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Yuba City · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Yuba City

Yuba City ties accessory building height to setbacks: 10 feet with 5-foot rear and side yards, 15 feet with a 10-foot rear yard.

Ask about sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Yuba City See coverage

Key points

  • Accessory buildings: Yuba City ties accessory building height to setbacks: 10 feet with 5-foot rear and side yards, 15 feet with a 10-foot rear yard.

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

What Yuba City's code says

Yuba City code What Yuba City's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 8 feet tall.
    Applies: 1 storage shed and 1 children's playhouse in a required interior side or rear yard, each with a roof under 120 square feet.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Children's playhouse | 8 | 0 (1) | 0 (1)
  • Accessory buildings may be up to 10 feet tall.
    Applies: With at least a 5-foot rear yard and a 5-foot side yard.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Accessory building | 10 ft. | 5 ft. (2) | 5 ft.
  • Accessory buildings may be up to 15 feet tall.
    Applies: With at least a 10-foot rear yard and a 5-foot side yard.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Accessory building | 15 ft. | 10 ft. | 5 ft.
  • Accessory buildings may be up to 20 feet tall.
    Applies: Outside the required rear yard, at least 5 feet from the side lot line.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Accessory building | 20 ft. | Outside Rear Yard | 5 ft.
  • Accessory buildings may be no more than 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Lots backing onto a General Plan street with a City-maintained landscape strip, within 10 feet of the rear lot line.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    For those lots that back onto a General Plan street with a City maintained landscape strip the height of an accessory building shall not exceed eight ft. when located within ten ft. of the rear lot line.
Size or lot coverage
  • Each roof must be under 120 square feet.
    Applies: 1 storage shed and 1 children's playhouse in a required interior side or rear yard.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Each has a roof of less than 120 square ft.
Side and rear setback
  • No setback is required.
    Applies: 1 shed and 1 children's playhouse in a required interior side or rear yard; roofs under 120 square feet, up to 8 feet tall.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Children's playhouse | 8 | 0 (1) | 0 (1)
  • At least 5 feet from rear and side lot lines.
    Applies: Accessory buildings up to 10 feet tall.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Accessory building | 10 ft. | 5 ft. (2) | 5 ft.
  • At least 10 feet from the rear lot line.
    Applies: Accessory buildings up to 15 feet tall. The side yard is 5 feet.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Accessory building | 15 ft. | 10 ft. | 5 ft.
  • At least 5 feet from the side lot line.
    Applies: Accessory buildings up to 15 or 20 feet tall.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    Accessory building | 15 ft. | 10 ft. | 5 ft.
Distance from the house
  • At least 6 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings, including patio covers not attached to the main building.
    § 8-5.5001 · code text
    The patio cover is attached to the main building or meets the minimum six ft. separation required for accessory buildings.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Yuba City?

Yuba City ties accessory building height to setbacks: 10 feet with 5-foot rear and side yards, 15 feet with a 10-foot rear yard.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Yuba City property

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

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