Burlington, WI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Burlington, WI, 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
- City Code § 115-16(B), (C)
- Max size, lots to 10,000 sf
- 720 square feet
- Max size, lots to 15,000 sf
- 800 square feet
- Max size, lots to 20,000 sf
- 850 square feet
- Max size, lots 40,000+ sf
- 900 square feet
- Rear yard coverage cap
- 20% of required rear yard
- Setbacks
- Set by Chapter 315, Zoning
Summary
Burlington caps accessory building size on a sliding scale tied to lot area, from 720 square feet on lots up to 10,000 square feet to 900 square feet on lots of 40,000 square feet or more, and never more than 20 percent of the required rear yard. Setbacks come from the zoning chapter.
Detached garages and accessory buildings shall be governed by applicable setback provisions contained in Chapter 315, Zoning. ... All private residential accessory structures and detached garages shall be governed by the applicable area requirements contained in Chapter 315, Zoning. The maximum size of the accessory buildings shall not exceed the following square footage for each lot size, or 20% of the area of the required rear yard, whichever is less, provided that the total footprints of all of the accessory buildings or other structures do not cover more than 20% of the required rear yard: ... Lot area up to 10,000 square feet: 720 square feet maximum. ... Lot area up to 15,000 square feet: 800 square feet maximum. ... Lot area up to 20,000 square feet: 850 square feet maximum. ... Lot area up to and over 40,000 square feet: 900 square feet maximum.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4997580; v29 updated 2026-07-07; through 07-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 115-16 defines accessory building as a detached structure subordinate to the principal use, located on the same lot, and separately defines attached and detached private garages. Subsection B sends location and setback questions for detached garages and accessory buildings to Chapter 315, Zoning, rather than setting its own setback numbers. Subsection C, added by amendment in 2021, caps size: the maximum accessory building area may not exceed a set square footage for the lot size, or 20% of the required rear yard area, whichever is less, and the combined footprint of all accessory buildings and structures on a lot can never exceed 20% of the required rear yard.
The scale runs in four tiers: 720 square feet maximum on lots up to 10,000 square feet, 800 square feet on lots up to 15,000 square feet, 850 square feet on lots up to 20,000 square feet, and 900 square feet on lots of 40,000 square feet or more. Beyond size and placement, Subsections D through F set construction specifics for sheds and garages built as accessory structures: a floating concrete slab foundation at least four inches thick with a thickened, reinforced edge for detached buildings, a sloped concrete floor with no pits except for drainage, and, for wood-frame detached garages, stud spacing capped at 24 inches on center with diagonal corner bracing and specific collar-tie and collar-beam sizing tied to roof slope.
Violations & Fines
An accessory building that exceeds the § 115-16(C) size cap or skips the required concrete slab and framing standards is a violation of Chapter 115, subject under § 115-26 to the Chapter 1, § 1-4 general penalty of $5 to $500 for a first offense, $10 to $1,000 for a second offense within a year, and each day the noncompliant structure remains counted as a separate offense under § 115-24.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my shed be in Burlington, Wisconsin?
Do sheds and garages have their own setback rule in Burlington?
Does Burlington require a special foundation for a detached garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burlington
How Burlington compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Burlington to another location·View the Wisconsin accessory structures overview
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