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

Monterey City Code § 38-26(A) governs accessory structures across all R districts. Detached accessory structures, which include sheds, are barred from a required front or corner side yard entirely, must be located at least ten feet from the main structure, and must be set back at least five feet from interior side and rear property lines. The code also sets a minimum six-foot separation between two accessory structures on the same lot. Attached accessory structures must meet the same setbacks as the main building, with one exception: attached garages may project into the required rear yard to within five feet of the rear property line.

A shed or garage facing an alley must be set back 15 feet from the alley's center line. Height and bulk are limited too: any accessory structure taller than four feet cannot cover more than 30% of the required rear yard, and on a reverse corner lot, an accessory structure in the rear yard cannot sit forward of the front setback line of the adjacent lot. If the structure is occupied (a habitable accessory building, not a tool shed), it must meet every requirement this chapter applies to a main structure, including exterior materials and fire separation.

Construction trailers get a narrow carve-out: they may be placed on site once grading begins and must be removed at the end of construction, and cannot be occupied without Planning Commission approval. These supplemental regulations apply on top of, not instead of, the base district's own accessory-structure height limit (one story and 12 feet in the R-1 district).