South Fulton, GA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in South Fulton, GA, 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
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 303.02, accessory structures
- Placement rule
- Rear or side yard only, outside minimum yard, § 403.03(f)
- Build order
- Accessory structure must follow the main house, § 402.06
- Banned materials
- No tarp, vinyl, plastic, or PVC construction, § 3-6020
- Greenhouse size cap
- 1/3 of principal dwelling's floor area, § 303.02(b)
- General penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 90 days jail, § 1-1006
Summary
South Fulton's zoning ordinance classifies tool sheds, storage sheds, and detached garages as accessory structures under § 303.02. They must sit in the rear or side yard outside the district's required setback per § 403.03(f), cannot be built before the main house under § 402.06, and cannot be built of tarp, vinyl, plastic, or PVC under § 3-6020.
Sec. 303.02. - Accessory structures customary to a dwelling.(a)Accessory structures customary to a single-family dwelling include outbuildings such as tool sheds, woodsheds, workshops, outdoor kitchens, pool houses, gazebos, storage sheds, detached garages, detached carports, and play equipment.(b)A greenhouse accessory to a residential use shall be limited in size to one-third of the floor area of the principal dwelling.(c)See Article 4 for setback restrictions. ... Sec. 403.03(f). - Placement of accessory structures. In addition to requirements in Articles 2 and 3 regarding types of allowed accessory uses by zoning district and associated restrictions, the following shall also apply.(1)In agricultural and residential zoning districts, except as noted in this Section, accessory structures may be located in rear or side yards but shall not be located within a minimum yard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
02 lists tool sheds, woodsheds, workshops, storage sheds, detached garages, detached carports, gazebos, and play equipment as accessory structures customary to a single-family dwelling. 03(f), which requires that in agricultural and residential zoning districts accessory structures 'may be located in rear or side yards but shall not be located within a minimum yard,' meaning a shed cannot encroach into the front, side, or rear setback that applies to the principal building. Special variations apply district by district: on AG-1 lots of at least ten acres, a structure accessory to the agricultural use may sit in any yard so long as it stays outside the minimum yard; in the R-5A and NUP districts a detached garage may sit along the rear lot line at zero to seven feet if the owner grants a seven-foot encroachment and maintenance easement; and in the A, TR, A-L, MIX, C-1, C-2, M-1, and M-2 districts, accessory structures are barred from the minimum front yard outright. 03(f) yard-placement rules.
Violations & Fines
South Fulton's Department of Community Development and Regulatory Affairs enforces accessory-structure placement and maintenance through the city's code enforcement process. Where a chapter does not set its own penalty, the Code of Ordinances' general penalty clause, § 1-1006, applies: a violation is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00, up to 90 days in the city jail, up to 90 days of labor on public works or streets, or up to 90 days of community service, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I put a shed on my South Fulton lot?
Can I put up a shed before I build my house?
What materials are banned for shed construction?
Is there a maximum size for a storage shed?
What happens if my shed violates the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Fulton
How South Fulton compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare South Fulton to another location·View the Georgia accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle shed & carport rules.