Shed permit rules in Monterey 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.
Small one-story sheds in unincorporated Monterey County (240 sq ft or less, no utilities) generally do not need a building permit, but Planning rules such as zoning setbacks and design control still apply. Larger sheds or any structure with electrical, plumbing or mechanical work require a building permit.
Under the California Building Code as administered by Monterey County, a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool/storage shed, playhouse or similar use does not require a building permit if its floor area does not exceed 240 square feet, it contains no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, and it is not used to store hazardous materials or vehicles. A structure larger than 240 square feet, or any size that contains utilities, requires a building permit. Even when a building permit is not required, Planning regulations under Title 21 (Zoning) still apply: zoning-district setbacks, height limits, and design-control review. Detached accessory structures with access from an alley must not be located within 6 feet of the alley right-of-way. Setback distances vary by zoning district, so property owners should confirm the required side, rear and front setbacks for their specific parcel with Monterey County Planning Services (831-755-5025). Resource Conservation (RC) districts allow administrative reduction of accessory-structure setbacks under section 21.36.040.
Building a shed over 240 sq ft, or any shed with utilities, without a permit, or placing a shed inside the required setback, can trigger Monterey County code enforcement, stop-work orders and a requirement to permit, relocate or remove the structure.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Monterey County, CA
Curb-color meanings in unincorporated Monterey County follow California Vehicle Code Section 21458: red = no stopping/parking, yellow = freight/passenger loa...
Monterey County, CA
Monterey County zoning requires off-street loading spaces for larger commercial and industrial buildings (Section 20.58.050(H)). On public streets, loading-z...
Monterey County, CA
Monterey County reviews EV-charging installations through its building and planning permit process; the county has no special on-street EV ordinance, so EV-c...
Monterey County, CA
Unincorporated Monterey County has no blanket oversized-vehicle street ban. The California Vehicle Code controls: Section 22507 lets local authorities restri...
Monterey County, CA
Fences on unincorporated Monterey County land must comply with Title 21 (inland) or Title 20 (coastal): generally no taller than 6 ft unless the accessory-st...
Monterey County, CA
Monterey County requires a construction permit for any retaining wall 4 feet or greater in height, measured bottom of footing to top of wall, OR a retaining ...
See how Monterey County's shed rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.