San Leandro, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in San Leandro, 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-exempt shed size
- One story, 120 sq ft or less (§105.2)
- Max accessory structure size
- 500 sq ft (§2.04.348), except ADUs
- Required separation
- 6 feet from other structures on the lot
- Setback by height
- 0 ft, 3 ft, or 5 ft depending on height
- Lot coverage limit
- 50%-70% of lot, depending on district
- Governing zoning section
- § 2.04.348 (RD, RM, RS Districts)
Summary
A detached tool or storage shed in San Leandro skips the building permit if it is one story and 120 square feet or less, under Building Code Section 105.2. In the RD, RM, and RS residential districts, Zoning Code Section 2.04.348 still caps every accessory structure at 500 square feet, a six-foot separation from other buildings, and setbacks that grow with height.
Timing. Accessory structures shall not be established or constructed prior to the start of construction of a principal structure on a site... Location. Except as provided in this subsection, accessory structures shall not occupy a required front or corner side yard or court or project beyond the front building line of the principal structure on a site. No accessory uses shall be permitted off site. Accessory structures must maintain a six foot separation from other structures on the lot... No single structure, excluding accessory dwelling units as regulated by Section 2.04.388 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), shall occupy more than 500 square feet... Structures that are not required to obtain a building permit under the San Leandro Building Code and which are not over eight feet in height and under 120 square feet shall be exempt from the lot coverage requirement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4967405; v8 updated 2026-07-06).
Full Breakdown
2 of the City Building Code (Chapter 7-5, Article 1) exempts a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar use from the building permit requirement, but only if its floor area does not exceed 120 square feet. 1 puts the shed back under the ordinary permit process, including a site plan and construction documents. 348 layers on separate development standards for accessory structures in the RD, RM, and RS Districts regardless of permit status: a shed cannot be built before the main house exists (except a construction trailer during grading), cannot sit in a required front or corner side yard, and must keep a six-foot separation from other structures on the lot.
No single accessory structure, aside from an ADU, may exceed 500 square feet, and its footprint counts toward the lot's overall coverage limit, which is 50% in the RS, RD, and RM-3000 Districts, 60% in RM-2500 and RM-2000, and 70% in RM-1800, unless the structure is 120 square feet or smaller, 8 feet or less in height, and permit-exempt. Height and setback scale together: a structure 8 feet tall or under with 120 square feet or less needs a zero setback, one between 8 and 12 feet needs 3 feet, and one between 12 and 15 feet needs 5 feet.
The Zoning Enforcement Official can grant an Administrative Exception to these standards or refer the request to the Planning Commission for a Conditional Use Permit.
Violations & Fines
Build a shed over 120 square feet, or in the wrong spot, without going through the Building Official and Zoning Enforcement Official, and it becomes an "Unpermitted Structure" under Section 105.1.1, which the owner is barred from using or maintaining until it is legalized or removed. Any Code violation, including a zoning setback or lot-coverage breach under Section 2.04.348, is prosecutable as a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and six months in jail) or a lesser infraction under Section 1-12-200, and the City can order corrective work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a shed in my front yard in San Leandro?
How big can my shed be in San Leandro?
What setback does my shed need from the property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Leandro
How San Leandro compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare San Leandro to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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