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Daly City · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Daly City

Daly City limits accessory structures to 10 feet tall up to 120 square feet combined; larger ones to 15 feet, with design review.

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Key points

  • Accessory structures: Daly City limits accessory structures to 10 feet tall up to 120 square feet combined; larger ones to 15 feet, with design review.

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

What Daly City's code says

Daly City code What Daly City's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 10 feet high.
    Applies: Accessory structures on a residential lot, up to 120 square feet combined.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    No structure shall be greater than ten feet in total height;
  • No more than 15 feet at the highest point.
    Applies: Structures over 120 square feet that otherwise meet the rules.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    shall not be greater than fifteen feet at its highest point,
  • Up to 10 feet high.
    Applies: Trellises in the front half of the lot.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    Trellises, defined as a framework of light wooden or metal bars that is chiefly used to support fruit trees or climbing plants, may be constructed in the front half of the lot up to ten feet in height and combined twenty feet in length.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 120 square feet combined. Larger structures must meet zone coverage and setbacks, with administrative design review.
    Applies: Accessory structures on a residential lot.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    No structure, in combination with other accessory structures, shall occupy more than one hundred twenty square feet of floor area;
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet from any home on a neighboring property.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    No structure shall be located closer than six feet to any dwelling unit on the same property or three feet to any dwelling unit on an adjacent property;
  • No setback is required.
    Applies: Accessory structures up to 120 square feet combined and 10 feet tall. Not in front or side yards, except trellises.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    Structures conforming to the above shall be allowed without setbacks, shall not be subject to any lot coverage regulation, and shall not be subject to design review.
Distance from the house
  • At least 6 feet from any home on the same property.
    § 17.40.085 · code text
    No structure shall be located closer than six feet to any dwelling unit on the same property or three feet to any dwelling unit on an adjacent property;

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Daly City?

Daly City limits accessory structures to 10 feet tall up to 120 square feet combined; larger ones to 15 feet, with design review.

General information, not legal advice.

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

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Daly City Municipal Code — full text