Do I need a permit for a shed in Danville, California?
A building permit is needed for any accessory structure over 120 sq ft, and electrical or plumbing work always needs a permit. A portable shed under 120 sq ft and no taller than 8 feet needs no permit and can go anywhere in the rear yard; other sheds must meet the house's side and rear setbacks (or 5 feet if set far enough back from the street) and stay under 15 feet tall. Our zoning text is a 2019 copy, so confirm setbacks with the Planning Division.
| Building permit threshold | Over 120 sq ft (electrical/plumbing always need permits) [1] |
| Portable shed (no permit) | Under 120 sq ft, 8 ft max, no foundation, plumbing or electrical [2] |
| Portable shed setbacks | Exempt in the rear yard; front setbacks still apply [3] |
| Front setback | Same as the house [4] |
| Side/rear setback | Same as the house, or 5 ft if set back far enough from the front line [5] |
| Front distance for 5-ft setback, R-6/R-7/R-10 | 50 ft from front line (25 ft from secondary front) [13] |
| Front distance for 5-ft setback, R-12/R-15/R-20 | 60 ft per the Nov 2025 handout; 65 ft in the 2019 code text (confirm with Planning) [14] |
| Max height | 15 feet; 12 feet within 10 ft of side/rear lines [6] |
| Side/rear setback, R-6/R-7 (standard) | 5 ft side (15 ft total), 20 ft rear [7] |
These rules come from a November 2019 printout of Danville's single-family zoning code (Sec. 32-22), the only copy we could obtain; later amendments may have changed them, so confirm with the Planning Division before you build.
Permits
The Planning Division's accessory structures handout says a building permit is required for any accessory structure over 120 sq ft, and electrical and plumbing permits are required at any size [1]. Every shed must still meet zoning rules even if it doesn't need a permit.
Portable sheds
A portable storage shed is freestanding and movable, has no permanent foundation, is under 120 sq ft and no taller than 8 feet, and has no plumbing or electrical [2]. Portable sheds are exempt from setbacks in the rear yard, but must respect the front and secondary-front setbacks, and a shed built using a property-line fence doesn't qualify [3].
Setbacks for other sheds
Sheds, detached garages, cabanas and similar accessory structures must meet the house's primary and secondary front yard setbacks [4]. Side and rear setbacks are the same as the house's, but may drop to 5 feet if the structure is set far enough back from the front property line: 50 feet in R-6, R-7 and R-10, 65 feet in R-12, R-15 and R-20, and 75 feet in R-40, R-65 and R-100 (25, 30 and 35 feet from a corner lot's secondary front line) [5]. The Town's newer handout (revised Nov 2025) gives the same figures except 60 feet, not 65, for R-12, R-15 and R-20 [13][14]. Until Planning confirms which applies, plan on 65 feet in those districts. With eaves deeper than 6 inches, the 5-foot setback is measured from the eave [8]. Standard house setbacks in the smallest districts are 5-foot sides (15 feet combined) and a 20-foot rear yard, rising to 30-foot sides and rear in R-100 [7][11].
Height and size
Accessory structures can be up to 15 feet tall, but no part may exceed 12 feet within 10 feet of a side or rear property line [6]. Play structures are limited to 10 feet [9]. Residential greenhouses under 300 sq ft are allowed outright; larger ones need a land use permit [10][12]. The zoning text we have doesn't set a separate lot-coverage cap for sheds.
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Next steps
- Decide whether the shed qualifies as portable (under 120 sq ft, 8 ft max, no foundation or utilities); if so, no permit is needed.
- For larger sheds, apply for a building permit with the Danville Building Division (925-314-3330), plus electrical or plumbing permits if needed.
- Check your district's setbacks with the Planning Division (925-314-3310) and keep the shed out of front yard setbacks.
- Keep the shed under 15 feet tall and under 12 feet within 10 feet of side and rear lines.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Danville, California?
- It depends on size. A building permit is needed for any accessory structure over 120 sq ft, and electrical or plumbing work always needs a permit. A portable shed under 120 sq ft and no taller than 8 feet, with no foundation or utilities, needs no permit.
- How big of a shed can I build without a permit in Danville, California?
- A portable storage shed under 120 sq ft and no taller than 8 feet, with no permanent foundation, plumbing or electrical, needs no permit and is exempt from setbacks in the rear yard. It must still respect front and secondary-front setbacks.
- How close to the property line can a shed be in Danville, California?
