Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Santa Maria

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

What Santa Maria's code says

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 9 feet high at the property line. Applies: Single-story accessory structures behind the main building that extend into the interior side and rear yards. § 12-27.01 · code text the accessory structure does not exceed nine feet in height at the property line Up to 14 feet high at 5 feet from the property line. Applies: Single-story accessory structures behind the main building that extend into the interior side and rear yards. § 12-27.01 · code text and increase progressively to 14 feet in height at a point five feet from the property line Up to 20 feet. Applies: Detached accessory structures that extend into a rear yard next to a public alley. § 12-27.01 · code text a detached accessory structure projecting into a rear yard adjacent to a public alley may be up to 20 feet in height
Size or lot coverage	No more than 25% of the required rear yard. Applies: All structures in the required rear yard combined. § 12-27.01 · code text all structures in the required rear yard do not cover more than 25% of the required rear yard
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from all property lines. Applies: Accessory structures behind the main building connected by a trellis, breezeway or qualifying unconditioned room. § 12-27.01 · code text the accessory structure so connected is set back a minimum of three feet from all property lines
Distance from the house	At least 5 feet from any dwelling or structure on the same lot. Applies: Detached accessory structures. § 12-27.01 · code text Detached accessory structures shall be located at least five feet from any dwelling or structure on the same lot

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Santa Maria?

A single-story accessory structure behind the main building: at most 9 feet at the property line, 14 feet at 5 feet from it.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Santa Maria

Key points

What Santa Maria's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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