Franklin Township, PA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Franklin Township, PA, 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 placement
- Not permitted in AR District
- Side yard setback
- 5 to 10 feet by design category
- Rear yard setback
- 5 to 15 feet by design category
- Number allowed, Open Space Design
- Maximum two accessory structures
- Number allowed, Individual Sewer
- Maximum one accessory structure
- Permit required
- Zoning Officer permit before erection
- Permit expiration
- 6 months if unstarted, 1 year once begun
Summary
Sheds and other accessory structures in Franklin Township's Agricultural-Residential District cannot sit in the front yard at all, and must clear 10 feet from the side line and 15 feet from the rear line under the § 27-404 area and bulk table, with a building permit required before erection.
Provisions Residential Use Requirements Other Use Requirements Conventional Open Space Design Individual Sewer Community Sewer ... Accessory structure: Maximum allowable N/A 2 1 N/A Minimum setbacks (feet): Front yard Not permitted Not permitted Not permitted Side yard 10 5 5 10 Rear yard 15 5 5 15
Full Breakdown
Section 27-404's Area and Bulk Provisions table carries a dedicated Accessory Structure line separate from the principal-building setbacks. For Conventional lots, front-yard accessory structures are simply "Not permitted," meaning a shed cannot be placed ahead of the house line at all; the same front-yard ban applies to Open Space Design and Individual Sewer lots. Where a shed is allowed, side-yard setbacks run 10 feet on Conventional and Community Sewer lots, dropping to 5 feet on Open Space Design and Individual Sewer lots, and rear-yard setbacks run 15 feet on Conventional and Community Sewer lots, again dropping to 5 feet on the smaller-lot design categories.
The same table caps how many accessory structures a lot may have on Open Space Design and Individual Sewer lots: a maximum of two and one, respectively; Conventional and Community Sewer lots carry no numeric cap listed. Regardless of size, § 27-2307 requires a permit issued by the Zoning Officer before any structure, including a shed, is erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered, with the application showing the exact size and location on the lot and the structure's height. A permit expires six months after issuance if work has not begun, or one year after issuance if work has begun, with a possible six-month extension from the Zoning Officer.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a shed without a permit, or inside a prohibited front yard or short of the required side or rear setback, is a Chapter 27 violation. Under § 27-2304 the Zoning Officer issues a written enforcement notice, and continued noncompliance can bring a civil judgment before a Magisterial District Judge of up to $500 plus court costs and attorney fees, with each day treated as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a shed in my front yard in Franklin Township?
How close to my property line can a shed sit?
Do I need a permit to build a shed?
How long is a shed permit valid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin Township
How Franklin Township compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Franklin Township to another location·View the Pennsylvania accessory structures overview
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