Redondo Beach · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Redondo Beach

An accessory structure in the required rear setback is limited to 15 feet high, 1 story and 800 square feet (city rule).

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Key points

Rear-setback structures: An accessory structure in the required rear setback is limited to 15 feet high, 1 story and 800 square feet (city rule).

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

What Redondo Beach's code says

Redondo Beach code What Redondo Beach's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback in any residential zone. § 10-2.1500 · code text No accessory structure shall exceed 15 feet in height. No more than 1 story. Applies: Accessory buildings in a residential zone. § 10-2.1500 · code text No accessory building shall exceed one story in height. Outside walls can be no more than 10 feet tall, measured from existing grade to the top of plate. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text The perimeter walls shall not exceed 10 feet in height as measured from existing grade to the point of intersection with the top of the plate. A parapet can extend no more than 3 feet above the top of plate. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text A parapet may not extend more than three feet above the top of plate. 1 story; ceiling line no more than 10 feet above the garage floor and 11 feet above the sidewalk. Applies: Garages in the front setback of single-family lots 4 feet or more above or below the street; a Modification is required. § 10-2.1500 · code text The height of the private garage shall not exceed one story, nor shall the top of the plate (ceiling line) of the garage exceed 10 feet in height above the finished floor of the garage and 11 feet above the sidewalk elevation.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 800 square feet of gross floor area. Applies: Any accessory structure, or group of them, with any part in the required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text No accessory structure or combination of accessory structures, any portion of which is located in the required rear setback, shall exceed 800 square feet in gross floor area. The garage can be no more than 23 feet wide. Applies: Garages in the front setback of single-family lots 4 feet or more above or below the street; a Modification is required. § 10-2.1500 · code text The maximum width of the private garage shall not exceed 23 feet.
Side and rear setback	Side setbacks must total at least 10 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text The total side setback, measured from each side property line to the wall of the structure, shall equal not less than 10 feet. At least 5 feet on each side. Applies: Accessory structures in the rear setback that extend forward of the rear 23 feet of the lot, or are habitable. § 10-2.1500 · code text Further, if any portion of the accessory structure is located forward of the rear 23 feet of the lot, or if the structure is habitable, a minimum side setback of five feet shall be required on each side of the structure. No side setback is required. Applies: Non-living accessory structures next to an alley, entirely behind a line 45 feet from the far side of the alley. § 10-2.1500 · code text Notwithstanding the foregoing, no side setback shall be required for a nonhabitable accessory structure if no portion of the accessory structure is located forward of a line drawn parallel to and 45 feet from the property line abutting the opposite side of the alley (see illustration below). At least 5 feet from the street side lot line. Applies: Accessory structures in the required rear setback of a corner lot. § 10-2.1500 · code text Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be a minimum five foot exterior side setback for an accessory structure located in the required rear setback of a corner lot. The street side setback must equal the front setback required on the neighboring key lot. Applies: Accessory structures on a reverse corner lot. § 10-2.1500 · code text There shall be a minimum exterior side setback equal to the required front setback of the adjoining key lot (see illustration below). At least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Habitable structures in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text A habitable structure shall have a minimum rear setback of five feet. At least 25 feet from the far side of the alley. Applies: Garages with the door facing an alley. § 10-2.1500 · code text A garage having its opening facing an alley shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from the opposite side of the alley right-of-way line. At least 5 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Accessory structures on a reverse corner lot in any part of a required rear setback. § 10-2.1500 · code text There shall be a minimum five foot rear setback (see illustration below).
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from homes and other accessory buildings on the site. Applies: Enclosed accessory buildings; measured between supporting walls or columns. § 10-2.1500 · code text Accessory buildings shall be detached from dwelling unit(s) and other accessory buildings on site with a minimum separation of five feet between the columns and/or walls supporting the buildings. No separation is required. Applies: Accessory structures that are not enclosed. § 10-2.1500 · code text An accessory structure that is not enclosed does not require the five foot separation.

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Redondo Beach?

An accessory structure in the required rear setback is limited to 15 feet high, 1 story and 800 square feet (city rule).

General information, not legal advice.

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Redondo Beach Municipal Code — full text