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Moreno Valley · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Moreno Valley

City rule: accessory structures in a required yard are limited to 600 sq ft, and above-ground ones to 25% of any required yard.

Key points

  • Accessory structures: City rule: accessory structures in a required yard are limited to 600 sq ft, and above-ground ones to 25% of any required yard.

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

What Moreno Valley's code says

Moreno Valley code What Moreno Valley's code adds
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 600 square feet of gross floor area.
    Applies: Accessory structures in any required yard.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    No accessory structure within any required yard shall exceed 600 square feet in gross floor area.
  • No more than 25% of any required yard.
    Applies: Above-ground accessory structures.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    Above-ground accessory structures shall occupy no more than 25% of any required yard.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from the rear property line.
    Applies: Accessory structures not used for living, up to 15 feet tall, in residential districts.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    Unless otherwise provided for within this section, structures up to 15 feet in height shall be located no closer than five feet to the rear property line, five feet to the interior side property line and 10 feet to the street side property line.
  • At least 5 feet from the interior side property line.
    Applies: Accessory structures not used for living, up to 15 feet tall, in residential districts.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    Unless otherwise provided for within this section, structures up to 15 feet in height shall be located no closer than five feet to the rear property line, five feet to the interior side property line and 10 feet to the street side property line.
  • At least 5 feet from the rear property line.
    Applies: One-story open-sided structures, such as patio covers and gazebos, on legal single-family parcels that became substandard under this zoning code.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    Where single-family residential uses were legally established on parcels which became substandard upon adoption of this title, one story open-sided structures such as patio covers and gazebos shall be no closer than five feet to the rear property line and three feet to the interior side property line.
  • At least 3 feet from the interior side property line.
    Applies: One-story open-sided structures, such as patio covers and gazebos, on legal single-family parcels that became substandard under this zoning code.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    Where single-family residential uses were legally established on parcels which became substandard upon adoption of this title, one story open-sided structures such as patio covers and gazebos shall be no closer than five feet to the rear property line and three feet to the interior side property line.
  • May be less than 5 feet from any side or rear property line.
    Applies: Structure of 120 square feet or less needing no building permit, inside the boundary fence or wall and no higher than its top.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    may be placed less than five feet from any side or rear property line, provided said structure is on the interior side of the adjacent parcel boundary fence or wall and no higher than the top of such fence or wall.
No permit needed up to
  • 120 square feet of floor area or less.
    Applies: No building permit for a tool shed, storage shed, playhouse or similar building.
    § 9.08.030 · code text
    an accessory structure that does not require a building permit (including a tool shed, storage shed, playhouse or similar building with a floor area of 120 square feet or less)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Moreno Valley?

City rule: accessory structures in a required yard are limited to 600 sq ft, and above-ground ones to 25% of any required yard.

General information, not legal advice.

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