What's Required in Sacramento
- One-story detached sheds up to 120 square feet need no building permit; CDD-0417 says under 120, so confirm at exactly 120.
- Any shed attached to the house needs a building permit regardless of size.
- Electrical, gas or mechanical work in any shed needs its own permit.
- Permitted sheds are valued at $69.64 per square foot or the contract price, whichever is higher.
- Plans must meet the 2025 California Residential Code and show setbacks and distances to other structures.
- Outside historic districts, use SPDR exemption form CDD-0025 ($132): 4 ft from the house, 18 ft high, 10 ft walls.
- Building permit exemptions do not apply in design review or preservation districts or at landmarks.
- Zoning setbacks and lot coverage under City Code 17.624.050 apply to every shed, permitted or not.
Do you need a permit for a shed in Sacramento?
Not for a small one, but be careful at exactly 120 square feet. The City of Sacramento Building Division lists one-story detached accessory structures with a floor area not greater than 120 square feet as work exempt from a building permit. The Division’s own accessory structures handout (CDD-0417, revised January 2026) words it differently: a permit is needed for any detached structure 120 square feet or greater, and only unconditioned, single-story structures less than 120 square feet are exempt. A 10x12 shed sits on that line, so either build slightly smaller or ask the Division in writing before you skip the permit. Any shed attached to the house needs a permit regardless of size, and wiring, gas or mechanical work in an exempt shed still needs its own permit. The exemptions do not apply at all in a design review or preservation district or on a landmark property.
How much does a shed permit cost in Sacramento?
Nothing for an exempt shed. A permitted shed is a Residential New Building permit (the category covers storage buildings and workshops), priced on valuation. The city’s 2026 residential fee sheet values garage and storage space at $69.64 per square foot, or the contract price if that is higher, then applies the residential fee schedule and the standard surcharges: technology 10 percent of permit plus plan review, General Plan fee $2.60 per $1,000, green building fee $1 per $25,000, and strong motion fee valuation x 0.00013. A contractor applicant also pays the business operations tax (valuation x 0.0004).
- 10x14 shed, owner-builder: 140 sq ft x $69.64 = $9,749.60. Permit $308 + plan review $129 + technology $43.70 + General Plan $25.35 + green $1 + strong motion $1.27 = $508.32.
- 12x20 workshop, contractor: 240 sq ft x $69.64 = $16,713.60. Permit $401 + plan review $168 + technology $56.90 + General Plan $43.46 + green $1 + strong motion $2.17 + operations tax $6.69 = $679.22.
Planning fees come on top. The Site Plan and Design Review exemption form for accessory structures carries a $132 fee invoiced when the building permit is accepted, and the fee sheet lists Planning review on proposed new projects at 15 percent of the building plan review fee with a $263 minimum. With both, the 12x20 example reaches about $1,074. The city’s fee list for this permit type also names a Construction Excise Tax (0.008 x the 2002 ICBO valuation, computed by the city) and Fire Department plan review, inspection and administrative fees; ask at intake whether Fire is routed on a storage shed, because those three alone are $260 + $294 + $176.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| One-story detached shed up to 120 sq ft, no utilities | No building permit | City exempt list; CDD-0417 says less than 120 sq ft, so confirm at exactly 120 |
| Detached shed over 120 sq ft | Building permit (Residential New Building) | Valued at $69.64 per sq ft or the contract price |
| Shed attached to the house, any size | Building permit | CDD-0417: any attached structure, regardless of size |
| Exempt shed with a light or outlet | Electrical minor permit | Associated electric work needs a permit; $105 minor electrical fee |
| Any shed in a design review or preservation district | Building permit and Planning review | Building exemptions do not apply there |
| Shed that needs a permit, outside historic districts | SPDR exemption form CDD-0025, $132 | 4 ft from the main building, 18 ft tall, 10 ft walls, not visible from the street |
| Shed that breaks a zoning standard | Site Plan and Design Review application | Setbacks and lot coverage from City Code 17.624.050 |
Where can a shed go on a Sacramento lot?
Planning’s zoning FAQ sends detached accessory structures to City Code Section 17.624.050 for setbacks, lot coverage, rear-yard coverage, distance from the main building and height. To use the $132 exemption route instead of a full design review, the accessory structures form asks you to show the structure is at least 4 feet from the main building, no taller than 18 feet with walls no taller than 10 feet, not visible from the street, and finished in materials that match the house. Side and rear setbacks depend on your zone, so look them up in the Land Information Lookup App or email [email protected]. If your address is outside city limits, Sacramento County’s Building Permits and Inspection Division issues the permit through its own portal, and the city figures on this page do not apply.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Sacramento
Confirm city jurisdiction and size
Check the Assessor Parcel Viewer to confirm the lot is in the City, then measure the floor area against the 120 square foot exemption.
Check zoning standards
Look up your zone in the Land Information Lookup App and confirm setbacks, lot coverage and height under City Code 17.624.050.
Prepare plans
Draw a site plan with setbacks and distances to other buildings, plus foundation, floor, elevation and framing details per CDD-0417.
Submit online
Upload the building permit application, owner-builder form if you are the builder, the CDD-0025 exemption form and plans through the Public Permit Portal.
Pay fees and schedule inspections
Pay the invoiced permit, plan review and Planning fees, then schedule inspections before any work is covered.