Caddo Parish, LA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 7.3.A of the Unified Development Code sets the baseline for every detached accessory structure in the parish's unincorporated area, including sheds: a maximum height of 18 feet and a minimum three-foot setback from any lot line, unless the Code sets a tighter number for a specific structure. It does. Table 7-1 in Section 7.4, Permitted Encroachments, gives sheds their own standard: a shed must sit at least five feet from any lot line, is prohibited in the front yard outright, and needs no building permit at all if it has no permanent foundation. Put a shed on a slab, though, and the general permit rule in Section 7.3.A kicks back in, since a building permit is required for any accessory structure the Code doesn't specifically exempt.

Sheds also count against the parish's other accessory-structure caps. No more than two detached accessory structures are allowed on a lot, and sheds are not on the list of structures excluded from that count (detached garages, carports, mailboxes, and playground equipment are). A shed's footprint cannot exceed the footprint of the principal dwelling, and all accessory structures together are capped at 40% coverage of the yard they sit in. A shed also cannot be built before the principal building it serves, and it cannot contain living or sleeping quarters. The Code defines a shed as a prefabricated or kit-built accessory structure not served by heat or plumbing and not requiring a permanent foundation, typically used to store lawn, garden, or recreational equipment.

The Zoning Administrator enforces these standards under Article 19 and can order corrective action for a noncompliant shed; unresolved violations fall under the parish's general penalty at Code of Ordinances § 1-8.