Madera County, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Madera County, 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
- Permit
- Ministerial only, no CUP
- Building separation
- 10 ft minimum
- Garage exception
- No setback if no attached garage
- Scope
- Unincorporated Madera County only
Summary
Detached accessory structures like sheds need only a ministerial building permit, no discretionary review, but must sit at least ten feet from the house or any other building on unincorporated Madera County lots.
Principal buildings shall maintain a minimum ten-foot separation from accessory buildings and other principal buildings. No detached accessory structure or accessory building shall be erected, structurally altered, or placed on a lot so that any portion of the structure or building is closer than ten feet to the principal building or other accessory building on the lot, with the following exceptions:
A.This regulation does not apply to structures which are accessory to other structures, as determined by the zoning administrator.B.Permanent mechanical equipment and architectural features, including eaves overhangs, window boxes, chimneys, and bay windows of buildings, may encroach into setback areas up to thirty-six inches or thirty percent of the required setback, whichever is less.C.A private garage which provides parking for a principal building with no attached garage does not require a minimum setback from the building it serves. Only one private garage for one principal building is allowed to be closer than ten feet. (Ord. 525HH § 22, 2008: Ord. 525M § 18(part), 2003: Ord. 525 § 1(part), 1989).
II. - HEIGHT REGULATIONS
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
Accessory structures such as sheds and storage buildings go through a ministerial building permit process in unincorporated Madera County, no discretionary planning permit is required (§ 18.04.015). Placement is still restricted: a detached accessory structure can't sit closer than ten feet to the primary house or to any other accessory building on the same lot (§ 18.98.090), and it must comply with the applicable base-setback-line requirements for the street it fronts. A private garage serving a home with no attached garage is exempt from that ten-foot rule. These rules apply only within unincorporated Madera County, not inside the cities of Madera or Chowchilla, which administer their own building codes.
Violations & Fines
Building or placing a shed closer than ten feet to another structure, or without the required ministerial permit, is a zoning and building-code violation subject to county code enforcement and possible removal order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a discretionary permit for a backyard shed in Madera County?
How far must a shed be from my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera County
How Madera County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Madera County to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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