Brockton, MA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Brockton, MA, 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
- Side/rear setback
- 5 feet minimum from lot line
- Distance from house
- 10 feet minimum
- Street-side setback
- Same as house's front yard
- Shed permit fee
- $75 up to $1,000 value, then +$20/$1,000
- No-permit surcharge
- 2x the normal fee, § 4-3(g)
- Structure limit
- 2 accessory structures per R-1 lot, § 27-19
Summary
A shed or other detached accessory structure in Brockton must sit at least 5 feet off the side and rear lot lines, at least 10 feet from the house, and no closer to the street than the house's own front-yard setback, under § 27-20(1). Building or altering one also needs a permit: § 4-3 charges $75 for a shed valued up to $1,000, plus $20 per additional $1,000 of value.
Accessory structures which are not attached to a principal structure may be erected in accordance with the following restrictions: a. No accessory structure is located closer than five (5) feet to the side and rear lot lines. b. No accessory structure is located closer to the street than the required front yard setback of the principal structure. c. No accessory structure is located closer to a principal structure than ten (10) feet. ... (2) Alterations and repairs of small buildings, sheds, garages, etc. with stated valuation not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00): Seventy-five dollars ($75.00). (3) Alterations and repairs of small buildings, sheds, garages, etc. with stated valuation exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00): Seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the first one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of stated valuation of construction and an additional fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of stated valuation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Section 27-20 governs any accessory structure, including a shed, that is not physically attached to the house. Four setback rules apply: the shed cannot sit closer than 5 feet to the side or rear lot line; it cannot sit closer to the street than the required front-yard setback of the principal building; it cannot sit closer than 10 feet to the house itself; and on a corner lot, it cannot be placed on the side-street side between the side street and the front-yard setback line of homes that front that side street.
A homeowner is also limited in how many such structures a lot can hold: § 27-19 caps R-1A, R-1B and R-1C lots at one principal dwelling, one accessory dwelling unit, and two other accessory structures, including a garage. " valued at $1,000 or less cost $75 flat, and those valued above $1,000 cost $75 for the first $1,000 of value plus $20 for every additional $1,000. Building without a permit adds a surcharge under § 4-3(g) equal to twice the fee that should have been paid.
The fee is refundable if the permit is denied, minus a 10 percent processing charge, and the permit itself expires, with no rebate, one year after issuance if construction has not started.
Violations & Fines
Placing a shed inside the 5-foot side/rear setback, the 10-foot house buffer, or the required front-yard line violates § 27-20(1) and is enforced through § 27-51: the inspector of buildings will not permit a nonconforming shed and can order it relocated or removed. Building a shed without first getting the § 4-1 permit triggers a surcharge under § 4-3(g) equal to double the normal fee, on top of having to bring the structure into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can I put a shed in Brockton?
Do I need a permit for a small shed?
What if I build a shed without pulling a permit first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brockton
How Brockton compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Brockton to another location·View the Massachusetts accessory structures overview
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