Do I need a permit for a shed in Los Altos, California?
Allowed
Sheds are allowed in Los Altos but not in the front setback. A shed up to 120 sq ft and 6 ft tall can go in a side setback behind a solid fence; in the rear setback a shed can be up to 800 sq ft and 12 ft tall, on the property line if under 6 ft or 5 ft back if taller.
| Front yard | Not allowed in the required front setback [1] |
| In side setback | Up to 120 sq ft, 6 ft tall, screened by a solid fence [2] |
| In rear setback | Up to 800 sq ft, 12 ft tall [3] |
| Rear setback distance | 0 ft if under 6 ft tall; 5 ft if 6-12 ft tall [3] |
| Rear-yard coverage | Max 35% of the rear setback area for structures over 6 ft [7] |
| Clearance from house (rear yard, over 6 ft) | 10 ft [9] |
| Daylight plane | Starts 6 ft high at the property line, 5:12 slope [8] |
Where a shed can go
Detached accessory structures, such as sheds, workshops and garages that aren't used for sleeping [11], can't be in the required front yard setback [1]. Elsewhere the limits depend on location (Table 1 of Sec. 14.15.020):
- Side setback area: up to 120 sq ft and 6 ft tall, no setback [2], but it must be screened by a solid fence at least as tall as the shed [5] and have 5 ft of clearance to either the house or the property line [10].
- Rear setback area: up to 800 sq ft and 12 ft tall. It can sit on the property line if under 6 ft tall; at 6 to 12 ft it needs a 5-ft setback (2.5 ft for an eave overhang on a shed over 6 ft) [3].
- Inside the buildable area (meets all house setbacks): up to 800 sq ft and 12 ft, or up to 18 ft if needed to match the house's architecture [4][6].
Other limits
- Structures over 6 ft tall can cover no more than 35% of the rear setback area [7], and they count toward the zone's overall lot coverage (35% in R1-10) [13].
- No part of a shed may break a daylight plane that starts 6 ft above the side and rear property lines and slopes inward at 5:12 for 10 ft [8].
- In the rear setback, a shed over 6 ft needs 10 ft of clearance from the house and 5 ft from other accessory structures [9].
- Open gazebos and pergolas covering up to 5% of the lot (max 500 sq ft) don't count as lot coverage [12].
Permits
The zoning chapters we reviewed set placement rules but don't state a building-permit size threshold. Ask the Building Division whether your shed needs a permit, and expect one for electrical or plumbing work.
See how Los Altos compares with 8+ other California towns on sheds & accessory buildings →
Next steps
- Measure your lot's required setbacks (R1-10: 25 ft front and rear, 10 ft interior side) to see which Table 1 row your shed falls under.
- Keep a small shed (under 6 ft) in the rear setback or a 120 sq ft shed in the side setback behind a solid fence; taller sheds need a 5-ft rear setback and 10 ft from the house.
- Check the daylight plane and 35% rear-yard coverage limits on your site plan.
- Ask the Building Division (see the city website for contact details) whether a building permit is needed; state code generally exempts one-story storage sheds of 120 sq ft or less.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Los Altos, California?
- The page doesn't give a permit threshold. Sheds are allowed but not in the front setback; check the size and height limits and confirm with the city.
- How big can a shed be in the rear yard in Los Altos, California?
- In the rear setback a shed can be up to 800 sq ft and 12 ft tall, on the property line if under 6 ft tall or 5 ft back if taller.
- Can I put a shed in the side setback in Los Altos, California?
- Yes, a shed up to 120 sq ft and 6 ft tall can go in a side setback behind a solid fence.
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
- Sec. 14.15.020(A) Size, height and placement, Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
Accessory structures may not be located in a required front yard setback area, with the exception of a single arbor-style entry element as provided in Chapter 14.72.
- Sec. 14.15.020(B), Table 1 (side yard row), Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
Required side yard setback area (interior and exterior) 120 square feet 6 feet None
- Sec. 14.15.020(B), Table 1 (rear yard row), Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
Required rear yard setback area 800 square feet 12 feet 0 feet when under 6 feet in height 5 feet when between 6-12 feet in height
- Sec. 14.15.020(B), Table 1 (building envelope row), Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
Main structure's building envelope (meets all required setbacks) 800 square feet 12 feet Not Applicable
- Sec. 14.15.020(B)(1), Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
When an accessory structure is located in a side yard setback area, it shall be screened from off-site view with solid fencing which is not lower in height than the accessory structure and which is constructed in conformance with the provisions of Chapter 14.72 of this title.
- Sec. 14.15.020(B)(2), Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
When an accessory structure is located in the main structure's building envelope, the height limit may be extended up to eighteen (18) feet if the additional height is necessary to establish architectural compatibility with the main structure.
- Sec. 14.15.030 Rear yard coverage, Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
In addition to compliance with the maximum allowable coverage and floor area ratio as provided by the subject zone district, the maximum coverage within the required rear yard setback area for all accessory structures, or portions thereof, that exceed six feet in height shall be thirty-five (35) percent of the total rear yard setback area.
- Sec. 14.15.040(A) Daylight plane, Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
The daylight plane starts at a height of six feet at the property line and proceeds inward at a 5:12 slope to a distance of ten (10) feet from the side and rear property lines;
- Sec. 14.15.050(A)-(B) Distance between structures, Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
When an accessory structure exceeds six feet in height and is located in a required rear yard setback, a minimum clearance of ten (10) feet is required between the accessory structure and the main structure, and a minimum clearance of five feet is required between accessory structures.
- Sec. 14.15.050(A), Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
When an accessory structure is located in a required side yard setback, a minimum clearance of five feet is required. The clearance may be provided between the accessory structure and the main structure, or between the accessory structure and the property line.
- Sec. 14.02.010, "Accessory structure", Municipal Code Chapter 14.02 - Definitions, p. 1
"Accessory structure" means a building that is incidental to and customarily associated with a specific principal use or facility and is not utilized as sleeping quarters.
- Sec. 14.15.060(A) Coverage exception for open accessory structures, Municipal Code Chapter 14.15 - Accessory Structures in R Districts, p. 1
Up to five percent of the lot area, but not more than five hundred (500) square feet, may be occupied by a detached accessory structure, such as an arbor (gazebo) or pergola (trellis) structure, that is open on all sides, with such area not being counted as lot coverage in residential zoning districts.
- Sec. 14.06.060(A) Coverage (R1-10), Municipal Code Chapter 14.06 - R1-10 Single-Family District, p. 1
The maximum coverage for all structures in excess of six feet in height shall be thirty-five (35) percent of the total area of the site where the height of one-story development does not exceed twenty (20) feet.
This page summarizes Los Altos's posted ordinances as of 2026-10-05. Ordinances are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Development Services Department - Code Enforcement Division (Building Division 650-947-2752), 1 N San Antonio Road (650-947-2775) before you build. Spot an error?