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Stockton · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Stockton

City rule: detached accessory structures, not ADUs, are limited to 15 feet and may come within 3 feet of interior side and rear lines.

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Key points

  • Accessory buildings: City rule: detached accessory structures, not ADUs, are limited to 15 feet and may come within 3 feet of interior side and rear lines.

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

What Stockton's code says

Stockton code What Stockton's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 15 feet high.
    Applies: Applies to detached accessory structures, and open decks or trellises over 24 inches high; not ADUs.
    § 16.36.035 · code text
    Accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet.
  • May exceed 15 feet, but no higher than the main building.
    Applies: Residential infill projects, if the Director finds it fits the neighborhood and the main building.
    § 16.52.030 · code text
    The height of an accessory structure may exceed 15 feet if it is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and the primary structure as determined by the Director, but no higher than the height of the primary structure.
Side and rear setback
  • May extend into interior side and rear setbacks to within 3 feet of the property line.
    Applies: Not into front or street-side setbacks or a public utility easement.
    § 16.36.110 · code text
    May encroach up to 3 feet from the property line
  • No rear or interior side setback is required.
    Applies: Applies to other accessory structures in residential infill projects; front and street side rules still apply.
    § 16.52.030 · code text
    Other accessory structures shall meet the front yard and street side yard requirements for primary structures, but shall have no setback requirements for rear and interior side yards.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

City rule: detached accessory structures, not ADUs, are limited to 15 feet and may come within 3 feet of interior side and rear lines.

General information, not legal advice.

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Stockton Municipal Code — full text