Dearborn, MI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Dearborn, MI, 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
- Max size
- 700 sq ft
- Max height
- 1 story / 16 ft
- Rear setback
- 3 ft (1 ft on alley)
- Side setback (narrow lots)
- 18 inches
- Sheds per lot
- One, plus a garage
Summary
Dearborn caps detached accessory buildings like sheds at 700 square feet and 16 feet tall, sets a 3-foot rear setback (1 foot along an alley), and limits each residential lot to one shed plus a garage.
(c) Rear yard setback. Accessory buildings shall be located no closer than three feet to the rear lot line. Where the rear lot line is coterminous with an alley right-of-way line, the accessory building may be located within one foot... 3. Size and lot coverage. Detached accessory buildings shall not cover more than seven hundred (700) square feet... 4. Height. (a)...shall not exceed one (1) story and sixteen (16) feet in height... 5. ...each residential lost is permitted one (1) shed).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Zoning Ordinance § 2.03(C) governs detached accessory buildings, including sheds. They can't sit in the front yard or a required side yard, must sit at least 3 feet from the rear lot line (1 foot if the rear line runs along an alley), and the side setback drops to 18 inches on single-family lots 35 feet wide or less. A detached accessory building can't exceed 700 square feet of coverage or one story/16 feet in height, with a roof pitch no steeper than the house's. Section 2.03(C)(5) limits each residential lot to one shed in addition to its garage.
Violations & Fines
Sheds that exceed the size, height, or setback limits, or a second shed on the same lot, violate § 2.03(C) and can be cited as an unlawful structure under § 2.01(G), subject to removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a shed be in Dearborn?
How close to my property line can a shed sit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
How Dearborn compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Dearborn to another location·View the Michigan accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle shed & carport rules.