- Other sheds must meet the house's side and rear setbacks, which may drop to 5 feet if the shed is set far enough back from the front line, for example 50 feet in R-6, R-7 and R-10. For R-12, R-15 and R-20 sources say 60 or 65 feet, so plan on 65 until Planning confirms.
- How tall can a shed be in Danville, California?
- Accessory structures can be up to 15 feet tall, but no part may exceed 12 feet within 10 feet of a side or rear property line. These limits come from a 2019 copy of the zoning code, so confirm with the Planning Division.
California state rules for sheds and accessory buildings
Where a shed can go (setbacks, height, lot coverage, front-yard limits) is set by your city or county zoning code. The state sets the building-permit baseline:
- Permit exemption: the 2025 California Residential Code (R105.2) exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses if the floor area is 120 sq ft or less. Bigger sheds need a permit, and electrical or plumbing work needs its own permit. Some cities have amended these thresholds.
- Other exempt work in the same list includes fences up to 7 ft and decks up to 200 sq ft that are no more than 30 inches above grade and not attached to the house.
- Exempt doesn't mean unregulated: zoning setbacks, HOA rules and easements still apply, and some cities require a zoning clearance even for small sheds.
- Turning a shed or garage into living space is covered by the state's ADU law (Gov. Code §66314). An existing accessory structure converted to an ADU needs no added setback, and new ADUs need no more than 4-foot side and rear setbacks (see ADUs).
- Wildfire areas: in a state responsibility area, owners must keep 100 feet of defensible space around buildings (Pub. Res. Code §4291). Local fire-hazard rules may limit what you can build or store near structures.
- Coastal zone: a new structure is "development" and may need a coastal development permit (Pub. Res. Code §30106).
What the ordinance says
- Accessory Structures handout, Permit Requirements, Accessory Structures handout (Planning Division), p. 1
A building permit is required for all accessory structures greater than 120 square feet in floor area. Electrical and plumbing permits are required regardless of the size of the structure. All accessory buildings and structures must meet all building and zoning requirements, even if a permit is not required.
- Sec. 32-22.2 (Storage shed, portable), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 5
Storage shed, portable or portable storage shed shall mean those structures that are freestanding and moveable, have no permanent foundation, are less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet in area, and have a building height no greater than eight (8) feet as measured at the highest pitch of the roof, and contain no plumbing or electrical installations
- Sec. 32-22.9(b)(3), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
Portable storage sheds are exempt from structure setback requirements when placed in the rear yard area. The required minimum set back from the front and/or secondary front property lines must be maintained as defined for each District. Sheds, overhangs and sheltered areas shall not be created by utilizing a property line fence and such structures do not qualify as portable storage sheds.
- Sec. 32-22.9(a)(1), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
The primary front yard and secondary front yard setbacks requirements for the primary structure also apply to accessory structures.
- Sec. 32-22.9(a)(2), Table 32-33.8, Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
The minimum side yard or rear yard setback for accessory structures shall be the same as the setbacks for the primary structure but may be reduced to five (5) feet if it is setback from the primary front yard proper line or secondary front yard property line is at least:
- Sec. 32-22.10, Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 15
Except as specified in this section, accessory structures shall have a maximum height of fifteen (15) feet. Additionally, no part of any accessory structure shall be greater than twelve (12) feet in height within ten (10) feet of a side or rear property line.
- Accessory Structures handout, Setback Requirements, Accessory Structures handout (Planning Division), p. 1
R-6, R-7 Districts 5 feet, 15 feet total 20 feet
- Sec. 32-22.9(b)(2), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
(a) If the eave overhang is greater than six (6) inches in depth, the five (5) foot setback is measured from the exterior face of the eave, not the exterior wall.
- Sec. 32-22.10(a)(1), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 15
Play structures. The maximum height of a play structure is limited to ten (10) feet, and no part of a play structure shall be greater than eight (8) feet in height within ten (10) feet of a side or rear property line.
- Sec. 32-22.3(a)(16), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 7
16. Residential greenhouses, under three hundred (300) square feet;
- Accessory Structures handout, Setback Requirements, Accessory Structures handout (Planning Division), p. 1
R-100 District 30 feet, 60 feet total 30 feet
- Sec. 32-22.4(k), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 8
k. Residential greenhouses, over three hundred (300) square feet;
- Accessory Structures handout, Reduced Side and Rear Setbacks, Accessory Structures handout (Planning Division), p. 1
R-6, R-7, R-10 Districts 50 feet 25 feet
- Accessory Structures handout, Reduced Side and Rear Setbacks, Accessory Structures handout (Planning Division), p. 1
R-12, R-15, R-20 Districts 60 feet 30 feet