Shed permit checklist — Modesto, California
Assembled from Modesto’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Modesto does not require a permit for a shed.
Modesto's Building Safety FAQ states directly that permits are not required for one-story detached storage sheds of 120 square feet or less in area - the same threshold as the state code. Above 120 sq ft a permit is required, and the fee schedule's accessory-building category picks up at exactly that point (120 to 500 sq ft), with anything over 500 sq ft priced as a garage. Planning setbacks still apply even to an exempt shed.
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Sources
- shed — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Modesto publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Modesto before you build.