Sherman, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

The City of Sherman, Texas, sets building height district by district in Chapter 14, as a line in the Other regulations subsection of each residential district. For the R-6 (Single-Family Residential) District, § 14.02.006(4)(C) reads: Height regulations. No building shall exceed 35 feet. The R-5 district in § 14.02.007 prints the same 35 feet.

The larger-lot districts print higher caps. R-12 in § 14.02.005 says no building shall exceed 40 feet. R-A in § 14.02.003 and R-E in § 14.02.004 both say no building shall exceed 45 feet. Each of those districts also prints a minimum floor area for the main building: 1,000 square feet in R-6 and R-A, 1,500 square feet in R-E and R-12, and 800 square feet in R-5.

Height is checked with the site plan. Before a building permit issues for new construction or additions in the R-6 District, a site plan, including building elevations, must be submitted to and approved by the Development Services Director or their designee, using the requirements of § 14.06.004. The elevations are how the height figure gets tested against the 35 foot line.

Accessory structures follow a separate threshold. Under § 14.04.002(b)(7), a portable storage shed is an accessory structure but is not subject to a building permit or the side or rear yard setback requirements if it is less than or equal to 100 square feet in floor area and less than eight (8) feet in height. Accessory buildings are not permitted in the front yard.

A project that cannot meet the cap needs a variance from the board of adjustment, and § 14.06.006 allows one only on a finding of unnecessary hardship that is not self-created and not needed merely to promote economic gain.