Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed in California?

Shed permit requirements. Size thresholds, setback rules, and when you can build without a permit.

Under 200 sq ft and under 10 feet tall? Usually no. Bigger? Yes.

In California

The small-shed exemption is the one place a California homeowner most often assumes a statewide rule and meets a local one: the floor-area and height cut-offs that let a shed skip a permit are applied by the local building official. California does not leave the code edition to the city. Health and Safety Code 17922 adopts Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations statewide, and requires that those standards 'impose substantially the same requirements as are contained in the most recent editions' of the named model codes, including 'The International Building Code of the International Code Council.' and 'The International Residential Code of the International Code Council.' A city or county may still vary it, but only on narrow grounds: under Health and Safety Code 17958.5 a local change must be 'reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions', and under 17958.7 the governing body 'shall make an express finding' to that effect, file it with the California Building Standards Commission, and 'No modification or change shall become effective or operative for any purpose until the finding and the modification or change have been filed with the California Building Standards Commission.' AND THERE IS A LIVE FREEZE ON NEW RESIDENTIAL AMENDMENTS: 'Commencing October 1, 2025, to June 1, 2031, inclusive, a city or county shall not make a change or modification as described in subdivision (a) or (b), including to green building standards, that is applicable to residential units, unless one of the following conditions is met:' - broadly, that it is substantially equivalent to something already filed and in effect as of September 30, 2025, or the commission deems it necessary as an emergency standard. So for residential work today, expect the statewide code to govern and treat a NEW local residential amendment as the exception that has to justify itself.

The 200 Sq Ft Rule

Most cities exempt sheds under 200 square feet and under 10 feet in height from building permits. This applies to simple storage sheds, garden sheds, and similar structures without plumbing or electrical. Even exempt sheds must comply with setback requirements.

Setbacks Still Apply

Even without a permit, your shed must meet zoning setbacks — typically 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Sheds cannot be placed in utility easements. Corner lots have additional restrictions. Check your city's zoning code before choosing a location.

When You Definitely Need a Permit

A permit is required for: sheds over 200 sq ft, sheds over 10 feet tall, any shed with electrical wiring, any shed with plumbing, and detached garages or carports regardless of size. Prefab and kit sheds over 200 sq ft still need permits — the rule is based on size, not construction method.

HOA Restrictions

Many HOAs have additional shed restrictions: approved materials and colors, maximum size smaller than city code allows, and sometimes outright prohibition of certain shed types. Get HOA approval before purchasing or building.

Small sheds (under 200 sq ft, under 10 ft tall, no utilities) are usually permit-free. Everything else needs one. Always check setbacks.

Permit fees by city in California

Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.

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Permit fees by city in California
	Permit fee	Source
Fresno	Due at permit issuanceVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit	Residential Building Permit →
Long Beach	Per the City's published fee schedulesVerifiedvia Building Permit	Building Permit →
Oakland	NOT PUBLISHED on the pages readVerifiedvia Residential Building Combination Permit (RBC)	Residential Building Combination Permit (RBC) →
Sacramento	Published separately in the City's building fee pagesVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit	Residential Building Permit →
San Diego	$737.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Combination Building - Single Dwelling Units, ADUs and Duplexes)	Residential Building Permit (Combination Building - Single Dwelling Units, ADUs and Duplexes) →
San Jose	NOT PUBLISHED on the permit service pagesVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Standard Plan Review Service)	Residential Building Permit (Standard Plan Review Service) →

See the national overview for this permit →