Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Santa Rosa

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

What Santa Rosa's code says

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
Maximum height	At most 16 feet and 1 story tall. Applies: For accessory structures in residential zoning districts. § 20-42.030 · code text No accessory structure shall exceed a height of 16 feet and one story. At most 16 feet tall. Applies: For guest houses (detached living space with no kitchen) in residential districts, outside all required setbacks. § 20-42.030 · code text A guest house shall not be located within any required setback area, shall not exceed 400 square feet or a height of 16 feet, and shall not contain kitchen or other cooking facilities. Must be less than 12 feet tall. Applies: For sheds, patio covers or trellises in a side or rear yard setback, subject to Design Review. § 20-42.030 · code text A shed, patio cover, or trellis less than 12 feet in height may be allowed within a side or rear yard setback, subject to Design Review. At most 16 feet tall. Applies: For garages and carports serving any residential use. § 20-42.030 · code text The garage or carport shall not exceed a height of 16 feet.
Size or lot coverage	Roofed accessory structures can cover no more than 50% of the required rear setback. Applies: In residential districts. The Director may allow more if equal open area is provided elsewhere on the site. § 20-42.030 · code text One or more roofed accessory structures shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the required rear setback, provided that the Director may approve additional coverage where a replacement open area equivalent to the additional coverage over 50 percent is substituted elsewhere on the site, provided that: At most 400 square feet. Applies: For guest houses (detached living space with no kitchen) in residential districts, outside all required setbacks. § 20-42.030 · code text A guest house shall not be located within any required setback area, shall not exceed 400 square feet or a height of 16 feet, and shall not contain kitchen or other cooking facilities.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any property line. Applies: For accessory structures on residential lots 50 feet or more wide. § 20-42.030 · code text An accessory structure on a parcel that is 50 feet or more in width shall not be placed closer than five feet to a property line. At least 3 feet from the property line. Applies: On home or duplex lots under 50 feet wide or 100 feet deep, where it would abut a neighbor's building. Otherwise on the line. § 20-42.030 · code text In these cases, the accessory structure shall be located a minimum of three feet from the property line. No setback. They may be placed anywhere in a rear or side yard setback. Applies: For rain tanks no taller than 8 feet. Taller tanks need Design Review. No tanks in a front yard setback. § 20-42.030 · code text Rain harvesting tanks that do not exceed eight feet in height may be placed within a rear or side yard setback without limitation on location. At least 30 inches from any property line. Applies: For ground-mounted air conditioners, pool pumps and similar equipment 6 feet tall or less in a side or rear setback. § 20-42.030 · code text Not closer than 30 inches to any property line;
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main house on a neighboring lot. Applies: For detached living-space structures in residential districts. Distance to the house on the same lot follows the Uniform Building Code. § 20-42.030 · code text No detached habitable accessory structure shall be closer to the primary structure than permitted by the Uniform Building Code, or closer than 10 feet from a primary structure on an adjoining lot, unless a lesser distance is specifically allowed by other provisions of this Zoning Code.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Santa Rosa?

In residential zones, accessory structures are limited to 16 feet and 1 story; guest houses also to 400 square feet (city rule).

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Santa Rosa

Key points

What Santa Rosa's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Santa Rosa property

More on building on your lot in Santa Rosa