New Berlin, WI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Sec. 275-42 B of the Zoning Code splits accessory buildings into two size classes, and sheds fall into the smaller one governed by subsection B(2), covering accessory buildings 144 square feet or less alongside gazebos, detached covered patios, permanent greenhouses, playhouses and pool houses. A building permit is required for any accessory building regardless of size under Sec. 275-42 B's opening sentence. Square footage is measured from the first-floor footprint, with eaves up to 24 inches excluded from the count. 5 acres and larger. On placement, Sec.

275-42 B(2)(c) allows sheds only in the side or rear yard, not the front, and sets the setback: a shed in the side yard must meet the underlying zoning district's setback, while a shed in the rear yard needs only a minimum five-foot setback from all property lines, measured from the overhang to the lot line. Height in single-family and two-family districts is limited to one story and 18 feet, with a half-story allowed under Sec. 275-70's definitions, and Sec. 275-42 B(2)(e) requires the shed to sit on a concrete slab, a solid base of patio block, asphalt, poly-carbonate, or a pressure-treated wood floor rather than bare ground.