Scranton, PA Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Pennsylvania's UCC, adopted by reference at 34 Pa Code §§401.1-405.42, includes a list of structures exempt from UCC building permits. Among these (per 34 Pa Code §403.1(b)) are non-residential agricultural buildings and certain utility sheds (typically prefabricated or site-built one-story accessory structures) below 1,000 square feet of floor area, depending on use and as further refined by local construction code officials. The UCC exemption only addresses the building-code permit; municipal zoning compliance is preserved by 53 P.S. §10603 (Scranton Zoning Ordinance still applies). The Scranton Zoning Ordinance generally requires sheds to be located in the rear yard, behind the front building line of the principal dwelling, with minimum side and rear setbacks (commonly 3 to 5 feet, though district-specific). Maximum shed size, height, and aggregate accessory-structure lot coverage are set by district. Sheds on corner lots face additional sight-distance triangle restrictions. Because Scranton's older neighborhoods include many sub-4,000-square-foot lots laid out in the 19th-century anthracite-era grid pattern, rear-yard sheds frequently create setback or lot-coverage variance issues that must be resolved through the Scranton Zoning Hearing Board under 53 P.S. §10909.1. Owners should verify both the zoning permit requirement (Scranton LIP) and any UCC threshold (Scranton Building Code Official) before installation. Hillside properties on steep slopes (common throughout Scranton) face additional grading and stormwater considerations under the Lackawanna River watershed stormwater management framework administered by Lackawanna County Conservation District.