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Susanville · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Susanville

Susanville limits accessory buildings in the R-1 district to 15 feet and one story.

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Key points

  • Accessory buildings: Susanville limits accessory buildings in the R-1 district to 15 feet and one story.

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

What Susanville's code says

Susanville code What Susanville's code adds
Maximum height
  • At most 1 story and 15 feet tall.
    Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-1 district.
    § 17.12.060 · code text
    Accessory building, one story not to exceed 15 feet.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 5 feet from any alley, interior side lot line or rear lot line.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings; 10 feet from a corner lot's street side; garages or carports entered from the corner side yard or alley need 20 feet.
    § 17.96.020 · code text
    Such accessory building shall not be located within five feet of any alley, interior side lot line or rear lot line or 10 feet from the street side of the corner lot, except in the case of a reversed corner lot which abuts a key lot the street side yard setback shall be as defined in subsections (D)(4)(a) and (b) above.
  • At least 10 feet from side and rear property lines.
    Applies: Where allowed: barns, stables, chicken houses and similar animal buildings; also at least 50 feet from the front property line.
    § 17.96.020 · code text
    Where allowed, barns, stables, chicken houses, and similar agricultural and residential accessory buildings that house animals shall not be closer than 50 feet from the front property line or road right-of-way line, 10 feet from side and rear property lines and 75 feet from any door or window of any dwelling unit in the same or adjacent property.
Distance from the house
  • At least 6 feet from the main building.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings; also behind the main building's front line, unless the community development director finds this impractical.
    § 17.96.020 · code text
    Detached accessory buildings shall be located behind the front line of the main building and at least six feet from the main building unless such placement is impractical as determined by the community development director; then detached accessory buildings may be placed in alternate locations on the lot as long as they do not conflict with required yards.
  • At least 75 feet from any door or window of a home.
    Applies: Barns and similar buildings that house animals; applies to homes on the same or a neighboring property.
    § 17.96.020 · code text
    Where allowed, barns, stables, chicken houses, and similar agricultural and residential accessory buildings that house animals shall not be closer than 50 feet from the front property line or road right-of-way line, 10 feet from side and rear property lines and 75 feet from any door or window of any dwelling unit in the same or adjacent property.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Susanville limits accessory buildings in the R-1 district to 15 feet and one story.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Susanville property

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

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Susanville Municipal Code — full text