Do I need a permit for a shed in Piedmont, California?
A one-story shed of 120 sq ft or less doesn't need a building permit in Piedmont, though wildfire-area (WUI) rules still apply citywide. In single-family Zone A, a shed may sit inside the 5-foot side and rear setbacks if it is within 35 feet of the rear lot line, at least 5 feet from a neighbor's house, no taller than 15 feet and not habitable; it can't go in the 20-foot street setback.
| Building permit threshold | Not required for one-story sheds of 120 sq ft or less [1] |
| Wildland Urban Interface | Entire city [2] |
| Normal side/rear setback (Zone A) | 5 feet [4] |
| Shed inside side/rear setback | Within 35 ft of rear lot line [5] |
| Distance from neighbor's house | At least 5 feet [6] |
| Max height in setback | 15 feet [6] |
| Street yard setback (Zone A) | 20 feet [3] |
| Design review | Required for work needing a building permit, unless a small improvement [7] |
| Max lot coverage (Zone A) | 40% for all structures [10] |
Do I need a permit?
Piedmont's amended building code exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, if the floor area is 120 sq ft or less, except as regulated by the Wildland-Urban Interface Code [1]. The city has designated its entire area as Wildland Urban Interface [2], so WUI construction and vegetation standards still apply to a small shed. Separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical work still needs its own permit.
A design review permit is required for any improvement that needs a building permit [7]. The Director keeps a public list of small improvements that are exempt from design review [8].
Where it can go (Zone A)
Accessory structures are a permitted use in Zone A [9]. The baseline setbacks are 20 feet from the street [3] and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines (20 feet if the yard faces a street) [4]. But an accessory structure may be placed anywhere within the side and rear setback areas if it:
- is within 35 feet of the rear lot line [5];
- is at least 5 feet from a habitable structure on the abutting property, and on a corner lot at least 5 feet from the side lot line of the property to the rear;
- is no more than 15 feet tall; and
- is not habitable [6].
Zone E (estate) uses the same rules for sheds in the setback area, though its standard side and rear setback is 20 feet.
Size and coverage
There's no shed-specific size cap, but in Zone A primary and accessory structures together may cover at most 40% of the lot [10], and at least 30% must remain landscaped. Outside the setbacks, the general 35-foot height limit applies.
Converting a shed
Turning a shed into living space makes it an ADU or JADU, which follows the separate ADU rules (see Accessory Dwelling Units).
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Next steps
- If the shed is over 120 sq ft or has electrical or plumbing, apply for a building permit (and design review) at the Planning & Building Department, 120 Vista Avenue, (510) 420-3050.
- Ask Planning whether your project is on the Director's list of small improvements exempt from design review.
- Site the shed outside the 20-foot street setback; if it's in the side or rear setback, keep it within 35 ft of the rear lot line, 5 ft from any neighboring house, and under 15 ft tall.
- Use WUI-compliant materials, since all of Piedmont is designated Wildland Urban Interface.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Piedmont, California?
- A one-story shed of 120 sq ft or less doesn't need a building permit, though wildfire-area (WUI) rules still apply citywide.
- Can I put a shed in the setback in Piedmont, California?
- In Zone A, a shed may sit inside the 5-foot side and rear setbacks if it is within 35 feet of the rear lot line, at least 5 feet from a neighbor's house, no taller than 15 feet and not habitable. It can't go in the 20-foot street setback.
- How tall can a shed be in Piedmont, California?
- No taller than 15 feet in the setback.
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. 8.02.020(B), CRC R105.2 Work Exempt from Permit, 1(a), City Code Chapter 8 Building, Construction and Fire Prevention (effective 2026-01-01), p. 4
a. One-story detached accessory structures used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, except as regulated by the California Wildland Urban-Interface Code, Part 7.
- Sec. 8.14.030 Designation of Wildland Urban Interface, City Code Chapter 8 Building, Construction and Fire Prevention (effective 2026-01-01), p. 49
Therefore, the City Council hereby designates the entirety of the City of Piedmont, as Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
- Sec. 17.20.040(A) Zone A requirements: Street yard setback, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 11
Street yard setback Minimum 20 feet for primary or accessory structure, subject to exception for accessory dwelling unit construction set forth in division 17.38.
- Sec. 17.20.040(A) Zone A requirements: Side yard and rear yard setback, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 11
Minimum 5 feet for a primary or accessory structure, unless the yard is street facing, in which case the minimum is 20 feet, except that a setback of only 4 feet is required for a new structure to be used as an accessory dwelling unit, and no setback is required for conversions of an existing structure to an accessory dwelling unit or portion thereof in the same location and same dimensions.
- Sec. 17.20.040(A) Zone A requirements: Side yard and rear yard setback, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 11
However, an accessory structure may be located anywhere within the side and rear setback areas except that it: (a) must be located within 35 feet of the rear lot line;
- Sec. 17.20.040(A) Zone A requirements: Side yard and rear yard setback, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 12
least 5 feet from a habitable structure on an abutting property, and, for a corner lot, at least 5 feet from a side lot line of an abutting property to the rear; (c) may not exceed 15 feet in height; and (d) may not be habitable.
- Sec. 17.66.030(A)(1) Design review permit required, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 114
1. improvement requiring a variance or building permit;
- Sec. 17.66.030(B) Exceptions, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 115
No design review permit is required for a small improvement or for an interior improvement not requiring a variance. The Director determines what is a small improvement, and will maintain a list, available to the public.
- Sec. 17.20.020(K) Permitted uses (Zone A), City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 10
K. Accessory structures with accessory uses located on the same lot as the primary structure.
- Sec. 17.20.040(A) Zone A requirements: Lot coverage; Landscaping, City Code Chapter 17 Planning and Land Use (zoning; through Ord. 791 N.S., 04/2026), p. 11
Maximum 40% lot coverage for primary and accessory structures, subject to exception for accessory dwelling unit construction set forth in division 17.38.