Shed Permit in Baltimore, MD
Permit Summary
Do You Need a Shed Permit?
Exemptions
For accessory structures within the Baltimore City Residential Code scope, including qualifying one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, the City does not adopt IRC § R105.2 Building items 1 through 3, so the usual small detached accessory-structure exemption is not available. For IBC-governed projects, Baltimore adopts IBC § 105.2 Building item 1, which exempts a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar use when its floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, subject to all other applicable laws. Permit exemption does not waive zoning or applicable trade requirements.
Attached Shed Rules
Under Zoning Code § 15-501, an accessory structure attached to the principal structure by any wall or roof construction is considered part of the principal structure and must comply in all respects with the zoning requirements that apply to the principal structure. The detached-shed IBC permit exemption therefore does not apply to an attached shed.
Shed Use Rules
An accessory structure or use must be incidental to the principal use and located on the same lot as the principal structure. The IBC building-permit exemption applies only to one-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses. A change in the use of a structure is independently permit-regulated under Building Code § 105.1 and may trigger additional code requirements.
Zoning & Placement Rules
Zoning Rules
Accessory structures must be on the same lot as the principal structure or use, may not be erected before the principal structure, and must comply with the yard requirements of the zoning district unless a specific exception applies. A shed that is building-permit-exempt remains subject to zoning. Site-specific zoning, variance, historic, floodplain, Critical Area, or other Planning review may also apply.
Setback Rules
Accessory structures generally must comply with the yard requirements of the underlying zoning district. In a residential zoning district, Table 15-601 allows a shed, tool house, or similar storage structure no more than 180 square feet to encroach into the required rear yard; the table does not authorize that shed encroachment in the required front, corner-side, or interior-side yard. Otherwise, district-specific yard requirements apply.
Maximum Height Rules
Zoning Code § 15-501 generally limits an accessory structure to 15 feet in height unless another provision of the accessory-structure subtitle permits or restricts a different height. Use- or district-specific rules can therefore alter the general limit.
Lot Coverage Rules
Under Zoning Code § 15-501, the total area of all accessory structures may not occupy more than 50% of the area of the required rear yard. The project must also satisfy any applicable district lot-coverage and dimensional standards.
Special Area Rules
Historic and architectural preservation districts and listed or potential landmarks can trigger a building permit for exterior work under Building Code § 105.1. Flood-hazard sites are subject to Baltimore's Floodplain Management Code and may require additional floodplain review and construction measures. Other site conditions can trigger Department of Planning review, including CHAP, Critical Area, floodplain, forest-conservation, planned-unit-development, or site-plan review.
Construction Requirements
Foundation Rules
No shed-specific foundation exemption was identified in the current Baltimore amendments. Residential-Code projects follow the adopted IRC foundation provisions as applicable; Baltimore's climatic criteria list a 30-inch frost-line depth, while the precise footing or foundation requirements depend on the structure and applicable IRC provisions. Flood-hazard-area foundations must also comply with Baltimore's Floodplain Management Code.
Fire Separation Rules
For one- and two-family dwelling accessory structures, Baltimore adopts the 2021 IRC exterior-wall fire-separation provisions in § R302.1 without a shed-specific local replacement. Required wall, opening, and projection protection therefore depends on the applicable fire-separation distance and project configuration. IBC-governed projects must meet the corresponding Building Code fire-separation requirements.
Permit & Review Path
Permit / Review Path
For property in the Residential Code scope, apply through E-Permits using the One- and Two-Family Combo Permit (BRCM). Commercial and multifamily projects use the Commercial and Multifamily Combo Permit (BCCM). An IBC-governed one-story detached tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar accessory structure no more than 120 square feet may use the building-permit-exempt path, but zoning and other applicable laws still apply. Permitted work proceeds through applicable reviews, fee payment, permit issuance, and required inspections.
Trade Permits & Professional Design
Trade Permit Rules
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, fire, or other regulated systems added to a shed can trigger the applicable trade-permit and licensing requirements. Baltimore's current E-Permits system uses combo permit categories, but regulated trade work must still be identified and performed by appropriately licensed persons where the code requires.
Professional Design Rules
DHCD's current accessory-structure guidance requires a scaled site plan and states that additional drawings may be required depending on the structure; it does not impose a blanket professional-seal requirement on every ordinary shed. Building Code § 105.1.5 allows the Building Official to require a registered design professional or other licensed specialist or expert to perform specific work or sign and seal plans, calculations, specifications, or statements as a permit condition.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Determine whether the shed is governed by the Baltimore City Residential Code or Building Code, confirm zoning placement and dimensional compliance, and obtain the applicable construction permit unless a current exemption applies. Permit applications are submitted through E-Permits. The project must comply with applicable building, zoning, floodplain, historic-preservation, and trade-code requirements, pay required fees, and complete required inspections.
Required Documents
DHCD's current guidance requires a site plan drawn to scale with any accessory-structure application; additional drawings may be required depending on the structure. The permit application must identify the property and proposed work and include the information and construction documents required by Building Code § 105.3 and § 107. Special site conditions or trade work may require additional documentation.