Glendale, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Glendale, 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 accessory building area
- 500 sq. ft. floor area
- Max accessory living quarters
- 500 sq. ft. aggregate
- Standard height cap
- 12 ft (15 ft with pitched roof)
- Accessory structure height cap
- 15 ft
- Hillside downslope wall limit
- 10 ft (ROS/R1R, 5:1+ slope)
- Governing sections
- GMC §§ 30.11.020, 30.11.030
Summary
A backyard shed, workshop or other accessory building in Glendale's residential zones is capped at 500 square feet of floor area under Table 30.11-A in § 30.11.020, and at 12 feet of height, or 15 feet with a pitched roof, under Table 30.11-B in § 30.11.030. A separate 15-foot cap applies to non-building accessory structures.
Accessory buildings or structures, other than garages or carports, not to exceed 500 sq. ft. of floor area ... No accessory building shall exceed a height of 12 feet, or 15 feet where a minimum roof pitch of 3 feet in 12 feet is provided, pursuant to the definition of height set forth in this title. ... Accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet pursuant to the definition of height set forth in this title.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
020) permits, as of right in every residential zone, an accessory building or structure other than a garage or carport of up to 500 square feet of floor area, and separately allows accessory living quarters or a guest house of up to 500 square feet in aggregate. 030): a standard accessory building cannot exceed 12 feet, rising to 15 feet if the roof carries a minimum pitch of 3 feet of rise per 12 feet of run, while a freestanding accessory structure that is not a building, such as a trellis or covered patio structure, is capped separately at 15 feet.
On steep hillside lots in the ROS and R1R zones, an accessory building built to the side of or below the downhill wall of the main house on a slope of 5:1 or steeper has its own rule: the downslope wall of that accessory building cannot exceed 10 feet. 080(D)(9) bars having both types on the same lot, though it does allow converting an accessory living quarters into an ADU later, or adding a separate junior ADU regardless. 11-B, a homeowner adding a shed or detached studio needs to check the running total of covered area on the parcel, not just the new structure's own footprint, before applying for a building permit.
Violations & Fines
An accessory building erected over the 500-square-foot area limit, or above the 12-foot (15-foot with pitched roof) height cap, is not listed among the reduced-penalty infractions in § 1.20.010(D), so it is enforced as a misdemeanor under § 1.20.010(A): up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day the oversized structure remains counted as a separate violation. Community Development can require the structure be modified or removed to bring it back within Table 30.11-A and Table 30.11-B limits before signing off on any related permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a shed be in my Glendale backyard?
How tall can a detached garage or shed be?
Can I have both a guest house and an ADU on my lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
How Glendale compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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