York County, SC Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in York County, SC, 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
- Side setback
- 10 ft (5 ft on small lots)
- Rear setback
- 5 ft
- Vacant-lot shed cap
- 200-400 sq ft
- Max height
- 2 stories or district cap
- CO rule
- Shed CO can't predate house CO
- Penalty
- Up to $500/day, § 155.9999
Summary
A storage shed in unincorporated York County is a 'major residential accessory structure' under § 155.622, so it must meet the zoning district's front setback plus a 10-foot side setback (5 feet on lots 8,500 square feet or smaller) and a 5-foot rear setback, can't exceed two stories, and can't get a certificate of occupancy before the house does.
§ 155.621 ESTABLISHMENT. (C) Use must be accessory. Accessory structures and uses may not be constructed or established without an associated principal structure or use. The accessory structure may be constructed at the same time as the principal structure. However, a certificate of occupancy for the accessory structure shall not be issued prior to the certificate of occupancy for the associated principal structure. (E)(2) Accessory building for vacant lot... (c) On lots less than one acre in size, the gross floor area of the accessory building is 200 square feet or less; and (d) On lots one acre or larger in size, the gross floor area of the accessory building is 400 square feet or less. Table 155.622-1: Major Residential Accessory Buildings, except Alley-Loaded Garages: Side 10 ft/5 ft; Rear 5 ft.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-49: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 3925, passed 6-16-25).
Full Breakdown
Section 155.620 applies Part 4 to any subordinate structure on the same lot as, and clearly incidental to, a principal use. Section 155.621 then requires that an accessory structure like a shed have an associated principal structure on the same lot; it may be built at the same time as the house, but 'a certificate of occupancy for the accessory structure shall not be issued prior to the certificate of occupancy for the associated principal structure.' A limited exception lets an owner place one storage shed on a vacant lot with a Zoning Administrator acknowledgment letter, capped at 200 square feet on lots under one acre or 400 square feet on lots one acre or larger.
Once a shed sits on a lot with a house, Table 155.622-1 sets its setbacks: the front setback matches the zoning district's standard, the side setback is 10 feet (dropping to 5 feet on lots 8,500 square feet or smaller, or 65 feet or less in width), and the rear setback is 5 feet. Section 155.622(B) caps residential accessory structures at two stories or the zoning district's maximum height, whichever is lower, and ties maximum footprint to the county's impervious-surface table. Sheds cannot sit in a recorded easement, right-of-way, septic drain field, or required buffer.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a shed that violates the Table 155.622-1 setbacks, exceeds the vacant-lot size caps, or obtains a certificate of occupancy ahead of the house's is a misdemeanor under § 155.9999, punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day per violation, and the Planning and Development Services Director can order the structure relocated or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from my property line can I build a shed?
Can I put a shed on a vacant lot I own?
How tall can a shed be?
Can I get my shed's certificate of occupancy before my house is finished?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
How York County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare York County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview
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