Provo, UT Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Provo, 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
- Provo City Code 14.10.080 (Yard Requirements - Accessory Buildings)
- Setback (outside buildable area)
- 3 ft minimum from any property line
- Max coverage (outside buildable area)
- 10% of actual lot area
- Height near property line
- No portion over 12 ft within 10 ft of a property line
- Prohibited location
- Not in a front or street side yard
- Building permit threshold
- Required over 200 sq ft (IBC adopted)
- Within buildable area
- Footprint and height less than main dwelling; matching materials/colors
Summary
Provo treats sheds, gazebos, and other detached accessory buildings under its yard-requirement code (14.10.080); accessory buildings outside the buildable area must sit at least three feet from any property line, cover no more than 10% of the lot, and no portion may exceed 12 feet in height within 10 feet of a property line.
Note: No portion of the building can exceed 12 feet within 10 feet of a property line. 14.10.080 Yard Requirements: 1. Accessory Buildings Within the Buildable area. Accessory buildings meeting all setback requirements (within the buildable area) for the main dwelling shall: (a) Have a building footprint and height less than the main dwelling. (b) Comply with all lot coverage requirements. (c) Comply with the latest adopted edition of the International Building code. (d) Only be used for those accessory uses allowed in the respective zone. (e) Maintain architecturally similar material and colors with main building. 2. Accessory Building Outside the Buildable area. Accessory buildings that do not meet the setback requirements (outside the buildable area) for the main dwelling shall meet the conditions in Section (5) above and the following: (a) Be no closer to the front property line than the main building. (b) Be no larger than ten percent (10%) of the actual lot area of said property. (c) Be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from any property line. (d) Not be located within a recorded public utility easement, unless a release can be secured from all public utilities. (e) Have no portion of the building exceed 12 feet in height within 10 feet of a property line. (f) Not be located within a front or street side yard. (g) Comply with distance between buildings requirements.
Full Breakdown
080 in the R1 One-Family Residential zone). An accessory building that meets all setback requirements for the main dwelling (within the buildable area) must have a building footprint and height less than the main dwelling, comply with all lot-coverage requirements, comply with the latest adopted International Building Code, only be used for accessory uses allowed in the zone, and maintain architecturally similar materials and colors to the main building. An accessory building that does not meet the main-dwelling setbacks (outside the buildable area) must be no closer to the front property line than the main building, be no larger than 10% of the actual lot area, be set back a minimum of three feet from any property line, not sit within a recorded public utility easement (absent a release), have no portion exceed 12 feet in height within 10 feet of a property line, not be located within a front or street side yard, and comply with distance-between-buildings requirements.
Provo has adopted the International Building Code, under which accessory buildings of 200 square feet or smaller do not require a building permit; however, a zoning compliance review is still used to verify setback and height requirements, and structures over 200 square feet require a building permit.
Violations & Fines
Sheds or accessory buildings placed in a front or street side yard, closer than three feet to a property line, exceeding 12 feet in height within 10 feet of a property line, or covering more than 10% of the lot area are zoning violations subject to Provo code-enforcement action, which can require relocation, reduction, or removal of the structure. Building an accessory structure over 200 square feet without a building permit is a separate building-code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the property line can a shed be in Provo?
Do I need a building permit for a shed in Provo?
How tall can a backyard shed be in Provo?
How big can my shed be relative to the lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Provo
How Provo compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Provo 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.