Do I need a permit for a shed in Camden, Maine?
You need a building permit from Camden's Code Enforcement Officer if the shed's labor and materials cost more than $2,000 in a 12-month period, or if the state building code requires one. Every shed, permitted or not, must meet your zone's setbacks. In the Traditional Village district that's 15 ft front, 10 ft side and 15 ft rear; in Coastal Residential it's 25/15/15 ft with sewer. The zoning text we have runs only through June 2022.
| Building permit threshold | Work over $2,000 in 12 months, or as required by MUBEC [3] |
| Setbacks apply to accessory structures | Yes, measured from overhangs [2] |
| Traditional Village front setback | 15 ft (or per uniform setback rule) [5] |
| Traditional Village side setback | 10 ft, with both sides totaling at least 25 ft [6] |
| Traditional Village rear setback | 15 ft [7] |
| Coastal Residential setbacks (sewer / no sewer) | Front 25/25 ft, side 15/25 ft, rear 15/25 ft [9] |
| Max height (Traditional Village residential) | 30 ft [12] |
| Max building coverage (Traditional Village) | 25% [10] |
| Shoreland setback (residential districts) | 75 ft from the normal high-water line [11] |
When you need a permit
Camden requires a building and/or use permit to build or move any building or structure when labor and materials are worth more than $2,000 within 12 months, or when the state building code (MUBEC) requires a permit [3]. A cheaper shed doesn't need a permit but must still meet every zoning rule [4].
Setbacks
A shed is an accessory structure: a detached structure used for something incidental to the house [1]. Setbacks are measured to the nearest part of any principal or accessory structure, including overhangs [2]. So sheds must meet the same setbacks as the house:
- Traditional Village (V): 15 ft front [5], 10 ft side with both side yards together at least 25 ft [6], and 15 ft rear [7].
- Coastal Residential (CR): 25 ft front, 15 ft side and 15 ft rear with public sewer, or 25 ft on all sides without sewer [9].
- Village Extension and Rural districts have their own tables. Village Extension with public sewer is similar to V (15 ft front, 10 ft side, 15 ft rear), and Rural 1 uses 25 ft front and 15 ft side and rear.
On streets with a uniform setback pattern, accessory structures must sit at least 2 ft farther back than the house's actual setback [8]. The ordinance doesn't separately ban sheds from front yards, but the setbacks still apply.
Height and coverage
In the Traditional Village, buildings and structures can be up to 30 ft tall [12], and all buildings together can cover at most 25% of the lot [10]. Other districts have their own limits, such as 20% building coverage in CR.
Near the water
In the shoreland zone, all new principal and accessory structures in the Rural, Rural Recreation, Coastal Residential, Village Extension and Traditional Village districts must be at least 75 ft from the normal high-water line (250 ft in Natural Resource Protection) [11]. On a great pond, the setback is at least 100 ft in any district [13].
Stale text
Our copy of the zoning ordinance includes amendments only through June 14, 2022. Confirm the current rules with Code Enforcement.
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Next steps
- Find your zoning district on Camden's zoning map and note its front, side and rear setbacks.
- Estimate the shed's labor and materials cost; over $2,000 (or if MUBEC requires it) means a building permit.
- Bring a site sketch showing the shed's size, height and distances to lot lines (and to the water, if within 250 ft) to Camden's Planning, Development and Code Enforcement office (207-236-3353 ext. 7112).
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Camden, Maine?
- Only if the work costs more than $2,000 in labor and materials within 12 months, or if the state building code requires one. Every shed, permitted or not, must still meet your zone's zoning rules.
- How far from the property line does a shed need to be in Camden, Maine?
- It depends on your zone. In the Traditional Village district that's 15 ft front, 10 ft side and 15 ft rear. In Coastal Residential it's 25 ft front, 15 ft side and 15 ft rear with sewer, or 25 ft on all sides without.
- How tall can a shed be in Camden, Maine?
- In the Traditional Village, buildings and structures can be up to 30 ft tall. Other districts have their own limits.
- Does a shed count toward lot coverage in Camden, Maine?
- Yes, as a building. In the Traditional Village all buildings together can cover at most 25% of the lot, and other districts have their own limits, such as 20% in Coastal Residential.
