Gwinnett County, GA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Gwinnett County, GA, 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
- Setback, 0-500 sq ft shed
- 5 ft from property lines
- Setback, over 500 sq ft
- 10 ft from property lines
- Max total accessory area
- 50% of principal building
- Height limit
- lesser of zoning max or house height
- Applies to
- unincorporated Gwinnett County only
Summary
Sheds and other accessory buildings in unincorporated Gwinnett County must sit at least 5 feet from property lines, or 10 feet once the building exceeds 500 square feet.
230-30.9 Except as provided herein, accessory structures shall be located no closer than five feet to all property lines. Accessory buildings shall meet the following minimum setback requirements adjacent to all property lines:
Table 230.1: Accessory Building Setback Requirements
The following setback shall apply to accessory buildings, unless otherwise specified in this UDO:
Accessory building size, in area Required setback distance 0—500 sq. ft. 5 ft. Over 500 sq. ft. 10 ft.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
The Unified Development Ordinance sets a minimum 5-foot setback from all property lines for accessory structures generally, then tightens that to 10 feet once an accessory building's footprint exceeds 500 square feet (Table 230.1). Sheds over 120 square feet must also match the principal building's exterior finish and can't exceed the lesser of the zoning district's height limit or the principal building's height, and total accessory building area on a lot is capped at 50% of the principal building's square footage. A shed of 120 square feet or less is also exempt from a building permit under Section 106.4.A.1.
Violations & Fines
Placing a shed closer to the property line than the required setback, or building oversized accessory structures beyond the 50% cap, can trigger a code enforcement order to relocate, resize, or remove the structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can I build a shed in unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Is there a limit on how much yard a shed can cover?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
How Gwinnett County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Gwinnett County to another location·View the Georgia accessory structures overview
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