Menasha, WI Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Menasha's Community Development Department regulates sheds as unattached accessory buildings in the R-1, R-1a, R-2, and R-2a zoning districts. The published Garage, Shed & Accessory Structure Factsheet sets the operative rules. Maximum size: 200 square feet for an accessory building (sheds 200+ sqft are reclassified as a detached garage, capped at 816 sqft in R-1/R-1a or 624 sqft per dwelling unit in R-2/R-2a). Setbacks for a shed located more than 8 feet from the principal structure: 3-foot minimum rear yard, 3-foot minimum side yard, and 25-foot minimum front yard setback or the prevailing setback. Setbacks for a shed located less than 8 feet from the principal structure: 8-foot minimum rear yard, 6-foot minimum side yard, 25-foot minimum front yard. Location: no shed or accessory structure may be constructed between the principal building and the street right-of-way - i.e., no front-yard sheds. Density: detached garages and accessory buildings together cannot occupy more than 30 percent of the rear yard. Height: sidewall height cannot exceed 12 feet, overall height cannot exceed 18 feet (the cap rises 1 foot for each additional foot of side and rear setback), and a shed can never exceed the height of the principal building. A building permit is required for any new shed, paid together with a zoning fee through the Building Inspections office (920-967-3655); the Community Development Department also requires a scaled plot plan showing the proposed shed, distances to lot lines, easements, and the principal building before issuing the permit. Sheds remain subject to Wisconsin Statute 62.23 zoning authority and to the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code; corner and through-lot setbacks are handled case-by-case by Community Development. Standard side and rear lot lines typically include a 5-6 foot utility easement, and Diggers Hotline (1-800-242-8511) must be called before excavation.