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

Woodland Municipal Code § 17.64.020, Accessory Structures, applies to detached accessory buildings, including sheds, detached garages, greenhouses, workshops and pool houses, whose use is incidental to the main house; it does not cover accessory dwelling units, which § 17.84.030 regulates separately. A Building Permit is required for every accessory structure of 120 square feet or greater and for any structure with utility hookups regardless of size, for any structure attached to an existing building such as a deck or trellis, and for decks over 30 inches in height.

Larger sheds need additional review: a Development Review Permit Tier 1 covers accessory structures over 120 up to 800 square feet or over 12 feet tall in residential zones, and a Tier 2 permit covers accessory structures over 800 gross square feet. In residential zones, detached accessory buildings must sit on the rear half of the lot, at least six feet from the primary dwelling, and their interior side or rear setback scales with eave height under Table 17.64.020.D-1, ranging from three feet for eaves under nine feet up to seven feet for eaves between 12 and 16 feet, subject to review at that top tier.

Maximum height is 16 feet, with an exception allowing a two-story structure up to 25 feet at the rear of an alley-adjacent lot if it keeps a 10-foot side setback. The cumulative floor area of residential accessory structures may not exceed 75% of the primary structure's floor area, and total accessory-plus-primary lot coverage cannot exceed 50%. Accessory structures cannot include a permanent kitchen or full bath and may not be used for full-time living or rental.