Chandler, AZ Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Chandler, AZ, 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
- Permit-exempt shed size
- ≤120 sq ft, ≤7 ft tall
- Extended height option
- Up to 9 ft with 2 ft added setback per extra ft
- Max accessory building height (zoning)
- 15 feet
- Max rear-yard coverage
- 30 percent of rear area
- Accessory buildings per lot
- One (guest quarters, garage, or workshop)
Summary
A detached one-story shed in Chandler skips a building permit only if it stays at or under 120 square feet and 7 feet tall (up to 9 feet if setback is increased 2 feet for every extra foot of height). Regardless of permit status, zoning caps every accessory building at 15 feet tall, requires district-standard side/rear setbacks, and limits a lot to one accessory building.
One-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.15 m2) and the height measured at the highest point does not exceed 7 feet (2134 mm) with option up to a maximum of 9 feet (2743 mm) with setbacks at a ratio of 2 additional feet of setback for each additional 1 foot of building height. ... Accessory buildings shall meet the minimum side and rear yard setbacks for the district in which it is located. ... Accessory buildings shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79).
Full Breakdown
Two separate Chandler code provisions control a backyard shed. " Anything larger or taller needs a building permit under Chapter 29's standard process. guest quarters, garage, workshop)," and Section 35-2202(5) bars building the shed before the main house exists. Sheds built specifically for animals or fowl instead follow the front-yard setback matching the principal building under Section 35-2100's animal-use provisions. A chicken coop over 120 square feet or 7 feet tall is separately reclassified as an accessory building requiring a permit under Chapter 14, Section 14-53(D).
Violations & Fines
Building a shed over the 120-square-foot/7-foot permit-exempt threshold without first obtaining a building permit is enforceable as a Class 1 misdemeanor under Section 29-1.3(B), with fines up to $2,500 for an individual, up to six months imprisonment, and each day of the unpermitted structure counted as a separate offense; zoning setback or count violations under Section 35-2202 are separately enforceable as code violations under Chapter 26.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small backyard shed in Chandler?
How far from the property line does my shed have to sit?
How tall can a shed be even with a permit?
Can I build two sheds on one lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chandler
How Chandler compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Chandler to another location·View the Arizona accessory structures overview
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