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Portola · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Portola

Accessory buildings over 7 feet: limited to 15 feet and 1 story; detached ones to 700 square feet without a conditional use permit.

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Key points

  • Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings over 7 feet: limited to 15 feet and 1 story; detached ones to 700 square feet without a conditional use permit.

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

What Portola's code says

Portola code What Portola's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 15 feet tall and 1 story.
    Applies: Accessory buildings over 7 feet tall on single-family or two-family lots. The setback grows 1 foot per foot of height above 10 feet.
    § 17.34.030 · code text
    the maximum height is fifteen feet and one story;
Size or lot coverage
  • Detached buildings or structures may total no more than 700 square feet per lot.
    Applies: A conditional use permit can allow more area.
    § 17.34.030 · code text
    A maximum of seven hundred square feet of detached building(s) or structure(s) is permitted on the same lot.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from the side lot line.
    Applies: Interior lots. The rear setback is 10 feet.
    § 17.34.030 · code text
    side setback = ten feet if adjacent to the edge of a publicly or privately maintained street, right-of-way, and/or sidewalk, or five feet for an interior lot;
  • At least 10 feet.
    Applies: Side setback next to a public or private street, right-of-way or sidewalk, and the rear setback.
    § 17.34.030 · code text
    front setback = twenty feet; side setback = ten feet if adjacent to the edge of a publicly or privately maintained street, right-of-way, and/or sidewalk, or five feet for an interior lot; rear setback = ten feet.
Distance from the house
  • At least 6 feet from any other building or structure on the lot.
    Applies: Accessory buildings or structures of 120 square feet or more of floor area.
    § 17.34.030 · code text
    A minimum six-foot separation shall be maintained from any other building or structure located on the same lot.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Accessory buildings over 7 feet: limited to 15 feet and 1 story; detached ones to 700 square feet without a conditional use permit.

General information, not legal advice.

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Portola Municipal Code — full text