Story County, IA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Story County, IA, 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
- Placement
- rear yard only (corner lots also follow side setback)
- Coverage cap
- 30% of the rear yard
- Permit-exempt sheds
- under 100 sq ft, no foundation
- A-1 accessory setback
- 50 ft front, 10 ft side
- A-1 height cap
- 40 feet
- First-offense penalty
- up to $750 civil fine
Summary
In unincorporated Story County, a shed or other accessory building must sit in the rear yard, can't cover more than 30% of that rear yard, and can't be built before the main house, per Code of Ordinances § 91.01(4). Sheds under 100 square feet with no permanent foundation skip the zoning permit but still owe rear and side setbacks.
4. No accessory building shall be erected in any required yard other than a rear yard, as provided hereinafter. ... ... B. An accessory structure that is not a part of the main building shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the rear yard. No accessory structure shall be constructed upon a lot until the construction of the main building has actually commenced, and no accessory structure shall be used unless the main building on the lot is also being used. ... ... 14. Accessory structures which are less than 100 square feet and have no permanent attachment to the underlying ground shall not require a Zoning Permit; however, all bulk requirements of the applicable zoning district shall be satisfied with the exception of rear and side setbacks.
Full Breakdown
01(4) of the Land Development Regulations restricts where an accessory building, such as a shed, detached garage, or workshop, can go on a lot in unincorporated Story County: no accessory building may sit in any required yard other than the rear yard. On a corner lot, the structure must meet the setback for the side road, and if it's attached to the main house by a breezeway or similar connector, it has to meet the same yard requirements as the principal building. Subsection (4)(B) caps a freestanding accessory structure at 30 percent of the rear yard, and bars building or using it until construction of the main building has actually started, with a narrow exception in subsection (4)(C) that on A-1 Agricultural land, an accessory structure can go up before the dwelling if the owner signs an agreement with the Planning and Development Director committing to start the house within two years.
Subsection (14) exempts small sheds, those under 100 square feet with no permanent attachment to the ground, from needing a Zoning Permit at all, though they still have to meet every other bulk requirement of the zoning district except the rear and side setbacks. 04) sets a 50-foot front setback, 10-foot side setback, and 40-foot height cap for accessory structures generally, with a reduced 2-foot side setback along an alley.
Violations & Fines
An accessory building erected in a required yard other than the rear yard, or one built before the main structure without the Director's signed agreement, is a Land Development Regulations violation enforced as a county infraction under Section 93.03: up to $750 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for each repeat offense, with each day of the violation counted separately. The Planning and Development Department can require the structure moved or removed to bring the lot into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small shed?
Can I put a shed in my side yard?
How much of my backyard can a shed cover?
Can I build a shed on my farmland before the house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Story County
How Story County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Story County to another location·View the Iowa accessory structures overview
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