Lynn, MA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Lynn, MA, 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 shed height, 1-2 family lots
- 15 feet
- Max accessory floor area
- 25% of principal use
- Parking/driveway area cap
- 15% of lot
- Front/side setback
- Sheds barred, rear allowed
- Commercial/industrial districts
- No setback placement
- Permit required
- Building Commissioner before construction
Summary
Lynn's 2025 Zoning Ordinance caps accessory structures like sheds and garages at 15 feet in height for one- and two-family lots, keeps them out of front and side setbacks, and limits total accessory floor area to 25% of the principal building's floor or lot area under Section 4.5.
5. Dimensional requirements for accessory structures. a. Area. The total area of uses accessory to the principal use is limited to 25 percent of the floor area or lot area of the Principal Use(s) to which it is accessory, and the total area of uses or buildings accessory to the principal use except that parking facilities and driveways may not occupy an area equal to or greater than 15 percent of the entire area of the lot. b. Height of accessory structure. The height of accessory structures is limited as follows: i. Structures accessory to one- and two-family dwellings shall not exceed 15 feet in height. ii. Structures accessory to other uses shall not exceed the height restriction of the principal structure. c. Location of accessory structure. The location of accessory structures shall be limited as follows: i. In residential districts, no accessory structure shall be located within the required front or side setback but may be built in the rear setback. ii. In commercial and industrial districts, no accessory structure shall be permitted within any required setbacks.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
5 of the Zoning Ordinance governs sheds and other accessory buildings under three headings: area, height and location. On area, the total floor area of all accessory uses and structures is capped at 25% of the principal use's floor area or lot area, and separately, parking facilities and driveways together cannot occupy 15% or more of the entire lot. On height, a shed or other structure accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling cannot exceed 15 feet, while structures accessory to other uses, such as multifamily, commercial or industrial, are instead capped at the height limit of the principal structure on the same lot.
On location, residential-district accessory structures cannot sit within the required front or side setback, though they may be built in the rear setback; in commercial and industrial districts, accessory structures cannot be placed within any required setback at all. 4, lets small roof projections like eaves extend past a setback without counting the ground beneath them as buildable area, but that exception applies to the principal structure's eaves, not to freestanding sheds. 2, since no building or structure, including an accessory one, may be erected, moved, added to or altered without a permit issued in accordance with the Building Code.
Violations & Fines
Building an accessory structure taller than 15 feet on a one- or two-family lot, placing it in a front or side setback, or exceeding the 25% accessory floor area cap, is a Zoning Ordinance violation. Under Section 11, it's a misdemeanor carrying a $300 fine per violation plus costs and legal fees, with each day counted separately; the Building Commissioner may instead pursue a noncriminal fine under G.L. c.40, Section 21D.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a shed be in my Lynn backyard?
Can I put a shed in my front yard?
Do I need a permit to build a shed in Lynn?
Is there a limit on how much of my lot can be covered by sheds and other accessory buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynn
How Lynn compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Lynn to another location·View the Massachusetts accessory structures overview
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