Taylor, MI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 15.01 of Taylor's Zoning Appendix A governs sheds and other accessory buildings. Combined accessory building area on a residential lot cannot exceed the ground floor area of the principal building, and is further capped at 720 square feet on parcels of one-half acre or less, 900 square feet on parcels between one-half and one acre, and 1,500 square feet on parcels over one acre. A shed or other accessory structure over 200 square feet must have a footing. Detached accessory buildings must sit in the rear yard only, at least three feet from any lot line, one foot where the rear line abuts an alley, and at least ten feet from the principal building on the lot.

A minimum ten-foot separation is required between any two accessory buildings, though that distance can drop to three feet where firewall construction exists in each structure. Maximum height for a detached accessory building is 14 feet on parcels under one-half acre, 16 feet on parcels between one-half and one acre, and 25 feet on parcels over one acre. Attached accessory buildings, by contrast, must meet the setback and height standards of the principal structure rather than these accessory standards, and an attached garage cannot exceed 60 percent of the dwelling's livable floor area or the height of the living portion of the house.

Accessory buildings cannot be occupied for dwelling purposes or used for a home occupation, and they are only allowed on a lot that already has a principal building.