Annapolis, MD Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 21.50.010 is the bulk regulations table for the R1 district. Its Accessory Uses block carries the line that governs sheds, garages, workshops and other outbuildings: "Buildings accessory to single-family dwellings, other than as specified elsewhere in this table." The section opens with a warning that the notes at the end of the table are as much a part of the law as the table itself, so the footnotes below carry real limits and have to be read with the numbers.

Setbacks. The accessory line prints 30, 8, 3, 20, 5 and 9, in that order. Read against the column headings, that is a front yard of 30 feet, an interior side yard of 8 feet, a corner side yard of 20 feet and a rear yard of 5 feet. The 3 is a footnote marker printed right after the interior side figure, and the 9 is the footnote marker for height. The 30-foot front yard for an accessory building is larger than the 25 feet the same table sets for the single-family dwelling itself. That dwelling row prints 7,000, 60, 25, 8, 20 and 30, meaning a 7,000 square foot lot, 60 feet of lot width, and yards of 25 feet front, 8 feet interior side, 20 feet corner side and 30 feet rear, under a limit of 2.5 stories not to exceed 35 feet.

The rear-quarter exception. Footnote 3 reads: "Unless the entire structure is located on the rear twenty-five percent of the lot, in which case only five feet is required." Because the marker follows the 8, a shed built entirely inside the rear quarter of the lot can sit 5 feet from an interior side line instead of 8. A shed that reaches forward of that rear 25 percent line stays on the full 8 feet. The footnote points to an illustration at Section 21.60.100, which shows how the rear quarter is measured.

Height. Footnote 9 sets a two-part height rule for accessory structures. Within five feet of any property line, except rear property lines adjacent to an alley, the maximum cornice height is eight feet and the maximum ridge height is 16 feet. Each one foot of additional setback beyond two feet adds one foot of cornice and ridge height, up to a maximum of two stories and/or a cornice height of sixteen feet and a ridge height of compatible design. A rear lot line that borders an alley is outside the 8-foot and 16-foot cap.

Scope. This table covers the R1 district only. The next table, Section 21.50.020, covers R1-A, and the other districts have their own tables, so confirm the zoning district of the lot before applying these numbers. The section was amended by Ord. No. O-15-14 on 7-14-2014 and most recently by Ord. No. O-1-25 on 5-27-2025, and the current text is in force today.