Sioux Falls, SD Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Sioux Falls, SD, 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
- Permit-exempt shed size
- 200 sq ft or less
- Zoning placement permit
- still required regardless of size
- Minimum setback
- 2 ft side/rear if 60 ft from front
- Rear yard coverage cap
- 30% of rear yard, all accessories
- Alley-entered garage setback
- 10 feet from the alley
Summary
Sheds under 200 square feet skip a building permit but still need a zoning placement permit, and any detached accessory building must meet strict setback and rear-yard coverage limits before it goes up.
(b) Detached accessory buildings located ten feet or more from the main building and setback 60 feet from all front property lines may be erected within two feet or more from the side and rear property lines... (e) In all cases, detached accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 30% of the rear yard. (f) A garage which is entered directly from an alley shall not be closer than ten feet to the alley.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under the 2021 IRC as amended by the city (§ 150.002), one-story detached accessory structures 200 square feet or smaller are exempt from a building permit, but a placement permit from the zoning division is still required. Separately, § 160.507 sets the siting rules: a shed closer than 10 feet to the main house must meet the main building's setbacks; if it's 10+ feet from the house and set back 60 feet from the front property line, it can sit as close as 2 feet from side and rear lines (5 feet on some corner lots). All detached accessory buildings combined are capped at 30% of the rear yard, and an alley-entered garage must stay 10 feet off the alley.
Violations & Fines
Building Services and the Planning & Zoning Division enforce these rules; building without the required placement permit or violating a setback can draw a stop-work order, code enforcement citation, or an order to relocate or remove the structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a shed in Sioux Falls?
How close to the property line can a shed be in Sioux Falls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
How Sioux Falls compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota accessory structures overview
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