Green Bay, WI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Green Bay, WI, 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
- Structures allowed (one- or two-family)
- 2 detached
- Maximum size
- 1,000 sq. ft. per dwelling unit; 200 sq. ft. second
- Maximum height
- 16 feet, side walls 10 feet
- Setbacks
- Front 25 ft, side 4 ft, rear 4 ft
- Between structures
- 3 feet, wall to wall
- Metal-finish structures over 120 sq. ft.
- Conditional use permit required
- Penalty
- Section 1-6 penalty, each day separate
Summary
Green Bay allows two detached accessory structures on a one- or two-family lot under Section 44-590 and Table 44-4. The first may reach 1,000 square feet per dwelling unit and the second 200 square feet. Both are capped at 16 feet tall with 10-foot side walls, and sit 25 feet from the front lot line and 4 feet from the side and rear lines.
(c) Detached structures. Detached accessory structures shall be permitted in residential districts in accordance with the requirements shown in Table 44-4 and as follows: (1) Detached accessory structures shall be located to the side or rear of the principal building and are not permitted in front of the principal structures front or corner side façade and the abutting a street. (2) The maximum size may be increased upon approval of a conditional use permit, provided that lot coverage requirements are satisfied. (3) Structures with a metal exterior finish exceeding 120 square feet shall be permitted only by conditional use permit. (4) Distance between structures shall be measured from wall to wall. Table 44-4. Requirements for Detached Accessory Structures, Residential Districts Use One- or Two-Family Residential Use and Townhouse Multifamily Residential Use RR District, 10 Acres or More Number of structures allowed 2 i 1 per principal building g 2 Maximum size - 1st structure 1,000 sq. ft./dwelling unit 10 percent of lot area * 2,500 sq. ft. Maximum size - 2nd structure 200 sq. ft. N/A 1,500 sq. ft.
Full Breakdown
Section 44-590(c) governs every detached shed, garage, and storage building in Green Bay's residential districts, and Table 44-4 supplies the numbers. A one- or two-family lot or townhouse lot gets two detached structures. The first is limited to 1,000 square feet per dwelling unit, and the second to 200 square feet, so a typical backyard shed is judged against the second-structure cap. Maximum height is 16 feet and maximum side wall height is 10 feet, though note c lets both rise to the height of the principal structure on the same lot, and note d allows taller buildings with a conditional use permit under Section 44-83.
Setbacks are 25 feet from the front yard, 4 feet from the side yard, 4 feet from the rear yard, and 3 feet between structures, measured wall to wall. Lots under 61 feet wide need only a 2½-foot side yard, and lots under 91 feet deep need only a 2½-foot rear yard. On a corner lot the setback can be averaged with neighboring structures when at least 50 percent of the block frontage is built up, but never below 15 feet. Subsection (c)(1) bars any detached structure in front of the principal building's front or corner side façade. Note h warns that the screening and buffer yard rules in Article XIX, Division 5 can override these setbacks.
Subsection (c)(3) sends any structure with a metal exterior finish over 120 square feet to a conditional use permit. Subsection (c)(2) lets the maximum size grow with a permit if lot coverage requirements are still met. Note g allows additional accessory structures with a permit, and note i says one accessory dwelling unit approved by permit does not count toward the limit. Multifamily lots get one structure per principal building capped at 10 percent of lot area, and RR District parcels of 10 acres or more get two structures of 2,500 and 1,500 square feet. Under Section 44-588, no accessory structure can be built before the principal use exists, and it must sit on the same zoning lot. Section 44-590(a) requires exterior materials, roof style, and colors similar to the house or commonly associated with residential construction. Ordinance 29-25 amended the section on December 2, 2025.
Violations & Fines
Section 44-197 makes it unlawful to use or improve any structure in violation of Chapter 44, and declares a nonconforming building a nuisance per se that the City can ask a court to abate or remove. If the owner has not complied or signed a written compliance agreement within 15 days after the Zoning Administrator mails written notice, the City Attorney can file for an injunction. Section 44-198 applies the Section 1-6 penalty and counts each day as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a shed be to my Green Bay property line?
How big can a second shed be in Green Bay?
Do metal sheds need special approval in Green Bay?
Can I build a taller shed than 16 feet?
Can I put a shed up before the house is built?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Green Bay
How Green Bay compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Green Bay to another location·View the Wisconsin accessory structures overview
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