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Del Mar · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Del Mar

One-story accessory buildings up to 500 square feet and 30 feet per side may occupy the rear yard, except in R1-40, R1-14 and R1-10.

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Key points

  • Accessory buildings: One-story accessory buildings up to 500 square feet and 30 feet per side may occupy the rear yard, except in R1-40, R1-14 and R1-10.

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

What Del Mar's code says

Del Mar code What Del Mar's code adds
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 30 feet long on any one side.
    Applies: Detached one-story accessory buildings in the rear yard, outside the R1-40, R1-14 and R1-10 zones.
    § 30.86.200 · code text
    and not more than 30 feet in length on any one side.
Side and rear setback
  • No rear yard setback. No side yard setback if entirely in the rear 30% or behind the front 70 feet.
    Applies: Detached one-story accessory buildings up to 500 square feet and 30 feet per side. Not in the R1-40, R1-14 and R1-10 zones.
    § 30.86.200 · code text
    Except in the R1-40, R1-14, and R1-10 zones, a detached, one-story, accessory building may disregard rear yard requirements if such accessory building is not more than 500 square feet in area and not more than 30 feet in length on any one side.
  • Side and rear yard rules do not apply.
    Applies: One-story garages inside natural banks at least 6 feet high. Roof: at most 1 foot above first floor; fixtures at most 3 feet 6 inches.
    § 30.86.200 · code text
    One-story garages located entirely within at least six-foot-high, natural embankments and so maintained may disregard the side and rear yard requirements

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Del Mar?

One-story accessory buildings up to 500 square feet and 30 feet per side may occupy the rear yard, except in R1-40, R1-14 and R1-10.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Del Mar property

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