Shed Permit in Phoenix, AZ
Permit Summary
Do You Need a Shed Permit?
Exemptions
PBCC Section 105.2 exempts from the building permit one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, non-cantilevered shade structures, and similar uses when floor area is not greater than 200 square feet and the structure complies with the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance. Storm shelters are excluded from this exemption. The same section separately exempts an unaltered Intermodal Shipping Container not greater than 320 square feet, subject to zoning compliance.
Attached Shed Rules
The PBCC Section 105.2 shed exemption is limited to detached accessory structures. An attached shed does not qualify for that exemption and is reviewed as permitted residential building work/addition under the applicable code and zoning requirements.
Shed Use Rules
The building-permit exemption covers one-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, non-cantilevered shade structures, and similar uses; storm shelters are excluded. Phoenix Zoning Ordinance Section 706.B governs single-family residential accessory structures that are not accessory dwelling units. A project intended as a dwelling or ADU is outside the shed pathway and must follow the applicable residential/ADU rules.
Zoning & Placement Rules
Zoning Rules
Even when no building permit is required, a shed must comply with the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance. For non-ADU accessory structures on lots containing only single-family residential uses, Section 706.B prohibits placement within the required front yard. Placement behind the required front setback but between the primary dwelling and the front property line requires a use permit. Other zoning districts, PUDs, overlays, and property-specific stipulations can impose different standards.
Setback Rules
Under Zoning Ordinance Section 706.B for qualifying single-family residential accessory structures, the minimum setback is 3 feet from a side or rear property line. No setback is required adjacent to a fully dedicated alley unless needed for required vehicular maneuvering. Accessory structures are not permitted within the required front yard; a structure behind the required front setback but between the primary dwelling and the front property line requires a use permit.
Maximum Height Rules
When an accessory structure is within a required rear or side yard, Section 706.B allows a maximum height of 8 feet if it is less than 5 feet from a street-side property line and 15 feet if it is 5 feet or more from a street-side property line. A height over 15 feet when 5 feet or more from the street-side property line may be approved by use permit. If the accessory structure is outside the required rear/side yard and meets the same setbacks as the primary dwelling, it is subject to the primary dwelling's height regulations.
Lot Coverage Rules
The applicable lot-coverage limit is determined by the property's zoning district and any applicable PUD or site-specific standards; Phoenix does not publish one citywide shed percentage. Phoenix describes lot coverage as limiting how much property may be covered by buildings or structures, so the proposed shed must fit within the remaining coverage allowed for the property.
Special Area Rules
Additional site review can apply in special areas. Phoenix requires hillside-plan review for projects in a hillside development area, defined by the city as property having a 10% or greater slope; hillside review evaluates matters including building height over natural grade, lot coverage, and disturbance. Where grading/drainage or hillside permits are required, Phoenix states they must be obtained before issuance of the building permit.
Construction Requirements
Foundation Rules
For permitted shed work governed by the IRC, the foundation must comply with the applicable 2024 Phoenix Residential Code. Phoenix's amendment to IRC R403.1 requires exterior-wall support on an approved foundation/structural system adequate for the imposed loads and supported on undisturbed natural soil or engineered fill. PBCC Section 105.2 does not establish a separate foundation-based permit threshold, and permit-exempt work is not authorized to violate applicable code requirements.
Fire Separation Rules
For permitted IRC-scoped accessory structures, exterior-wall, opening, and projection requirements depend on fire-separation distance under IRC Table R302.1. Phoenix's November 2025 interpretation of IRC R302.1 provides specific projection-protection options and permits up to a 3-inch tolerance for exterior wall-covering thickness when applying fire-separation distance. A building-permit exemption does not authorize work that violates applicable code requirements.
Permit & Review Path
Permit / Review Path
Qualifying one-story detached tool/storage sheds and similar structures at 200 square feet or less use the building-permit-exempt path but still must comply with zoning and any separately triggered approvals. When a residential accessory structure requires a permit, Phoenix's SHAPE PHX portal uses the permit type 'Construction and Trades Residential' and the work type 'New Accessory structure.' Plan review, zoning/site review, and inspections then follow the scope. A zoning use permit is additionally required for certain front-area placement and may be used for qualifying heights above 15 feet under Section 706.B.
Trade Permits & Professional Design
Trade Permit Rules
Trade permitting depends on the shed's scope. PBCC Section 105.1 requires permits for regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing installations, and Phoenix's residential guidance identifies electrical additions, plumbing additions or relocations, and gas-line modifications as permit work. Separate Phoenix Fire Code permits are required for regulated fire systems. Trade/site permits can therefore be required even when the shed shell itself qualifies for the building-permit exemption.
Professional Design Rules
Phoenix does not impose a blanket architect-or-engineer requirement on every shed. Professional design or sealed engineering is required when a triggered review or engineered component calls for it; for example, Phoenix's current residential grading-and-drainage checklist uses a professional engineer of record, and structural calculations may be required for nonprescriptive or engineered systems. The need therefore depends on the shed design and site conditions.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Confirm the property's zoning, setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, easements, and any special-site requirements before placement. A qualifying one-story detached tool/storage shed or similar accessory structure of 200 square feet or less is exempt from the building permit but must still comply with Phoenix codes and zoning. When the exemption does not apply, submit the applicable residential construction permit through SHAPE PHX, provide the required plans and project information, obtain any triggered zoning/site/trade approvals, pay current fees, and complete required inspections.
Required Documents
For a permitted residential shed, principal submittal information includes the SHAPE PHX permit application, project description and valuation, property/address information, a plot or site plan showing property lines, existing and proposed structures, easements, zoning, setbacks, and lot coverage, and construction drawings sufficient for code review. Foundation/framing details, structural or truss calculations, and electrical or other trade information may be required by the design. Hillside, grading/drainage, or other site documents are required when those reviews are triggered.