The short answer
Story poles next door mean someone is proposing a new building or an addition and the town wants you to see its real height, footprint and roof lines before a public hearing decides it. The poles and the orange lines show exactly that, meaning where the walls will stand, how high the ridges will rise, and how the mass will sit relative to your windows, yard and views. They do not show materials, colors, windows or landscaping. Here is how to read them and what happens next.
What Story Poles Next Door Actually Show
- Corners and footprint. Poles at the outer corners of the proposed building (in many towns at the wall line, not the eave) mark where the walls go. Some towns also stake the footprint at ground level with string or ribbon, and Monte Sereno marks each floor level in a different color.
- Ridges and eaves. The string line and flagging or netting between the pole tops trace the main roof ridges and the major eaves. Where a town requires a band of netting (12 or 24 inches wide depending on the policy), it shows the solid mass along the roofline rather than a single line.
- Maximum height. The tallest pole is the highest point of the proposed roof. Several towns mark heights so you can read them by eye: 12-inch black and white stripes in Hillsborough; a black top foot and height marked at the base in Burbank and Malibu; one-foot black increments on the tallest pole in Calabasas; five-foot marks in Los Gatos.
- Other elements the town asks to see: decks to the top of the railing, chimneys, balconies, accessory buildings, sometimes trees to be removed (tagged), pools and driveway changes (staked).
What the poles do not show
They are an outline, deliberately simplified. Most policies say so. Tiburon and Santa Barbara ask for “a simple box that outlines the mass,” not every articulation. So the poles will not show dormers, minor roof steps, window placement, exterior materials, color, or landscaping. The plans on file with the planning department show those; the hearing notice tells you where to see them.
How to read story poles and know they are accurate
In most towns the installation is certified. A licensed land surveyor (or, in some cities, an engineer, architect or contractor) inspects the poles against the approved story pole plan and signs a letter, a form or the plan itself. Owners may not certify their own poles. The planner often visits the site as well, and photographs from the street and from neighboring vantage points go into the file. If poles are inaccurate or missing, the hearing is continued until they are fixed. That rule exists to protect neighbors as much as applicants. How certification works.
How the hearing process works from the neighbor's side
- Poles go up a set time before the hearing: 7 to 21 days in most towns, four weeks in Calabasas. In Los Gatos, Malibu and Burbank the town will not even mail the notice until the poles are up and, where required, certified.
- You receive a notice if you are within the town's radius, usually 300 feet. Some towns also require the applicant to post a sign on the site with the hearing date and where to see the plans (Los Gatos requires a project identification sign on every noticed application; Town of Los Gatos, policy PDF).
- You can look at the plans at the planning counter or online, and in many towns the story pole plan is available at the site.
- You can comment in writing before the hearing and in person at it. In Laguna Beach the code requires the applicant to communicate with neighbors early, before a hearing is scheduled (City of Laguna Beach, Design Review Process).
- The board decides, approves with conditions, or continues the item. If the design changes because of view or privacy concerns, several towns require re-staking before the next hearing.
- The poles stay through the appeal period, typically 10 to 15 days, so an appeal is judged on the same evidence, and then they come down within the town's deadline.
A note on what accurate poles do for everyone
Story poles exist so the hearing is about the real project, not about competing descriptions of it. An accurate installation shows a neighbor exactly what will change, which sometimes reassures and sometimes raises a legitimate concern the board can address. A sloppy installation does neither; it creates arguments about the poles instead of the building. That is why we install to the approved plan, brace the poles to stay true through the review, photograph them, and coordinate certification where the town requires it. How our installations work. For the full definition see What are story poles?, and for every town’s rules see the requirements guide.
If the poles next door look wrong
Story poles are only useful if they are accurate, and an inaccurate set is grounds for comment at the hearing. If the outline does not match the plans on file, say so to the case planner named on the notice. They can ask for the poles to be corrected or the hearing continued. Applicants reading this from the other side can reach All American Story Poles at hello@AllAmericanStoryPoles.com, or on (310) 980-2543 in Southern California and (650) 613-1721 in Northern California, and we will tell you what your town requires before anything goes up. Contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Story poles went up next door. What do they mean?
A new building or addition has been proposed on that lot and the town requires a full-scale outline on site before a public hearing. The poles show the corners and the orange lines show the roof ridges and eaves at the proposed height.
How do I know the poles are the right height?
In most towns a licensed surveyor certifies that the poles match the approved plan, and the planner checks. Several towns mark the poles (stripes, black tops, foot increments) so heights can be read by eye. If you believe they are wrong, tell the planning department before the hearing.
Can I see the plans the poles represent?
Yes. The plans are on file with the planning department, and the hearing notice says where to view them. Many towns require the story pole plan to be available at the site as well.
How long will the poles be there?
Through the hearing and the appeal period, then they must be removed within the town’s deadline, from 48 hours to several weeks after the decision.
Story pole requirements are set by each city, town, county or review board and change from time to time. Town details in this guide reflect published policies as of September 2026. Confirm current requirements with the planning department.