Maine building code and shoreland rules for sheds
Building code (MUBEC): The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code adopts the 2021 International Residential Code, effective April 7, 2025. It must be enforced in towns with more than 4,000 residents. Smaller towns may choose to enforce it, but they can't adopt any other building code.
- Maine's version of the code says building permits are required "where required by municipal ordinance," and towns can exempt more work from permits.
- The residential code exempts small one-story detached accessory buildings from a building permit. Under the IRC that means up to 200 sq ft.
- Being exempt from a building permit doesn't exempt you from zoning. Setbacks, lot coverage and any land-use permit still apply. Check with your code officer.
Shoreland zone: A shed is a "structure" under the state shoreland rules, so it must meet the water setbacks: generally 100 ft from GPA great ponds and 75 ft from other waters and wetlands. It also counts toward the 20% lot-coverage cap. On a small nonconforming lot where a shed can't meet the setback, the code officer may allow one shed up to 80 sq ft and 8 ft tall, with no utilities. It has to be as far from the water as practical and never closer than the house.
What the ordinance says
- §290-3.2, Definitions: Accessory structure, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 7
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE — A subordinate structure that is detached from the principal structure, the use of which is incidental to that of the principal structure.
- §290-3.2, Definitions: Setback, back, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 20
SETBACK, BACK — The distance between the rear line of the lot, extending the full width of the lot, and the nearest part of any principal or accessory structure on the lot measured from overhangs or other permanent protrusions.
- §290-5.2A, Permits required, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 27
Construction, enlargement, alteration, demolition, or moving of any building or structure, including temporary structures, when the fair and reasonable value of such labor and materials used exceeds $2,000 cumulatively within a twelve-month period or work requiring a permit per Sections 105 and R105 of MUBEC.
- §290-5.2A, Permits required, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 27
Although no permit is required, if the fair and reasonable value of said labor and materials used is equal to or less than $2,000 cumulatively within a twelve-month period or is exempt per Sections 105 and R105 of MUBEC., said construction, enlargement, alteration, demolition, or moving of any building or structure must still comply with all the provisions of this chapter.
- §290-8.7E(2), Traditional Village space and bulk standards: front setback, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 69
Front 15 feet, except where the following lots with existing buildings have established a uniform setback relationship
- §290-8.7E(2), Traditional Village space and bulk standards: side setback, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 69
Side 10 feet, provided the sum of both side yards is at least 25 feet; however, any structure that has an existing nonconforming side setback shall have a setback requirement of 15 feet on each side
- §290-8.7E(2), Traditional Village space and bulk standards: back setback, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 69
Back 15 feet Normal high-water mark See ArticleX, §290-10.2M(10)
- §290-8.7E(2), Traditional Village space and bulk standards, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 69
Where a uniform setback relationship exists, accessory structures or additions to existing structures shall be set no less than 2 feet further back than the actual setback of the principal building unless that actual setback is greater than the maximum setback.
- §290-8.5E(2)(b), Coastal Residential space and bulk standards, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 60
Front 25 feet 25 feet Side 15 feet 25 feet Back 15 feet 25 feet
- §290-8.7E(2), Traditional Village space and bulk standards, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 69
Maximum building coverage 25% Maximum ground coverage
- §290-10.2M(10), Shoreland areas: nearest horizontal distance, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 116
The nearest horizontal distance of all new principal and accessory structures shall be set back from the normal high waterline as follows: (a) Natural resources protection:* 250 feet. (b) Rural 1, Rural 2, Rural Recreation, Coastal Residential, Village Extension, and Traditional Village Districts: 75 feet.
- §290-8.7E(2), Traditional Village space and bulk standards: height, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 69
Maximum building or structure height Residential 30 feet Nonresidential 30 feet
- §290-10.2M(10)(d), Nearest horizontal distance: great ponds, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 290) - town PDF, p. 116
The nearest horizontal distance from the normal high waterline of a great pond classified GPA to the nearest point of all new principal and accessory structures, or substantial expansions of legally existing nonconforming buildings or structures, within the shoreland area in any zoning district shall be set back at least 100 feet, horizontal distance, from the normal high waterline.