Accessory Structures in New Bedford, MA (2026)
2 verified accessory structures rules for New Bedford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
New Bedford lets owners of single-family homes add one accessory dwelling unit by special permit from the Board of Appeals under Zoning Section 2340. The unit must stay inside the existing residential structure, cannot exceed 1,000 square feet, and the owner must live in the primary dwelling while it is occupied; the permit lapses every two years.
New Bedford Accessory Dwelling Unit Permit
Significant RestrictionsNew Bedford Zoning Ordinance §§ 2340, 2344
2340. Accessory Dwelling Units. For the purpose of enabling owners of single-family dwellings larger than required for their present needs, particularly elderly homeowners, to share space and the burdens of home ownership, the Board of Appeals may grant a special permit in accordance with the following requirements: 2341. Accessory dwelling units may be allowed on special permit, which shall la...
Shed & Carport Rules
New Bedford caps a storage shed at 200 square feet, 12 feet tall, with no plumbing or heating and a foundation no deeper than 10 inches. Placed behind the dwelling in the rear yard, a shed can sit as close as 18 inches to the rear or side lot line, or 18 inches from a fence if one runs the line.
New Bedford Storage Shed Size and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Bedford Zoning Ordinance §§ 2753, 2755 (Yards in Residence Districts); § 3028 (Definitions, storage shed)
Storage shed: A covered structure with no more than 200 square feet of floor space; is not attached or affixed to a foundation or slab that extends below the ground more than 10 inches; with no plumbing or installed heating facilities within the structure; a height no greater than 12 feet. ... A storage shed may extend to eighteen (18) inches of a rear yard unless a fence is erected on the prop...
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New Bedford city rules.
Accessory Structures in Bristol County →