Sacramento County, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Sacramento County, 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
- Pet shelter cap
- 6 ft tall, 6 ft wide
- Livestock shelter cap
- 200 sq ft, 9 ft tall
- Utilities
- No electrical service allowed
- Governing section
- § 16.02.090, R105.2 item 11
Summary
A small backyard shed built to house pets or livestock skips a Sacramento County building permit if it stays within strict size caps: 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide for pet shelters, or 200 square feet and 9 feet tall for prefab livestock shelters.
11. Animal Shelters used for housing livestock and residential pets shall be exempt from building permit requirements provided Zoning Code requirements are met, and the structure complies with the following guidelines:
A. Residential Pet Structures.
1. The structure is not an Agricultural Building as defined in Section 202 of the Building Code.
2. The structure shall not be used for human habitation or commercial use.
3. The structure shall not exceed 6' in height from grade to top of structure.
4. The structure shall have a width/depth that does not exceed 6' (the structure's length shall be regulated by the zoning code).
5. The structure shall not incorporate or have attached electrical service or other utilities.
B. Manufactured Horse and Livestock Shelters.
1. The structure is not an Agricultural Building as defined in Section 202 of the Building Code.
2. The structure is prefabricated and/or is a temporary corral structure that is installed per the manufacturer's requirements and is not used for human habitation or commercial use.
3. The manufactured and prefabricated structure shall not exceed 200 square feet and does not exceed 9' high and shall not be enclosed on more than three sides.
4. The structure shall not incorporate or have attached electrical service or other utilities.
Section R105.3.1.1 "Determination of substantially improved or substantially damaged existing buildings in flood hazard areas" is amended as follows:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Sacramento County Code § 16.02.090 amends California Residential Code § R105.2 to exempt animal shelter structures from a building permit under item 11, provided Zoning Code requirements are met. Residential pet structures can't exceed 6 feet in height or 6 feet in width/depth, can't be used for human habitation or commercial use, and can't have attached electrical service. Manufactured horse and livestock shelters can't exceed 200 square feet or 9 feet in height, must be prefabricated or a temporary corral installed per manufacturer specs, can't be enclosed on more than three sides, and also can't carry attached utilities.
Violations & Fines
A shed that exceeds the height, footprint, or enclosure limits, or that adds electrical service, no longer qualifies for the exemption and needs a standard building permit; building it without one draws the County's unpermitted-work fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small pet shed in Sacramento County?
What about a livestock shelter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
How Sacramento County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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