Hercules, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

210 of the Hercules Zoning Ordinance governs sheds, detached garages and other accessory buildings citywide. A freestanding structure must sit at least 5 feet from all side and rear property lines, and anything built of wood or other combustible material, including decks and gazebos, cannot encroach into that 5-foot setback at all. Corner-lot owners face a stricter 10-foot setback from the side line that adjoins the street, rising to 20 feet for a garage or carport with street access off that side yard. Height is capped at 15 feet for a freestanding accessory structure, but within 10 feet of any property line the structure cannot rise above 8 feet, a stepped-back rule aimed at protecting neighbors' light and privacy.

In the RS-L district specifically, freestanding accessory structures cannot cover more than 30 percent of the required rear yard unless a remaining side or rear yard equal to at least 20 percent of the site (with a minimum 15-foot dimension) is preserved. The Community Development Director can grant exceptions for noncombustible structures like spas after finding no significant fire-hazard increase, and any reduced-setback design triggers a 150-foot mailed notice to neighbors with a 15-day protest window before the Planning Commission holds a public hearing. A prefabricated storage shed without a permanent foundation, and any accessory structure totaling under 120 square feet, skips the use-permit and design-review process entirely as long as it meets every other standard in the section; a shed on a permanent foundation still needs design review through the Community Development Director even under that 120-square-foot threshold.