Irving, TX Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

4 covers detached accessory buildings other than a garage or carport in a single-family 'R' district, which is where sheds, workshops and similar backyard structures fall. On lots smaller than half an acre, the total square footage of these detached accessory buildings cannot exceed 10% of the lot area or a maximum of 2,500 square feet, whichever is less; lots of half an acre or larger have no maximum square footage at all. Every detached accessory building must sit at least 5 feet from any side or rear property line for structures up to 10 feet tall, and on a corner lot no accessory building may be located within any side yard required on the street side.

Height is capped at 10 feet measured to the highest point of the roof, but a builder can trade setback for height: the limit rises by one additional foot for every extra foot of side and rear setback provided, up to a ceiling of 20 feet with a minimum 15-foot side and rear setback. 1's general provisions layer on top of this: the roofed area of all accessory buildings combined counts against the maximum lot coverage percentage set for the property's residential zoning district, and any accessory building of 150 square feet or larger must be built with commonly-used finished, weather-proof residential exterior materials such as masonry, veneer, stucco, stone, or wood, vinyl or cementitious siding, specifically excluding a metal exterior.

A shed cannot have its own separate utility meter and cannot be used for dwelling accommodations or business use. 10, a building permit for an accessory building is valid for three months from issuance, with one three-month extension available if the property is in compliance with all city ordinances at the time of the request.