Charles County, MD Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Charles County, MD, 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 required
- Zoning permit before construction
- Max size
- 50% of house GFA or 1,000 sq ft
- Side/rear setback
- 6 feet minimum
- Structure-to-structure spacing
- 6 ft (2 ft if attached lot)
- Easement rule
- Not permitted in recorded easements
Summary
A shed or other accessory structure in Charles County's agricultural, rural, or residential zones needs a zoning permit, cannot exceed 50% of the principal structure's gross floor area or 1,000 square feet (whichever is greater), and must sit at least six feet from side or rear lot lines.
Prior to the commencement of any accessory use or the construction of any accessory structure with an agricultural, rural, or residential zone, a zoning permit must be obtained... In the residential zones and on lots less than three acres in agricultural and rural zones, the area of a single accessory use or structure shall not exceed 50% of the gross floor area of the principal use or structure or 1,000 square feet, whichever is greater... No agricultural or residential accessory use or structure shall be established within six feet of any side or rear lot line, except in the following situations.
Full Breakdown
Section 297-29B of the Charles County zoning ordinance requires a zoning permit before any accessory structure, including a shed or detached garage, is built in an agricultural, rural, or residential zone. The size cap under § 297-29B(1) limits a single accessory structure in residential zones (and on agricultural/rural lots under three acres) to 50% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or 1,000 square feet, whichever is greater, giving larger houses proportionally more accessory space while capping smaller lots at the flat 1,000-square-foot ceiling.
Setback rules under § 297-29B(5) generally keep accessory structures at least six feet from any side or rear lot line, though exceptions exist for single-family attached or multifamily lots enclosed with a solid fence built to § 297-27B standards, and for rear-loaded detached garages accessed via a private roadway, both of which may abut the lot line subject to International Residential Code requirements for structures over 200 square feet. A shed cannot be built before the principal house is substantially complete, per § 297-29B(2), though a preexisting shed or garage may remain if the parcel is later subdivided.
Accessory structures also cannot be placed within any recorded easement, per § 297-29B(6), and a freestanding structure not attached to the house must sit at least six feet from any other building on the same lot under § 297-29B(7) (two feet on attached/multifamily lots).
Violations & Fines
The Charles County Planning and Growth Management Department enforces accessory structure standards through zoning permit review and site inspection. A shed built without the required zoning permit, oversized relative to the principal structure, or placed inside the six-foot setback or a recorded easement is a zoning violation; the county can order the structure relocated, modified, or removed, and building without a permit can also trigger stop-work action and retroactive permitting requirements with added fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in Charles County?
How big can my shed be?
How close to the property line can I build a shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charles County
How Charles County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Charles County to another location·View the Maryland accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.