California / Los Angeles County
Shed Permit in Los Angeles County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a detached storage shed, playhouse, or shade structure whose gross floor area exceeds 120 square feet, whose height exceeds 12 feet, or whose roof projection exceeds 24 inches. Any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical equipment installed in the shed needs its own permit even when the shed itself is exempt.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Title 26, Section 106.3 of the County of Los Angeles Building Code exempts one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, shade structures, and similar uses when the gross floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, the height does not exceed 12 feet, and the maximum roof projection does not exceed 24 inches. The county's FAQ adds that any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical equipment installed in these structures does require separate permits, and that all structures regardless of size must comply with applicable zoning requirements. A detached accessory building exceeding 120 square feet needs a building permit.
Typical threshold: gross floor area of a one-story detached accessory building; the exemption also requires the height not to exceed 12 feet and the maximum roof projection not to exceed 24 inches.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a detached storage shed, playhouse, or shade structure whose gross floor area exceeds 120 square feet, whose height exceeds 12 feet, or whose roof projection exceeds 24 inches. Any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical equipment installed in the shed needs its own permit even when the shed itself is exempt.
What a shed permit costs in Los Angeles County
How Los Angeles County compares in California
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | It depends | Floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed accessory to a house, at which the building permit exemption stops |
| Contra Costa County | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure |
| Fresno County | It depends | One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit when the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet |
| Los Angeles | It depends | one-story shed under 120 sq ft and under 12 ft in height with no electrical or plumbing does not require a permit |
| Los Angeles Countythis page | It depends | gross floor area of a one-story detached accessory building; the exemption also requires the height not to exceed 12 feet and the maximum roof projection not to exceed 24 inches |
| Orange County | It depends | One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, play houses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit only when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the structure sits at least 3 feet from the property line and 6 feet from other buildings on the same property |
| Riverside County | It depends | A one-story detached accessory structure with a floor area of 120 square feet or less is exempt from a building permit, other than a storm shelter |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Los Angeles County's 120 sq ft.
- Aurora, Colorado, shed floor area at which a building permit is required
- Baltimore County, Maryland, accessory structure floor area
- Boston, Massachusetts, one-story detached accessory sheds used for tools or storage are exempt if floor area does not exceed 120 sq ft
- Chandler, Arizona, One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit.
How to apply in Los Angeles County
A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- A written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- A scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division sets the exact checklist for Los Angeles County.
Where to apply in Los Angeles County:
Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division
- Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division, 3rd Floor, 900 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803
- Phone: 626-458-3173
Inspections and closing out your permit
A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- For a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Los Angeles County permit portal or by phone at 626-458-3173.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Los Angeles County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: gross floor area of a one-story detached accessory building; the exemption also requires the height not to exceed 12 feet and the maximum roof projection not to exceed 24 inches. Usually needed: Before building a detached storage shed, playhouse, or shade structure whose gross floor area exceeds 120 square feet, whose height exceeds 12 feet, or whose roof projection exceeds 24 inches. Any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical equipment installed in the shed needs its own permit even when the shed itself is exempt.
- Budget the fee. No shed line item is published. A shed that exceeds the exemption is priced from the valuation-based Table 1-A Building Permit Fees ($65.36 for a total valuation of $0 to and including $700; $98.09 for more than $700 to and including $25,000 plus $25.27 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof in excess of $1,000), plus the $41.35 permit issuance fee. Building Code Fee Schedule (Title 26, Ord. No. 2013-0048), effective July 1, 2026. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Los Angeles County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division. Phone: 626-458-3173. Address: Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division, 3rd Floor, 900 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803.
- Plan for inspections. A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Los Angeles County?
- Title 26, Section 106.3 of the County of Los Angeles Building Code exempts one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, shade structures, and similar uses when the gross floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, the height does not exceed 12 feet, and the maximum roof projection does not exceed 24 inches. The county's FAQ adds that any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical equipment installed in these structures does require separate permits, and that all structures regardless of size must comply with applicable zoning requirements. A detached accessory building exceeding 120 square feet needs a building permit. Gross floor area of a one-story detached accessory building; the exemption also requires the height not to exceed 12 feet and the maximum roof projection not to exceed 24 inches. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Los Angeles County?
- No shed line item is published. A shed that exceeds the exemption is priced from the valuation-based Table 1-A Building Permit Fees ($65.36 for a total valuation of $0 to and including $700; $98.09 for more than $700 to and including $25,000 plus $25.27 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof in excess of $1,000), plus the $41.35 permit issuance fee. Building Code Fee Schedule (Title 26, Ord. No. 2013-0048), effective July 1, 2026. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Los Angeles County?
- You can apply through the Los Angeles County permit portal or contact the Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Los Angeles County?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner-builder from contractor licensing when the owner personally performs the work, or uses only wage employees, on their own property and does not intend the improvements for sale. A homeowner may also directly hire licensed trade contractors for up to four single-family residences a year, or improve their own principal residence without a general contractor's license, as long as they have actually lived there for the 12 months before the work is finished. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a building permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a $500 civil penalty. Confirm how Los Angeles County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Los Angeles County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of the deck surface above grade; the exemption also requires the deck not to be over any basement or story below and not to be part of an accessible route | No deck line item is published. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electrical Code Fee Schedule (Title 27 of the County of Los Angeles Code, Ord No. |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of a fence or freestanding block wall measured from the lowest adjacent grade; a masonry or concrete fence must also be set back from a public way at least a distance equal to its height to stay exempt | No fence line item is published. |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical Code Fee Schedule (Title 29 of the County of Los Angeles Code, Ord No. |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | No patio line item is published. |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing Code Fee Schedule (Title 28 of the Los Angeles Code, Ord. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of a prefabricated pool or other body of water accessory to a one- or two-family (Group R-3) home; the same exemption also reaches pools that do not exceed 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above adjacent grade | There is no single pool price. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No reroofing line item is published. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Chapter 68, Section 6805 of the County of Los Angeles Building Code: 'The combined... |
Shed Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Los Angeles County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Shed Permit requirements across California localities