Shed permit rules in Essex County, MA — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
A one-story storage shed of 200 square feet or less needs no state building permit in Essex County towns. Zoning setbacks still apply, and larger sheds require a full building permit.
The residential building code exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds when the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet, so no building permit is needed. Local zoning still controls placement, so the shed must meet the town's side and rear setback distances. A shed over 200 square feet, or any shed with electrical or plumbing, requires a building permit and inspection.
Placing a shed inside a required setback brings a zoning violation and an order to move it, even when no building permit was needed. A shed over 200 square feet built without a permit faces fines and correction orders.
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See how Essex County's shed rules rules stack up against other locations.
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