Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Porterville

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

What Porterville's code says

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Maximum height	Detached accessory structures may be no more than 18 feet tall. Applies: Residential detached accessory structures. § 301.01 · code text The maximum height shall not exceed eighteen (18) feet. The Zoning Administrator may consider heights up to 24 feet. Applies: Residential detached accessory structures stepped back 1 foot from side and rear setback lines for each foot above 18 feet. § 301.01 · code text The Zoning Administrator may consider buildings exceeding eighteen (18) feet in height that are stepped back one (1) foot from the required side and rear setback lines for every foot of height above eighteen (18) feet up to twenty-four (24) feet. Agricultural accessory structures may be no more than 35 feet tall. Applies: In the AC and RR districts, unless the Zoning Administrator approves more. § 301.01 · code text The agricultural accessory structure shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height unless approved by the Zoning Administrator.
Size or lot coverage	Detached accessory structures may total no more than 1,200 square feet of floor area. Applies: Residential lots, unless the Zoning Administrator approves more. § 301.01 · code text The floor area of detached accessory structures shall not exceed a cumulative floor area of one thousand two-hundred (1,200) square feet unless approved by the Zoning Administrator. An accessory building may be no larger than the ground floor area of the main building. Applies: Each residential accessory building. § 301.01 · code text In no case shall the accessory building exceed the ground floor area of the main building and in no case shall the maximum lot coverage allowed by the development standards be exceeded.
Side and rear setback	At least 4 feet from any rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the rear one-third of a lot. § 301.01 · code text When located in the rear one-third of a lot, detached accessory buildings shall not be located closer than four (4) feet to any rear property line. At least 1 foot from the rear property line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings where the rear property line is also the edge of an alley right-of-way. § 301.01 · code text In instances where the rear property line is coterminous with an alley right-of-way, the accessory building shall not be closer than one (1) foot to such rear property line.
Distance from the house	At least 6 feet from any main building. Applies: Agricultural accessory structures. § 301.01 · code text Agricultural accessory structures shall be separated from any main building by a minimum of six (6) feet. At least 6 feet from any main building. Applies: Residential detached accessory structures that need a building permit, except shade structures. § 301.01 · code text Detached accessory structures requiring a building permit, with the exception of shade structures, shall be separated from any main building by a minimum of six (6) feet.

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

Residential detached accessory structures: at most 18 feet, or 24 feet if stepped back; 1,200 square feet total unless the Zoning Administrator approves more.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Porterville

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