Pima County, AZ Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Pima County, AZ, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Max coverage
- 1,500 sq ft or 70% of house
- Max height
- 24 feet
- Front setback
- 60 feet
- Side/rear setback
- 4 feet (non-animal use)
- Animal-use setback
- 50 feet side/rear
Summary
In CR-1 single-residence zoning covering unincorporated Pima County, sheds and accessory buildings max out at 1,500 sq ft (or 70% of the main house) and 24 feet tall.
A. Permitted coverage: Fifteen hundred square feet, or seventy percent of the area of the largest main building on the lot, whichever is greater. B. Maximum height: Twenty-four feet. C. Minimum distance standards: 1. To front lot line: Sixty feet; 2. To side and rear lot lines: a. Four feet if building is not used for poultry or animals, b. Fifty feet if building is used for poultry or animals,
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Pima County Code § 18.21.040 sets accessory building standards for the CR-1 Single Residence Zone, the county's standard suburban lot zoning outside Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and South Tucson. A shed or detached garage is capped at 1,500 square feet or 70% of the main house's footprint, whichever is larger, and 24 feet in height. Non-animal accessory buildings must sit at least 4 feet off side and rear lot lines and 60 feet off the front lot line; structures housing poultry or livestock need a 50-foot side/rear setback instead. Other zones (RH, GR-1, SR, etc.) carry their own numbers under the same chapter scheme.
Violations & Fines
Development Services can require removal or relocation of a nonconforming accessory structure and withhold permits until the coverage, height or setback violation is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my shed be in unincorporated Pima County?
Does this apply inside Tucson city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
How Pima County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.