Tehama County, CA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Under Tehama County Code Section 17.08.020(A), a detached garage or accessory building not exceeding one story in height and without living quarters may occupy not more than fifty percent of the area of a required rear yard. As an exception, a garage or similar outbuilding not exceeding fifteen feet in height at the ridge may be built against the side and rear line, provided it is not less than seventy feet from any street; otherwise the outbuilding must observe a five-foot clear distance from the side line and rear line. A detached accessory building must also be no closer than eight feet to the main building. Section 17.04.020 defines an 'accessory building' as a detached subordinate building whose use is incidental to the main building. Setbacks otherwise follow the underlying zone (for example, RE side yards are 6 feet and rear yards 20 feet per 17.14.050; R-1 rear yards are 20 feet per 17.16.040). In the AG-3 district, barns, stables, chicken houses and similar accessory buildings have special distances under 17.12.050 (at least 50 feet from the front building line, 10 feet from any side property line, and 40 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent parcel). A building permit is generally required; check whether your shed's size triggers permitting with the Building and Safety Department.