Dothan, AL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 114-183(b)(1) governs residential accessory buildings and structures such as sheds, detached garages and storage buildings, and it is enforced by the Planning and Development Department alongside Building Inspections when a permit is pulled. The rule is a firm placement restriction: an accessory building is permitted only in a rear yard, and none may be located in a regulatory front or side yard, regardless of lot size. Once placed in the rear yard, the structure must sit a minimum of ten feet from any other building or structure on the property and a minimum of five feet from any property line, and it must still comply with whatever additional distance-between-buildings or setback standards apply to the district.

Any accessory building used to store hazardous, incendiary or noxious materials is held to a much larger buffer: it cannot be located nearer than 100 feet to any property line. Every accessory building counts toward the lot's impervious surface, lot coverage and floor area ratio calculations the same as the principal structure, so adding a shed can push a lot over its maximum coverage. Vehicles and travel trailers may never be converted into permanent or temporary living quarters, storage buildings or utility buildings under this section.

Portable or mobile storage units get a narrow exception: they may sit in the front, back or side yard for up to 60 days, after which they must be relocated to the rear-yard position required of a standard accessory building.