Tyler, TX Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Tyler, TX, 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 size
- 50% of main house
- Max height
- 16 feet
- Setback
- 5 ft side and rear
- Rear yard
- 30% coverage max
- Dwelling use
- Prohibited
Summary
Tyler caps an accessory building at 50 percent of the main house's floor area and 16 feet in height. It must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines, cover no more than 30 percent of the required rear yard, and cannot be lived in.
The square footage of an accessory building or structure may not exceed 50 percent of the square footage of the principal structure. ... Accessory buildings or structures must not occupy more than 30 percent of the required rear yard and must not be nearer than five feet from any side or rear lot line ... Accessory buildings or structure must not exceed 16 feet in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: July 2026: Including amendments through July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Tyler Unified Development Code Sec. 10-79, a shed or other accessory building may be built only after the principal structure's construction has begun and may be used only after the home is completed and occupied. Its floor area cannot exceed 50 percent of the principal structure's, and it cannot exceed 16 feet in height. It must stand at least 5 feet from any side or rear lot line and occupy no more than 30 percent of the required rear yard. A building within 10 feet of the house is treated as part of it for setback purposes. Sheds cannot be used for dwelling purposes.
Violations & Fines
Building over the size or height limits, inside a setback, or without a required building permit can bring a stop-work order and code-enforcement citations, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a shed can I build in Tyler?
Can I live in my shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tyler
How Tyler compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Tyler to another location·View the Texas accessory structures overview
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