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

010(i) (Utility Sheds) applies in the A, R-L, R-M, and R-H districts to any lot with a single-family detached dwelling. 010(f)(3). Placement is restricted: a shed cannot occupy a front or corner side yard or project past the front or corner side building line of the house, though it may sit in other required yards, subject to a minimum one-foot setback from interior property lines within the front half of the lot. Sheds must also keep a thirty-six-inch separation from other structures (fences excepted) on at least three sides and cannot block emergency access.

Height is capped at seven feet within one foot of any property line, though the roof may slope up to nine feet within required yards if it slopes away from the adjacent parcel. Roofs within five feet of a property line need a rain gutter or equivalent design to keep runoff off neighboring land, and internal plumbing is flatly prohibited inside a utility shed. The city planner or planning commission may grant a minor exception to the height limit if the shed is screened by landscaping, natural features, or an adjacent legal fence, but never above the height allowed for accessory structures generally.