Passaic, NJ Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Passaic, NJ, 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
- R-1/R-2 shed cap
- One story, 10 ft max any dimension
- Setbacks
- 3 ft side, 5 ft rear (§ 317-48I(5)(a))
- Combined accessory coverage cap
- 50% of rear yard or 2,000 sq ft
- Distance from house
- 10 ft min in non-R-1/R-2 zones (§ 317-48I(2)(c))
- Source ordinance
- Amended 6-1-1995 by Ord. No. 1330-95
Summary
Accessory buildings on a Passaic residential lot, garages, utility sheds, freestanding storage, answer to the bulk standards in City Code § 317-48. A detached shed can't exceed one story or 10 feet in any dimension in the R-1 and R-2 Districts, has to clear three feet from any side line and five feet from the rear, and combined with every other accessory structure on the lot can't cover more than 50% of the rear yard or 2,000 square feet.
(2) Utility sheds, limited to one story in height and 10 feet in any other dimension. ... I. Bulk requirements for accessory buildings. ... (2)(a) Detached accessory buildings may occupy, in the aggregate, not to exceed 30% of the area of any rear yard, but shall not be located nearer than three feet to any side or rear lot line. ... (c) No detached accessory building or accessory building attached to the main building by a breezeway shall be located nearer than 10 feet to a principal building on the same lot. ... (5) Accessory buildings in the R-1 and R-2 Zones. ... (a) Accessory structures shall not be located nearer than three feet to any side or five feet to any rear lot line. ... (c) Accessory structures shall not cover the greater of 50% of the rear yard or 2,000 square feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 317-48A(2) sets the base dimensional cap for a utility shed in the R-1 District, one story, 10 feet in any other dimension, and § 317-48B extends the identical R-1 rule to the R-2 District. The bulk requirements layered on top come from § 317-48I, added and amended by Ordinance No. 1330-95 in 1995. Subsection I(5), covering accessory buildings in the R-1 and R-2 Zones specifically, sets the side setback at three feet and the rear setback at five feet, bars any accessory building from sitting closer to the street line than the rear of the main house, and caps total accessory coverage, sheds, detached garages and similar structures combined, at the greater of 50% of the rear yard or 2,000 square feet.
Elsewhere in Chapter 317, § 317-48I(2) applies a looser standard to accessory buildings outside the R-1/R-2/R-3 one- and two-family pattern: up to 30% of the rear yard, a three-foot side/rear setback, and separate 60-foot front and six-foot rear-corner clearances. A detached shed also can't sit closer than 10 feet to the principal building on the same lot under § 317-48I(2)(c), and any deck or pool sharing the rear yard within 20 feet of the property line needs its own visual screen under § 317-48I(5)(d).
Violations & Fines
A shed that exceeds the § 317-48A(2) size cap, encroaches on the § 317-48I(5) setbacks, or pushes combined accessory coverage past 50% of the rear yard or 2,000 square feet is a zoning violation. The administrative officer serves written notice under § 317-68 with a deadline to cure, and § 317-62 voids any permit issued for a noncompliant structure automatically. Because Chapter 317 has no shed-specific fine, the citywide general penalty at § 1-3 applies: up to $2,000 or 90 days' imprisonment or community service, with § 317-67 preserving the City's right to force removal regardless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the size limit for a shed in a Passaic R-1 yard?
How much of my backyard can accessory structures cover?
Does a shed have to sit a set distance from my house?
Are the shed rules different outside the R-1 and R-2 zones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic
How Passaic compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Passaic to another location·View the New Jersey accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Passaic County handle shed & carport rules.