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Woodside, California: what can you build or do?

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

Last reviewed 2026-10-14

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  Yes. Woodside approves ADUs ministerially, within 60 days of a complete application. The Town's table allows one ADU plus one junior ADU on lots under 1 acre and up to four units in total on lots of 1 acre or more, though state law may allow more on smaller lots. Attached or detached ADUs can be up to 1,500 sq ft (attached ones are also capped at 50% of the house), and rentals must be at least 30 days.Allowed with a permit
• Backyard Chickens
  Yes. Woodside allows fowl, rabbits and other small animals as an accessory use in its residential districts, up to 25 per acre and no more than 50 per lot, with no Town permit required. Coops must be at least 40 to 50 feet from neighboring property lines (depending on the zone), 50 feet from the front line, and 50 to 100 feet from neighbors' homes. Fenced runs must be at least 25 feet from any property line.Allowed
• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  The Woodside zoning and business-license codes we reviewed don't set up a short-term rental permit or registration program for a main house. They do bar rentals of less than 30 days for ADUs and for any unit on an SB 9 lot. Ask the Planning Department before listing a main house on Airbnb or VRBO.Not specifically regulated
• Fences
  Every new fence or wall in Woodside needs a Town fence and/or building permit. The overall height limit is 6 feet (12 feet for athletic court fencing), and no exception can go above 6 feet. Instead of front-yard height limits, fences must be set back from the edge of the road: 10 feet from a public road for fences under 4 feet, and up to 50 feet (30 feet in R-1) for solid fences or walls 4 to 6 feet tall.Allowed with a permit
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  Storage buildings are a permitted accessory use in Woodside's residential districts, but sheds must meet the same basic setbacks as other structures. In R-1 that means 30 feet from the front, 25 feet from the rear and 15 feet from the sides for buildings under 17 feet tall; in SR, RR and SCP setbacks are 20 to 50 feet. Accessory structures can be up to 17 feet tall with an 11-foot plate height, and no single accessory building can exceed 1,500 sq ft.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  Backyard brush and yard-waste burning is generally prohibited in Woodside under the Bay Area Air District's open-burning rule (Regulation 5). The narrow exception is fire-hazard clearing that a fire official orders and allows. Recreational fires such as a fire pit or campfire using clean dry wood are exempt from the ban, except during a Mandatory Burn Ban. The Woodside Fire Protection District may add its own limits.Restricted
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes. Woodside allows home occupations with an annual Town home occupation permit and business license, issued after public notice but without a hearing. The business must be run by no more than two residents entirely inside the house or ADU, use at most 400 sq ft (or a quarter of the home, if smaller), and have no signs or added parking demand.Allowed with a permit
• Swimming Pools
  Yes, with a building permit. Pools, spas and hot tubs in Woodside must meet the same setbacks as the house (in R-1, 30 feet front, 25 feet rear and 15 feet sides), need a geotechnical report, and new outdoor pools and spas need a cover. The Town's pool handout (dated December 2019) also bars pools on slopes over 35% and requires a state-compliant barrier.Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Coast or Creeks
  Woodside protects its creeks with stream corridors, which run at least 50 feet from each side of the stream's center line, or 25 feet from the top of the bank, whichever is greater. No structure (including a fence) can be built in a corridor, riparian vegetation can't be removed, and any other work in the corridor needs Planning Commission approval. Woodside is inland, so coastal-zone rules don't come into play.Restricted
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  Woodside's municipal code doesn't regulate docks, piers or floats. Woodside is an inland town with creeks but no bay, lake or ocean frontage. Any structure along a creek is barred within the stream corridor.Not specifically regulated