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Do I need a permit for a shed in Westlake Village, California?

Westlake Village, Los Angeles County · Ordinances checked 2026-10-05 · Reviewed · 14 cited sections

Allowed with a permit

Sheds and other accessory buildings are allowed in Westlake Village's R-1 and RPD zones. They can be 1 story and 18 feet tall, at least 5 feet from the rear lot line and 10% of the lot's width (max 10 feet) from the side lines, and can't cover more than half the required rear yard. A shed that needs an L.A. County building permit needs a City Zoning Clearance first; some neighborhoods' conditions of approval change the setbacks.

Max height1 story, 18 feet [2]
Rear setback5 feet [3]
Side setback10% of average lot width, max 10 feet [4]
Max coverage50% of the required rear yard [5]
Front yard20 feet [6]
Separation from other buildings6 feet (10 feet if both residential) [7]

Allowed as an accessory use

Accessory buildings and structures, such as sheds, workshops and recreation rooms, are allowed on the same lot as a house in the R-1 zone [1]. Guesthouses are excluded and need a separate conditional use permit. RPD neighborhoods use the R-1 yard and coverage standards unless the neighborhood's conditions of approval change them [8].

Size, height and setbacks (R-1)

  • Height: 1 story, 18 feet [2].
  • Rear yard: accessory structures may sit 5 feet from the rear lot line, compared with 25 feet for the house [3].
  • Side yards: 10% of the average lot width, up to 10 feet [4].
  • Front yard: the 20-foot front yard applies [6], so plan sheds for the side or rear.
  • Coverage: accessory buildings can't cover more than 50% of the required rear yard [5].
  • Separation: 6 feet from the house (10 feet if both buildings are residential) [7].

Movable dog houses, trash enclosures and children's play equipment may go in the required rear yard [11].

Permits

A Zoning Clearance is the Planning Department's check that a project meets the zoning code [9]. The code requires one before a building permit is issued for any new or altered building or structure [13]. Building permits are issued by Los Angeles County Building & Safety. The code doesn't say whether a small shed that needs no building permit needs a Zoning Clearance, but it must still meet the standards above. Accessory structures must also fit the neighborhood's scale and architecture [10].

Neighborhood conditions

Six neighborhoods have conditions of approval that supersede the code [12]. In Southshore and Westlake Island, side and rear setbacks are zero, but structures must stay 10 feet from the neighbor's house beside you and 30 feet from the one behind [14]. Lakeshore and First Neighborhood also allow zero setbacks in some cases. Your HOA may also require approval.

The standards above come from the code's R-1 chart, which lists each item with its requirement: for example, the 5-foot rear setback is the chart's entry for accessory structures [3], and 20 feet is its front-yard entry [6].

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Next steps

  1. Check your zoning and any neighborhood conditions of approval on the City's Residential Development & Design Standards page.
  2. Get HOA architectural approval if your CC&Rs require it.
  3. Submit a site plan showing the shed's size, height and distances to lot lines and buildings to the Westlake Village Planning Department for a Zoning Clearance (818-706-1613).
  4. Ask L.A. County Building & Safety (Calabasas, 818-880-4150) whether your shed needs a building permit; larger sheds and any with electrical or plumbing work do.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a shed in Westlake Village, California?
It depends. A shed that needs an L.A. County building permit needs a City Zoning Clearance first. The code doesn't say whether a small shed that needs no building permit needs a Zoning Clearance, but it must still meet the setback and height standards.
What are the shed setback requirements in Westlake Village, California?
In the R-1 zone, sheds can be 5 feet from the rear lot line and 10% of the average lot width (max 10 feet) from the side lines. The 20-foot front yard applies, and sheds must be 6 feet from the house.
How big can a shed be in Westlake Village, California?
Accessory buildings can be 1 story and 18 feet tall and can't cover more than 50% of the required rear yard.
Do neighborhood rules change shed setbacks in Westlake Village, California?
Yes. In Southshore and Westlake Island, side and rear setbacks are zero, but structures must stay 10 feet from the neighbor's house beside you and 30 feet from the one behind. Lakeshore and First Neighborhood also allow zero setbacks in some cases.

