Shed permit rules in San Mateo 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.
In unincorporated San Mateo County, a detached tool/storage shed needs no building permit if it is 120 sq ft or less and 12 feet or less in height. Detached accessory buildings are governed by Development Code Chapter 8.348, which sets a 3-foot minimum from property lines.
Per the County Planning and Building Department, a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed is exempt from a building permit if its floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and its height above grade does not exceed 12 feet. Even when permit-exempt, the structure must still comply with Zoning (Development Code) requirements for setbacks, lot coverage, and floor area. Under the permit exemption, no more than one structure is allowed unless it is separated from another permit-exempt structure by more than 50 feet. Detached accessory buildings (including sheds) are regulated by Development Code Chapter 8.348. Section 8.348.020 allows a one-story detached accessory building in residentially zoned districts if building coverage does not exceed 30 percent of the rear yard area, floor area does not exceed 1,000 square feet, plate height does not exceed 10 feet, and the building is not within 3 feet of a property line, with a maximum building height of 19 feet (14 feet in West Menlo Park). A use permit under Chapter 8.280 may be granted for nonconforming accessory buildings upon a finding of unusual circumstance.
A shed exceeding the 120 sq ft / 12 ft exemption built without a permit, or any accessory building violating Chapter 8.348 setback, coverage, or size limits, is a code violation. Planning and Building code enforcement can require permits, relocation, or removal.
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