Palm Springs, CA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

California Building Code §105.2 (adopted in Palm Springs) exempts one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool/storage sheds with a floor area not exceeding 120 square feet from building permits. That exemption is only from the building permit - zoning, setback, easement, and HOA rules still apply. Typical Palm Springs R-1 setbacks require sheds to sit at least 5 feet from side/rear property lines (sometimes 3 feet for structures 6 feet or shorter), not encroach into front setbacks (often 25 feet), and not exceed a combined lot-coverage cap with the main home and garage. Height for small accessory structures is generally capped around 12 feet. Electrical or plumbing service to the shed triggers permits regardless of size. HOA architectural committees - particularly in neighborhoods with mid-century modern design guidelines like Twin Palms, Vista Las Palmas, and Canyon View Estates - commonly require matching colors, specific materials (painted stucco rather than corrugated metal), and prior approval. Anchoring is important in high-wind events; winds in the Coachella Valley routinely exceed 60 mph.