Shed permit rules in Alpine 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.
Alpine County requires a building permit for any new accessory structure with a floor area greater than 120 square feet. Detached accessory buildings may occupy no more than half the required rear yard, must sit at least 5 feet from the main building, and may not exceed 25 feet in height.
Because all of Alpine County is unincorporated, the county Building Safety Division handles shed and accessory-building permits countywide. The Building Safety Division states that new attached or detached buildings and structures (residential and non-residential) with a floor area greater than 120 square feet require a permit; required building setbacks must be maintained whether or not a permit is required. Zoning General Requirements in Chapter 18.68 govern size and placement: a detached garage or other accessory building without living quarters may occupy not more than 50% of the area of a required rear yard and must be not closer than 5 feet clear distance from the main building (Section 18.68.140.D). No accessory building on the East or West Slope may exceed 25 feet in height (Section 18.68.050.A.2). Fences in side and rear yards may not exceed 6 feet, and front-yard fences may not exceed 4.5 feet in RE and RN districts (Section 18.68.140.H). Front, side, and rear setbacks for the underlying zoning district in Title 18 still apply to sheds. Properties inside the Markleeville Historic District may also need Markleeville Design Review for visible structures.
Building a shed over 120 square feet without a permit, encroaching on required setbacks, or exceeding the 25-foot accessory-building height limit can trigger code-enforcement action, fines, and orders to remove or relocate the structure.
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