Waco, TX Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Waco, 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
- Setback from house
- More than 5 ft
- Setback from lot line
- Not closer than 3 ft
- Rear-yard coverage cap
- 30% of rear yard (all accessory structures)
- Enclosed storage height cap
- 12 ft
- Enclosed storage placement
- Behind main building, screened
- Governing sections
- §§ 28-906(7), 28-926
Summary
A shed or detached storage building in Waco must clear five feet from the principal house and three feet from every lot line under Sec. 28-906(7), and once built it counts toward the 30-percent cap on rear-yard coverage set by Sec. 28-926(a)(3), with enclosed storage further limited to 12 feet in height.
(a)Accessory structures and uses permitted in the various districts shall:(1)Be incidental to the principal use and shall not be established on any lot prior to the establishment of the principal use.(2)Not be erected or maintained in required yards, courts or other open areas except those that are permitted as obstructions in yards, in accordance with sections 28-905, 28-906 and 28-907.(3)Not cover more than 30 percent of the area of the rear yard.(4)Not be used for dwelling or business purposes.(b)Enclosed outside storage shall be screened and behind the principal use or main building and not be more than 12 feet in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
Sheds fall under two linked provisions in Waco's zoning chapter. Sec. ' That five-foot and three-foot spacing applies in any required side or rear yard, subject to the same sight-distance-zone limits that govern every obstruction in Sec. 28-905 and 28-906. Sec. ' A shed built as enclosed outside storage is separately capped at 12 feet in height and must be screened and located behind the principal building, per subsection (b). Because these are zoning standards rather than a stand-alone shed permit, compliance is checked when the owner applies for the building permit required for any new structure; a plan that crosses the five-foot or three-foot setback, or pushes rear-yard coverage past 30 percent, is rejected at that review stage rather than after construction begins.
Violations & Fines
A shed that violates the Sec. 28-906(7) setbacks or the Sec. 28-926 coverage and height limits is a misdemeanor under the chapter's general penalty, Sec. 28-11, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense and a fine set under Sec. 1-14. The city can cite the property owner as well as any builder, contractor or agent who assisted in erecting the noncompliant structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a shed be to my house in Waco?
Is there a size limit on backyard sheds?
Do I need a permit to build a shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waco
How Waco compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Waco to another location·View the Texas accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.