Escondido · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Escondido

Escondido limits accessory buildings in a required side or rear setback to one story and 16 feet.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: Escondido limits accessory buildings in a required side or rear setback to one story and 16 feet.

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

What Escondido's code says

Escondido code What Escondido's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 1 story and 16 feet high. Applies: Accessory buildings in a required side or rear yard setback of the main building. § 33-103 · code text Accessory buildings located within a required side or rear yard setback area for the primary structure shall be limited to one story and 16 feet in height.
Size or lot coverage	May cover no more than 50% of the width of the rear setback area. Applies: R-A and R-E zones; buildings in a required rear setback that do not meet the no-permit and roof-drainage conditions. § 33-102 · code text In the R-A and R-E zone districts, a building(s) may be located within a required rear yard setback area provided that such building(s) is located no closer than 10 feet to a rear lot line, and shall not cover more than 50% of the width of the rear setback area. May cover no more than 50% of the width of the rear setback area. Applies: Other single-family and multifamily zones, except R-T; buildings in a required rear setback not meeting the no-permit and roof-drainage conditions. § 33-102 · code text In all other single family and multifamily zones (except the R-T zone), the building(s) may be located within the rear yard setback provided that a minimum of five feet is maintained, and a building(s) shall not cover more than 50% of the width of the rear setback area. Total floor area no more than 50% of the main building's existing living area. Applies: Guest houses, and accessory dwelling units unless the accessory dwelling unit rules allow more. § 33-103 · code text In addition to the restrictions of section 33-107, a guest house or accessory dwelling unit shall not have a total floor area that exceeds 50% of the existing living area of the main building, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to Article 70. No more than 49% of the main building's existing or proposed habitable space. Applies: Any attached or detached accessory structure or building. § 33-103 · code text In addition to the restrictions of sections 33-102 and 33-107, any attached or detached accessory structure/building shall not exceed 49% of the existing/proposed habitable space area of the main building, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to Article 70.
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from a side property line next to a street. Applies: Detached accessory buildings. § 33-102 · code text A detached accessory building shall have a minimum side setback of 10 feet for a side property line which is contiguous to a street. At least 25 feet from the far edge of the alley. Applies: Detached accessory building with direct vehicle access from an alley. § 33-102 · code text A detached accessory building having direct vehicular access from an alley shall be located not less than 25 feet from the edge of the alley farthest from the building. At least 5 feet from the interior side property line. Applies: Single-family and multifamily zones; detached accessory building 70 feet or more from the front property line, not meeting side-line building conditions. § 33-102 · code text A detached accessory building that is 70 feet or more from the front property line in single family and multifamily zones, or 50 feet in the R-T zone, but which does not meet the requirements of subsection (B) above, may not be located closer than five feet from the interior side property line in single family and multifamily zones, or three feet in the R-T zone (unless superseded by Title 25). At least 3 feet from the interior side property line. Applies: R-T zone; building 50 feet or more from the front property line, not meeting side-line building conditions, unless superseded by other regulations. § 33-102 · code text A detached accessory building that is 70 feet or more from the front property line in single family and multifamily zones, or 50 feet in the R-T zone, but which does not meet the requirements of subsection (B) above, may not be located closer than five feet from the interior side property line in single family and multifamily zones, or three feet in the R-T zone (unless superseded by Title 25). At least 10 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: R-A and R-E zones; buildings in the rear setback that do not meet the no-permit and roof-drainage conditions. § 33-102 · code text In the R-A and R-E zone districts, a building(s) may be located within a required rear yard setback area provided that such building(s) is located no closer than 10 feet to a rear lot line, and shall not cover more than 50% of the width of the rear setback area. At least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Other single-family and multifamily zones, except R-T; buildings in the rear setback not meeting the no-permit and roof-drainage conditions. § 33-102 · code text In all other single family and multifamily zones (except the R-T zone), the building(s) may be located within the rear yard setback provided that a minimum of five feet is maintained, and a building(s) shall not cover more than 50% of the width of the rear setback area. At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Reverse corner lot where the rear property line is also the side property line of the neighboring property. § 33-102 · code text On a reverse corner lot the rear property line of which is also the side property line of the contiguous property, an accessory building shall be located not less than five feet from the rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet between the home and a detached accessory building. Applies: Applies to detached accessory buildings generally. § 33-103 · code text The minimum distance between the residence (or main building) and a detached accessory building shall be 10 feet. May be reduced to 5 feet. Applies: Only when the home or main building and the detached accessory building are both 1 story high. § 33-103 · code text If the residence (or main building) and detached accessory building are both one story in height, then the minimum separation requirement may be reduced to five feet.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Escondido?

Escondido limits accessory buildings in a required side or rear setback to one story and 16 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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Escondido Municipal Code — full text