Granville County, NC Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Granville County Code § 32-162(1) requires freestanding accessory structures to be located in the side or rear yard of residential lots, and on corner lots restricts them to the rear yard or a side yard not adjacent to a street right-of-way. An exception lets lots between two and ten acres place one accessory structure in the front yard if it does not exceed half the principal structure's square footage, stays within the district's height limit, meets the underlying street setback, and sits at least ten feet from the driveway unless it is a detached garage or carport; parcels of ten acres or more may place a front-yard accessory structure if it is at least 100 feet from any street right-of-way and 25 feet from any side property line.

Clause b sets the baseline setback for all accessory and recreational structures at ten feet from any lot line and 20 feet from a street right-of-way line. Clause c caps accessory building height at 35 feet, and bars any accessory building from exceeding the height of the principal structure on the same lot. Clause d bars an accessory building on a lot with no primary dwelling in the AR-80, AR-40 and R-25 districts, and blocks utility electric service to such a building until a primary dwelling exists.