Anaheim, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Anaheim, CA, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Height limit
- One story or 16 feet, whichever is less
- Exception
- No cap if fully outside required setbacks
- Floor-area cap
- Cannot exceed main house's minimum livable area
- Lot coverage
- Sheds count toward 40-50% zone lot-coverage cap
- Governing section
- AMC 18.04.070.030 (Structural Heights)
Summary
Anaheim caps garden sheds, storage sheds, garages and other accessory structures in single-family zones at one story or 16 feet, whichever is less, under Section 18.04.070.030. Sheds built entirely outside required setback areas that match the main house's design can exceed that limit, and structures encroaching into setbacks face further height limits under the Table 4-J encroachment standards.
.030 Accessory Buildings. Non-habitable and habitable accessory structures, including but not limited to, garages, garden and storage sheds, and accessory living quarters, shall not exceed a height of one (1) story or sixteen (16) feet, whichever is less. This provision shall not apply to structures that are located outside of all required setback areas and comply with the same provisions as the main dwelling. All accessory structures encroaching into required setback areas may be subject to additional height restrictions as outlined in Section 18.04.100 (Table 4-J - Permitted Encroachments for Accessory Uses/Structures: Single-Family Residential Zones).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Code: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026 | Zoning: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
100. 020 caps the combined square footage of all enclosed accessory structures, sheds included, at the minimum livable floor area required for the main house in that zone (1,700 square feet in the RH and RS-1 zones, 1,225 square feet in RS-2 through RS-4), and the shed's footprint cannot exceed the house's own square footage; required garage space doesn't count toward that cap. 090, any accessory building, including a shed, is added into the parcel's overall lot coverage calculation, which tops out between 40 and 50 percent depending on zone. 0105, rather than the reduced accessory-structure allowances.
Violations & Fines
A shed or other accessory building built over the 16-foot/one-story height limit, or that exceeds the lot's cumulative accessory floor-area or lot-coverage cap, is a zoning violation subject to the Code's general penalty in Section 1.01.370, a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. The City can also require the structure be modified or removed to bring the lot into compliance before permits on the property will be finaled.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard shed be in Anaheim?
Do I need a permit to build a storage shed in Anaheim?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anaheim
How Anaheim compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Anaheim to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle shed & carport rules.