Salem, OR Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Salem, OR, 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
- Interior side setback
- Min. 5 ft. for most accessory structures; none against a fence wall on an infill lot
- Rear setback
- None up to 9 ft. tall; 1 ft. per 1 ft. of height over 9 ft.
- Maximum height
- 15 ft. for accessory structures
- Rear yard coverage
- Max. 25% for single family and two family accessory structures
- Total square footage
- 600 sq. ft. if house is 1,200 sq. ft. or less
- Larger houses
- 1,000 sq. ft. or 50% of house gross area, whichever is less
Summary
In Salem's RS single family zone, a shed or other accessory structure must sit at least 5 ft from an interior side line, stay within 15 ft in height, cover no more than 25% of the rear yard, and fit under an aggregate square footage cap tied to the size of the house: 600 sq. ft. for a main building of 1,200 square feet or less.
Accessory to all uses; infill lot None Applicable to accessory structures having at least 1 wall which is an integral part of a fence. Min. 5 ft. Applicable to all other accessory structures. ... Accessory to all other uses None Applicable to accessory structures not more than 9 ft. in height. Min. 1 ft. for each 1 ft. of height over 9 ft. Applicable to accessory structures greater than 9 ft. in height. Min. 1 ft. Applicable to accessory structures adjacent to an alley, unless a greater setback is required based on the height of the accessory structure. ... Rear Yard Coverage Buildings All uses N/A Accessory Structures Accessory to single family and two family Max. 25% ... Accessory Structures Accessory to all uses Max. 15 ft. ... accessory structures to single family and two family uses shall be limited to the maximum aggregate total square footage set forth in Table 511-5. TABLE 511-5. MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR ALL ACCESSORY STRUCTURES Main Building Gross Area Maximum Aggregate Total Square Footage for All Accessory Structures 1,200 square feet or less 600 sq. ft. Greater than 1,200 square feet 1,000 sq. ft. or 50% of main building gross area, whichever is less
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Salem Revised Code § 511.010 sets the development standards for the RS zone, and shed rules are spread across four of its subsections. Every shed, garage, workshop or other accessory structure on a single family or two family lot has to clear all of them at once.
Setbacks come from Table 511-3 in subsection (d). On an interior side line, an accessory structure on an infill lot needs no setback if it has at least 1 wall that is an integral part of a fence. Every other accessory structure needs a minimum of 5 ft. At the rear, an accessory structure to a single family or two family use needs no setback if it is not more than 9 ft. in height. Above 9 ft., the setback is 1 ft. for each 1 ft. of height over 9 ft. Where the structure sits adjacent to an alley, the minimum is 1 ft., unless the height formula demands more. Along the street, an accessory structure not more than 4 ft. in height needs no setback, one taller than 4 ft. needs 12 ft. from the street line, and 20 ft. when it stands in a yard next to a collector or arterial street.
Subsection (e) and Table 511-4 add two more limits. Accessory structures to single family and two family uses cannot cover more than 25% of the rear yard, and no accessory structure can be taller than 15 ft. Total lot coverage for buildings and accessory structures together is capped at 60% for single family through four family uses.
Subsection (f) and Table 511-5 cap the combined square footage of all accessory structures on the lot, not each shed separately. If the main building has 1,200 square feet or less of gross area, the total is 600 sq. ft. If the main building is larger, the total is 1,000 sq. ft. or 50% of the main building gross area, whichever is less. A mid-sized house is therefore held to half its own gross area, and only a large house reaches the 1,000 sq. ft. ceiling. A detached garage, a carport and a garden shed all draw from the same allowance.
Subsection (g) covers existing structures. A building or structure housing a continued use can be altered, enlarged or rebuilt after damage if it meets current standards, or if it is rebuilt in the same location on the lot and any enlargement does not increase its nonconformity.
Violations & Fines
Section 511.010 states development standards only and prints no fine or penalty of its own. A shed that crosses the 5 ft. side setback, exceeds 15 ft. in height, pushes rear yard coverage past 25%, or pushes the combined accessory structure total past the Table 511-5 cap fails the RS zone standards. Salem treats those standards as conditions of development approval, so the practical consequence is a denied permit or a correction order to move, shrink or remove the structure. Rebuilding a damaged noncompliant shed is allowed only in its original location under subsection (g).
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my side fence can I build a shed in Salem's RS zone?
Is there a size limit on sheds at a Salem single family home?
How tall can a shed be in the RS zone?
Does the shed count against how much of my yard I can cover?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salem
How Salem compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Salem to another location·View the Oregon accessory structures overview
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