Accessory Structures in Surprise, AZ (2026)
2 verified accessory structures rules for Surprise, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Surprise allows one attached and one detached accessory dwelling unit on most single-family lots under Article XI, capping each ADU at 1,000 square feet or 75 percent of the primary home's floor area, whichever is smaller, and letting most applications skip a public hearing entirely.
Surprise Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSurprise City Code §§ 106-11.3(A), 106-11.4(A)
A.Eligibility.1...No more than one (1) attached accessory dwelling unit and one (1) detached accessory dwelling unit if the single-family dwelling lot is less than one (1) acre...2.For the purpose of eligibility under this section, an accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed the lesser of:a.Seventy-five (75) percent of the gross floor area of the existing single-family dwelling on the same lot ...
Shed & Carport Rules
Sheds and other accessory structures in Surprise must sit on the same lot as the main house, keep at least 5 feet of separation from other structures, and stay out of easements and required setbacks, under City Code § 106-10.3. Table 106-10b caps most sheds' height at 9 feet, bars them from the front yard, and limits any single accessory structure to 3,000 square feet.
Surprise Accessory Structure and Shed Rules
Some RestrictionsSurprise City Code § 106-10.3(A)-(H)
A.All residential accessory uses (including ADUs), buildings, structures, and fencing shall be located on the same lot as the principal or main use and be at least five (5) feet from another structure or as required by the building and/or fire codes, except that fencing used to separate properties in a subdivision may straddle the common property line. Accessory structures in residential distri...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Surprise city rules.
Accessory Structures in Maricopa County →