Virginia Beach, VA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Virginia Beach, VA, 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
- Reduced-setback threshold
- ≤150 sq ft, ≤8 ft eave height
- Reduced side/rear setback
- 5 feet
- Standard accessory size cap
- 500 sq ft or 20% of house
- R-30/R-40 size cap
- 30% of principal structure
- Height limit
- cannot exceed principal structure
Summary
Backyard sheds and other accessory structures in Virginia Beach get a reduced 5-foot side and rear yard setback if they're 150 square feet or smaller with an eave height of 8 feet or less; larger sheds must meet the full district yard setback instead.
Minimum side yard setback for accessory structures no larger than 150 square feet in area and with an eave height no greater than 8 feet except when adjacent to a street: 5 ... Minimum rear yard setback for accessory structures no larger than 150 square feet in area and with an eave height no greater than 8 feet except when adjacent to a street: 5
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Virginia Beach's zoning ordinance caps accessory structures, including sheds, at the height of the principal dwelling and, in most residential districts, at 500 square feet or 20 percent of the principal structure's floor area, whichever is larger (30 percent in the R-30 and R-40 Districts). A shed no larger than 150 square feet with an eave height of 8 feet or less only needs a 5-foot side and rear yard setback under Sec. 502(6.1) and (10.1); anything bigger falls back to the standard district setback, which runs 10 to 20 feet for rear yards depending on the zoning district.
Violations & Fines
A shed built inside the reduced 5-foot setback without qualifying for the size/height exception, or that exceeds the accessory-structure floor-area cap, is a zoning violation the Planning Department can order relocated, resized, or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can a shed be in Virginia Beach?
Can my shed be taller than my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Virginia Beach
How Virginia Beach compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Virginia Beach to another location·View the Virginia accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.