Novato, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Novato, CA, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Maximum number
- Two accessory structures without design review
- Height cap
- 12 feet, or eight feet in a required side or rear yard
- Setback
- 3 feet from rear and side property lines
- Coverage cap
- Lesser of three measures, topping out at 500 square feet
- Building permit exemption
- Shed of 120 square feet and 8 feet or less, no utilities
- Front yard
- Decorative garden structures only
Summary
In the City of Novato, Marin County, California, accessory structures in residential districts follow Novato Municipal Code § 19.34.032: a maximum of two, up to 12 feet tall, set back 3 feet from side and rear property lines, and kept out of the required front yard. Aggregate coverage stops at the lesser of five percent of the lot, 30 percent of the primary dwelling’s habitable floor area, or 500 square feet unless design review approves more.
D.Location. ... 3.An accessory structure shall not be located closer than 3 feet to a rear or side property line. An accessory structure that is 40 square feet or less in size may be allowed within 3 feet of a side or rear property line provided that it does not exceed 6 feet in height. ... E.Maximum Number of Accessory Structures. A maximum of two accessory structures shall be allowed unless design review approval is first obtained in compliance with Section 19.42.030 (Design Review).F.Height Limitations.1.The height of an accessory structure shall not exceed 12 feet unless design review approval is first obtained in accordance with Section 19.42.030 (Design Review). ... G.Coverage and Size Limitations.1.The aggregate site coverage of accessory structures in residential districts shall not exceed the lesser of five percent of the lot area, 30 percent of the habitable floor area of the primary dwelling, or 500 square feet, unless design review approval is first obtained.
Full Breakdown
Section 19.34.032 applies where Article 2 allows accessory residential uses and structures, and it sends accessory dwellings to § 19.34.030 instead. An accessory structure must be incidental to the main use, and under subsection B it is built concurrent with or after the main structure unless a Use Permit is first obtained under § 19.42.050.
Location rules sit in subsection D. No accessory structure can stand closer than 3 feet to a rear or side property line, except that a structure of 40 square feet or less can sit within 3 feet of a side or rear line if it does not exceed 6 feet in height. A structure larger than 40 square feet must also stay at least 3 feet from the main structure and from any other accessory structure on the property. Nothing goes in a required front yard except decorative garden structures such as a small trellis or archway, and accessory structures can occupy up to 25 percent of a required side yard and up to 30 percent of a required rear yard. A structure over 18 inches high that is attached to a main structure must meet the setbacks for the main structure.
Subsections E through G set the size limits. A maximum of two accessory structures is allowed unless design review approval is first obtained under § 19.42.030. Height is capped at 12 feet, and at eight feet inside a required side or rear yard, unless design review approves more. Aggregate coverage of accessory structures in residential districts cannot exceed the lesser of five percent of the lot area, 30 percent of the habitable floor area of the primary dwelling, or 500 square feet. Pools, hot tubs and spas do not count toward the lot coverage limits or the two-structure cap.
Building permits are a separate question. Section 106.2 of the building code administrative provisions printed under § 4-1.3 exempts a one-story detached tool or storage shed from a permit only if the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, the total height does not exceed 8 feet, and the structure contains no plumbing, electrical wiring or heating appliances. The exemption also requires compliance with the development regulations of Title 19.
Violations & Fines
A shed or other accessory structure built contrary to § 19.34.032 is declared unlawful and a public nuisance by § 19.59.040. The Director can issue citations through the Code Enforcement Officer and serve a Notice of Violation giving 30 days to correct, and construction in violation is subject to a Stop Work Order. A violation is a misdemeanor or an infraction at the election of the City or its prosecuting official, and willful violations carry a civil penalty for each day under the Code Enforcement Fee Schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sheds can I have on a residential lot in Novato?
How close to the fence can a shed sit in Novato?
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Do I need a building permit for a shed in Novato?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Novato
How Novato compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Novato to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marin County handle shed & carport rules.