Do I need a permit for a shed in Kennebunk, Maine?
Sheds and other accessory buildings are allowed in Kennebunk's residential districts, but they must meet the same setbacks as the house. In Suburban Residential that means 25 ft from the front and 20 ft from the side and rear lines. In Village Residential it's 20 ft front, 10 ft side and 15 ft rear. Kennebunk's zoning articles have no smaller setback for small sheds. Accessory buildings count toward the district's lot coverage limit (25% in SR and VR), and the height limit is 35 ft.
| Allowed | Accessory buildings are a permitted accessory use in residential districts [2] |
| Setbacks: Suburban Residential (single-family) | Front 25 ft; side 20 ft; rear 20 ft [3] |
| Setbacks: Village Residential | Front 20 ft; side 10 ft (sum of both 30 ft); rear 15 ft [4] |
| Setbacks: Rural Residential / Rural Conservation | Front 35 ft; side 20 ft; rear 50 ft [5] |
| Yards must be free of buildings | Required yards are "unobstructed by any building" [6] |
| Max height | 35 ft [3] |
| Lot coverage | Includes accessory buildings; 25% in SR/VR/CR, 15% in RR/RC [7] |
Sheds are 'accessory buildings'
An accessory building is a detached, subordinate building whose use is incidental to the main building or use on the same lot [1]. Accessory uses and buildings are permitted in every residential district section we reviewed [2].
Setbacks by district
Kennebunk's district sections don't set a smaller setback for sheds. The front, side and rear yards are defined as open space "unobstructed by any building from the ground upward" [6], so a shed has to sit outside the required yards like any other building.
- Suburban Residential: 25 ft front, 20 ft side and rear for single-family lots [3].
- Village Residential / West Kennebunk VR: 20 ft front, 10 ft side (the two sides must total at least 30 ft), and 15 ft rear [4]. The quoted VR table has two columns, for lots on sewer and lots without sewer; the setbacks are the same in both.
- Coastal Residential: 25 ft front, 20 ft side and rear for single-family lots.
- Rural Residential and Rural Conservation: 35 ft front, 20 ft side, 50 ft rear [5].
In the Shoreland Overlay, the water setback (100, 50 or 25 ft) and the 20% shoreland lot-coverage cap also apply.
Height and lot coverage
The maximum height is 35 ft in the residential districts [3]. Lot coverage counts both principal and accessory buildings [7]. The cap is 25% in SR, VR and CR and 15% in RR and RC.
Older lots and buildings
On a legally nonconforming lot, you can still add an accessory building if it meets the setback, height and coverage rules. A shed can also be added next to a nonconforming house without a variance, as long as the shed itself meets the setback, height and lot-coverage rules (Article 5, Section 5.A).
Permits
The zoning articles we reviewed don't say which sheds need a building permit or whether there is a size threshold. Ask Code Enforcement before you build.
See how Kennebunk compares with 8+ other Maine towns on sheds & accessory buildings →
Next steps
- Confirm your zoning district and whether any part of your lot is in the Shoreland Overlay.
- Measure from your property lines (a survey helps) and keep the shed outside the district's front, side and rear setbacks.
- Check that the house, shed and other buildings stay under the district's lot coverage limit.
- Ask Kennebunk Code Enforcement (207-604-1303) whether your shed needs a building permit and what to submit (a plot plan showing setbacks).
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Kennebunk, Maine?
- The zoning articles we reviewed don't say which sheds need a building permit or whether there is a size threshold. Ask Kennebunk Code Enforcement before you build.
- How close to the property line can I build a shed in Kennebunk, Maine?
- Sheds must meet the same setbacks as the house, with no smaller setback for small sheds. In Suburban Residential that's 25 ft front and 20 ft side and rear. In Village Residential it's 20 ft front, 10 ft side and 15 ft rear.
- What is the shed height limit in Kennebunk, Maine?
- The maximum height is 35 ft in the residential districts. Accessory buildings also count toward lot coverage, which is capped at 25% in SR, VR and CR and 15% in RR and RC.
- Can I add a shed on a small or older lot in Kennebunk, Maine?
- On a legally nonconforming lot you can still add an accessory building if it meets the setback, height and coverage rules. Near water, the shoreland setback and 20% coverage cap also apply.
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
- Article 2, Definitions: Accessory Building, Zoning Ordinance Article 2 - Definitions, p. 1
ACCESSORY BUILDING: A detached, subordinate building, the use of which is clearly incidental and related to that of the principal building or use of the land, and which is located on the same lot as that of the principal building or use.
- Article 8, Section 6.B(7) Suburban Residential accessory uses, Zoning Article 8 Sect 6 - Suburban Residential District, p. 1
7. The following accessory uses: 7-1 Accessory uses and buildings 7-2 Home occupations
- Article 8, Section 6.E(1) Suburban Residential space and bulk, Zoning Article 8 Sect 6 - Suburban Residential District, p. 3
Minimum setbacks Front yard 25 feet Side yards (each) Single family detached 20 feet dwellings Other uses 25 feet Rear yard Single family detached 20 feet dwellings Other uses 25 feet Shoreland area Per Article 8, Section 16 Maximum height 35 feet Maximum lot coverage 25 percent
- Article 8, Section 7.E(1) Village Residential space and bulk, Zoning Article 8 Sect 7 - Village Residential / West Kennebunk Village Residential, p. 3
Front yard 20 ft. 20 ft. Side yard 10 feet, provided the sum of both side 10 feet, provided the sum of yards is at least 30 feet both side yards is at least 30 feet Rear yard 15 feet 15 ft.
- Article 8, Section 4.E(1)(b) Rural Residential space and bulk, Zoning Article 8 Sect 4 - Rural Residential District, p. 2
Minimum setbacks Front yard 35 feet Side yards (each) 20 feet Rear yard 50 feet
- Article 2, Definitions: Yard, Side, Zoning Ordinance Article 2 - Definitions, p. 23
YARD, SIDE: An open space extending along each sideline of a lot between the front yard and the rear yard on such lot and extending at a right angle from the sideline of such lot to such depth as specified. Such side yard is unoccupied and unobstructed by any building from the ground upward.
- Article 2, Definitions: Lot Coverage, Zoning Ordinance Article 2 - Definitions, p. 11
LOT COVERAGE: The percentage of gross lot area covered or occupied by principal and accessory