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

Section 16-301 caps total accessory structure floor area at 15 percent of the open area between the house and the rear property line, or 120 square feet, whichever is smaller. Every accessory structure needs a minimum three-foot setback from all property lines. Height is measured from grade within five feet of the structure: a flat-roof shed cannot exceed eight feet, while a sloped-roof shed can gain six inches of height for every additional foot of setback beyond the required three feet, up to a 12-foot ceiling.

A structure built against the house cannot exceed the adjacent eave or parapet height. Roof eaves may project no more than 12 inches. Structures cannot sit in any required front yard, and except for greenhouses with translucent glass panels, siding and roofing must be non-reflective. The section also bars connecting utilities to the structure, attaching it to or blocking openings on another building, blocking equipment or utility clearances, using it for living or sleeping space, and placing furniture or plants on top of it. Regulation-size, uncovered, non-moveable sports equipment such as a basketball hoop with no more than two support posts is exempt from the height cap if it keeps a five-foot setback, as determined by the planning manager.

To qualify for this exemption track at all, the structure must meet the California Building Code's own criteria for exemption from permit requirements under subsection (10); anything larger or not meeting these standards falls back under the chapter's normal accessory building rules in subsection (B).