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Pinole · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Pinole

Enclosed solid-roof accessory buildings: at most 15 feet tall, 5 feet from side and rear lines, at most 50% of required yard area.

Ask about sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Pinole See coverage

Key points

  • Accessory buildings: Enclosed solid-roof accessory buildings: at most 15 feet tall, 5 feet from side and rear lines, at most 50% of required yard area.

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

What Pinole's code says

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 15 feet high.
    Applies: Enclosed buildings with a solid roof.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Enclosed Solid Roof Building | Not permitted | 5 ft. (1) | 5 ft.(1), (2) | 6 ft. | 0 ft. (1),(3) | 50% required yard area | 15 ft. | 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater |
  • No more than 16 feet high.
    Applies: Landscape features.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Landscape Features | No minimum | 3 ft. | 10 ft. | 6 ft. | No minimum | Not applicable | 16 ft. | 1 or 1 per 400 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater |
  • No more than 5 feet high.
    Applies: Pools and spas.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft. | 5 ft. (4) | 50% required yard area | 5 ft. | 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater |
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 50% of the required yard area in total.
    Applies: Enclosed buildings with a solid roof.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Enclosed Solid Roof Building | Not permitted | 5 ft. (1) | 5 ft.(1), (2) | 6 ft. | 0 ft. (1),(3) | 50% required yard area | 15 ft. | 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater |
  • No more than 50% of the required yard area in total.
    Applies: Pools and spas.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft. | 5 ft. (4) | 50% required yard area | 5 ft. | 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater |
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Enclosed buildings with a solid roof, standard rule.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Enclosed Solid Roof Building | Not permitted | 5 ft. (1) | 5 ft.(1), (2) | 6 ft. | 0 ft. (1),(3) | 50% required yard area | 15 ft. | 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater |
  • At least 3 feet from side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Exempt enclosed or solid-roofed accessory structures under 120 square feet and under 8 feet high.
    § 17.30.030 · code text
    b. In order to maintain necessary fire breaks, all combustible accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from side and rear property lines with a minimum six (6)-foot separation between any structures.
  • At least 3 feet from all interior property lines.
    Applies: Exempt landscape features under 120 square feet and under 8 feet high.
    § 17.30.030 · code text
    a. In order to maintain necessary fire breaks, combustible landscape features shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from all interior property lines with a minimum six (6)-foot separation between any structures.
  • At least 5 feet, measured from the water's edge.
    Applies: Pools and spas.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft. | 5 ft. (4) | 50% required yard area | 5 ft. | 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater |
  • At least 3 feet from all side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Pool and spa equipment.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    (4) Measurement from water's edge. Related equipment shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from all side and rear property lines.
No permit needed up to
  • Under 120 square feet.
    Applies: Enclosed or solid-roofed structures under 8 feet high, not in a required front yard. Exempt from planning approval only; a building permit may be needed.
    § 17.30.030 · code text
    Enclosed and/or solid-roofed accessory structures that are less than one hundred and twenty (120) square feet in size with no portion of the structure equal to or greater than eight (8) feet in height and subject to compliance with the following requirements.
  • Under 120 square feet.
    Applies: Landscape features under 8 feet high. Exempt from planning approval only; a building permit may still be needed.
    § 17.30.030 · code text
    Landscape features that are less than one hundred and twenty (120) square feet in size with no portion of the feature equal to or greater than eight (8) feet in height and subject to compliance with the following requirement.
Distance from the house
  • No separation is required.
    Applies: Attached accessory buildings only, which may share a wall with the main building.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Enclosed Solid Roof Building | Not permitted | 5 ft. (1) | 5 ft.(1), (2) | 6 ft. | 0 ft. (1),(3) | 50% required yard area | 15 ft. | 1 or 1 per 1200 sq. ft. yard area, whichever is greater |
  • At least 6 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Accessory buildings no more than 15 feet high that sit within 5 feet of the side or rear line.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    (1) Accessory buildings not exceeding fifteen (15) feet in height at the highest point may be built within five (5) feet to the side and/or rear property line, provided that the accessory structure is not less than six (6) feet in distance from the primary building on the parcel.
  • At least 5 feet, measured from the water's edge.
    Applies: Pools and spas.
    § 17.30.040 · code text
    | Pools/spas | Not permitted | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft.(4) | 5 ft. | 5 ft. (4) | 50% required yard area | 5 ft. | 2 or 1 per 900 sq. ft. rear yard area, whichever is greater |

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Enclosed solid-roof accessory buildings: at most 15 feet tall, 5 feet from side and rear lines, at most 50% of required yard area.

General information, not legal advice.

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