San Mateo County (unincorporated), CA shed and backyard pod permit exemption
Unincorporated San Mateo County exempts a one-story detached accessory structure with a floor area of 120 sq ft or less and a height of 12 ft or less. A second exempt structure must be more than 50 ft from the first.
San Mateo County (unincorporated) quick facts
- Size limit
- 120 sq ft or less
- Measured as
- Floor area.
- Height
- 12 ft above grade or less.
- Electrical power
- Not listed.
- Use
- Tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses.
- Source
- San Mateo County Planning and Building
- Checked
- Nov 5, 2026
Official text
“No building permit is required for the construction of a one-story detached accessory structure used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, and the height above grade does not exceed 12 feet.”
Source: San Mateo County Planning and Building.
Other conditions
- Only one exempt structure unless separated from another exempt structure by more than 50 ft
- Zoning rules still apply
Pod sizes compared with the San Mateo County (unincorporated) size limit
13 of 36 pod sizes are within the 120 sq ft limit by floor area. The other 23 are over the limit.
- 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
The building department for the address decides whether a permit is required. This site repeats published rules and compares them with published pod sizes. Zoning rules, HOA rules and setbacks can also apply.