Corte Madera · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Corte Madera

In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.

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Key points

Accessory structures: In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.

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

What Corte Madera's code says

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 10 feet high. Applies: Accessory structures in the required rear yard in the R-1 zone. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard;
Size or lot coverage	No more than 12% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1 zone structures enclosed on more than 1 side. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than twelve percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side, that not more than an additional twelve percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more, and that no structures shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. No more than an additional 12% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1 zone structures open on 3 sides or more. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than twelve percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side, that not more than an additional twelve percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more, and that no structures shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. No more than 8% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1-A zone structures enclosed on more than 1 side. § 18.08.320 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than eight percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side; that not more than an additional eight percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more; and that no structure shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. No more than an additional 8% of the required rear yard. Applies: R-1-A zone structures open on 3 sides or more. § 18.08.320 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than eight percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side; that not more than an additional eight percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more; and that no structure shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line. An additional 2% of site coverage. Applies: R-1 lots over 4,500 square feet, added to the 40% coverage, for unenclosed structures no taller than 10 feet. § 18.08.220 · code text Such lots may add an additional two percent for unenclosed structures no greater than ten feet in height, including but not limited to arbors, trellises and covered decks or patios. The first 120 square feet is not counted in floor area. Applies: Enclosed detached accessory structures other than garages in the R-1 and R-1-A zones. § 18.08.220 · code text Enclosed detached accessory structures (other than garages), not subject to Subsection (g)(3)(A)(iv) of this section, except that the first one hundred twenty square feet shall be exempted from the sum total of such structures;
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from rear and side property lines. Applies: Accessory structures in the required rear yard in the R-1 zone. § 18.08.220 · code text Incidental and accessory structures not exceeding ten feet in height may be located in the required rear yard; provided, that not more than twelve percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side, that not more than an additional twelve percent of the area shall be covered by structures open on three sides or more, and that no structures shall be closer than five feet to a rear or side property line.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Corte Madera?

In R-1, rear-yard accessory structures have a 10-foot limit and a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines.

General information, not legal advice.

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Corte Madera Municipal Code — full text