Chino Hills, CA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

The City of Chino Hills treats sheds as detached accessory structures. Under the city's Building & Safety permit-exemption rules (consistent with the California Building Code), one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses are exempt from a building permit provided the height does not exceed 10 feet from the lowest adjacent grade to the highest point and the projected floor area does not exceed 120 square feet. Anything larger or taller requires a building permit. Placement is governed by Development Code Section 16.06.070: accessory structures must be located outside the front, side, and rear setbacks; however, a structure not exceeding 10 feet in height may be located within the side or rear setback provided it is set back a minimum of 5 feet from the property line. The accessory-structure setback table generally requires 5 feet from a rear or interior side property line and 10 feet from a street-side property line, with a 10-foot height cap for structures placed in the setback. Sheds are not permitted in the front yard. Even where a building permit is not required, separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be needed if the shed is to have utilities, and fences (up to 6 feet) and similar items have their own exemption thresholds.