Bessemer, AL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Bessemer, AL, 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
- Governing section
- Appendix B (Zoning) § 8.6
- Max rear-yard coverage
- 30% of required rear yard
- Min side/rear setback
- 5 ft.
- Front yard placement
- Prohibited, § 8.3(3)
- Living quarters in shed
- Needs BZA approval, § 1.6(5)
Summary
Bessemer allows sheds and other accessory structures in the rear yard, but caps them at 30 percent of the required rear yard area and requires at least a 5-foot setback from every side and rear lot line.
Sec. 8.6. - Rear yard modifications.(1)Accessory structures may be built in a rear yard, but such accessory structures shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the required rear yard space and shall not be closer than five feet to any side or rear lot line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Republication).
Full Breakdown
' That 30 percent cap is measured against the required rear yard, the district minimum set in Table 2, not the entire lot, so a homeowner needs to know the district's rear-yard depth (25 feet in R-1, for example) before sizing a shed. The 5-foot setback applies to both the side and rear lot lines, tighter than the district's main building setbacks. 3(3), which flatly prohibits any accessory structure in a required front yard, so a shed can only go in the side or rear yard regardless of size.
4 separately lists smaller features, such as garbage disposal equipment, flagpoles and landscape planting boxes, that may project into a yard without counting against the accessory-structure allowance. 6.
Violations & Fines
A shed or accessory structure that exceeds 30 percent of the required rear yard or sits closer than 5 feet to a side or rear lot line violates Section 8.6 and is enforced as a general zoning violation under Section 2.9: a fine of $100.00 to $500.00, up to six months imprisonment, or both, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a backyard shed be in Bessemer?
How close to my property line can I build a shed?
Can I put a bathroom in my shed in Bessemer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bessemer
How Bessemer compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Bessemer to another location·View the Alabama accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle shed & carport rules.