Newton, MA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3, accessory buildings including sheds, detached garages, and similar structures in Newton's Residence Districts must meet four dimensional standards unless a use-specific exception in Sec. 7 applies. First, a shed cannot sit closer than 5 feet to any side or rear lot line, and cannot be closer to the front lot line than the setback distance that applies to the principal house on the same lot. Second, no part of the shed can come within 5 feet of any point on the principal building on the same lot, keeping accessory structures clearly separated from the house.

Third, height is capped by roof type: a sloping roof accessory building tops out at 22 feet, a flat roof building at 18 feet, and no accessory building may rise more than 1½ stories regardless of roof shape. Fourth, the ground floor footprint of any accessory building is limited to 700 square feet, covering the shed's footprint rather than any finished floor area above it. The Commissioner of Inspectional Services administers Chapter 30 and enforces these standards under Sec. 1, the same mechanism that covers every other zoning standard in the ordinance.

These accessory-building limits were last amended through Ord. No. B-67 on 02-16-21 and remain in force under the Zoning Ordinance's December 1, 2025 consolidated update.