Livonia, MI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 7.09(1) of the Zoning Ordinance sets the size, number, height, and setback standards for residential accessory buildings, a category that includes garages and sheds alike. On a lot that already has a detached accessory building, the combined ground floor area of all attached and detached accessory buildings cannot exceed 920 square feet, with any single detached building capped at 200 square feet. On a lot with no detached accessory building, a detached structure may grow to match the house's own ground floor area, up to a maximum of 1,000 square feet. Larger lots get an added allowance solely for animal housing under Sections 6.34 or 6.49: one building up to 300 square feet on a half-acre lot, or up to 600 square feet on a full acre.

Number and placement are controlled too. Lots under half an acre may have no more than two accessory buildings, including one attached; larger lots may have three. A detached shed cannot exceed 16 feet in height, must sit at least two feet from the side lot line, two feet from the rear lot line, and at least ten feet from the principal building, with a four-foot minimum gap between separate accessory buildings on the same lot. Combined detached accessory floor area cannot cover more than 20 percent of the rear yard. Small structures like doghouses, playhouses, and treehouses are exempt from the whole section.