Skip to content

Pleasanton · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Pleasanton

In R districts, accessory structures may cover at most 500 square feet or 10 percent of the required rear yard, whichever is greater.

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

Key points

  • Rear-yard coverage: In R districts, accessory structures may cover at most 500 square feet or 10 percent of the required rear yard, whichever is greater.

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

What Pleasanton's code says

Pleasanton code What Pleasanton's code adds
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 500 square feet or 10% of the required rear yard, whichever is greater.
    Applies: R districts, all accessory structures combined. Garages or carports in RM-2,500, RM-2,000 or RM-1,500 districts do not count.
    § 18.84.160 · code text
    provided that in the aggregate no more than 500 square feet or 10 percent of the area of the required rear yard, whichever is greater, shall be covered by structures other than garages or carports in an RM-2,500, RM-2,000 or RM-1,500 district.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from rear and interior side property lines.
    Applies: The water line of pools.
    § 18.84.160 · code text
    Pool water line shall not encroach into a required front yard or be placed closer than five feet to a rear or interior side property line or 10 feet to a street side property line, except that the pool water line for cordconnected, aboveground (portable) spas shall not encroach into a required front yard or be placed closer than three feet to a rear or interior side property line or 10 feet to a street side property line.
  • At least 3 feet from rear and interior side property lines.
    Applies: The water line of plug-in aboveground (portable) spas.
    § 18.84.160 · code text
    Pool water line shall not encroach into a required front yard or be placed closer than five feet to a rear or interior side property line or 10 feet to a street side property line, except that the pool water line for cordconnected, aboveground (portable) spas shall not encroach into a required front yard or be placed closer than three feet to a rear or interior side property line or 10 feet to a street side property line.
  • At least 3 feet from the side property line.
    Applies: Pool equipment in a required side yard next to the main building.
    § 18.84.160 · code text
    Where pool equipment is located within a required side yard adjacent to a main structure, a minimum three-foot clearance shall be maintained between said equipment installation and the corresponding side property line.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In R districts, accessory structures may cover at most 500 square feet or 10 percent of the required rear yard, whichever is greater.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Pleasanton property

Ask GoCodebook how Pleasanton's sheds, garages and other accessory structures rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in Pleasanton

All building on your lot rules in Pleasanton

Lot splits under SB 9 in Pleasanton

Tree removal in Pleasanton

Swimming pools in Pleasanton

Pets, chickens and bees in Pleasanton

Building in a flood zone in Pleasanton

Noise and construction hours in Pleasanton

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary) in Pleasanton

Parking spaces required for homes in Pleasanton

Pleasanton Municipal Code — full text