Champaign, IL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Sec. 37-222(a) governs accessory structures, including private garages and sheds not used for a business, on any residential lot. A detached accessory structure must sit at least 3 feet from the principal building if it is separated from it, and cannot be located between the principal structure's front building line and the front lot line. Height is capped at 18 feet or the height of the principal structure, whichever is less, and no detached accessory structure may sit closer than 2 feet to the rear or side property line.

On a lot holding a detached single-family dwelling, the aggregate area of every accessory structure on the lot is capped at 625 square feet; if the principal structure's above-grade floor area exceeds 1,250 square feet, that cap rises, but the total accessory floor area still cannot exceed 50 percent of the principal structure's floor area. A narrow exception in subsection (b) lets a private garage that straddles a property line and predates June 29, 1965 be repaired or enlarged without regard to the side-yard setback, provided all owners give mutual written consent filed with the Zoning Administrator.

In commercial, office, or industrial districts, subsection (c) allows accessory floor area up to 50 percent of the principal structure's floor area, with office-district accessory structures capped at 18 feet and commercial/industrial accessory structures following the Table IV-A standards for principal buildings.