Shed Permit in Riverside County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a detached shed, workshop, or other accessory structure larger than 120 square feet in unincorporated Riverside County
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Riverside County exempts a one-story detached accessory structure of 120 square feet or less from a building permit under its own amendment of California Residential Code Section R105.2, and the department's exempt-work handout adds that the structure must have no utilities. Anything larger, or a shed with electrical, plumbing, or mechanical service, goes through the Accessory Structure permit process with plans submitted through PLUS Online. This applies to unincorporated Riverside County; the county's incorporated cities run their own building departments.
Typical threshold: 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.
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 shed, workshop, or other accessory structure larger than 120 square feet in unincorporated Riverside County
What a shed permit costs in Riverside County
How Riverside 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 County | 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 Countythis page | 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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. Riverside County Building and Safety Department (Transportation and Land Management Agency) sets the exact checklist for Riverside County.
Where to apply in Riverside County:
Riverside County Building and Safety Department (Transportation and Land Management Agency)
- 4080 Lemon Street, 9th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501 (mailing: P.O. Box 1629, Riverside, CA 92502-1629)
- Phone: 951-955-1800
- Email: records@rivco.org
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 Riverside County permit portal or by phone at 951-955-1800.
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 Riverside County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: 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. Usually needed: Before building a detached shed, workshop, or other accessory structure larger than 120 square feet in unincorporated Riverside County.
- Budget the fee. Accessory Building 1,000 SQ FT (BAS-ACB1): $1,628.78 deposit; Accessory Building 1,001 to 3,000 SQ FT (BAS-ACB3): $1,917.22 deposit; Accessory Building Final Inspection (BAS-ACFNL): $370.90 fixed, per Appendix A to Ordinance No. 457 as amended by Ordinance No. 457.108 (adopted June 23, 2026, effective July 23, 2026). Deposit-based permits are billed against actual staff time, so the figure shown is a starting deposit rather than a final cost. 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 Riverside County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Riverside County Building and Safety Department (Transportation and Land Management Agency). Phone: 951-955-1800. Address: 4080 Lemon Street, 9th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501 (mailing: P.O. Box 1629, Riverside, CA 92502-1629).
- 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 Riverside County?
- Riverside County exempts a one-story detached accessory structure of 120 square feet or less from a building permit under its own amendment of California Residential Code Section R105.2, and the department's exempt-work handout adds that the structure must have no utilities. Anything larger, or a shed with electrical, plumbing, or mechanical service, goes through the Accessory Structure permit process with plans submitted through PLUS Online. This applies to unincorporated Riverside County; the county's incorporated cities run their own building departments. 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. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Riverside County?
- Accessory Building 1,000 SQ FT (BAS-ACB1): $1,628.78 deposit; Accessory Building 1,001 to 3,000 SQ FT (BAS-ACB3): $1,917.22 deposit; Accessory Building Final Inspection (BAS-ACFNL): $370.90 fixed, per Appendix A to Ordinance No. 457 as amended by Ordinance No. 457.108 (adopted June 23, 2026, effective July 23, 2026). Deposit-based permits are billed against actual staff time, so the figure shown is a starting deposit rather than a final cost. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Riverside County?
- You can apply through the Riverside County permit portal or contact the Riverside County Building and Safety Department (Transportation and Land Management Agency) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Riverside 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 Riverside County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Riverside 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 | A deck is exempt only if it is 200 square feet or less in area, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, and does not serve the required exit door | Deck County Standard (BPT-DEKCS): $586.60 fixed fee |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential Electrical (BEL-RELE): $448.20 fixed fee |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Fences 7 feet or less in height are exempt from a building permit, except block walls, which are exempt only up to 4 feet in height | Fences Over 7' (BXX-FENC): $635.40 fixed fee, per Appendix A to Ordinance No. |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential Mechanical (BME-RMEC): $274.30 fixed fee, per Appendix A to Ordinance No. |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Lattice Patio Cover County Standard (BPT-LPAT): $411.90 fixed fee |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential Plumbing (BPL-RPLU): $274.30 fixed fee, per Appendix A to Ordinance No. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | A prefabricated swimming pool less than 24 inches deep is exempt from a building permit; the department's handout adds that it must be above ground, hold no more than 5,000 gallons, and be at a single-family property | Residential Pool/Spa (BSP-RES): $999.30 fixed fee |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Roof repairs or replacements covering less than 25 percent of the legally existing roof area are exempt, provided the work does not involve the underlying framing and does not occur more than once in a 12-month period | Roofing and/or Deck Replacement (BRR-RROO): $335.50 fixed fee, per Appendix A to... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Roof Mount Solar Residential (BEL-RSLRR), described in the schedule as 'Mandated by AB... |
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 Riverside 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 Riverside County Building and Safety Department (Transportation and Land Management Agency). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Shed Permit requirements across California localities
Permit office
Riverside County Building and Safety Department (Transportation and Land Management Agency)
951-955-1800Permit portal