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

205 sets five standards for accessory buildings and structures in any Norwalk residential zone. Height is capped at one story and 16 feet. Enclosed floor area is capped at 800 square feet total per residential property, or 600 square feet per dwelling if more than one detached single-family home sits on the lot. The roofed area and square footage of an accessory building count toward the underlying zone's maximum lot coverage and floor area ratio, so a large shed or garage eats into the same limits as the main house.

Location is restricted to the rear portion of the lot: an accessory building cannot sit closer to the front lot line than 50% of the lot's depth, or 50 feet, whichever distance is less, and it can never sit inside a front yard or street side yard setback. Side and rear setbacks are a minimum of four feet in the interior, though a corner lot must instead meet the underlying zone's standard setback. Design must match the primary dwelling's architectural style, materials, colors, finishes, roofline and windows and doors, complying with the City's Objective Design Standards, except that animal enclosures, greenhouses and conservatories are exempt from that design-matching rule.

Bathroom and washer plumbing is allowed inside an accessory building, but if the bathroom includes a shower or bathtub, the owner must sign and record a covenant promising not to convert the structure into an accessory dwelling unit without pulling the required permits and paying the applicable fees. The R-H zone has additional accessory building standards layered on top under Article IV.