Salt Lake City, UT Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Salt Lake City, 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
- Building permit
- Required, per section 21A.04.030
- Lot line setback
- 1 foot from side and rear lines
- Distance from house
- At least 4 feet
- Max footprint
- 50% of house footprint
- Height limit
- 12 ft flat, 17 ft pitched roof
Summary
Salt Lake City requires a building permit for accessory structures like sheds and limits them to one foot from side and rear lot lines, with footprint capped at fifty percent of the house's footprint, though at least four hundred eighty square feet is always allowed.
In residential districts, accessory buildings shall be built at least one foot (1') from sides and rear lot lines except when sharing a common wall with an accessory building on an adjacent lot... In the FR, R-1, R-2 and SR residential districts the maximum footprint of any accessory building, shall not exceed 50% of the building footprint of the principal structure except... at least 480 square feet of accessory building coverage shall be allowed subject to compliance with all other requirements in Section 21A.40.050.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code section 21A.04.030, installing an accessory structure such as a shed requires a building permit from the Division of Building Services and Licensing unless the adopted Building Code exempts it by size. Section 21A.40.050 sets the zoning standards: sheds are barred from front and corner side yards, must sit at least 4 feet from the house and 1 foot from side and rear lot lines, and in the FR, R-1, R-2 and SR districts the footprint can't exceed 50% of the principal building's footprint, though at least 480 square feet is always allowed. Flat-roof sheds top out at 12 feet; pitched-roof sheds at 17 feet.
Violations & Fines
Building without a permit, or a shed that violates the setback and coverage rules, can draw a stop-work order and a Code Enforcement notice of violation from Building Services and Licensing, followed by fines and mandatory correction or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed in Salt Lake City?
How close to my property line can a shed sit?
How big can a Salt Lake City shed be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
How Salt Lake City compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle shed & carport rules.