Shed Permit in San Diego County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing a detached shed larger than 120 square feet of floor area in unincorporated San Diego County; smaller sheds still have to meet zoning setbacks
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
San Diego County exempts a one-story detached shed used as non-habitable space from a building permit as long as its floor area does not exceed 120 square feet. Above that, a building permit is required, and the county bills it as a residential storage building. The exemption is only from the building permit: the county states that even projects that do not need a building permit must still comply with the Zoning Ordinance, public health and safety codes, and other county, state and federal regulations, so setbacks still apply to a small shed. This covers the unincorporated county only; the 18 incorporated cities, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside and Escondido, each run their own building department.
Typical threshold: One-story detached non-habitable accessory structures such as tool or storage sheds need a building permit once floor area exceeds 120 square feet.
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 installing a detached shed larger than 120 square feet of floor area in unincorporated San Diego County; smaller sheds still have to meet zoning setbacks
What a shed permit costs in San Diego County
How San Diego 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 |
| San Diego Countythis page | It depends | One-story detached non-habitable accessory structures such as tool or storage sheds need a building permit once floor area exceeds 120 square feet. |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest San Diego 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 San Diego 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. Planning & Development Services (PDS), Building Services Division sets the exact checklist for San Diego County.
Where to apply in San Diego County:
Planning & Development Services (PDS), Building Services Division
- 5510 Overland Ave., Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92123
- Phone: 858-565-5920
- Email: pdsbuildingpermitcounter@sdcounty.ca.gov
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 San Diego County permit portal or by phone at 858-565-5920.
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 San Diego County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: One-story detached non-habitable accessory structures such as tool or storage sheds need a building permit once floor area exceeds 120 square feet. Usually needed: Before installing a detached shed larger than 120 square feet of floor area in unincorporated San Diego County; smaller sheds still have to meet zoning setbacks.
- Budget the fee. PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) bills a permitted shed under "Residential Garage, Carport, Storage Bldg, Cabana, Pool House or Recreational Room Simple Enough for OTC review" at a Plan Review Fee of $578.00 plus $0.121 per square foot and a Permit Fee of $1,310.00 plus $0.114 per square foot. If the project is not simple enough for over-the-counter review, "Residential Garage, Carport or Storage Bldg. Requiring Plan Check Submittal" is $1,262.00 plus $0.431 per square foot for plan review with the same permit fee. 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 San Diego County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Planning & Development Services (PDS), Building Services Division. Phone: 858-565-5920. Address: 5510 Overland Ave., Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92123.
- 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 San Diego County?
- San Diego County exempts a one-story detached shed used as non-habitable space from a building permit as long as its floor area does not exceed 120 square feet. Above that, a building permit is required, and the county bills it as a residential storage building. The exemption is only from the building permit: the county states that even projects that do not need a building permit must still comply with the Zoning Ordinance, public health and safety codes, and other county, state and federal regulations, so setbacks still apply to a small shed. This covers the unincorporated county only; the 18 incorporated cities, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside and Escondido, each run their own building department. One-story detached non-habitable accessory structures such as tool or storage sheds need a building permit once floor area exceeds 120 square feet. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in San Diego County?
- PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) bills a permitted shed under "Residential Garage, Carport, Storage Bldg, Cabana, Pool House or Recreational Room Simple Enough for OTC review" at a Plan Review Fee of $578.00 plus $0.121 per square foot and a Permit Fee of $1,310.00 plus $0.114 per square foot. If the project is not simple enough for over-the-counter review, "Residential Garage, Carport or Storage Bldg. Requiring Plan Check Submittal" is $1,262.00 plus $0.431 per square foot for plan review with the same permit fee. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in San Diego County?
- You can apply through the San Diego County permit portal or contact the Planning & Development Services (PDS), Building Services Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in San Diego 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 San Diego County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in San Diego 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 needs a building permit when it is more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, or sits over a basement or story below, or forms part of an accessible route. | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) publishes no line item named "deck." Under... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Electrical work needs a permit; exemptions are limited to minor repairs, low-voltage signal wiring not over 25 volts between conductors, and connecting a portable appliance to an existing permanently installed receptacle. | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) line item "Electrical Only": Permit Fee... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Fences and freestanding masonry walls over 6 feet in height need a building permit; open fences up to 8 feet are also exempt if the uppermost two feet is only barbed or razor wire on angled supports. | PDS 613 Schedule of Building Construction Permit Fees (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Mechanical work needs a permit; the county exempts only minor service work such as replacing a faulty control, valve, drier or filter, or repairing equipment without removing it from its installed position. | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) line item "Mechanical Only": Permit Fee... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Patio covers and carports accessory to an individual dwelling unit need a building permit once projected roof area exceeds 300 square feet. | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) names patios in its over-the-counter... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Plumbing and gas work needs a permit; the notable exemption is a replacement water heater with no change to the unit type or servicing utilities when installed by a California licensed plumbing contractor. | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) line item "Plumbing Only": Permit Fee $392.00... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | The only exempt pool is a prefabricated pool accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling that is less than 18 inches deep, holds no more than 5,000 gallons, and sits entirely above ground; everything else needs a permit. | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) line item "Swimming Pool/ Spa": Plan Review Fee... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | PDS 613 (effective 07/10/2026, FY 25/26) names re-roofs in its over-the-counter... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | The county's Getting Started with Solar Photovoltaic page states that "Currently, the... |
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 San Diego 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 Planning & Development Services (PDS), Building Services 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
Permit office
Planning & Development Services (PDS), Building Services Division
858-565-5920Permit portal