Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Pismo Beach

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

What Pismo Beach's code says

Pismo Beach code What Pismo Beach's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet high. § 17.38.150 · code text Accessory structures shall not exceed a height of fifteen feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,000 square feet per home, including workshop or storage space. Applies: Detached garages, unless the director allows more through site plan and architectural review. § 17.38.150 · code text A detached accessory garage shall not occupy more than one thousand square feet per dwelling unit (including any workshop or storage space within the garage) unless a larger area is authorized by the director through site plan and architectural review. No floor area limit. Applies: Garages attached to the main building, except as building or fire codes require. § 17.38.150 · code text The floor area of an accessory garage that is attached to a principal structure is not limited, except as may be required by the Uniform Building Code or any other applicable construction or fire code. Up to 500 square feet per home or 10% of the lot, whichever is smaller. Applies: Accessory greenhouses. § 17.38.150 · code text An accessory greenhouse may occupy up to five hundred square feet per dwelling unit or ten percent of the lot, whichever is smaller. No more than 25% of the main building's floor area. Applies: Workshops, except when combined with a garage. § 17.38.150 · code text A workshop shall not occupy an area larger than twenty-five percent of the floor area of the principal building; except that where a workshop is combined with a garage, subsection E (Garages) of this section applies.
Side and rear setback	At least 10 feet from any rear line and 5 feet from any side line. Applies: Accessory structures in residential zones. § 17.102.140 · code text Accessory structures in residential zones shall be a maximum of fifteen feet in height and shall be located a minimum of twenty feet from the front property line, ten feet from any rear property line, five feet from any side property line and six feet from any other separate structure on the same lot.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any other separate structure on the lot. Applies: Accessory structures in residential zones. § 17.102.140 · code text Accessory structures in residential zones shall be a maximum of fifteen feet in height and shall be located a minimum of twenty feet from the front property line, ten feet from any rear property line, five feet from any side property line and six feet from any other separate structure on the same lot.

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How big can a shed or accessory building be in Pismo Beach?

Residential accessory structures must be at least 10 feet from any rear property line and 5 feet from any side property line.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Pismo Beach

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What Pismo Beach's code says

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