Lexington County, SC Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Lexington County, SC, 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
- Size limit for exemption
- 200 sq ft, one-story, detached
- Citation
- Sec. 14-262(1)
- Still required
- Zoning permit under Sec. 14-271
- Over the limit
- Full permit process, Secs. 14-261 to 14-263
- Penalty for unpermitted oversized shed
- Misdemeanor, magistrate's court fine
Summary
A shed or other one-story detached accessory structure in Lexington County can skip the building permit entirely if its floor area stays at or under 200 square feet, per Sec. 14-262(1). Cross the 200-square-foot line and the shed needs the same permit, fee, and inspection process as any other building.
Exemptions from permit requirements of this article shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following:
Building:
1. One-story detached accessory structures provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 square meters).
2. Fences.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " That 200-square-foot ceiling is measured on the floor area of the structure, not the lot, and applies only to one-story, detached buildings; an attached shed or a two-story storage building doesn't qualify no matter how small its footprint. The same Division 5 list also exempts decks under 200 square feet that sit no more than 30 inches above grade and aren't attached to a dwelling (item 13), so a small shed and a small deck get the same treatment for building-permit purposes. Once a shed's floor area exceeds 200 square feet, gains a second story, or is attached to the house, the owner has to file the written application in Sec.
14-263, describing the work, the land, and the intended use, before the building official issues a permit under Sec. 14-261, pay the fee set under the schedule in Sec. 14-332, and pass the inspections in Division 9, including the final inspection in Sec. 14-352(9), before the structure can be occupied. Even an exempt shed isn't fully free of county review: Sec. 14-271 still requires a zoning permit before construction, so the accessory structure has to meet whatever setback and lot-coverage standards Appendix B assigns to its zoning district.
A property owner who disputes whether a structure's footprint or story count disqualifies it from the exemption can request a written determination from the building official and appeal an adverse call to the Building Code Board of Appeals under Sec. 14-412.
Violations & Fines
Erecting an accessory structure over 200 square feet, or a multi-story or attached structure, without first obtaining a building permit is an unlawful act under Sec. 14-441. The building official can order the work stopped and issue a notice of violation under Sec. 14-442; if the violation isn't corrected, the owner faces prosecution as a misdemeanor under Sec. 14-444, with a magistrate's court fine and each day the unpermitted structure stands counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my shed be before I need a building permit in Lexington County?
Does a 200-square-foot shed still need county approval of any kind?
What if my shed is 250 square feet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington County
How Lexington County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Lexington County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.