Berkeley, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Berkeley, 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
- Standard permit
- AUP for new accessory building
- ES-R threshold
- UP required at 100 sq ft+
- Max height (10 ft+ from line)
- 24 feet
- Front setback, interior lot
- 50% of lot depth
- Alley setback
- 5 feet
- Governing section
- BMC 23.304.060
Summary
A new backyard shed in Berkeley needs an Administrative Use Permit in most residential districts, with height capped by lot-line distance and setbacks running as high as 50 percent of lot depth at the front.
1. Permits Required. Table 23.304-6 shows permits required for accessory buildings and accessory structures in Residential Districts. All Residential Districts Except ES-R: New accessory buildings AUP; Alterations to existing accessory buildings ZC; Enclosed accessory structures on a lot with a main building ZC; Enclosed accessory structures on a vacant lot without a main building AUP. ES-R District: Under 100 sq. ft. ZC; 100 sq. ft. or more UP(PH)... Average Height, Maximum: Less than 4 ft. from lot line 10 ft.; 4 ft. to less than 10 ft. from lot line 12 ft.; 10 ft. or more from lot line 24 ft. Setbacks, Minimum: Front of Interior Lot 50% of lot depth; Interior Side 4 ft. for building/structures within 75 feet of front lot line; Edge of Alley 5 ft.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
060 governs accessory buildings and enclosed accessory structures such as sheds. 304-6 requires an Administrative Use Permit for a new accessory building, though only a Zoning Certificate for altering an existing one or for an enclosed accessory structure placed on a lot that already has a main building; an enclosed accessory structure on a vacant lot with no main building needs an AUP. In the ES-R hillside district, a shed under 100 square feet needs a Zoning Certificate, but one at 100 square feet or larger needs a full Use Permit with public hearing, as does any accessory structure on a vacant ES-R lot.
304-7 sets development standards that scale with distance from the lot line: maximum average height is 10 feet for a structure less than 4 feet from the lot line, 12 feet between 4 and 10 feet from the line, and 24 feet at 10 feet or more from the line. Minimum setbacks include 50 percent of lot depth at the front of an interior lot, 4 feet on the interior side for structures within 75 feet of the front lot line, and 5 feet from the edge of an alley; building length parallel to a side lot line is capped at 24 feet.
314. The Zoning Officer may approve an AUP to deviate from these standards in most residential districts, or the ZAB a Use Permit in ES-R, upon finding the deviation will not harm neighbors' light, air, privacy, or views.
Violations & Fines
Building a new accessory structure without the required AUP or Use Permit, or exceeding the height and setback standards in Table 23.304-7 without an approved deviation, is a zoning violation subject to the same enforcement and abatement authority the Zoning Officer applies to other unpermitted construction, including required removal or retroactive permitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed in Berkeley?
How tall can a backyard shed be in Berkeley?
What setback does a shed need from the property line in Berkeley?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
How Berkeley compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Berkeley to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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