Shed permit rules in Santa Maria, CA — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Detached tool and storage sheds up to 120 square feet, 8 feet tall, and at least 5 feet from any other building are exempt from building permits but must sit behind the front wall of the dwelling and be screened by a 6-foot fence or wall.
Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 9-08 (Residential Code) and Chapter 9-04 (Building Code) adopt the California Residential and Building Codes with local amendments allowing one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds to be constructed without a building permit if they meet all of the following: floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, maximum height above adjacent grade does not exceed 8 feet, maximum ceiling height does not exceed 7 feet, length-to-width ratio does not exceed 2:1, location is at least 5 feet from any other building on the site, no electrical/plumbing/mechanical installations, and the shed is located behind the front wall of the dwelling and screened by a 6-foot fence or wall. Per Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 12-27 (Accessory Structures) and zoning code provisions, even permit-exempt sheds must still comply with the underlying zone's setback requirements; detached accessory structures must stand at least 5 feet from any dwelling on the lot, and any accessory structure attached to the main building must comply in all respects with main-building setbacks. A maximum of two exempt accessory buildings is allowed per parcel.
Sheds exceeding 120 sq ft or 8 ft in height require a building permit; structures built without required permits or in violation of setbacks are subject to code enforcement under Santa Maria's nuisance abatement procedures and may have to be removed or relocated at the owner's expense.
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