Home › Projects › Shed

Do I need a permit for a shed?

The IRC baseline exempts one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft; some states and cities use 120 sq ft or a 12-ft dimension rule. Zoning setbacks still apply.

General pattern only. Your city's rule is what counts; pick it below.

City	Answer
Austin, TX	Depends on your project No building permit for a one-story detached shed up to 200 sq ft and 15 ft tall with no plumbing, not a dwelling, and not in a flood hazard area.
Phoenix, AZ	Depends on your project One-story detached sheds of 200 sq ft or less need no building permit; larger detached structures do. Adding utilities requires a permit for the utility work. C…
Charlotte, NC	Depends on your project 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 per…
Columbus, OH	Depends on your project Sheds under 200 sq ft need no building permit for 1-3 family homes; sheds 200 sq ft or larger need a permit and plan review. Zoning limits (15 ft height, lot co…
Denver, CO	Depends on your project No building permit for a one-story, detached, unconditioned shed with no more than 200 sq ft of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate and 14-ft max height. A zoni…

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.