Jonesboro, AR Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Jonesboro, AR, 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
- Max lot coverage (accessory)
- 10 percent of lot area
- Min rear setback
- 7.5 feet
- Min distance between structures
- 10 feet
- Max height, residential districts
- 35 feet or house height
- RS-3 to RS-5 storage cap
- 600 square feet
Summary
Jonesboro limits accessory buildings, including sheds and storage buildings, to the same side setback as the main house, a 7.5-foot minimum from the rear lot line, and no more than 10 percent of the lot area. Detached accessory buildings must sit at least 10 feet from any other structure and stay out of front and street-side setbacks.
(a)Accessory building. An accessory building shall:(1)Not be located within a required street, front or street side setback;(2)Be subject to the side setback standards of the underlying zoning district; shall be set back at least seven and one-half feet from a rear lot line;(3)Not be located within any public easement or over any known utilities or septic system lines;(4)Not occupy more than ten percent of the lot area or more of the lot than is covered by the principal use, whichever results in less lot coverage; and(5)Not exceed the floor area of the principal use. (c)Height limitations. With regard to height limitations, accessory structures in residential districts shall not exceed 35 feet in height or the height of the principal structure on the lot and in commercial and industrial districts, such structures shall not exceed 25 feet in height or the height of the principal structure on the lot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Section 117-225 of Jonesboro's zoning code governs where and how large an accessory building, such as a shed, detached garage, or storage building, can be. 5 feet from the rear lot line. It cannot sit within a public easement or over a known utility line or septic system, cannot cover more than 10 percent of the lot (or more than the principal structure covers, whichever is smaller), and cannot exceed the floor area of the main house. Detached accessory buildings must be located at least 10 feet from any other structure unless structurally attached to the principal building, in which case the accessory structure must meet all standards that apply to the main house itself.
Height is capped separately: accessory structures in residential districts cannot exceed 35 feet or the height of the principal structure, whichever is less, while in commercial and industrial districts the cap drops to 25 feet or the principal structure's height. District-specific rules layer on top of these general standards: in RS-1 and RS-2, ordinary accessory storage buildings are capped at 50 percent of the principal structure's total area; in RS-3 through RS-5, they're capped at a flat 600 square feet; and in RS-6 through RS-8, the cap returns to 50 percent of the principal structure's area.
Every accessory building in a single-family district must also match the architectural style and appearance of the primary dwelling and be placed in the rear yard only.
Violations & Fines
Building an oversized, mislocated, or unpermitted shed or accessory structure is a zoning violation under Sec. 117-3, a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500, with each day the violation continues treated as a separate offense. The planning department can deny a building permit or refuse a certificate of occupancy for noncompliant accessory structures, and each additional day of noncompliance adds a new, separately chargeable offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can I build a shed in Jonesboro?
How big can my storage building be?
How tall can a detached garage or shed be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jonesboro
How Jonesboro compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Jonesboro to another location·View the Arkansas accessory structures overview
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