Shed permit rules in Middleton, WI — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
The City of Middleton requires a Shed/Fence Zoning Permit under Sec. 10.10.41 of the 2024 Zoning Ordinance before any shed is erected or altered. Residential storage sheds must sit at least 3 feet from any property line, may be no taller than 15 feet (or 22 feet only if the shed meets the principal building's setbacks), require plan review for any shed over 70 square feet, and must use construction methods matching the principal dwelling. Sheds located 10 feet or less from the dwelling unit must have 3/4-hour fire protection. Permit fees for one- and two-family lots total $80 ($50 zoning + $30 building).
Sheds are accessory structures regulated under Chapter 10 (the 2024 Zoning Ordinance) of the City of Middleton Code of Ordinances, adopted under Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Sec. 10.10.41 requires a Shed/Fence Zoning Permit before any shed is erected or altered, applied for electronically at planning@cityofmiddleton.us. The application must include a site plan submitted in accordance with Sec. 10.10.43 showing the location and use of all existing and proposed structures, lot boundaries, and any public or private easements. The Zoning Administrator must grant or deny the permit in writing within 30 days, and the approved permit must be posted in a conspicuous place at the site. Work must begin within 365 days of approval and be completed within 730 days. Sec. 10.10.61 sets the fee schedule: one- and two-family $50 zoning + $30 building = $80 total; multi-family and commercial $100 zoning + $30 building = $130 total. Only one fee is charged per application, and if multiple structure types are proposed on the same lot, the highest fee applies. The City's published Shed/Fence Permit Checklist sets the substantive shed standards for tool/lawn-storage style buildings: minimum setback from any property line is 3 feet; maximum building height is 15 feet, or 22 feet if the shed adheres to the principal building's setbacks; plan review is required for any shed over 70 square feet; construction methods must meet the residential style of the main dwelling; and any shed located 10 feet or less from the dwelling unit must have 3/4-hour fire protection. Sec. 10.10.44 also makes the property owner responsible for identifying lot corner monuments during construction. The City warns that some properties also require approval from a Neighborhood Architectural Review Committee or Homeowner's Association separate from the City permitting process. State Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23 grants Middleton zoning authority through Chapter 10, and the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320-325) sets baseline construction standards. Diggers Hotline (1-800-242-8511) must be contacted before any digging.
Erecting or altering a shed without the Sec. 10.10.41 Zoning Permit, exceeding the height or setback standards in the City's Shed/Fence Permit Checklist, or building inside a public utility easement renders the permit null and void and is subject to enforcement by the Zoning Administrator. The City may remove any structure or landscaping feature placed within or upon a public utility easement, with repair or restoration performed at the property owner's expense. Continuing violations are processed as municipal ordinance violations with forfeitures under the City's bond schedule and may be referred to Dane County Circuit Court.
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