Shed permit rules in Modesto, CA — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Modesto MC section 10-4.114 governs detached accessory buildings (sheds, workshops, gazebos, detached garages) on single-family residential lots, limiting them to one story / 16 ft and 4 ft side/rear setbacks. Sheds 120 sq ft or smaller may sit on the property line. Lot-coverage caps scale with lot size from 400 to 1,000 sq ft.
Modesto Municipal Code section 10-4.114 (Accessory Buildings) sets the development standards for detached accessory structures other than ADUs in R-1 and other zones with single-family dwellings. Front setback is 25 ft; street side setback is 15 ft. Structures 120 sq ft or less may be placed with zero side and rear yard setback; structures larger than 120 sq ft require 4 ft side and rear setbacks and must stand at least 5 ft from the main house. Maximum height is one story or 16 ft. Maximum cumulative floor area scales with lot size: 400 sq ft on lots under 5,000 sq ft; 600 sq ft on lots 5,000 to 10,000 sq ft; 800 sq ft on lots 10,000 to 20,000 sq ft; and 1,000 sq ft on lots over 20,000 sq ft. The California Building Code (Title 24) and Modesto Title 8 also require a building permit for any accessory structure exceeding 120 sq ft (Health & Safety Code section 18938; CBC appendix R107).
Building a shed without required permits, or in violation of the setback/height/size standards in section 10-4.114, is subject to Modesto's code enforcement process under Title 1 Chapter 6, including administrative citations and abatement orders requiring removal or relocation of the structure.
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