Caldwell, ID Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Caldwell regulates sheds and other detached accessory buildings under Section 10-12-03-1's Standards for Accessory Structures and Buildings, which apply on top of whatever the underlying zoning district otherwise requires. A detached accessory building or structure accessory to a single-family or two-family duplex dwelling that is under 200 square feet needs only a minimum 3-foot setback. The same 3-foot minimum applies to accessory structures under 120 square feet serving three-family or larger residential buildings and nonresidential uses, which are also exempt from the International Building Code at that size.

Once a structure reaches 200 square feet (or 120 square feet for three-family and nonresidential uses) but stays under 600 square feet, the minimum setback jumps to 5 feet from any interior side or rear lot line. Anything 600 square feet or larger is confined to the rear yard and must meet the full dimensional standards table for its zoning district. On a corner lot, a detached accessory building can never sit closer to the street-side lot line than the applicable street-side setback in the district's dimensional table.

No accessory building of any size may be placed within a recorded or unrecorded easement, existing or future right of way, including footings, eaves and cornices; the city or a utility can force removal at the owner's expense within five days of a request. In residential zones, an accessory structure's square footage cannot exceed that of the principal residence unless the owner obtains a Special Use Permit, and storage sheds in nonresidential zones must instead follow the code's separate Outdoor Storage standards.