St. Tammany Parish, LA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in St. Tammany Parish, LA, 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 accessory height
- 20 feet
- Max accessory area
- 7.5% of lot or 2,500 sq ft
- Front setback
- 40 ft (25 ft for sheds <200 sq ft)
- Side/rear setback
- 10 ft (5 ft for small sheds)
- Side street setback
- 15 feet
- Prohibited
- Mobile homes, trailers, cargo containers
- Max fine
- $500 per violation, per day
Summary
Unincorporated St. Tammany Parish caps accessory buildings and sheds at 20 feet in height and 7.5 percent of the lot, or 2,500 square feet, under UDC Sec. 600-6.1. Standard setbacks run 40 feet from the front line and 10 feet from side and rear lines, dropping to 25 and 5 feet for sheds under 200 square feet or lots in the S-1/S-2 districts. Mobile homes, trailers and cargo containers cannot be used as accessory yard storage.
Accessory structures shall be located at a minimum 40 feet from the front lot line, a minimum 10 feet from an interior rear lot line, a minimum 10 feet from an interior side lot line, and a minimum fifteen 15 feet from a side street lot line, and when located on a through lot, shall be located at a minimum 40 feet from the designated rear lot line...4.Maximum height and area.a.The height of any accessory structure shall not exceed 20 feet.b.Accessory structures shall not exceed 7.5 percent of the area of the lot on which the primary structure is situated, or 2,500 square feet...5.Prohibited accessory structures in residential, commercial, and medical zoning districts. The following accessory structures are prohibited on residentially zoned property which are one acre or less in size: converted mobile homes, truck vans, trailers, recreational vehicles, bus body vehicles, portable storage containers, cargo containers, railroad cars, and similar prefabricated structures.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
The Unified Development Code's accessory building standards, Sec. 1, apply parish-wide to unincorporated St. Tammany. In single-family residential districts, no shed or other accessory structure can go up before the main house is built. Accessory structures are allowed in the required rear yard and within the buildable area of the lot, but they must clear a minimum 40 feet from the front lot line, 10 feet from an interior rear lot line, 10 feet from an interior side lot line, and 15 feet from a side street lot line; on a through lot the 40-foot rear-line setback applies to the designated rear line too.
Smaller sheds get relief: any accessory structure under 200 square feet, or one placed on a buildable lot of record zoned S-1 or S-2 Single-Family Residential, only needs 25 feet from the front line and 5 feet from interior side and rear lines. 5 percent of the lot or 2,500 square feet, whichever is smaller, though that cap is lifted for lots above the urban growth boundary line in the Rural Overlay District, or Rural Overlay lots of an acre or more below that line.
Sec. 1 separately bans converted mobile homes, truck vans, trailers, recreational vehicles, bus body vehicles, portable storage containers, cargo containers, railroad cars and similar prefabricated units as accessory structures on residential lots of one acre or less. The provision was last amended by Ordinance No. 26-5906 on January 8, 2026.
Violations & Fines
Accessory-structure violations fall under the parish's general code enforcement scheme in Sec. 2-551 through Sec. 2-559. The hearing officer can levy a fine of up to $500.00 per violation, with the same amount charged again for each day a violation continues, under the catch-all Schedule O of Sec. 2-559. Administrative costs of at least $100.00 are mandatory on any finding of a violation and cannot be waived, on top of the fine itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a shed be in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish?
How far from my property line does a shed have to sit?
Can I use a shipping container or old trailer as a shed?
Can I build my shed before my house is finished?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
How St. Tammany Parish compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana accessory structures overview
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