Albany, NY Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Albany regulates sheds as "accessory structures" under the Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance, codified as Chapter 375 of the Albany City Code. According to the City's Planning Department FAQ, sheds in residential zoning districts may be no larger than 200 square feet. They must be set back a minimum of 2 feet from side and rear lot lines (with limited exceptions), and they must observe the front-yard setback that applies to the principal structure on the lot. All accessory structures also count toward the impervious-lot-coverage limit imposed by the dimensional standards of the underlying district, so a large patio, driveway, or pool can reduce the area available for a shed. Regardless of how small the shed is, the City requires a building permit before construction begins or before an existing shed is replaced; permits are issued through the Department of Buildings & Regulatory Compliance. At the state level, 19 NYCRR §1203.3(a)(1) (and the parallel administrative section of the NYS Residential Code, formerly cited as R105.2) lists "one-story detached structures accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling … used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the gross floor area does not exceed 144 square feet" as work exempt from a state building permit. The state exemption, however, is opt-in for local code enforcement programs and does not relieve the property owner from Albany's local zoning permit, setback, or coverage requirements.