Lee's Summit, MO Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

The Unified Development Ordinance regulates sheds through Table 6.IV-1 in Section 6.1330, under the entry "Sheds and Storage Buildings in Residential Districts." It covers the RDR and RLL districts and, through Section 6.1350, the R-1, RP-1, RP-2, RP-3, RP-4 and TNZ districts. A residential shed must be set back 3 feet from the side lot line and 3 feet from the rear lot line, cannot be placed in the front yard at all, cannot exceed 15 feet in height, and cannot exceed 250 square feet of floor area.

Section 6.1350(F)(1) limits the count: a one-family or two-family dwelling gets one detached garage or storage building/shed. That sits alongside Section 6.1330(C), which says any number of accessory structures is allowed so long as lot coverage is not exceeded, "except as further limited herein," and sets a 60 percent maximum impervious coverage for all residential uses. For multi-family developments, Section 6.1350(F)(3) applies the detached accessory building setbacks to a storage shed.

Appearance rules start at 120 square feet. Under Section 6.1350(F)(4), any shed larger than that in a residential district must be similar to or compatible with the design and construction of the main building, using exterior materials and colors similar to the house or commonly associated with residential construction.

Section 6.1320 adds placement conditions. A shed cannot be built until construction of the principal building has commenced, and on a corner lot it cannot sit closer to the side street right-of-way than the principal structure's building setback line. A shed attached to the house by a breezeway or similar means, or located within ten feet of the house, must follow the house's yard requirements instead of the shed setbacks. Section 6.1330(B) sends any encroachment into an easement or right-of-way to the City's Encroachment Policy. A carport attached to a shed follows the same setbacks as the shed, is capped at 250 square feet, and cannot exceed the size of the shed.

AG-zoned land is treated separately: sheds there carry no size limit, a 35-foot side and rear setback, and a 40-foot height cap. Anything the table does not list goes to the Director for interpretation, and the Director's interpretation can be appealed under Article 14.