Dunwoody, GA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Dunwoody, GA, 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
- Front-yard sheds
- Prohibited
- Building separation
- 10 feet minimum
- Max area, under 1 acre
- 900 sq ft
- Max area, 1-5 acres
- 1,200 sq ft
- Max area, 5-10 acres
- 2,000 sq ft
- Governing section
- § 27-166
Summary
Dunwoody bans accessory buildings and sheds from front yards entirely and requires at least 10 feet of separation from the main house unless the shed sits within the principal building's own setbacks. Residential lots under one acre cap total accessory floor area at 900 square feet under § 27-166.
(d)Location. Accessory uses and structures must be located on the same lot as the principal use to which they are accessory, unless otherwise expressly stated. Accessory buildings are expressly prohibited in front street yards.(e)Accessory buildings and structures.(1)Applicable regulations and standards. Accessory buildings and structures are subject to the same regulations and standards as applicable to principal uses and structures on the subject lot, unless otherwise expressly stated. ... (2)Building separation. Accessory buildings must be separated by a minimum distance of ten feet from the principal building on the lot, unless the accessory building is located entirely within the principal building setbacks, in which case no separation is required. Structures less than 30 inches in height do not require a building separation.(3)Maximum accessory building floor area. Accessory buildings in all residential zoning districts are subject to the following maximum floor area limits: Lot Area (sq. ft.) | Maximum Floor Area: 0 to 0.999 acres | 900; 1 to 4.999 acres | 1,200; 5 to 9.999 acres | 2,000; 10 or more acres | No max.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
Section 27-166 of the zoning ordinance is the citywide standard for sheds and other accessory buildings. Subsection (d) flatly prohibits accessory buildings and structures in the front street yard: they must sit elsewhere on the lot. Subsection (e)(2) requires a minimum ten-foot separation between an accessory building and the principal building on the same lot, except that no separation is required if the accessory building is located entirely within the principal building's own required setbacks, or if the connecting structure is less than 30 inches tall (patios, walks or railless decks), which the code treats as not part of the primary structure at all.
Subsection (e)(3) caps the total floor area of accessory buildings on residential lots by lot size: up to 900 square feet on lots under one acre, up to 1,200 square feet on lots from one to just under five acres, up to 2,000 square feet on lots from five to just under ten acres, and no maximum on lots of ten acres or more. Accessory uses generally cannot be established before the principal building is in place, and the community development director decides, case by case, whether a proposed structure meets the definition of 'accessory' at all, considering whether it is customarily found with the principal use, is subordinate and incidental to it, and serves the comfort, safety or convenience of the occupants.
An accessory building attached to the house by a breezeway or similar enclosed connector counts as part of the principal structure and follows the house's own setback and building rules rather than the shed standards.
Violations & Fines
Placing a shed in a front yard, exceeding the maximum accessory floor area for the lot size, or building without the required ten-foot separation from the house violates the zoning ordinance under § 27-527. The community development director may withhold or revoke a permit, order a stop-work action, or seek injunctive relief under § 27-529, after written notice and a ten-day cure period for non-emergency violations under § 27-533.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a shed in my front yard in Dunwoody?
How big a shed can I build on a half-acre lot in Dunwoody?
How far does my shed need to be from my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dunwoody
How Dunwoody compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Dunwoody to another location·View the Georgia accessory structures overview
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