Clark County, IN Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Clark County, IN, 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
- Side/rear setback
- 5 feet (§ 156.21(F)(4), § 156.22(G)(4))
- Max accessory building height (R1)
- 15 feet
- Permit fee (144 sq ft or less)
- $15 (§ 151.10(A)(1)(e))
- Permit required before
- any construction, alteration or repair
- Work must start within
- 90 days of permit issuance
- Required inspections
- 3, residential accessory buildings
Summary
In unincorporated Clark County, an accessory building or shed needs an improvement location permit before construction starts, and it must sit at least five feet off the side and rear property lines. A basic accessory building or barn permit costs $15 for structures of 144 square feet or less.
(4) The side and rear setback for accessory structures shall be five feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2019 S-0: Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 31-2014, passed 12-18-2014).
Full Breakdown
08(A) says "a permit shall be obtained before beginning construction, alteration, demolition or repair of any building or structure, using forms furnished by the Building Commissioner," and work must start within 90 days of issuance. 10(A)(1)(e), which sets the inspection fee for an "accessory building/barn" at $15 for structures 144 square feet or less; larger accessory buildings fall under the general addition/alteration fee brackets in the same subsection. 11(A) requires three inspections for residential accessory buildings before final sign-off. 22(I)(2) additionally caps an accessory building's height at 15 feet, versus 30 feet for the primary dwelling.
These rules apply only outside Jeffersonville, Charlestown, Utica and the county's other incorporated towns, since the county's Unified Development-style chapter 156 governs unincorporated Clark County only.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required improvement location permit, or placing a shed closer than five feet to a side or rear line, is a zoning and building-code violation enforced by the Building Commissioner and Plan Commission. Chapter 10's general penalty provisions apply where chapter 151 or 156 do not set a specific fine, and the county can order correction, require removal or relocation of a nonconforming structure, and withhold further permits until the violation is cured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a shed in unincorporated Clark County?
How close to my property line can I build a shed?
How much does a shed permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
How Clark County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Clark County to another location·View the Indiana accessory structures overview
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