Davis, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Davis, 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
- Max shed size
- 120 square feet
- Max height to peak
- 8.5 feet
- Max wall height
- 7 feet (except gable ends)
- Setback from other sheds
- 5 feet minimum
- Unfenced lot setback
- 3 feet side/rear minimum
Summary
Davis caps a freestanding backyard shed at one hundred twenty square feet and eight and a half feet of height under Section 40.26.010(d)(6) of the zoning code, and requires sheds to sit inside the rear or interior side yard setback, behind the front of the house.
(6) Small Storage Sheds. A small storage shed (as defined in Section 40.01.010 of the Davis Municipal Code) shall be no larger than one hundred twenty square feet and may be located within the required rear yard and interior side yard setbacks parallel with or behind the front of the primary structure. Maximum shed height, as measured from grade, shall be eight and one-half feet to the roof peak. The maximum wall height, except for at the gable ends, is seven feet. Small storage sheds shall be individually located a minimum of five feet from other small storage sheds. If fencing does not separate the lot from adjoining lots, a minimum three-foot side and rear setback must be provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
010 and limits it to a maximum of one hundred twenty square feet of floor area. Measured from grade, the shed cannot exceed eight and one-half feet to the roof peak, and its wall height, other than at gable ends, is capped at seven feet. A shed may sit inside the rear yard and interior side yard setbacks as long as it stays parallel with, or behind, the front of the primary structure, and each shed must be at least five feet from any other small storage shed on the lot.
If the lot is not fenced off from a neighboring property, the shed still needs a minimum three-foot side and rear setback. 010(c): review is handled by the community development department, the structure must comply with the California Building Code in effect when it is built, and, in combination with the house, accessory structures cannot exceed fifty percent lot coverage or push usable open space below twenty percent of the lot. Any enclosed accessory structure larger than one hundred twenty square feet needs additional screening or residential-character materials approved by planning staff, a threshold a code-compliant small storage shed stays under by design.
Violations & Fines
An oversized, over-height, or improperly setback shed is processed as a zoning violation of Article 40.26 and enforced under the general zoning enforcement provisions of Article 40.37, which treat the noncompliant structure as a public nuisance subject to abatement, correction, or removal by order of the city attorney, separate from any building-permit correction the city requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in Davis?
How big can my Davis shed be?
Can I put a shed close to my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
How Davis compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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