Milpitas, CA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Milpitas treats sheds, detached garages, and similar structures as 'accessory buildings and structures' under Municipal Code Section XI-10-54.08. The code expressly exempts fences, walls, latticework screens, and guard railings from these provisions. For a detached accessory building in an 'R' (residential) district, the code requires that it be located on the rear one-half of the lot and at least six feet from any dwelling existing or under construction on the same lot, and at least 14 feet from a residential structure existing or under construction on an adjacent lot. The structure may not be located within three feet of any rear lot line or side line of the rear half of an adjacent lot, nor within seven feet of the side line of the front half of an adjacent lot. Eave projections of accessory buildings may not come closer than three feet to any side or rear lot line. On a size basis, all accessory buildings and structures (together with certain rear-yard building additions in R1 and R2) in the rear yard are limited cumulatively to a total area not exceeding 30 percent of the area of the required rear yard. Height limits for accessory buildings follow the residential zone development standards table (Table XI-10-4.04-1); in lower-density residential zones an accessory building is generally limited to 1.5 stories (15 feet). A building permit is required for sheds above the size threshold in the adopted California Building/Residential Code; contact the Building Division to confirm.