Royal Oak Township, MI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 32-619(c) governs detached accessory buildings, including garages. They cannot stand in any front yard, must comply with the district's side yard setback and cannot sit in any side yard between the front and rear building lines, and must be located within a rear yard. In a required rear yard they cannot be within one foot of a rear lot line or encroach on a recorded easement. They must be at least ten feet from the principal building on the site and from any principal building on an adjacent lot, though the zoning board of appeals can grant a variance down to four feet on a finding of no threat to public health and safety and compliance with fire rating, emergency access and similar standards.

On a corner lot where at least one residential structure on the block fronts a street, accessory buildings follow the front setback on any side facing that street. Size: up to 40 percent of any required or nonrequired rear yard, with all accessory buildings for a principal structure capped at 625 square feet. In single-family districts only one accessory building, use or garage is allowed, except a second building of no more than 80 square feet of ground floor area that meets the height and setback rules and is properly anchored.

Height in residential districts: one story and 14 feet. Under § 32-619(a), no accessory building can be built before a principal building exists, none can sit in a dedicated easement or street right-of-way, and each must be compatible with the principal building and meet all other construction codes. Where the principal building needs site plan approval, so does the accessory building. Section 32-621(5) prohibits flat roofs on permitted accessory buildings in residential districts. Section 32-231 requires a fee with any request for a building or zoning permit.