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Claremont · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Claremont

On single-family lots, accessory buildings are limited to one story, 15 feet and the main house's height, and 300 square feet outside RR districts.

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Key points

  • Accessory buildings: On single-family lots, accessory buildings are limited to one story, 15 feet and the main house's height, and 300 square feet outside RR districts.

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

What Claremont's code says

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 15 feet and one story, and no taller than the main house.
    Applies: Accessory buildings and structures on any single-family lot, unless the code allows otherwise.
    § 16.133.010 · code text
    On any single-family residential lot, accessory buildings and structures shall be limited to one story; they shall not exceed 15 feet in height; and they shall not exceed the height of the main residential structure, except if otherwise permitted by this Code.
  • No more than 13 feet.
    Applies: Sports equipment, such as basketball backboards, and children's play equipment on any single-family lot.
    § 16.133.010 · code text
    On any single-family residential lot, no athletic apparatus, or other sports related accessory structures, such as basketball backboards, tetherball poles, etc. and no children's play equipment, such as swings, slides, jungle gyms, etc., shall exceed 13 feet in height, except as otherwise permitted by this chapter.
  • Up to 15 feet, only with a special use and development permit.
    Applies: Athletic apparatus or structures taller than 13 feet.
    § 16.133.010 · code text
    Such apparatus or structure exceeding 13 feet in height, but not more than 15 feet in height, may be allowed only with a special use and development permit pursuant to Chapter 16.306.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 300 square feet of floor area.
    Applies: Accessory buildings on any single-family lot, except in RR Rural Residential Districts.
    § 16.133.010 · code text
    On any single-family residential lot excepting in the RR Rural Residential Districts, accessory buildings shall have a maximum floor area of 300 square feet, excepting that an additional 400 square feet may be included for required parking for the primary dwelling unit on lot, and an additional 700 square feet may be included for an accessory second unit, provided such accessory unit is in compliance with Chapter 16.333, Accessory Second Unit.
  • An extra 400 square feet is allowed for required parking.
    Applies: Required parking for the main home on a single-family lot, except in RR Rural Residential Districts.
    § 16.133.010 · code text
    On any single-family residential lot excepting in the RR Rural Residential Districts, accessory buildings shall have a maximum floor area of 300 square feet, excepting that an additional 400 square feet may be included for required parking for the primary dwelling unit on lot, and an additional 700 square feet may be included for an accessory second unit, provided such accessory unit is in compliance with Chapter 16.333, Accessory Second Unit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

On single-family lots, accessory buildings are limited to one story, 15 feet and the main house's height, and 300 square feet outside RR districts.

General information, not legal advice.

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Claremont Municipal Code — full text