Allentown, PA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
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.
Key Facts
- Max height (accessory)
- 15 ft (unless otherwise specified)
- Side/rear setback
- 3 ft min (or per Article 4 table)
- Street lot line setback
- 10 ft min
- Front yard
- Not allowed
- Permit threshold (detached)
- 1,000 sq ft, or if attached to a house
- Code Section
- Sec. 660-41.B and 660-49
Summary
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.
660-41.B GENERALLY APPLICABLE REGULATIONS ... (1) Location. Accessory uses and structures must be located on the same lot as the principal use and principal structure to which they are accessory, except that an above-ground swimming pool or storage shed of 150 square feet or less may be located on a lot abutting a lot occupied by the principal use or structure to which the pool or shed is accessory if the abutting lots are under common ownership. ... (4) Height. Accessory structures may not exceed 15 feet in height, unless otherwise specified in this ordinance. (5) Setbacks. The parking and accessory structure tables for each building type in Article 4 establish siting and setback regulations for key accessory structures. All other accessory structures must be set back from any side or rear lot line a minimum of 3 feet and from any street lot line a minimum of 10 feet. (6) Yard. An accessory structure is not allowed in any front yard, except as otherwise expressly stated in this ordinance.
Full Breakdown
The City of Allentown Zoning Ordinance (eff. Jan. 1, 2026) treats sheds as accessory structures/outbuildings. B(4) accessory structures may not exceed 15 feet in height unless otherwise specified. 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. B(6) prohibits accessory structures in any front yard except as expressly allowed.
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. E), outbuildings may not exceed two stories or the height of the principal building, whichever is less (Sec.
G), and water or wastewater service for an outbuilding must be tied to the principal building, with separate connections prohibited (Sec. 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.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from the property line does my shed have to be?
Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in Allentown?
How tall can a shed be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allentown
How Allentown compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Allentown to another location·View the Pennsylvania accessory structures overview
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