Shed permit rules in Howard County, MD β also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations β set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Howard County caps the total footprint of all detached accessory structures, including sheds, on a single-family lot. On lots in the public water-and-sewer service area the cumulative maximum is 600 square feet; larger caps apply to rural RC and RR district lots by acreage.
Zoning Regulations Section 128.0.12 limits the maximum cumulative lot coverage for all accessory structures on a residential lot developed with a single-family detached dwelling to 600 square feet in the planned public water and sewer service area, 1,200 square feet in the RC or RR district for lots two acres or less, 2,200 square feet for RC/RR lots over two but under fifteen acres, and 5,000 square feet for RC/RR lots of fifteen acres or greater. Swimming pools, farm buildings, and shipping-container storage are exempt from the size cap but must stay subordinate to the principal use. Required side and rear setbacks for detached garages or sheds on single-family detached lots are zero feet, while other accessory structures need five
Exceeding the cumulative coverage caps, adding a kitchen or bath, or building without a required permit is a zoning violation enforced by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
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