East Brunswick, NJ Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in East Brunswick, NJ, 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
- Shed size covered
- 200 square feet or less
- Shed side and rear setback
- five feet; two feet if lot under one acre and undersized
- Height cap
- one story or 15 feet; sheds inside five feet, 10 feet
- Single building cap, lots 20,000 sq ft or more
- 750 square feet
- Single building cap, lots under 20,000 sq ft
- 550 square feet
- Shed construction fee
- $0.05 per cubic foot, minimum $100 (§ 75-3)
Summary
In East Brunswick Township, a storage or utility shed of 200 square feet or less needs a five foot side and rear yard setback, or two feet on an undersized lot under one acre. Accessory buildings stay behind the front wall of the house and cannot exceed one story or 15 feet in height.
An accessory building, structure or use shall be subject to the following requirements: A. Accessory buildings shall not be located in any required front yard space and must be behind the front wall of the principal structure. ... B. The accessory building or structure shall not exceed one story or 15 feet in height. On any residential lot having an area of 20,000 square feet or more, no accessory building may exceed 750 square feet in building coverage, and the aggregate building coverage of all accessory buildings may not exceed 1,500 square feet. On residential lots having less than 20,000 square feet, the maximum building coverage of any individual accessory building shall be 550 square feet, and the aggregate building coverage of all accessory buildings may not exceed 1,000 square feet. ... D. Storage and utility sheds of 200 square feet or less shall have a side and rear yard setback of five feet. If the lot is less than one acre and is undersized in terms of lot area for the zone it is located in, the side and rear yard setback shall be two feet. Sheds located closer than five feet to the property line shall not be greater than 10 feet in height.
Full Breakdown
Section 228-222 of the East Brunswick Township Code governs accessory buildings, structures and uses on residential properties. Under subsection A an accessory building cannot sit in any required front yard space and must be behind the front wall of the principal structure. Subsection B limits any accessory building or structure to one story or 15 feet in height, and caps coverage by lot size. On a residential lot of 20,000 square feet or more, no accessory building can exceed 750 square feet and all accessory buildings together cannot exceed 1,500 square feet. On a lot under 20,000 square feet, a single accessory building is capped at 550 square feet and the aggregate at 1,000 square feet.
Subsection D is the shed rule. Storage and utility sheds of 200 square feet or less need a side and rear yard setback of five feet. If the lot is less than one acre and is undersized in terms of lot area for the zone it is in, the side and rear setback drops to two feet. A shed closer than five feet to the property line cannot be taller than 10 feet. Subsection D speaks only to sheds of 200 square feet or less; the district sections print their own accessory building side or rear setbacks of 20 feet in R-1 (§ 228-12G), fifteen (15) feet in R-2 (§ 228-21G) and 10 feet in R-3 (§ 228-30G).
Other subsections reach what goes with a shed. Subsection C lets an accessory building be built as part of a principal building if all yard requirements for the principal building are met. Subsection E sets all impervious surfaces back five feet from all property lines, with two feet on the side yard of an undersized lot under one acre. Subsection H sets permanent generators back five feet from side and rear lot lines and keeps them out of any front yard. Subsection I bars a detached garage when space for a garage is already provided within premises attached to the dwelling. On cost, the construction fee schedule in § 75-3 prints sheds at $0.05 per cubic foot with a minimum fee of $100.
Violations & Fines
A shed placed inside the five foot line without qualifying for the two foot undersized-lot rule, or one over the printed height or coverage caps, is a violation of Chapter 228. The Zoning Officer inspects and issues the summons under § 228-265. A conviction under § 1-15 carries a fine not to exceed $2,000, up to 90 days in the county jail or community service, and each day counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the property line can I put a shed in East Brunswick Township?
Can a shed go in the front yard in East Brunswick Township?
What is the maximum size of an accessory building in East Brunswick Township?
Does a shed cost anything to build in East Brunswick Township?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Brunswick
How East Brunswick compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare East Brunswick to another location·View the New Jersey accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle shed & carport rules.