Murrieta · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Murrieta

Murrieta limits each detached accessory structure to 1,000 sq ft, and all together to 40% of the required rear yard.

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Key points

Accessory size: Murrieta limits each detached accessory structure to 1,000 sq ft, and all together to 40% of the required rear yard.

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

What Murrieta's code says

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,000 square feet of floor area. Applies: A single detached accessory structure. § 16.44.150 · code text The floor area of a single detached accessory structure shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) square feet, nor shall the sum of the floor area(s) of the total number of detached accessory structures exceed 40 percent, of the required rear yard of the parcel. No more than 40% of the required rear yard. Applies: Total floor area of all detached accessory structures. § 16.44.150 · code text The floor area of a single detached accessory structure shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) square feet, nor shall the sum of the floor area(s) of the total number of detached accessory structures exceed 40 percent, of the required rear yard of the parcel. No more than 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main home's square footage, whichever is less. Applies: Detached accessory garages outside rural residential zones. § 16.44.150 · code text A detached accessory garage shall not be greater than one thousand (1,000) square feet or fifty (50) percent of the square footage of the main dwelling unit, whichever is less, or two thousand (2,000) square feet or fifty (50) percent of the square footage of the main dwelling unit in rural residential zones, whichever is greater. No more than 2,000 square feet or 50% of the main home's square footage, whichever is greater. Applies: Detached accessory garages in rural residential zones. § 16.44.150 · code text A detached accessory garage shall not be greater than one thousand (1,000) square feet or fifty (50) percent of the square footage of the main dwelling unit, whichever is less, or two thousand (2,000) square feet or fifty (50) percent of the square footage of the main dwelling unit in rural residential zones, whichever is greater. Up to 500 square feet per dwelling unit or 10% of the parcel, whichever is less. Applies: Accessory greenhouses. § 16.44.150 · code text An accessory greenhouse may occupy up to five hundred (500) square feet for each dwelling unit or ten percent of the parcel, whichever is less. Up to 500 square feet, and may include a restroom. Applies: Guest living quarters, attached or detached, with no kitchen or wet bar. § 16.44.150 · code text Guest living quarters do not include a kitchen or wet-bar and may occupy up to 500 square feet and include restroom facilities. No more than 1,000 square feet. Applies: Workshops, unless combined with a garage. § 16.44.150 · code text A workshop shall not occupy an area larger than one thousand (1,000) square feet, except where a workshop is combined with a garage.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Murrieta limits each detached accessory structure to 1,000 sq ft, and all together to 40% of the required rear yard.

General information, not legal advice.

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Murrieta Municipal Code — full text