Bensalem, PA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Bensalem, 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
- Rear/side setback
- 5 feet minimum from rear or side line
- Distance to other structures
- 10 feet minimum, no exceptions
- Front setback
- Same as district's front yard distance
- Governing section
- Code § 232-583(a)
- Max fine
- $600.00 per offense, per day
Summary
Bensalem Township lets homeowners build a private garage or other accessory building, including a shed, only if it stays clear of the front and side yard lines that apply to the district and sits at least five feet off the rear or side property line.
(a)One and two-family detached residential uses.(1)A private garage or other accessory building which is not an integral structural part of a main building may be located no closer than the front yard distance for that district, no closer to the street line than the principal building, no closer than the side yard distance for that district.(2)Private garages or other accessory buildings may be placed no closer than five feet from the rear and/or side property line only, provided that the private garage or other accessory building is located at a point behind any major rear facing portion of the principal building.(3)In no case shall a garage or other accessory building be closer than ten feet to any other structure.
Full Breakdown
Under the Bensalem Township Zoning Code, a private garage or other accessory building that is not structurally part of the house must keep the front yard setback and side yard setback that apply to the zoning district, and it cannot sit closer to the street line than the house itself. Once past the front and side setbacks, Section 232-583(a)(2) allows the structure to come within five feet of the rear or side property line, but only if it sits behind the main rear-facing wall of the house.
Section 232-583(a)(3) adds a separate ten-foot minimum from any other structure on the lot, so a shed can be five feet off the property line yet still fail if it is closer than ten feet to the house, a detached garage, or another accessory building. The Township Department of Building and Planning reviews plot plans against these numbers when a resident applies for a zoning or building permit before construction, and Section 232-583(a)(4) confirms no garage permit issues unless the structure will be accessory to an existing building on the lot.
These area rules sit in Article XIII, General Regulations, of the Zoning Code (Chapter 232), separate from Building Construction (Chapter 66), which governs the Uniform Construction Code permit itself. A common joint or shared garage between adjoining lots is allowed under Section 232-583(a)(4) as long as it is not an integral structural part of either main building.
Violations & Fines
Section 232-583(f) makes any violation of this section, including the accessory-structure setbacks, a summary offense carrying a fine of up to $600.00 per offense plus costs of prosecution, and every day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. The Zoning Officer enforces the setback and yard-exception rules and can issue a stop, cease, and desist order under Section 232-762 before referring an uncorrected violation for a citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my rear property line can I build a shed in Bensalem Township?
Does Bensalem Township require a permit for a shed?
What is the fine for an illegal shed placement in Bensalem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bensalem
How Bensalem compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Bensalem to another location·View the Pennsylvania accessory structures overview
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