences in Los Altos can be up to 6 feet tall in side and rear yards, but no more than 4 feet in the front setback or within 5 feet of a corner lot's street-side line. Near intersections and driveways, sight-triangle limits drop to 3 and 4 feet.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  Sheds are allowed in Los Altos but not in the front setback. A shed up to 120 sq ft and 6 ft tall can go in a side setback behind a solid fence; in the rear setback a shed can be up to 800 sq ft and 12 ft tall, on the property line if under 6 ft or 5 ft back if taller.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  Backyard brush or yard-waste burning is generally not allowed in Los Altos: the Bay Area Air District bans open burning except for 17 listed fire types, mostly agricultural, fire-management and other official burns, none of which covers ordinary yard cleanup. Outdoor fireplaces and similar fire features are allowed in the rear yard or buildable area, at least 5 feet from property lines.Restricted
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes. Home occupations are a permitted use in Los Altos single-family zones, as long as only residents do the work inside the home, with no employees, no business storage and no more than eight client or delivery visits a day.Allowed
• Swimming Pools
  Yes. In Los Altos single-family zones, pools, hot tubs and spas can go in the buildable area or rear yard, at least 5 feet from any property line, but not in front or side setbacks. Any pool deeper than 24 inches must be fully enclosed by a barrier at least 5 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates.Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Coast or Creeks
  Los Altos regulates building near creeks rather than a coastline. Any structure, fence or major earthmoving in a creek or its protection setback needs a written permit first. Along Adobe Creek, parcels subdivided after Aug. 13, 1985 have a 40-ft setback from the top of the bank (80 ft on lots over 3 acres) where construction and vegetation removal need planning department permission.Allowed with board review
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  Los Altos's ordinances we reviewed don't regulate docks, piers or floats; the city's waterways are creeks. Any structure built in a creek needs a written permit first under the city's watercourse protection rules.Not specifically regulated