Buena Park, CA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Buena Park's single-family development standards (Title 19, Development Standards-Buildings) treat storage sheds as non-habitable accessory structures, alongside garages, carports, gazebos, cabanas, pool houses, and workshops. The combined floor area of all non-habitable accessory structures may not exceed 50 percent of the habitable floor area of the primary dwelling, or 600 square feet, whichever is less; exceeding that threshold requires a conditional use permit. Detached accessory structures generally must maintain the same side/rear setbacks as a detached garage - a minimum 5-foot setback in the RS-6 and RS-8 zones (10 feet in the RS-10 and RS-16 estate zones). A key exception: a small accessory structure such as a shed that is 120 square feet or less and located behind a solid wall of at least 6 feet in height may have a reduced setback of less than 3 feet, provided there are no wall openings facing the adjoining property and no drainage onto the neighbor. Sheds 120 square feet or smaller are typically below the threshold that triggers a building permit under the California Building Code, but the city's zoning setback and coverage limits still apply. Check the exact figures with the Planning Division (714-562-3620) before building. These are the incorporated city's standards, not Orange County's.