Mendota · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Mendota

City rule: in the R-1-A and R-2 districts, accessory buildings are limited to 1 story and 12 ft to the plate.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: City rule: in the R-1-A and R-2 districts, accessory buildings are limited to 1 story and 12 ft to the plate.

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

What Mendota's code says

Mendota code What Mendota's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 1 story and 12 feet, measured to plate height. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-1-A district. § 17.20.050 · code text No accessory building erected in this district shall have a height greater than one story, not to exceed twelve (12) feet, to plate height. No more than 1 story and 12 feet, measured to plate height. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-2 district. § 17.28.050 · code text No accessory building shall have a height greater than one story not to exceed twelve (12) feet to plate height.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the property line. Applies: R-1-A district; accessory building with an opening on an alley. § 17.20.050 · code text An accessory building having an opening on an alley shall be located not less than twenty-five (25) feet from the opposite side of the alley; provided, however, that no such accessory building shall be located less than five feet from the property line. At least 25 feet from the opposite side of the alley. Applies: R-1-A district; accessory building with an opening on an alley. § 17.20.050 · code text An accessory building having an opening on an alley shall be located not less than twenty-five (25) feet from the opposite side of the alley; provided, however, that no such accessory building shall be located less than five feet from the property line. At least 25 feet from the rear property line. Applies: R-1-A district; reversed corner lot; accessory building in the side yard, or its line to the rear, next to a street. § 17.20.050 · code text Accessory buildings located in the side yard or its projection to the rear property line when abutting a street shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet from the rear property line on a reversed corner lot. At least 25 feet from the property line on the side street. Applies: R-1-A district; private garage in the side yard of a reversed corner lot. § 17.20.050 · code text Private garages located in the side yard shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet from the property line on the side street, and not less than five feet from the rear property line on said corner lot. At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: R-1-A district; private garage in the side yard of a reversed corner lot. § 17.20.050 · code text Private garages located in the side yard shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet from the property line on the side street, and not less than five feet from the rear property line on said corner lot. At least 5 feet from the property line, or 25 feet from the opposite side of the alley. Applies: R-1-A district; accessory building in a required rear yard with an opening on an alley. § 17.20.050 · code text An accessory building having an opening on an alley shall be located not less than twenty-five (25) feet from the opposite side of the alley or not less than five feet from the property line. 0 feet; it may be built on the rear property line. Applies: R-1-A district; accessory structures other than swimming pools, when not next to an existing alley. § 17.20.050 · code text An accessory structure other than a swimming pool may be located on the rear property line when said building is not abutting an existing alley.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any other building. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-2 district. § 17.28.050 · code text The minimum distance between accessory buildings and any other building shall not be less than six feet.

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Frequently asked questions

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

City rule: in the R-1-A and R-2 districts, accessory buildings are limited to 1 story and 12 ft to the plate.

General information, not legal advice.

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Mendota Municipal Code — full text