Sunnyvale, CA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Sunnyvale, 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
- Max size per structure
- 450 sq ft without a use permit
- Absolute lot cap
- 800 sq ft total, all structures
- Max height
- 15 feet without a use permit
- Zero setback option
- Under 120 sq ft, 8 ft tall
- Larger structure setback
- 20 ft front, 10 ft rear
- Zoning districts
- R-0, R-1, R-1.5, R-1.7/PD, R-2
Summary
Accessory structures in Sunnyvale's single-family and duplex zoning districts cap out at 450 square feet each, with a hard citywide ceiling of 800 square feet total per lot, under Municipal Code Section 19.40.020. Structures over 450 square feet need a use permit, while smaller sheds and detached spaces follow a sliding scale of no-permit, minor-permit or use-permit review keyed to height and yard location.
(e) Maximum Height. No accessory structure may exceed fifteen feet in height unless otherwise approved with a use permit. (f) Maximum Allowable Square Footage. Any single accessory structure or the total area of all accessory structures on a property shall not exceed four hundred fifty square feet unless otherwise approved by a use permit. In no event shall the total area of all accessory structures exceed eight hundred square feet. Legal accessory units as regulated in Chapter 19.68 shall be exempt from the maximum allowable square footage for accessory structures. [§ 19.40.030] Accessory structures greater than four hundred fifty square feet are subject to approval of a use permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4856529; v14 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
010). 020(e)). 020(f)). 020(c)). 030 depends on type, height and location: an open garden feature up to 8 feet needs no planning permit anywhere on the lot, but rises to a minor planning permit with notice above 8 feet. Detached habitable spaces and utility buildings over 8 feet are flatly prohibited in front or reducible front yards and need an MPP with notice elsewhere. Detached parking garages need an MPP with notice up to 15 feet and a use permit above that height in any location.
040 scale with size too: a small open garden feature under 120 square feet and 8 feet tall can sit at zero setback, but anything larger needs a 20-foot front setback, the underlying zoning district's side setback, and a 10-foot rear setback. Structures over 450 square feet must instead meet the full zoning district setbacks rather than the accessory-structure table.
Violations & Fines
Building an accessory structure larger than 450 square feet, taller than 15 feet, or closer than the required setback without the corresponding use permit or minor planning permit under Table 19.40.030 is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement by the community development department, which can order removal or modification and withhold approval until the structure is brought into compliance or a retroactive use permit is obtained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a shed can I build without a permit in Sunnyvale?
What is the maximum size for a backyard shed?
How close to my property line can I build a shed?
Do I need a permit for a detached garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sunnyvale
How Sunnyvale compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·California rules heatmap·Compare Sunnyvale to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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