Plainfield, NJ Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Plainfield, 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
- Maximum shed size
- 150 square feet
- Setback
- 3 feet from side and rear property lines
- Height, residential
- One story or 15 feet, whichever is less
- Permit
- Development permit before installation
- Lot limit
- No more than three accessory structures
- Box containers
- Not permitted on any lot
Summary
In the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, a storage shed is an accessory structure under § 17:9-19. It needs a development permit before installation, cannot exceed 150 square feet, and sits at least 3 feet from side and rear property lines. Residential accessory structures stop at one story or 15 feet, whichever is less.
§ 17:9-19. Accessory uses and structures. ... A development permit is required to be obtained prior to the installation of any accessory use or structure. ... B. Setbacks. Accessory structures, unless specifically regulated otherwise in this chapter, shall be set back from side and rear property lines a minimum three (3) feet to a rear yard property line and three (3) feet to a side yard property line. C. Height. No accessory structure in a residential zone or on a residential property shall be taller than one (1) story or fifteen (15) feet, whichever is less. ... F. Storage Sheds. Storage sheds shall be considered an accessory structure, and shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet. The shed must be exclusively used by the occupants of the principal building to which the shed is accessory, and may only contain items customarily associated with residential use such as, but not limited to personal items, lawnmowers, tools and hardware.
Full Breakdown
Section 17:9-19 of the Plainfield Land Use Ordinance covers accessory uses and structures in all districts, and it opens with a flat requirement: a development permit must be obtained before the installation of any accessory use or structure. A shed is not exempt for being small.
Size and use. Subsection F treats storage sheds as accessory structures capped at 150 square feet. The shed is used exclusively by the occupants of the principal building it serves, and it holds only items customarily associated with residential use, such as personal items, lawnmowers, tools and hardware.
Location and setbacks. No accessory structure sits in a front yard unless the chapter specifically permits it, it stands on the same lot as the principal use, and it is not physically connected to the principal structure. Setbacks are a minimum of three (3) feet to a rear yard property line and three (3) feet to a side yard property line, unless the chapter regulates a particular structure differently. Swimming pools, for example, carry their own ten (10) foot setback.
Height and coverage. In a residential zone or on a residential property, no accessory structure is taller than one (1) story or fifteen (15) feet, whichever is less. In a nonresidential zone the limit is twenty (20) feet, and no accessory structure exceeds the height of the principal structure. The ground area of an accessory structure is capped at 35 percent of the principal structure's ground area in residential zones and 40 percent in nonresidential zones.
Count limit and containers. No more than three (3) accessory structures are erected on any lot, and a fence does not count toward that total. Box containers are not permitted accessory structures and cannot sit on any lot in a residential or nonresidential zone, so a box container does not stand in for a shed.
Violations & Fines
Section 17:9-19 prints no fine of its own, so the general penalty clause of Chapter 17 governs. Under § 17:1-23 the property owner, contractor or other interested person faces not more than $1,500 for the first ten days after the initial summons and not more than $75 per day after that, at the court's discretion. The Zoning Officer starts with a letter requesting compliance within ten days (§ 17:1-20), and every day of noncompliance counts as an additional offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small shed in Plainfield?
How far from my property line does a shed have to sit?
Can I put a shed in my front yard?
How many sheds and outbuildings can one lot hold?
Can I use a box container for storage instead of a shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plainfield
How Plainfield compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Plainfield to another location·View the New Jersey accessory structures overview
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