Wayne County, NC Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

The rule sits at the end of the subdivision setback section, right after the general building setbacks, and applies specifically to accessory structures such as sheds, detached garages, and workshops built on lots in a Wayne County subdivision. Sec. 70-103(c)(6) requires that no accessory structure be located less than five feet from the side or rear lot line. On a corner lot, an accessory structure cannot extend beyond the side building line of the principal building, meaning a shed cannot be pushed forward past where the house itself sits relative to the side street.

The provision confines every accessory structure to the side or rear yard, not the front. It also draws a line based on distance from the house: a structure built within five feet of the principal building is treated as part of the principal building for setback purposes, so it must meet the full building setbacks (10 feet side, 25 feet rear) rather than the looser 5-foot accessory rule. Finally, the code caps size relative to the yard rather than in absolute square footage: the total accessory structure footprint cannot occupy more than 30 percent of the required rear yard, so a larger rear yard allows a proportionally larger shed or outbuilding.