Do I need a permit for a shed in Charlotte, NC?

A shed or accessory building needs a building permit if any dimension is greater than 12 ft. Smaller sheds don't need a building permit but do need a zoning permit.

What changes the answer

• All dimensions 12 ft or less: no building permit, zoning permit required
• Any dimension over 12 ft: building permit required

Cost

Set by the Mecklenburg County LUESA Fee Ordinance (revised July 1, 2026) by construction value or per trade; which formula applies to this project is unclear from the schedule. Confirm locally. Unverified, confirm locally

Fee source: https://mecknc.widen.net/s/lx7ksdvjhf/luesa-fee-ordinance

Where to apply

Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement - AccelaMeck portal

Permitting authority: Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (LUESA) issues building/trade permits; City of Charlotte handles zoning and CDOT fence certificates. North Carolina G.S. 160D-1110(c) exempts most residential work costing $40,000 or less unless it involves structural, plumbing-design, HVAC/electrical or roofing additions.

Official sources

“A storage shed, or an accessory building will need a building permit if any dimension is greater than 12 feet in any one dimension. If the building is less than 12 feet, it will not need a building permit, but it will need a zoning permit.”

Source: https://code.mecknc.gov/customer-tools/circ

“Backyard storage buildings exceeding 12 feet in any dimension”

Source: https://mecknc.widen.net/s/6nbjtvvfcj/when-you-need-a-building-permit

Verified: 2026-10-19 · Status: verified · Confidence: high