Sacramento County (unincorporated), CA: backyard pod and shed permit line

The county handout sorts small buildings by height. Under 9 ft may sit on the property line; 9 to 12 ft must stay 5 ft back. Its 120 to 200 sq ft tier is for open or non-storage structures, so it does not help a closed pod.

“Detached structure designed for storage, such as a shed, if under 120sf or less and does not have electrical or plumbing installed, would be considered Exempt.”

From Sacramento County Building Permits and Inspection, handout GI-20 Residential Accessory Structures, read Nov 5, 2026.

The conditions, one by one

Size line	120 sq ft or less
Measured as	floor area (“120sf or less”)
Height	under 9 ft may sit on the property line; 9 to 12 ft must be 5 ft from the property line; measured to the highest part of the roof
Power	Electrical or plumbing added to an exempt structure requires a miscellaneous permit.
Use	Shall not be used for human habitation.

Size line

120 sq ft or less

Measured as

floor area (“120sf or less”)

Height

under 9 ft may sit on the property line; 9 to 12 ft must be 5 ft from the property line; measured to the highest part of the roof

Power

Electrical or plumbing added to an exempt structure requires a miscellaneous permit.

Use

Shall not be used for human habitation.

Also on the page

At least 6 ft from the main house
Not in a maintenance easement or public utility easement
A 120 to 200 sq ft tier exists, but only for structures that are not fully enclosed or not designed for storage, meet fire separation, or shelter animals

Pod sizes against this line

13 of 36 pod sizes are inside the 120 sq ft line by floor area. 23 are over.

Autonomous MetroPod: 80 sq ft
Autonomous WorkPod: 102 sq ft
Autonomous StudioPod: 105 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 8 x 10 ft: 80 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 8 x 12 ft: 96 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 8 x 14 ft: 112 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 10 x 10 ft: 100 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
Studio Home Portland 8 x 12 ft: 96 sq ft
Studio Home Portland 8 x 14 ft: 112 sq ft
Studio Home Portland 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
Kanga Room Systems Modern Kwik Room 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
Kanga Room Systems Cottage Kwik Room 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft

3 of those ship pre-wired (Autonomous). The rule names power, so the wiring condition applies to them even though the size fits.

Second check

Citrus Heights (inside Sacramento County) uses the same 120 sq ft line.

This page repeats the published rule and does the arithmetic on published sizes. Zoning, HOA rules and setbacks can still block a building the permit rule allows. Ask the office above before you order.