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).

State sources: City of South San Francisco, Required Permits & Work Exempt from Permit (quoting 2025 CRC R105.2) · Gov. Code §66314 (ADU standards, including conversions of accessory structures) · Pub. Res. Code §4291 (defensible space in state responsibility areas) · Pub. Res. Code §30106 (coastal 'development' definition) · Health & Safety Code §17958.7 (local building code amendments)

What the ordinance says

Exact text from Westlake Village's published ordinances. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. Sec. 9.5.030(1), Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.5 R-1 (Single-Family Residential) Zone (9.5.030 accessory uses), p. 1
    Accessory buildings and structures located on the same lot as a principal residential building, including recreation rooms, but excluding guesthouses.
  2. Sec. 9.14.020(A), R-1 Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    1 story, 18 feet for accessory structures and guest houses
  3. Sec. 9.14.020(A), R-1 Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Rear Yard Accessory structures 5 feet
  4. Sec. 9.14.020(A), R-1 Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Side yard, Accessory structures 10% of average lot width to a maximum of 10 feet
  5. Sec. 9.14.020(A), R-1 Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Maximum lot coverage Accessory buildings may not occupy more than 50% of the required rear yard area
  6. Sec. 9.14.020(A), R-1 Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Front yard 20 feet
  7. Sec. 9.14.020(A), R-1 Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Minimum distance between buildings 6 feet if only one or neither building is used for residential purposes; 10 feet if both buildings are used for residential purposes
  8. Sec. 9.14.020(B), RPD Zone table, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Yards, minimum lot width, maximum lot coverage for single-family dwellings Same as R-1 except as modified in any conditions of approval
  9. Sec. 9.2 (Definitions), Zoning Clearance, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.2 Definitions, p. 1
    "Zoning Clearance" means a ministerial certificate issued by the Planning Department prior to issuance of any building permit to ensure that the proposed use and/or construction complies with all of the provisions of the zone in which it is located, as well as all other applicable provisions of this Article.
  10. Sec. 9.15.050(A)(1), Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.15 Design Standards, p. 1
    New dwelling units and accessory structures shall be compatible with the established character of the surrounding neighborhood in terms of scale and architectural design.
  11. Sec. 9.14.040(4), Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.14 Development Standards (9.14.040 accessory structures and equipment; 9.14.050 fences, walls and screening; 9.14.070-9.14.080 accessory dwelling units and JADUs; 9.14.090 two units/SB 9), p. 1
    Trash enclosures, movable dog houses and children's play equipment may be used in a required rear yard.
  12. City webpage, Residential Development & Design Standards, Residential Development & Design Standards - City webpage (neighborhood conditions of approval), p. 1
    In those cases, the special conditions supersede any conflicting standards in the Municipal Code.
  13. Sec. 9.4.040, Municipal Code Article 9 Ch. 9.4 General Requirements (9.4.050 determination of permitted uses; zoning clearance), p. 1
    Prior to issuance of a building permit for any building or structure hereafter erected or altered, a zoning clearance shall be issued by the Planning Director certifying that said permit or use complies with all provisions of this Article except that building permits for interior modifications to single family residences and minor exterior modifications to single family residences; such as windows, patios, roofs, etc. may be issued by the Building Department without such approval.
  14. Southshore and Westlake Island Conditions of Approval, condition 3, Neighborhood Conditions of Approval - Southshore and Westlake Island, p. 1
    The minimum side yard setback is zero except that all structures must be located at least ten feet away from the main dwelling unit on the adjoining lot.
This page summarizes Westlake Village'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 City of Westlake Village Planning Department, City Hall, 31200 Oak Crest Drive (building permits/inspections by L.A. County Building and Safety, Calabasas office (818) 880-4150) (818-706-1613) before you build. Spot an error?