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Peoria County, IL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Shed permit rules in Peoria County, IL, 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

Subdivision lot cap
1,300 sq. ft. or house footprint
Extra garage allowance
+750 sq. ft.
A-1/A-2 (5 acres or less)
1,300 sq. ft. + 300 sq. ft./acre
A-1/A-2 over 5 acres
No floor-area cap
Setback rule
Must meet district's minimum setback

Summary

A backyard shed in unincorporated Peoria County is capped at the footprint of the house or 1,300 square feet (plus 750 for a garage) on subdivision lots, with larger limits on agricultural land, and every shed must meet the underlying district's setback line.

City-specific rules exist: Peoria has its own shed & carport rules rules that differ from Peoria County's county-level regulations. If you live in Peoria, check the city-specific page instead.

3.For lots and parcels used for residential purposes in the A-1 or A-2 Agricultural Districts which are five (5) acres or less and which are not in platted subdivisions, the total floor area of any accessory building shall not exceed one thousand three hundred (1,300) square feet, plus three hundred (300) square feet per acre. Fractional acres shall be rounded to the nearest whole acre.4.For lots and parcels in platted subdivisions not created by tract surveys or in residentially zoned districts, the total floor area of all accessory buildings, attached or detached, shall not exceed the footprint of the principal structure or one thousand three hundred (1,300) square feet, whichever is less, plus seven hundred fifty (750) square feet for a private garage. Accessory structures (including, but not limited to, detached garages, playhouses, sheds, storage buildings, and swimming pools,) shall be required to meet or exceed the minimum setback requirements of the underlying zoning district, unless otherwise provided for in this section.

Source: Illinois Compiled StatutesView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).

Full Breakdown

UDO Sec. 3 sets the size limits for accessory buildings like sheds and storage buildings. On residential lots in the A-1 or A-2 Agricultural Districts of five acres or less, outside platted subdivisions, total accessory building floor area cannot exceed 1,300 square feet plus 300 square feet per acre, with fractional acres rounded to the nearest whole acre; larger A-1 or A-2 parcels over five acres carry no floor-area cap on accessory buildings at all. On lots in platted subdivisions, or in residentially zoned districts generally, total accessory building floor area (attached or detached) cannot exceed the footprint of the principal structure or 1,300 square feet, whichever is less, plus an extra 750 square feet allowed specifically for a private garage; no single accessory building may be larger than the footprint of the principal structure, including any attached garage.

Beyond size, Sec. 4 requires that accessory structures, expressly including detached garages, playhouses, sheds, storage buildings, and swimming pools, meet or exceed the minimum setback requirements of the underlying zoning district unless the UDO provides otherwise; attached garages instead count as part of the principal structure for setback purposes. Appurtenances like decks, patios and porches must also meet the district's accessory-structure setbacks, while smaller attached features like eaves, awnings and chimneys are exempt from setback requirements entirely.

Violations & Fines

Erecting a shed or accessory building that exceeds the applicable floor-area cap or that fails to meet the underlying district's setback line is a zoning violation, enforceable under the county's general penalty section, Sec. 1-10, which sets a fine of up to $1,000.00 per offense and treats each day the oversized or misplaced structure remains as a separate offense; the Zoning Administrator may also order the structure removed or relocated to bring it into compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big a shed can I build on a regular subdivision lot in Peoria County?
Total accessory building floor area, including the shed, cannot exceed the footprint of your house or 1,300 square feet, whichever is less, plus an additional 750 square feet allowed specifically for a private garage, under UDO Sec. 5.13.3.
Does a shed need to meet a setback line?
Yes. Sec. 5.13.4 requires sheds, along with detached garages, playhouses, storage buildings and pools, to meet or exceed the minimum setback of the underlying zoning district unless the UDO specifically provides otherwise.
Is there a bigger shed allowance on farmland?
Yes. On A-1 or A-2 Agricultural District parcels over five acres, Sec. 5.13.3 imposes no floor-area limit on accessory buildings at all; parcels of five acres or less get 1,300 square feet plus 300 square feet per acre instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Peoria County

All Peoria County rules

How Peoria County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Peoria County to another location·View the Illinois accessory structures overview

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