Yorba Linda · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Yorba Linda

In Yorba Linda, one-story accessory structures over 15 feet or 1,000 square feet must meet the setbacks for main buildings.

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Key points

Accessory structures: In Yorba Linda, one-story accessory structures over 15 feet or 1,000 square feet must meet the setbacks for main buildings.

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

What Yorba Linda's code says

Yorba Linda code What Yorba Linda's code adds
Maximum height	Small accessory structures may be no more than 8 feet tall. Applies: Single-story structures such as sheds, up to 120 square feet. Taller ones must meet the large-structure setbacks. § 18.10.120 · code text Small accessory structures (e.g., gardening and tool sheds) which are single-story and not greater than eight feet in height, or greater than 120 square feet in area, shall maintain required setback for the main building within the front yard area Large accessory structures may be no more than 15 feet tall. Applies: Single-story structures such as garages, barns or game rooms, up to 1,000 square feet. Taller or two-story ones must meet main-building setbacks. § 18.10.120 · code text Large accessory structures (e.g., non-habitable garages, barns, cabañas, game rooms, etc.), which are single-story and not greater than 15 feet in height, or greater than 1,000 square feet in area, shall maintain the required setback for the main building within the front yard area No more than 12 feet tall. Applies: Canopies, patio covers and similar roofed structures extending into a required rear or interior side yard. § 18.10.120 · code text Shall not exceed 12 feet in height or project closer than three feet from an interior side or rear property line. Up to 15 feet tall, with Community Development Director approval. Applies: Taller canopies, patio covers and similar roofed structures. § 18.10.120 · code text Taller structures up to 15 feet in height may be permitted based on, but not limited to, building design, roof slope and design, location, topography or other criteria and subject to approval by the Community Development Director.
Size or lot coverage	Small accessory structures may be no more than 120 square feet. Applies: Single-story structures such as sheds, up to 8 feet tall. Larger ones must meet the large-structure setbacks. § 18.10.120 · code text Small accessory structures (e.g., gardening and tool sheds) which are single-story and not greater than eight feet in height, or greater than 120 square feet in area, shall maintain required setback for the main building within the front yard area Large accessory structures may be no more than 1,000 square feet. Applies: Single-story structures up to 15 feet tall. Bigger ones must meet main-building setbacks. § 18.10.120 · code text Large accessory structures (e.g., non-habitable garages, barns, cabañas, game rooms, etc.), which are single-story and not greater than 15 feet in height, or greater than 1,000 square feet in area, shall maintain the required setback for the main building within the front yard area
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from a side or rear yard next to a street, or from a City landscape easement. Applies: Small accessory structures. § 18.10.120 · code text shall maintain a minimum five-foot setback on a side or rear yard adjacent to a street, or from a City landscape easement. At least 3 feet from interior side or rear lot lines. Applies: Small accessory structures in an interior side or rear yard. § 18.10.120 · code text Within an interior side or rear yard area, a minimum three-foot setback shall be provided, unless one-hour fire construction is provided in which case no setback shall be required. No setback is required. Applies: Small accessory structures in an interior side or rear yard built with one-hour fire construction. § 18.10.120 · code text Within an interior side or rear yard area, a minimum three-foot setback shall be provided, unless one-hour fire construction is provided in which case no setback shall be required. At least 10 feet from a side or rear yard next to a street. Applies: Large accessory structures. § 18.10.120 · code text shall maintain a minimum 10-foot setback on a side or rear yard adjacent to a street. At least 5 feet from interior side or rear lot lines. Applies: Large accessory structures. § 18.10.120 · code text Within interior side or rear yard areas, a minimum five-foot setback shall be provided. The whole structure must be at least 3 feet from the property line. Applies: Outdoor fireplaces. The stack must be 5 feet from the property line. § 18.10.120 · code text The entire structure shall maintain a minimum three-foot setback from the property line and must comply with the Section R302.1 of the California Residential Code (see Figure 18.10-4). The whole structure must be at least 3 feet from the property line. Applies: Water slides and waterfalls. The slide or waterfall edge must be 5 feet from the property line. § 18.10.120 · code text The entire structure shall maintain a minimum three-foot setback from the property line and must comply with Section R302.1 of the California Residential Code and Section 3109 of the California Building Code (see Figure 18.10-5). A 25-foot rear yard setback. Applies: RA and RLD zones: two-story accessory structures, or one-story ones over 15 feet tall or 1,000 square feet. § 18.10.120 · code text such structures in RA and RLD zones may maintain a 25-foot rear yard setback. At least 3 feet from interior side or rear property lines. Applies: Canopies, patio covers and similar roofed structures in a required rear or interior side yard. § 18.10.120 · code text Shall not exceed 12 feet in height or project closer than three feet from an interior side or rear property line.

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Yorba Linda?

In Yorba Linda, one-story accessory structures over 15 feet or 1,000 square feet must meet the setbacks for main buildings.

General information, not legal advice.

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Yorba Linda Municipal Code — full text