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

Modoc County's Zoning Code treats sheds as accessory structures. Section 18.100.010(D) provides that in any zone allowing a one-family dwelling, accessory buildings and uses are also permitted, and Subsection (D)(1) expressly lists structures accessory to residential uses 'such as attached or detached garage, private shop, private greenhouse, or a combination of accessory buildings.' A storage shed falls within this category. The code's key limitation is that 'no building or structure permitted by this section shall encroach into any yard required by the zone in which the building is located,' so a shed must sit outside the minimum yards of its base zone. Yard requirements are set by each zone chapter and by the general yard rules in Section 18.110.050. For example, the Rural Residential (RR) zone (Section 18.30.060) requires a minimum 20-foot front and side-street yard and a 30-foot rear and side yard; the Agricultural General (AG) zone (Section 18.24.060) requires a 20-foot front/side-street yard for nonfarm buildings and a 5-foot rear/side yard, with a 10-foot front/side-street yard for farm buildings. Height limits and other standards are applied through Section 18.110.060 and the underlying zone. If a manufactured structure is used as an accessory building, the County requires a recorded document stating it is not a dwelling and shall not be used for human habitation. Building-permit thresholds for small accessory structures are governed separately by Title 15 (Buildings and Construction), but zoning setbacks still apply regardless of permit status.