Sterling Heights, MI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Sterling Heights, MI, 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
- Max height
- 1 story or 15 ft
- Shed height cap
- 10 ft on ≤1/4-acre lots
- Slab required
- over 50 sq ft floor area
- Max door width
- 6 feet
- Rear-yard setback
- 3 ft from lot line
Summary
Sterling Heights caps accessory buildings at one story or 15 feet, with sheds on quarter-acre-or-smaller residential lots limited to 10 feet high, 6-foot-wide doors, and a concrete slab once they exceed 50 square feet.
Accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed one story, or 15 feet in height, in any residential or commercial zoning district. Accessory buildings with a floor area over 50 square feet shall be installed upon a concrete slab floor that is at least 3½ inches thick and in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Michigan Building Code or Michigan Residential Building Code. Sheds shall not exceed ten feet in height on a lot of one-fourth acre or less located in any residential zoning district. Sheds shall not have openings or doors exceeding six feet in width.
D. No accessory building shall be constructed prior to the construction of the principal building, unless specifically approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
E. The following requirements shall apply to accessory buildings located on one family zoned parcels of one quarter an acre or less:
1. One garage, either attached or detached, is permitted;
2. For parcels with an attached garage, one shed, not exceeding 200 square feet in area, shall be permitted;
3. The total square footage of a detached accessory building shall not exceed 700 square feet.
F. The following requirements shall apply to accessory buildings located on one family zoned parcels of more than one-quarter acre and less than one- half acre:
1. Freestanding accessory buildings including but not more than two garages may be permitted;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-46: Local legislation current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26).
Full Breakdown
Zoning Ordinance § 28.00.C sets the baseline dimensional standards for every accessory building in Sterling Heights, Macomb County: one story or 15 feet maximum height in residential and commercial districts, a concrete slab foundation at least 3½ inches thick once the structure exceeds 50 square feet, a 10-foot height cap for sheds on residential lots of a quarter-acre or less, and a 6-foot maximum door width. Placement is separately regulated by § 28.00.B, a detached accessory building must sit at least 3 feet from any lot line in the required rear yard and, unlike pools, at least 10 feet from the house or an attached deck.
Violations & Fines
A shed built oversized, without slab, or placed too close to the lot line violates the zoning ordinance; § 33.00.B punishes each day of the violation separately, with fines up to $500, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a shed be in Sterling Heights?
Does my shed need a concrete slab?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
How Sterling Heights compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Sterling Heights to another location·View the Michigan accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle shed & carport rules.