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Palm Desert · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Palm Desert

Enclosed accessory buildings: 8 feet on residential lots, under 14 feet on lots over 12,000 square feet; setback equal to their height.

Key points

  • Accessory buildings: Enclosed accessory buildings: 8 feet on residential lots, under 14 feet on lots over 12,000 square feet; setback equal to their height.

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

What Palm Desert's code says

Palm Desert code What Palm Desert's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 7 feet.
    Applies: In a side yard setback enclosed by a solid wall or fence, set back at least 3 feet from the side line.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    the maximum structure height does not exceed 7 feet
  • 8 feet on residential lots; under 14 feet over 12,000 sq ft; up to 18 feet over 40,000 sq ft.
    Applies: Buildings set back their height. Over 8 and under 14 feet: at most 25% of required yard setback. 18 feet: one story, conditional use permit.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Enclosed buildings less than, or equal to, 8 feet in height are permitted on all residential lots, with a minimum set back from a property line a distance equal to its height.
  • Less than 14 feet.
    Applies: For enclosed buildings over 8 feet tall, only on lots larger than 12,000 square feet.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Enclosed buildings greater than 8 feet in height, but less than 14 feet in height, are permitted on lot sizes greater than 12,000 square feet in area.
  • No more than 18 feet and 1 story.
    Applies: Only with a conditional use permit, on lots larger than 40,000 square feet, set back as far as the structure is tall.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Buildings and structures with a maximum height of 18 feet, one-story, and with a set back from property line at a distance equal to its height, may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit as described in Section 25.72.050.
  • No more than 10 feet above grade.
    Applies: For open, non-living structures like play equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, set back from property lines as far as they are tall.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Open, non-habitable, structures, including, but not limited to, playground equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, are permitted with a maximum height of 10 feet above grade and if set back from property lines a distance equal to the structure's height.
Size or lot coverage
  • Enclosed buildings may cover no more than 25% of the required yard setback.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Enclosed buildings shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the required yard setback, and shall be set back from any property line a distance equal to its height.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet from the side property line.
    Applies: For a structure in the side yard setback, when the side yard has a solid wall or fence.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    the structure is set back a minimum of 3 feet from the side yard property line
  • At least as far from property lines as the building is tall.
    Applies: For enclosed buildings 8 feet tall or less.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Enclosed buildings less than, or equal to, 8 feet in height are permitted on all residential lots, with a minimum set back from a property line a distance equal to its height.
  • At least as far from property lines as the building is tall.
    Applies: For enclosed buildings over 8 feet and under 14 feet tall, on lots larger than 12,000 square feet.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Enclosed buildings shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the required yard setback, and shall be set back from any property line a distance equal to its height.
  • At least as far from property lines as the structure is tall.
    Applies: For 1-story structures up to 18 feet, on lots larger than 40,000 square feet, with a conditional use permit.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Buildings and structures with a maximum height of 18 feet, one-story, and with a set back from property line at a distance equal to its height, may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit as described in Section 25.72.050.
  • At least as far from property lines as the structure is tall.
    Applies: For open, non-living structures like play equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises.
    § 25.40.050 · code text
    Open, non-habitable, structures, including, but not limited to, playground equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, are permitted with a maximum height of 10 feet above grade and if set back from property lines a distance equal to the structure's height.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Palm Desert?

Enclosed accessory buildings: 8 feet on residential lots, under 14 feet on lots over 12,000 square feet; setback equal to their height.

General information, not legal advice.

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