Haverford, PA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 182-711 of the Haverford Township Code governs sheds and other accessory buildings in all residential districts and in the R-7 Townhouse, R-8 Garden Apartment and R-9 Medium- and High-Rise Apartment Districts. The height rule comes first: no accessory building other than a private garage shall exceed one story or 12 feet in height, measured from the floor or slab to the top of the ridge. Private garages are held to one story or 15 feet, with a garage wider than 18 feet allowed up to 18 feet.

Placement is the strictest part. Under § 182-711B(1), no private garage or other accessory building may be erected or placed within a front yard. In a side or rear yard it must be entirely separated from the principal building, located at least 10 feet farther back from the front street line than the rearmost portion of the main building, 10 feet from all other buildings and at least five feet from the side and rear property lines of the lot. No accessory building can be located in any yard that abuts a street, which matters on a corner lot because both street-facing yards are off limits.

Section 182-711 prints no separate floor-area cap for a shed. The size limits printed in the section apply to private garages: not larger than 25 feet by 25 feet and in no event more than 50% of the area of the principal building on the lot, with garage doors not exceeding seven feet six inches in height and 16 feet in width (§ 182-711B(2) and (3)). Other accessory structures not otherwise regulated cannot encroach on required setbacks and cannot be in front of the principal structure (§ 182-711D(1)). Decks must stay within required setbacks, and patios must sit a minimum of five feet from any rear or side yard property line (§ 182-711C).

A permit is required. A zoning permit is needed before the erection of any structure and is issued simultaneously with the building permit (§ 182-902A). The Chapter A187 fee schedule lists, for residential sheds, decks and detached garages, $20 per $1,000 of cost for the first $10,000 and $15 per $1,000 of cost over $10,000.