Skip to content

El Centro · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in El Centro

In residential rear yards, El Centro limits accessory buildings to 50% of the required yard, with at least 6 feet between building walls.

Ask about sheds, garages and other accessory structures in El Centro See coverage

Key points

  • Accessory buildings: In residential rear yards, El Centro limits accessory buildings to 50% of the required yard, with at least 6 feet between building walls.

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

What El Centro's code says

El Centro code What El Centro's code adds
Size or lot coverage
  • May cover no more than 50% of the required yard.
    Applies: Accessory buildings in the rear yard of an interior lot in a residential zone.
    § 29-116 · code text
    Permitted in residential zones but may not cover more than 50% of the required yard
  • May cover no more than 50% of the required yard.
    Applies: Rear yard of a corner lot in a residential zone; not within 50 feet of the front lot line.
    § 29-116 · code text
    Permitted in residential zones but shall not cover more than 50% of the required yard or be within a minimum 50 feet of the front lot line
Distance from the house
  • At least 6 feet between walls.
    Applies: A detached accessory building's walls must be at least this far from any main building wall or other accessory building wall on the lot.
    § 29-115 · code text
    no detached accessory building wall shall be closer than six (6) feet to any main building wall or other accessory building wall on the same lot or building site.
  • At least 5 feet between eaves.
    Applies: A detached accessory building's eaves must be at least this far from any main building eaves or other accessory building eaves on the lot.
    § 29-115 · code text
    No detached accessory building eaves shall be closer than five (5) feet to any main building eaves or other accessory building eaves on the same lot or building site.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in El Centro?

In residential rear yards, El Centro limits accessory buildings to 50% of the required yard, with at least 6 feet between building walls.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific El Centro property

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

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in El Centro

All building on your lot rules in El Centro

Fences and walls in El Centro

Swimming pools in El Centro

Pets, chickens and bees in El Centro

Noise and construction hours in El Centro

Garage and yard sales in El Centro

Parking spaces required for homes in El Centro

Signs on homes in El Centro

Trash and recycling carts in El Centro

El Centro Municipal Code — full text