Do I need a permit for a shed in Pasadena, California?
Sheds and other accessory buildings are allowed, but not in the front or corner-side setback. One can go in a side or rear setback only if it's in the rear 25 feet of the lot (or more than 100 feet back from the front line); at 2 feet from a property line it can be 9 feet tall, rising to 15 feet farther in. All accessory buildings together are capped at 600 sq ft or 6% of the lot, whichever is greater.
| Front or corner-side setback | Not allowed [1] |
| In side or rear setback | Only in rear 25 ft of lot or more than 100 ft from front line [2] |
| Height at 2 ft from property line | 9 ft [3] |
| Max overall height | 15 ft, within the encroachment plane [4] |
| Max total floor area (RS zones) | 600 sq ft or 6% of lot, whichever is greater [5] |
| Max wall length within 5 ft of property line | 22 ft [6] |
| Separation from other buildings | 6 ft [7] |
| Sleeping quarters, kitchens, bathtubs | Not allowed [8] |
| Max size of one accessory structure (HD/HD-SR hillside) | 600 sq ft [10] |
Where a shed can go
Accessory structures (sheds, workshops, greenhouses, gazebos, garages) can't be placed in a required front or corner side setback [1]. They may go in a required side or rear setback only if more than 100 feet from the front property line or in the rear 25 feet of the lot [2]. A lot abutting the front 100 feet of a key lot must keep a 4-foot rear setback. You can't build an accessory structure before the main house.
Height
At the minimum 2-foot setback from a property line, an accessory structure may be 9 feet tall, with a top plate no higher than 9 feet [3]. Above that, the roof may rise as it slopes away, inside an encroachment plane that climbs 1.5 feet per foot from the 2-foot setback, to a maximum overall height of 15 feet [4]. The roof pitch must be within 1/12 of the house's predominant pitch, and street-visible materials must match the house (both waived in historic districts and certain hillside overlays). Extra height requires a Minor Conditional Use Permit.
Size and placement limits
On single-family (RS) lots, all accessory structures combined may total 600 sq ft or 6% of the lot area, whichever is greater [5]. Carports, gazebos and covered patios count; structures with roofs at least 50% open don't. A wall section within 5 feet of a property line can be no longer than 22 feet; anything longer must step back to 5 feet [6]. Keep at least 6 feet from other buildings (4 feet from a utility pole) [7]. In the HD and HD-SR hillside districts, each accessory structure is also limited to 600 sq ft and most must sit behind the house's rear wall [9][10].
Use limits
Accessory structures can't be used for sleeping. Bathtubs, fireplaces and kitchens are banned; air conditioning, heating, a shower or toilet are allowed only with a recorded covenant that the building stays non-residential [8]. Rooftop decks are prohibited, and the attic may be used only for storage with pull-down stairs. Turning a shed into living space falls under the ADU rules.
Permits
The zoning sections reviewed set placement and size rules but don't state a building-permit size threshold; check with the Building Division.
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Next steps
- Measure your lot and locate the rear 25 feet; keep the shed out of the front and corner-side setbacks.
- Check total accessory floor area on the lot (600 sq ft or 6% of lot area) and the 9-ft / 15-ft height envelope.
- Ask the Permit Center (175 N. Garfield Ave., 626-744-4200) whether your shed needs a building permit, and record a covenant if it will have plumbing or HVAC.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Pasadena, California?
- It depends. Ask the Permit Center whether your shed needs a building permit, and record a covenant if it will have plumbing or HVAC.
- Where can I put a shed in Pasadena, California?
- Not in the front or corner-side setback. One can go in a side or rear setback only if it's in the rear 25 feet of the lot or more than 100 feet back from the front line.
- How tall can a shed be in Pasadena, California?
- At 2 feet from a property line it can be 9 feet tall, rising to a maximum of 15 feet farther in, within the encroachment plane.
- How big can a shed be in Pasadena, California?
- All accessory buildings together are capped at 600 sq ft or 6% of the lot, whichever is greater. Sleeping quarters, kitchens and bathtubs are not allowed.
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. 17.50.250.D.1, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
An accessory structure shall not occupy a required front or corner side setback.
- Sec. 17.50.250.D.2, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
An accessory structure may be located in a required side or rear setback; provided it is more than 100 feet from the front property line or in the rear 25 feet of the site.
- Sec. 17.50.250.E.1.a, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
An accessory structure shall not exceed a height of nine feet, but only if located two feet from a property line.
- Sec. 17.50.250.E.1.d, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
An accessory structure may raise to, but shall not exceed, an overall height of 15 feet, but only in compliance with Subparagraph c., immediately above.
- Sec. 17.50.250.G.1.a, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
Projects using the RS standards. The maximum size of all accessory structures on a site shall no exceed an aggregate of 600 square feet or six percent of the lot size, whichever is greater.
- Sec. 17.50.250.E.2.a, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
In order to prevent an excessive amount of structure located along a property line, the maximum horizontal length of an accessory structure that can be located less than five feet from the property line shall be limited to 22 feet.
- Sec. 17.50.250.F.2, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
An accessory structure, other than mechanical equipment, a hot tub, or a swimming pool, shall maintain a minimum separation of six feet from any other structure (excluding walls and fences) on the site.
- Sec. 17.50.250.B.1, Zoning Code Chapter 17.50 - Standards for Specific Land Uses (ADUs 17.50.275, accessory structures 17.50.250, home occupations 17.50.110, short-term rentals 17.50.296)
Bathtubs, fireplaces, and kitchens (full or partial) are prohibited within accessory structures.
- Sec. 17.29 (Accessory Structures, HD and HD-SR districts), Zoning Code Chapter 17.29 - Hillside Overlay Districts (Arroyo Seco slope bank)
Accessory structures, except for detached garages, must be located behind the rear wall plane(s) of the primary structure.
- Sec. 17.29 (Accessory Structures, HD and HD-SR districts), item 2, Zoning Code Chapter 17.29 - Hillside Overlay Districts (Arroyo Seco slope bank)
In addition to the aggregate size requirements of Section 17.50.250 (G), individual accessory structures shall be limited to a maximum size of 600 square feet.