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Kent County, DE Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Shed permit rules in Kent County, DE, 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

Front yard placement
banned unless 100+ ft back
Side/rear setback
5 feet minimum
Height cap
20 feet, all residential districts
Size limit
no more than 10% larger than main house
Farm accessory structures
separate table, up to 100 ft
Enforcing agency
Division Head of Inspections and Enforcement

Summary

Detached sheds, garages, and other accessory buildings in unincorporated Kent County must stay out of the front yard or front setback unless set back at least 100 feet from the front property line, and no closer than 5 feet to any side or rear line, under Zoning Code Section 205-85. Height is capped at 20 feet.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kent County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, an accessory structure shall not be located in the front yard or front setback of any parcel (as defined by this chapter) unless the accessory structure is located at least 100 feet from the front property line and/or side street line. B. An accessory structure may be located no closer than five feet from the side or rear property line of any conforming or legal nonconforming parcel. ... E. Height limits. (1) AC, AR, RS1, RS5, RM, RMH: 20 feet.

Full Breakdown

Kent County treats any shed, detached garage, workshop, pool house, or other accessory building as subject to Section 205-85's placement rules, regardless of the underlying residential district (AC, AR, RS1, RS5, RM, or RMH). The structure cannot sit in the front yard or front setback at all unless it is set back at least 100 feet from both the front property line and any side street line, effectively pushing sheds toward the rear of most residential lots. B, a much tighter standard than the 15-to-30-foot setbacks that apply to the house itself.

C. E, well under the 35-to-50-foot caps for principal residences. A(4) limits the combined footprint: an accessory structure may not dominate the area of the principal structure by more than 10%, counting attached garages and covered porches in that calculation. Accessory buildings used to house livestock, poultry, or other farm animals follow a different, wider setback table under Section 205-84, ranging up to 100 feet for chicken houses and manure storage measured from the property line, because those uses fall under agricultural structure standards rather than the residential accessory rule. A(3).

Violations & Fines

An accessory structure built inside the required 100-foot front setback or closer than 5 feet to a side or rear line is a zoning violation enforceable under Section 205-426. The Division Head of Inspections and Enforcement can order it relocated or removed, and a court conviction carries a mandatory $100 minimum fine, up to $1,000, up to 10 days in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a shed in my front yard in Kent County?
Not unless it sits at least 100 feet back from both the front property line and any side street line. Section 205-85.A treats that 100-foot distance as the threshold that removes a structure from the 'front yard or front setback,' so most suburban and rural lots simply cannot place a shed in front of the house.
How close to my property line can a detached garage sit?
Once it clears the front setback, an accessory structure needs only 5 feet of separation from a side or rear property line under Section 205-85.B, whether the parcel is conforming or legally nonconforming. That is far tighter than the 15-to-30-foot setback required for the house itself.
How tall can a shed or detached garage be?
Every residential district, AC, AR, RS1, RS5, RM, and RMH, caps accessory structures at 20 feet under Section 205-85.E, and the structure's footprint cannot exceed 10% of the principal building's area once attached garages and covered porches are counted, per Section 205-86.A(4).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kent County

All Kent County rules

How Kent County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Kent County to another location·View the Delaware accessory structures overview

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