Shed permit rules in Rutherford County, TN — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
In unincorporated Rutherford County, a shed and other detached accessory structures must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines, stay out of the front yard unless the house is set back over 60 feet, and may not exceed the district height limit (typically 35 feet).
Section 1101 D of the Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance sets accessory-structure rules for unincorporated land. Sheds must be in the side or rear yard, at least 5 feet from property lines, and at least 10 feet from a septic tank or field lines. They are allowed in the front yard only if the principal structure is set back more than 60 feet. Total combined floor area of all detached accessory structures is capped at 2,000 square feet on lots of one acre or less, or 5% of lot area on larger lots. Sheds may not encroach on drainage easements or the vision triangle. A zoning-compliance application ($150 for detached accessory structures) is required before a building permit.
Building a shed that violates setbacks, size caps, or easements is a zoning violation constituting a misdemeanor, punishable as other misdemeanors and fined as prescribed by Tennessee statutes; the county may also require correction or removal.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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