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Moraga · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Moraga

Moraga lets sheds and playhouses up to 120 sq ft and 8 ft high sit anywhere in required side or rear yards if screened.

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Key points

  • Sheds: Moraga lets sheds and playhouses up to 120 sq ft and 8 ft high sit anywhere in required side or rear yards if screened.

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

What Moraga's code says

Moraga code What Moraga's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 8 feet.
    Applies: Shed, greenhouse or playhouse of 120 square feet or less in a required side or rear yard, screened from view from the front.
    § 8.70.020 · code text
    any shed, greenhouse or playhouse not exceeding a total of one hundred twenty (120) square feet in floor area, with a height of no more than eight feet, may be located anywhere within a required side or rear yard
  • No more than 9 feet.
    Applies: A single arbor-style entry over a walkway in a residential front yard setback; also at most 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep.
    § 8.70.030 · code text
    A single arbor-style entry element in the front yard setback of a residential property is permitted if it is located over a walkway or pathway and does not exceed nine feet in height, five feet in width, three feet in depth and provided that such entry element does not create sight obstructions as set forth in Section 8.80.010.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 120 square feet of floor area.
    Applies: Shed, greenhouse or playhouse up to 8 feet tall in a required side or rear yard. Other accessory buildings use main-building setbacks.
    § 8.70.020 · code text
    any shed, greenhouse or playhouse not exceeding a total of one hundred twenty (120) square feet in floor area, with a height of no more than eight feet, may be located anywhere within a required side or rear yard
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet.
    Applies: Accessory structure 8 feet tall or less, set back at least 50 feet from the front property line.
    § 8.70.030 · code text
    The minimum side and rear yard setback for an accessory structure of eight feet or less in height is three feet if the structure is set back at least fifty (50) feet from the front property line.
  • No setback. May be placed anywhere in a required side or rear yard.
    Applies: Shed, greenhouse or playhouse up to 120 square feet and 8 feet tall, reasonably screened from view from the front.
    § 8.70.020 · code text
    any shed, greenhouse or playhouse not exceeding a total of one hundred twenty (120) square feet in floor area, with a height of no more than eight feet, may be located anywhere within a required side or rear yard, provided that it is reasonably screened from view from the front of the property by a fence, building, or landscaping.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Moraga lets sheds and playhouses up to 120 sq ft and 8 ft high sit anywhere in required side or rear yards if screened.

General information, not legal advice.

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Moraga Municipal Code — full text