Skip to content

Rancho Cucamonga · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Rancho Cucamonga

Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.

Ask about sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Rancho Cucamonga See coverage

Key points

  • Sheds and garages: Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.

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

What Rancho Cucamonga's code says

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Detached solid-roof structures such as garages and sheds.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Detached Solid Roof Structures (i.e., garages, sheds) (11) | Not permitted | 5 ft (2) | 5 ft (2) (3) (4) | Not permitted (5) | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area (8) | 16 ft
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Open-roof structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open roof structure | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Open structures with a solid roof, such as patio covers and gazebos.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open structures with a solid roof (i.e., patio cover, gazebo) (12) | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • No more than 16 feet tall.
    Applies: Water features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Water features | No minimum | 3 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 16 ft
  • No more than 5 feet tall.
    Applies: Pools and spas.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft (7) | 5 ft (7) | 5ft (7) | No minimum | n/a | 5 ft
  • No more than 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Pool accessories.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pool accessories | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 8 ft
  • No more than 10 feet tall.
    Applies: Temporary, portable shade structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Temporary, portable shade structures | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area | 10 ft
Size or lot coverage
  • Accessory structures may cover no more than 30% of the rear yard setback area.
    Applies: All accessory structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Accessory structures shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the rear yard setback area.
  • Guesthouses may be no more than 640 square feet, with no more than 2 bedrooms.
    Applies: Guesthouses.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Guesthouses shall no contain more than two bedrooms and have a maximum size of 640 square feet.
  • May take up no more than 50% of the lot width.
    Applies: Open structures with a solid roof in front of the main home, outside the front setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    When located in front of the primary residence outside the front setback, building shall not occupy more than 50% of the lot width.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Garages, sheds and other detached solid-roof structures. 5-foot side setback inside the rear yard setback area; elsewhere, the house's side setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Detached Solid Roof Structures (i.e., garages, sheds) (11) | Not permitted | 5 ft (2) | 5 ft (2) (3) (4) | Not permitted (5) | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area (8) | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Open-roof structures. 5-foot side setback inside the rear yard setback area; elsewhere, the house's side setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open roof structure | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Patio covers, gazebos and similar solid-roof open structures. 5-foot side setback inside the rear yard setback area; elsewhere, the house's side setback.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Open structures with a solid roof (i.e., patio cover, gazebo) (12) | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft (3) | Not permitted | (1) (2) | n/a (6) (8) | 16 ft
  • At least 3 feet from the rear property line.
    Applies: Water features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Water features | No minimum | 3 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the side property lines.
    Applies: Water features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Water features | No minimum | 3 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 16 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Pools and spas, measured from the water's edge.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft (7) | 5 ft (7) | 5ft (7) | No minimum | n/a | 5 ft
  • At least 5 feet from all side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Pool and spa equipment.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Related equipment shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all side and rear property lines.
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Pool accessories.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Pool accessories | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | 8 ft
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Play equipment.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Play equipment | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | n/a | n/a
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Decks and patios.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Deck/patio | No minimum | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | No minimum | 30% required yard area (10) | n/a
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Outdoor entertainment features.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Outdoor entertainment features | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted (9) | No minimum | n/a | n/a
  • At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Temporary, portable shade structures.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Temporary, portable shade structures | Not permitted | 5 ft | 5 ft | Not permitted | (1) (2) | 30% required yard area | 10 ft
  • No minimum setback: they may be built to the side or rear property line.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings no more than 6 feet tall at the highest point. Building code distance from the main building still applies.
    § 17.42.040 · code text
    Accessory buildings not exceeding six feet in height at the highest point may be built to the side and/or rear property line, provided that the accessory structure meets minimum building code requirements for distance between the accessory structure and the primary building.
No permit needed up to
  • No planning approval is needed for structures under 120 square feet.
    Applies: Only if no part is 6 feet tall or taller. A building permit may still be required.
    § 17.42.030 · code text
    All accessory structures that are less than 120 square feet in size with no portion of the structure equal to or greater than six feet in height.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Rancho Cucamonga?

Detached garages, sheds and patio covers are limited to 16 ft; all accessory structures may cover at most 30% of the rear yard setback.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Rancho Cucamonga property

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

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in Rancho Cucamonga

All building on your lot rules in Rancho Cucamonga

Fences and walls in Rancho Cucamonga

Solar panels and EV chargers in Rancho Cucamonga

Tree removal in Rancho Cucamonga

Building on a hillside in Rancho Cucamonga

Parking spaces required for homes in Rancho Cucamonga

Signs on homes in Rancho Cucamonga

Trash and recycling carts in Rancho Cucamonga

Historic homes in Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code — full text