Half Moon Bay · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay sets its own size, height and setback rules for detached accessory structures. Small, low structures may stand in the required rear yard setback, and larger ones need greater setbacks.

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Key points

Rear yard sheds: In Half Moon Bay's rear yard setback, detached accessory structures are limited to 8 ft and 250 sq ft, 5 ft from lot lines.
Larger structures: Larger Half Moon Bay accessory structures, over 250 sq ft and 12 ft, need 10-ft rear and 5-ft side setbacks.

Each rule below is marked Half Moon Bay code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Half Moon Bay code What Half Moon Bay's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 8 feet in overall height. Applies: For detached accessory structures of 250 square feet or less placed in the required rear yard setback. § 18.06.050 · code text Detached accessory structures not exceeding two hundred fifty square feet in floor area and not exceeding eight feet in overall height may be located within the required rear yard setback of a site but shall be no closer than five feet to the rear property line or five feet to the side property line.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 250 square feet of floor area. Applies: For detached accessory structures no more than 8 feet high placed in the required rear yard setback. § 18.06.050 · code text Detached accessory structures not exceeding two hundred fifty square feet in floor area and not exceeding eight feet in overall height may be located within the required rear yard setback of a site but shall be no closer than five feet to the rear property line or five feet to the side property line.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines. Applies: For detached accessory structures of 250 square feet or less and 8 feet or less in height. § 18.06.050 · code text Detached accessory structures not exceeding two hundred fifty square feet in floor area and not exceeding eight feet in overall height may be located within the required rear yard setback of a site but shall be no closer than five feet to the rear property line or five feet to the side property line. At least 10 feet from the rear property line and 5 feet from the side property line. Applies: For detached accessory structures over 250 square feet and over 12 feet tall, within the maximum building envelope. § 18.06.050 · code text Detached accessory structures exceeding two hundred fifty square feet in floor area and exceeding twelve feet in overall height may be located within the required rear yard setback of a site but shall be no closer than ten feet to the rear property line or five feet to the side property line; provided, that it does not encroach into the maximum building envelope.

RV and boat parking

Half Moon Bay code What Half Moon Bay's code adds
Parking on the street	Not allowed between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Applies: Oversize or nonmotorized vehicles on any public street or highway. § 10.37.020 · code text No person shall park or leave standing upon any public street or highway any oversize vehicle or nonmotorized vehicle at any time between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Not allowed on a public street once detached, except while loading, unloading or making emergency repairs. Applies: Nonmotorized vehicles, such as trailers, detached from their motor vehicle. § 10.37.030 · code text No person shall park or leave standing upon any public street or highway a nonmotorized vehicle, regardless of width, which has been detached from its motor vehicle except when such person is actually loading or unloading the same or making repairs of an emergency nature to either the vehicle itself or the adjacent properties. The police chief may issue a temporary overnight permit in special circumstances, valid for the period stated on it. Applies: Oversize or nonmotorized vehicles. § 10.37.040 · code text Any vehicle displaying a valid permit issued by the chief of police, who may issue a temporary permit for the overnight parking of an oversize or nonmotorized vehicle in the event of special and/or unusual circumstances. Such permit shall be valid for the time period stated thereon.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Half Moon Bay code What Half Moon Bay's code adds
EV charger permit	Nondiscretionary building permit issued on receipt of a complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan. § 14.70.060 · code text the building official shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Review time	Within 3 business days. Applies: Complete application filed electronically. § 14.60.060 · code text The building department shall issue a building permit either: within three business days of receipt of a complete application when filed electronically, or the same business day when a complete application is filed in person. Same business day. Applies: Complete application filed in person. § 14.60.060 · code text The building department shall issue a building permit either: within three business days of receipt of a complete application when filed electronically, or the same business day when a complete application is filed in person.

Other Half Moon Bay rules on this

Half Moon Bay's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Draining a pool into the sewer (§ 13.20.170)
Permit to remove or prune a heritage tree (Ch. 7.40)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Half Moon Bay?

In Half Moon Bay's rear yard setback, detached accessory structures are limited to 8 ft and 250 sq ft, 5 ft from lot lines. Larger Half Moon Bay accessory structures, over 250 sq ft and 12 ft, need 10-ft rear and 5-ft side setbacks.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Half Moon Bay?

Half Moon Bay's code: Not allowed between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. (Oversize or nonmotorized vehicles on any public street or highway.) (§ 10.37.020); Not allowed on a public street once detached, except while loading, unloading or making emergency repairs. (Nonmotorized vehicles, such as trailers, detached from their motor vehicle.) (§ 10.37.030).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Half Moon Bay?

Half Moon Bay's code: Nondiscretionary building permit issued on receipt of a complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan. (§ 14.70.060); Within 3 business days. (Complete application filed electronically.) (§ 14.60.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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