Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Benicia

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

What Benicia's code says

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
Maximum height	Walls no more than 12 feet high. Applies: Wall height of accessory structures in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text The maximum wall height of an accessory structure shall be 12 feet, subject to the provisions of this subsection. No more than 15 feet at the peak. Applies: Accessory structures in R districts with a roof pitch below 4:12. § 17.70.050 · code text Fifteen feet where the roof pitch is below 4:12. No more than 18 feet at the peak. Applies: Accessory structures in R districts with a roof pitch between 4:12 and 6:12. § 17.70.050 · code text Eighteen feet where the roof pitch is between 4:12 and 6:12. No more than 20 feet at the peak. Applies: Accessory structures in R districts with a roof pitch over 6:12. § 17.70.050 · code text Twenty feet where the roof pitch exceeds 6:12.
Size or lot coverage	Counts toward lot coverage and must meet the district's lot coverage limits. Applies: Total floor area of accessory structures more than 4 feet high in RS districts. § 17.70.050 · code text In an RS district, the total gross floor area of accessory structures more than four feet in height shall be counted in computing lot coverage and shall meet the lot coverage requirements of BMC § 17.24.030, No larger than the total area of the main home on the same site. Applies: Any one accessory building in RS districts. § 17.70.050 · code text except that the total area of any one accessory building shall not exceed the total area of the primary residential structure on the same site.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from a rear or side property line. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear yard in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text An accessory structure in a required rear yard shall be located at least five feet from a rear or side property line.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from any other building on the site. Applies: Accessory buildings in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text A minimum 10-foot distance shall be maintained between an accessory building and any other building on the site; May be reduced to 5 feet. Applies: Only with an exception approved by the development services director, in R districts. § 17.70.050 · code text the development services director may authorize an exception to criteria to reduce the separation between buildings to five feet.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In R districts, Benicia limits accessory structure walls to 12 feet and peaks to 15, 18 or 20 feet, depending on roof pitch.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Benicia

Key points

What Benicia's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Benicia property

More on building on your lot in Benicia