Bulloch County, GA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Bulloch County, GA, 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
- Setback, AG-5/R80/R40/R25/R15/R8
- 10 feet from property line
- Setback, R2/R3/PUD/HC/GC/NC/LI/HI
- 5 feet from property line
- Separation from house
- at least 12 feet
- Yard placement
- rear or side yard only
- Sequencing rule
- shed cannot predate the house
Summary
In unincorporated Bulloch County, a shed or other detached accessory building must sit at least ten feet from the property line in most residential and agricultural districts, and always at least 12 feet from the house. Sheds must go in the rear or side yard and cannot be built before the main house exists.
Section 1403. - Accessory uses. (a)They may not be located closer than ten feet to any property line in AG-5, R80, R40, R25, R15, and R8 zoning districts or five feet in R2, R3, PUD, HC, GC, NC, LI and HI zoning districts; however, this requirement does not apply to fences.(b)Accessory buildings not attached to the principal building must be located at least 12 feet from the principal building on the lot.(c)They must be located in the rear or side yard; however, this requirement does not apply to fences. Not applicable in HC, GC, LI and HI zoning districts. Also, not applicable to lots of five acres or more in the AG-5 zoning district.(d)Accessory structures shall not be erected on a lot prior to the construction of the principal structure.(e)Accessory structures shall not be used as a dwelling unit, except as provided in section 1404 which sets forth standards for accessory dwellings.
Full Breakdown
Section 1403 of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix C) sets the placement standards for accessory structures like sheds, detached garages and workshops. In AG-5, R80, R40, R25, R15 and R8 districts, an accessory building cannot sit closer than ten feet to any property line; in the denser R2, R3, PUD, HC, GC, NC, LI and HI districts the minimum drops to five feet. That property-line setback does not apply to fences. Separately, any accessory building not physically attached to the house must be at least 12 feet from the principal building, a rule that applies countywide regardless of district.
Sheds and other detached accessory structures must be located in the rear or side yard, not the front, though this placement rule does not apply in the HC, GC, LI and HI commercial and industrial districts, and does not apply to AG-5 lots of five acres or larger. A shed cannot legally be erected before the principal residence is built on the lot. Sheds also cannot be converted into a dwelling unit; that is reserved for accessory dwellings meeting the separate standards of Section 1404.
Because these are zoning standards, a shed built without meeting setback, separation or sequencing rules is a Section 418 violation subject to the county's general zoning penalty and Section 419 injunctive relief.
Violations & Fines
A shed that violates the ten-foot (or five-foot, depending on district) property-line setback, the 12-foot separation from the house, the rear/side-yard placement rule, or that is built before the principal residence exists, is a zoning violation under Section 418, punishable as provided in Section 1-11 of the county code, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense; Section 419 also authorizes an injunction against the unlawful structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from my property line does a shed need to be in unincorporated Bulloch County?
Can I put a shed in my front yard?
Can I build a shed before my house is built?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bulloch County
How Bulloch County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Bulloch County to another location·View the Georgia accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.