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Accessory Structures in Taunton, MA (2026)

3 verified accessory structures rules for Taunton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

ADU Rules

Taunton allows accessory dwelling units under Zoning Ordinance § 440-710, capped at 900 square feet or 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area, whichever is smaller. ADUs that don't meet every listed requirement need a special permit from the Planning Board, and extra parking is required unless the lot sits within a half mile of the commuter rail or bus station.

Taunton Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards

Some Restrictions

Taunton City Code § 440-710

Accessory dwellings shall be permitted as specified in § 440-502 except that any accessory dwelling that does not meet all of the requirements of this section shall also require a special permit from the Planning Board after receiving the necessary Zoning Board of Appeals relief and shall only be permitted on lots with a qualifying principal dwelling as defined in 760 CMR 71.02 located on the l...

ADU Rental Restrictions

Taunton bars accessory dwelling units from operating as short-term rentals. Zoning Ordinance § 440-710A states plainly that the accessory dwelling unit shall not be utilized as a short term rental, closing off Airbnb-style bookings for any ADU built under the City's 2019-2025 accessory dwelling rules.

Taunton ADU Short-Term Rental Ban

Heavy Restrictions

Taunton City Code § 440-710A

§ 440-710. Accessory dwellings. ... The accessory dwelling unit shall not be utilized as a short term rental.

Shed & Carport Rules

Taunton lets small accessory structures like sheds skip a building permit, but caps their shape and cuts required setbacks for the smallest ones. Under Zoning Ordinance § 440-711, a structure's length can't exceed three times its width, and structures of 120 square feet or less get two-thirds off the district's normal side and rear setbacks.

Taunton Accessory Structure & Shed Rules

Light Restrictions

Taunton City Code § 440-711

An accessory structure is a structure that is accessory to and clearly subordinate to the primary structure and use of the lot and that does not need a building permit. The ratio of the length to the width of the structure shall not exceed three to one. The side and rear setbacks for an accessory structure that does not exceed 120 square feet shall be 2/3 the setback requirements for the zoning...

Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Taunton city rules.

Accessory Structures in Bristol County