Courtland, CA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Detached residential accessory structures, including sheds, are governed by Section 5.4.5.A and Table 5.10.A of the Sacramento County Zoning Code. The maximum height to the peak of the roof is 16 feet (14 feet to the plate line), limited to one story, and structures must remain detached from the primary dwelling. Required setbacks are 20 feet for the front yard, 12.5 feet for a side-street yard, and 3 feet for interior side and rear yards; the code requires a minimum 3-foot setback from property lines for any portion of the structure, including eaves and overhangs. A key exception allows minor accessory structures or sheds that do not exceed 120 square feet in area and 9 feet in overall height to be placed on the property line. If a structure is within six feet of the wall of the primary residence, it must meet the same setbacks as the primary residence. Total accessory-structure area on a parcel is capped at 50 percent of the home's habitable floor area on lots under 20,000 square feet, or 100 percent on lots of 20,000 square feet or more, and building coverage may not exceed 30 percent of the required rear yard. Accessory structures may not sit in a public utility easement. Per the county Building Division, a shed of 120 square feet or less generally does not require a building permit, but zoning setbacks still apply.