| Zone | Front | Interior side | Corner side | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 30 ft | 8 ft (5 ft in rear quarter of lot) | 20 ft | 5 ft |
| R2 | 30 ft | 6 ft (2 ft in rear quarter) | 15 ft | 2 ft |
| R3 | 20 ft | 5 ft (2 ft in rear quarter) | 15 ft | 2 ft |
| R4 | 15 ft | 5 ft (2 ft in rear quarter) | 10 ft | 2 ft |
Setbacks for buildings accessory to single-family homes, from the City Code bulk tables (§21.50.010, .040, .060, .100). R2-NC and R3-NC follow R2 and R3.
1. Building permit or not
The City adopted the 2021 International Residential Code without changing its exemptions, and that code exempts one-story detached accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less from a building permit. Larger sheds, garages and anything with power need a permit (§17.05.010). Exempt or not, zoning, Critical Area and Historic District rules still apply (§17.05.020); confirm with the City's Department of Planning and Zoning before you buy or build.
2. Size, height and placement
- A detached accessory building can cover no more than 50% of any required yard, can't be taller than the house, and must be at least 3 feet from other buildings (§21.38.030).
- Within 5 feet of a property line (other than a rear line on an alley), the cornice can be no higher than 8 feet and the ridge no higher than 16 feet in R1, R2 and R3.
- On corner lots, accessory buildings can't sit in the street-side side yard.
- An attached shed or garage must meet the house's setbacks.
- Accessory buildings count toward lot coverage (30% maximum in R1) and floor area.
3. Waterfront lots
In the Critical Area, sheds count toward lot coverage, which is capped at 15% in Limited Development and Resource Conservation Areas and 50% in Intensely Developed Areas, with special limits for small pre-1985 lots (§21.54). Keep sheds out of the 100-foot shoreline buffer. See our Critical Area guide.
4. The Historic District
The City Code counts sheds as structures, so a shed in the Historic District that is visible from a public way needs a Certificate of Approval from the Historic Preservation Commission before it goes up (§21.56.040). See our historic district guide.
5. City or county?
Outside city limits, Anne Arundel County exempts sheds of 150 square feet or less and 10 feet or under, except in the Critical Area; see our county shed guide and the City of Annapolis permit guide.
