Do I need a permit for a shed in Woodside, California?
Storage buildings are a permitted accessory use in Woodside's residential districts, but sheds must meet the same basic setbacks as other structures. In R-1 that means 30 feet from the front, 25 feet from the rear and 15 feet from the sides for buildings under 17 feet tall; in SR, RR and SCP setbacks are 20 to 50 feet. Accessory structures can be up to 17 feet tall with an 11-foot plate height, and no single accessory building can exceed 1,500 sq ft.
| Allowed use | Storage buildings permitted as accessory use in residential districts [1] |
| R-1 basic setbacks (under 17 ft tall) | 30 ft front, 25 ft rear, 15 ft side [2] |
| Max height, accessory structure (R-1) | 17 ft; 11-ft plate height [3] |
| Max floor area, each accessory building | 1,500 sq ft (barns and stables 2,500 sq ft; 3,000 in OS/SCP) [4] |
| Glens small-shed exception | Shed up to 120 sq ft, 10-ft ridge, can be 3 ft from side/rear line [5] |
| Setback exceptions for accessory structures in R-1 | Not available (allowed in SR, RR, SCP by Planning Commission) [6] |
Is a shed allowed?
Yes. "Storage buildings" and storage of farm and garden equipment are listed as accessory uses in the residential districts [1]. Woodside doesn't have a separate front-yard rule for sheds. Instead, every structure must meet the district's basic setbacks.
Setbacks
Table H sets basic setbacks by district and building height [2]. The quoted R-1 row lists each value twice, first for structures under 17 ft and then for structures 17 to 28 ft. In R-1, a structure under 17 ft tall needs 30 ft from the front, 25 ft from the rear and 15 ft from each side. Taller structures need a 22.5-ft side setback. In SR the basic setbacks are 50 ft front, 25 ft rear and 20 ft side for buildings under 17 ft. In RR and SCP they're 50 ft on all sides. Uncovered decks under 3 ft, walls, walks and patios can sit in setbacks, but a shed is a structure and can't. The Planning Commission can grant setback exceptions for accessory structures, except in R-1 [6]. The Glens neighborhood is the one exception: there, one non-habitable shed up to 120 sq ft, with an 8-ft plate height and 10-ft ridge, can sit within 3 ft of a side or rear property line [5].
Height and size
Accessory structures can be up to 17 ft tall with a maximum 11-ft plate height in every residential district [3]. Each accessory building is capped at 1,500 sq ft of gross floor area; barns and stables can be 2,500 sq ft (3,000 in OS and SCP) [4]. Accessory buildings also count toward the lot's total floor area limit. Sheds near scenic corridors or ridgelines may also need Architectural and Site Review.
Building permit
The Woodside code we reviewed doesn't set its own size threshold for a shed building permit. Under the California Residential Code, one-story detached accessory structures of 120 sq ft or less generally don't need a building permit, but zoning setbacks still apply. Confirm with the Building Department.
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Next steps
- Find your zoning district and measure your lot lines; in R-1 a shed must be 30 ft from the front, 25 ft from the rear and 15 ft from the sides.
- Ask the Planning Department (650-851-6790) whether your shed needs staff or Architectural and Site Review, especially in scenic corridors or the Western Hills.
- Check with the Building Department whether your shed's size requires a building permit, and plan for Class A roofing on sheds over 120 sq ft of roof area.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Woodside, California?
- It depends. Woodside's code doesn't set its own size threshold for a shed building permit. Under the California Residential Code, one-story detached accessory structures of 120 sq ft or less generally don't need one, but zoning setbacks still apply, so confirm with the Building Department.
- What are the shed setbacks in Woodside, California?
- Sheds must meet the district's basic setbacks. In R-1 a structure under 17 ft tall needs 30 ft from the front, 25 ft from the rear and 15 ft from each side; in SR, RR and SCP setbacks are 20 to 50 ft. Setback exceptions for accessory structures aren't available in R-1.
- How tall can a shed be in Woodside, California?
- Accessory structures can be up to 17 ft tall with a maximum 11-ft plate height in every residential district. Each accessory building is capped at 1,500 sq ft of gross floor area.
- Can a small shed go near the property line in Woodside, California?
- Only in the Glens neighborhood, where one non-habitable shed up to 120 sq ft, with an 8-ft plate height and 10-ft ridge, can sit within 3 ft of a side or rear property line. Elsewhere, sheds must meet the full district setbacks.
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. 153.107, Table A-3 (Accessory uses), Municipal Code §153.107 Residential and commercial districts: permitted, conditional and accessory uses (Table A-1); §153.111 Home occupations
Storage buildings X X X X X Storage of farm and garden equipment for use on the same premises
- Sec. 153.207(A)(1), Table H, Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
R-1 <17 feet 17-28 feet 30 30 25 25 15 22.5 20 25 17 20 10 17.5
- Sec. 153.208(A)(1), Table I-1, Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
R-1 28 feet 24 feet 30 feet 17 feet 11 feet
- Sec. 153.206(A)(2), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
The gross floor area of any accessory building shall not exceed 1,500 square feet, except barns and stables, which shall not exceed 2,500 square feet unless the barn or stable is located in the OS or SCP Districts, where barns and stables may not exceed 3,000 square feet.
- Sec. 153.207(D)(2)(b)(1), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
Setback exceptions shall not reduce any setback below five feet; with the exception of: one non-habitable shed not to exceed 120 square feet, with a maximum plate height of eight feet and maximum ridge height of ten feet, which may be placed within three feet of a side or rear property line and which shall only have windows on an elevation located five feet or more from the property line;
- Sec. 153.207(D)(1)(b)(1), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
Setback exceptions may be granted for the main residence, and, except in the R-1 zone, for accessory structures ;