Bayonne, NJ Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Bayonne, NJ, 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
- Coverage limit
- Cannot exceed principal structure's coverage
- Minimum setback
- 3 feet from any property line
- Corner lots
- Cannot block safe sight distance
- Prerequisite
- Lot must already have a principal building
- Permit required
- Construction permit, § 35-4.5.a
Summary
A shed or other accessory building in a Bayonne residential district can't cover more ground than the house itself, must sit at least three feet off any property line, and can only be built on a lot that already has a principal building.
Except as provided by paragraph a2 below, all accessory buildings and structures shall comply with the bulk requirements of subsection 35-5.26, inclusive of area, yard and height provisions. ... Residential Districts. Accessory buildings customary and incidental to a principal building shall be permitted provided that the following requirements are met: ... That building coverage of the accessory building or structure does not exceed that of the principal structure. ... The accessory building may be located in any required side or rear yard, provided that a minimum setback of three feet is maintained to any property line.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 35-4.12, from the 1995 zoning ordinance (Ord. No. O-95-12), governs accessory buildings and structures citywide. Unless the size exception in paragraph a.2 applies, every accessory building must comply with the area, yard and height bulk requirements of § 35-5.26. In residential districts, § 35-4.12.a lists specific conditions: the building coverage of the accessory structure cannot exceed that of the principal structure (§ 35-4.12.a.1), and it may be located in any required side or rear yard provided a minimum three-foot setback is kept from any property line (§ 35-4.12.a.2).
A shed on a corner lot also cannot interfere with safe sight distance for vehicular traffic at the intersection (§ 35-4.12.a.3), and no accessory building may go up on a lot that lacks a principal building or structure (§ 35-4.12.a.4). The Construction Official issues the construction permit needed before any accessory structure is erected, moved, extended or altered under § 35-4.5.a, and no structure may be occupied or used until a certificate of occupancy issues under § 35-4.7.a. Nonresidential districts follow a parallel but distinct set of rules in § 35-4.12.b, including a full ban on locating an accessory building in a required yard setback.
Violations & Fines
Erecting an accessory structure without the required construction permit, or in violation of the coverage or three-foot setback standard, is a Code violation. Under the citywide general penalty in § 1-5.1, violating any Code provision without a specific penalty stated carries up to a $1,250 fine, 90 days in the county jail, or 90 days of community service; § 1-5.5 makes each day a violation continues a separate offense, and § 1-5.3 adds a further fine for a repeat violation within one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the property line can a shed be built in Bayonne?
Is there a size limit on a Bayonne backyard shed compared to the house?
Can I put a shed on a vacant lot in Bayonne before building a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bayonne
How Bayonne compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Bayonne to another location·View the New Jersey accessory structures overview
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