Bossier Parish, LA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Bossier Parish, LA, 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
- Permit exemption size
- Sheds under 200 sq ft, no utilities
- Rear yard limit, residential
- Max 30% of required rear yard
- Rear yard limit, business/industrial
- None allowed in required rear yard
- Setback
- Minimum 8 feet from side or rear line
- Governing sections
- §§ 19-5(c)(1), 126-861
Summary
A tool shed or playhouse under 200 square feet without utilities needs no building permit in unincorporated Bossier Parish under Section 19-5(c)(1). Even permit-exempt sheds must still meet the zoning setbacks in Section 126-861: no closer than eight feet to a side or rear yard line, and none in any required front or side yard.
(c)Building.(1)One-story detached accessory structures without utilities used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (22.30 m2). ... In any business or industry district, no accessory structure shall occupy any part of a required rear yard; in any residence district, no accessory structure shall occupy more than 30 percent of a required rear yard; and an accessory structure shall not occupy any part of a required front or side yard in any district.(1)Side and rear yards. No accessory structure shall be erected or altered so that it is closer than eight feet to any side or rear yard line.
Full Breakdown
Bossier Parish separates the permit question from the zoning question for backyard sheds, and both apply. Section 19-5(c)(1), in the Building Official's permit-exemption list, excuses a one-story detached accessory structure from needing a building permit if it has no utilities and is used as a tool shed, playhouse or similar use, as long as its floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. Cross the 200-square-foot line, add electrical or plumbing, or build more than one story, and a permit from the Bossier Parish Building Official is required regardless of use.
Even a permit-exempt shed is not exempt from zoning placement rules. Section 126-861 bars any accessory structure, business, industrial or residential, from occupying a required front or side yard in any district. In a residence district a shed can occupy no more than 30 percent of the required rear yard; in a business or industry district it cannot occupy any part of the required rear yard at all. Layered on top of the yard-occupancy limit is a hard setback: no accessory structure may be erected or altered closer than eight feet to any side or rear yard line.
A corner lot carries an added rule, keeping an accessory structure at least as far from the intersecting street as the front building line observed by the structure to its rear. A shed owner in unincorporated Bossier Parish should measure both the floor area for the permit exemption and the eight-foot setback for zoning before pouring a slab.
Violations & Fines
Building a shed over 200 square feet without a permit violates Bossier Parish Code § 19-12, and placing any accessory structure inside the eight-foot setback or in a required front or side yard violates Section 126-861, enforceable under § 126-815. The general penalty in Section 1-13 applies: a fine up to $500.00, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both, each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in Bossier Parish?
How close to my property line can I build a shed?
Can a shed take up my whole backyard in a residential district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bossier Parish
How Bossier Parish compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Bossier Parish to another location·View the Louisiana accessory structures overview
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