Hennepin County, MN Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Because Hennepin County is fully incorporated, there is no county-administered shed permit. The Minnesota State Building Code (MN Rules Ch. 1309) adopts International Residential Code Section R105.2, which exempts one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses from the building permit requirement when the floor area does not exceed 200 sq ft. This exemption is statewide and confirmed in the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry storage-shed fact sheet. The exemption is from building permits only — zoning setback, height, lot coverage, and design rules still apply, and the structure must still meet MN Rules Ch. 1315 if it contains electrical wiring. In Minneapolis, sheds are detached accessory structures regulated by Zoning Code Chapter 537. Detached accessory structures must respect: 800 sq ft or 10 percent of lot area max (whichever greater), 13 ft height by right (16 ft administrative review), 6 ft from the principal dwelling, 10 ft from neighboring habitable space, and reduced rear-yard setbacks down to 1 ft only when located in the rear 40 ft or rear 20 percent of the lot, with eaves no closer than 6 inches to a lot line. Other Hennepin County cities have similar but not identical thresholds — Bloomington, Plymouth, and Edina each set their own size, setback, and design standards in their zoning codes. Confirm with your city before construction even when the state building permit exemption applies.