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

Section 17.08.090(A) governs accessory structures, including sheds, detached garages and workshops, in every residential zone. The structure must be located to the rear or side of the main dwelling unit, not less than ten feet from it, and must sit at least five feet from any interior side or rear property line while still meeting the front and street side yard setbacks that apply to the underlying zone. Section 17.08.090(B) sets a stricter rule for any barn, stable or other building used to keep animals: it must be located on the rear half of the lot and no closer than twenty feet to any side or rear property line.

Because the section covers accessory structures generally, its ten-foot and five-foot minimums apply on top of, not instead of, the specific setback table for the zone; a shed in the R1-3.5 zone still has to respect the four-foot interior side and ten-foot rear yard minimums set in Section 17.09.080, whichever standard is more restrictive. A patio cover or similar structure open on at least three sides gets its own separate rule under Section 17.08.095, which allows encroachment into the rear setback to within five feet of the rear property line, and, on lots of six thousand square feet or less, caps the height of that open structure at ten feet.