Nashville, TN Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Nashville, TN, 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 coverage (lot <40,000 sf)
- 850 sq ft or 50% of house, greater
- Absolute cap, any lot size
- 2,500 square feet
- Height limit (lot <40,000 sf)
- 1 story or 16 feet
- Side setback (shed ≤850 sf)
- Half district setback, min 3 feet
- Rear setback
- 3 feet (10 feet if alley-facing)
Summary
Metro Nashville caps rear-yard accessory buildings under 40,000-square-foot lots at 850 square feet (or half the house's footprint, whichever is larger) and never more than 2,500 square feet, with reduced side and rear setbacks for small sheds.
On all lots with a size of less than forty thousand square feet, the building coverage of an accessory structure other than a detached accessory dwelling unit located to the rear of the principal dwelling and complying with the district setbacks shall be limited to eight hundred fifty square feet or fifty percent of the building coverage of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater, but in no case shall exceed two-thousand five-hundred square feet. For regulations pertaining to detached accessory dwelling units, see Section 17.16.030.G.B.These floor area controls shall not apply to accessory structures proposed on lots where agricultural activities and domestic animals/wildlife are permitted. (Ord. BL2025-1007 § 4, 2025; Ord. BL2005-650 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2002-1015 § 1 (part), 2002)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metro's zoning code (§17.12.050) limits accessory buildings on lots under 40,000 square feet to 850 square feet of building coverage, or 50% of the principal dwelling's footprint if that's larger, but never more than 2,500 square feet total. Height for those same accessory structures tops out at one story or 16 feet (§17.12.060.B.1); lots of 40,000 square feet or more can go to two stories or 24 feet. Sheds of 850 square feet or less set behind the house get relaxed setbacks too: half the normal side setback (minimum 3 feet) and a 3-foot rear setback, rising to 10 feet if a garage or carport door faces an alley (§17.12.040.E.1.a).
Violations & Fines
Accessory structures that exceed the 850/2,500-square-foot coverage cap, the 16-foot one-story height limit, or the reduced side/rear setbacks violate the zoning code; the zoning administrator can require correction or removal before a building permit is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a shed be in Nashville?
How close to the property line can I build a shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
How Nashville compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Nashville to another location·View the Tennessee accessory structures overview
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