Orem, UT Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Orem, UT, 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
- Code Section
- Orem City Code 22-6-8(D)
- Max Footprint (single-family)
- 8% of parcel area
- Max Footprint (multifamily)
- 12% of parcel area
- Distance From Main House
- 6 ft minimum (if permit required)
- Rear-Yard Max Height
- 18 ft
- Front-Yard Setback
- 40 ft minimum if in front yard
- Permit Exemption
- Sheds 200 sq ft or smaller (single/two-family lots)
- Prohibited
- Shipping containers, semi-trailers, boxcars, PODS
Summary
Orem City Code 22-6-8(D) caps the combined footprint of all accessory buildings at 8% of a single-family parcel (12% for multifamily), requires a 6-foot gap from the main house for any permitted structure, limits rear-yard accessory buildings to 18 feet in height, and bans shipping containers and PODS as permanent structures. A building permit is not required for a shed of 200 square feet or smaller on single/two-family lots.
D. Accessory Buildings/Structures. 1. Prohibited Locations. a. No accessory building/structure requiring a building permit shall be located closer than six feet (6') to the primary structure on the lot. b. No accessory building/structure may be constructed in a front yard unless the accessory building/structure is set back at least forty (40) feet from the front property line nor shall it be placed within a required side yard adjacent to a street, or within any public utility easement. c. In no case may an accessory building/structure extend beyond property lines. 2. Maximum Area Limitations. The total footprint area of all accessory buildings/structures shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the area of the parcel upon which they are located for single-family lots and twelve percent (12%) for multifamily developments. For the purpose of this section, structures located at or below grade shall not be considered in determining the total amount of lot coverage of accessory structures. 3. Rear Yard Requirements. An accessory building/structure may be constructed in a rear yard, or in a side setback that is not between the primary structure and the side property line, provided the accessory building/structure: a. does not exceed eighteen feet (18') in height above grade if located in the required setback; and b. does not exceed eighteen feet (18') in height, or the height of the primary structure (whichever is greater), if not located in the required setback. ... 9. Prohibited Structures. Shipping containers, semi-trailers, boxcars, PODS, or similar structures may not be installed or maintained on a residential lot.
Full Breakdown
Orem City Code Section 22-6-8(D) ('Accessory Buildings/Structures') governs sheds, detached garages, and similar structures in residential zones. The total footprint area of all accessory buildings/structures shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the parcel area for single-family lots and twelve percent (12%) for multifamily developments, with at- or below-grade structures excluded from that calculation. No accessory building/structure requiring a building permit may be located closer than six feet (6') to the primary structure. An accessory building may be placed in a rear yard, or in a side setback not between the house and the side property line, if it does not exceed eighteen feet (18') in height when located in the required setback.
Accessory buildings between the house and a non-street side property line may not cover more than fifteen percent (15%) of the required side-yard setback area and may not exceed eight feet (8') in height if within the required setback adjacent to a residential use. Structures may not be built in a front yard unless set back at least forty feet (40') from the front property line, may not encroach into a public utility easement, and may not extend beyond property lines. Shipping containers, semi-trailers, boxcars, PODS, and similar structures are prohibited on residential lots.
Per the City's permitting guidance, no building permit is required for a storage shed of 200 square feet or smaller on single-family or two-family lots (120 square feet or smaller on multi-family lots), though zoning setbacks and placement rules still apply.
Violations & Fines
Building an accessory structure that exceeds the 8%/12% footprint cap, violates the 6-foot separation, encroaches into a setback or easement, or installs a prohibited shipping container/POD is a zoning violation subject to Orem code enforcement, correction orders, and after-the-fact permitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my shed be in Orem without a permit?
How close to my house can a shed be in Orem?
Can I use a shipping container or POD as a permanent shed in Orem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orem
How Orem compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Orem to another location·View the Utah accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle shed & carport rules.