Shed permit rules in Allentown, PA — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
In Allentown a storage shed is an accessory structure that generally may not exceed 15 feet in height, may not stand in any front yard, and must be set back at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines and 10 feet from any street lot line (unless the Article 4 outbuilding tables set a specific figure). A shed of 150 square feet or less may sit on an abutting commonly owned lot. A detached shed not attached to a one- or two-family dwelling or townhouse, or any shed 1,000 sq ft or larger, requires a building permit.
The City of Allentown Zoning Ordinance (eff. Jan. 1, 2026) treats sheds as accessory structures/outbuildings. Under Section 660-41.B(4) accessory structures may not exceed 15 feet in height unless otherwise specified. Section 660-41.B(5) provides that the parking and accessory-structure tables for each building type in Article 4 set siting and setbacks for key accessory structures, and that all other accessory structures must be set back at least 3 feet from any side or rear lot line and at least 10 feet from any street lot line. Section 660-41.B(6) prohibits accessory structures in any front yard except as expressly allowed. Section 660-41.B(1) allows an above-ground swimming pool or storage shed of 150 square feet or less to be located on a lot abutting the lot occupied by the principal use, if the abutting lots are under common ownership. Sheds are 'outbuildings' under Section 660-49 (completely enclosed accessory buildings detached from the principal building, including sheds, detached garages, barns, workshops, and greenhouses); on lots smaller than 15,000 square feet in an N zone the total number of outbuildings is limited to two (Sec. 660-49.E), outbuildings may not exceed two stories or the height of the principal building, whichever is less (Sec. 660-49.G), and water or wastewater service for an outbuilding must be tied to the principal building, with separate connections prohibited (Sec. 660-49.H). For the House building type in N zones the outbuilding/accessory-structure side setback is 5 ft total both sides and the rear setback is 3 ft minimum (0 ft at an improved alley for surface parking). Separately, the City's permit guidance states a building permit is required for any garage, carport, shed, or greenhouse attached to a house, any such structure 1,000 sq ft or larger when detached, and any such structure not attached to a two-or-more-family dwelling or townhouse.
Building a shed without a required permit, in a front yard, over the height limit, or too close to a lot line is a code violation. The City's residential permit guidance states a fine of $100.00 may be imposed for each type of work done without a permit, and zoning violations are separately enforceable in a civil proceeding for up to $500.00 plus court costs and attorney fees per day. The Zoning Officer may order an offending shed relocated or removed.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Allentown, PA
Article 710.03(C)(12) requires every motor vehicle to have a working muffler with no cutout or bypass, bars idling longer than 15 minutes per hour within 150...
Allentown, PA
No Allentown ordinance directly regulates in-flight aircraft noise; federal law (49 U.S.C. section 40103 and City of Burbank v. Lockheed) preempts local cont...
Allentown, PA
Allentown prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged and towe...
Allentown, PA
Allentown regulates electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residential and commercial properties. Building codes may require EV-ready parking in new co...
Allentown, PA
Allentown does not impose a blanket residential overnight on-street parking ban, but a vehicle parked in one place on a public street for more than 72 consec...
Allentown, PA
Allentown requires pool barriers meeting safety codes to prevent drowning. Fences must be at least 4 to 5 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Lehigh County.
See how other cities in Lehigh County handle shed rules.
See how Allentown's shed rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.