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Blue Lake · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Blue Lake

In the rear yard setback, Blue Lake limits detached accessory buildings to 256 square feet and 7 feet, rising with more setback to 16.

Ask about sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Blue Lake See coverage

Key points

  • Rear-yard buildings: In the rear yard setback, Blue Lake limits detached accessory buildings to 256 square feet and 7 feet, rising with more setback to 16.

Each rule below links to the section of the Blue Lake Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Blue Lake's code says

Blue Lake code What Blue Lake's code adds
Maximum height
  • At most 7 feet, plus 1 foot for each extra foot of setback, up to 16 feet.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the rear yard setback, no more than 256 square feet.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    do not exceed seven feet in height, except that the height may be increased one additional foot for each additional foot the structure is set back from the nearest applicable minimum setback line
  • No more than 16 feet.
    Applies: Private garages in the rear yard setback.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    Private garages may be located within the rear yard setback provided they are not closer than four feet to the rear property line and do not exceed 16 feet in height.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 256 square feet of lot coverage.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the rear yard setback.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    do not exceed 256 square feet in lot coverage
  • Site plan approval is required above 640 square feet or 60% of the main building's floor area, whichever is less.
    Applies: Any accessory structure.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    Any accessory structure that exceeds 640 square feet or 60% of the floor area of the main building on the lot, whichever is less, shall be required to obtain site plan approval
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet from the rear property line and 4 feet from the side property line.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the rear yard setback, no more than 256 square feet of lot coverage.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    are not closer than three feet to the rear property line and four feet to the side property line
  • At least 4 feet from the rear property line.
    Applies: Private garages in the rear yard setback.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    Private garages may be located within the rear yard setback provided they are not closer than four feet to the rear property line and do not exceed 16 feet in height.
Distance from the house
  • At least 10 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings, unless built with a fire wall as the Uniform Building Code requires.
    § 17.24.180 · code text
    Detached accessory buildings shall not be closer than 10 feet to the main building, unless constructed with a fire wall as required in the Uniform Building Code (UBC).

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Blue Lake?

In the rear yard setback, Blue Lake limits detached accessory buildings to 256 square feet and 7 feet, rising with more setback to 16.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Blue Lake property

Ask GoCodebook how Blue Lake's sheds, garages and other accessory structures rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Blue Lake Municipal Code — full text