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Mendocino County · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Mendocino County

The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.

Ask about sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Mendocino County See coverage

Key points

  • Garages and sheds: The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.

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

What Mendocino County's code says

Mendocino County code What Mendocino County's code adds
Side and rear setback
  • At least 4 feet from rear property lines without street frontage.
    Applies: Detached garages, sheds or similar buildings no more than 15 feet high at the ridge and 500 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    A detached garage, detached storage shed, or similar detached accessory building not exceeding fifteen (15) feet in height at the ridge and five hundred (500) square feet of floor area shall observe a four (4) foot setback from rear property lines that do not have street frontage.
  • At least 4 feet from the side or rear property line.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels under 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels less than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be located on the rear one-third of the lot, not less than four (4) feet from the side or rear property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.
  • At least 50 feet from any property line.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels over 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels greater than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be not less than fifty (50) feet from any property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.
Distance from the house
  • At least 40 feet from any dwelling.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels over 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels greater than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be not less than fifty (50) feet from any property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.
  • At least 40 feet from any dwelling.
    Applies: Barns, stables, chicken houses and similar buildings for animals, on parcels under 40,000 square feet.
    § 20.152.015 · code text
    For parcels less than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size, such buildings shall be located on the rear one-third of the lot, not less than four (4) feet from the side or rear property line, and not less than forty (40) feet from any dwelling.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Mendocino County?

The county lets detached garages or sheds up to 15 ft and 500 sq ft sit 4 ft from rear lines without street frontage.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Mendocino County property

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

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