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Do I need a permit for a shed in York, Maine?

York, York County · Ordinances checked 2026-10-01 · Reviewed · 9 cited sections

Depends on your zone

A shed is an accessory structure and normally has to meet your zone's full setbacks: from 50 ft front and 30 ft side/rear (RES-1A, RES-2, RES-3) down to 20 ft front and 12 ft side/rear (RES-5, RES-6, RES-7). One "minor" shed per lot (150 sq ft or less, walls no taller than 10 ft, no utilities) may sit just 5 ft from any property line if the lot is in the Growth Area and in certain zones, including RES-1A/1B, RES-5, RES-6 and RES-7. The height limit is 35 ft. The Zoning Ordinance doesn't set a size threshold for building permits, so check with Code Enforcement.

Minor accessory structure150 sq ft or less, walls 10 ft or less, no utility connections [1]
Reduced setback for one minor shed5 ft from any property line (Growth Area; RES-1A/1B, RES-5, RES-6, RES-7, YBVC, GEN-3, RT 1-1 to 1-5) [2]
Standard front setback50 ft RES-1A, RES-2, RES-3 (40 ft with public water and sewer); 30 ft RES-1B, RES-4; 20 ft RES-5, RES-6, RES-7 [3]
Standard side and rear setbacks30 ft RES-1A, RES-2, RES-3 (20 ft with public water and sewer); 20 ft RES-1B, RES-4; 12 ft RES-5, RES-6, RES-7 [4]
Maximum height35 ft [5]
Impervious coverage cap (homes)25% RES-1A, RES-4; 30% RES-5, RES-6, RES-7; none for homes in RES-1B, RES-2, RES-3 [8]
Accessory structure limitsNo cooking facilities; at most one of living, sanitary or sleeping facilities [6]
Shoreland setback100 ft from the normal high-water mark (Limited Residential) [7]

Small sheds get a break in some zones

York defines a minor accessory structure or building as one with 150 sq ft or less of gross floor area, no walls taller than 10 ft, and no essential service connections [1]. One such structure per lot may be set back just 5 ft from any property line instead of the standard setbacks. The lot must be in the Growth Area (from the Comprehensive Plan) and in RES-1A, RES-1B, RES-5, RES-6, RES-7, YBVC, GEN-3 or Route One zones 1 through 5 [2]. In other zones, such as RES-2, RES-3 and RES-4, or outside the Growth Area, there's no reduced setback.

Standard setbacks

Any other shed or garage must meet the zone's building setbacks. The §5.2.1 table has five columns: RES-1A, RES-1B, RES-2/RES-3, RES-4 and RES-5/RES-6/RES-7 [3][4]. In each zone the side and rear setbacks are equal:

  • RES-1A, RES-2, RES-3: 50 ft front, 30 ft side and rear. With public water and sewer, 40 ft front and 20 ft side and rear (in RES-1A, only inside the Growth Area).
  • RES-1B, RES-4: 30 ft front, 20 ft side and rear.
  • RES-5, RES-6, RES-7: 20 ft front, 12 ft side and rear.

Height, coverage and use

The maximum building and structure height is 35 ft in the residential districts [5]. Impervious-surface coverage is capped at 25% in RES-1A and RES-4 and 30% in RES-5, RES-6 and RES-7 [8]. In RES-1B, RES-2 and RES-3 the 25% cap applies only to non-residential development [9]. If your main use is a home, an accessory structure can't have cooking facilities and can have no more than one of living, sanitary or sleeping facilities [6].

Near the water

In the Shoreland Overlay, all principal and accessory structures must be set back 100 ft from the normal high-water mark in the Limited Residential subdistrict (75 ft from some smaller inland wetlands) [7]. Resource Protection and Mixed-Use subdistricts also require 100 ft. A Shoreland Permit is required.

Permits

The Zoning Ordinance doesn't say what size of shed needs a building permit. Ask Code Enforcement before you build.

See how York compares with 8+ other Maine towns on sheds & accessory buildings →

Next steps

  1. Look up your zoning district and whether your lot is in the Growth Area or a Shoreland, Watershed or historic overlay.
  2. If the shed is 150 sq ft or less with no utilities and you're in a qualifying zone, you can site it 5 ft from the lines; otherwise use the zone's full setbacks.
  3. Bring a plot plan showing the shed's size, height and distances to property lines to the York Code Enforcement Office and ask whether a building permit (or Shoreland Permit) is needed.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a shed in York, Maine?
The Zoning Ordinance doesn't say what size of shed needs a building permit. Ask Code Enforcement before you build. A Shoreland Permit is required near the water.
How close to the property line can I build a shed in York, Maine?
It depends on your zone. Standard setbacks run from 50 ft front and 30 ft side and rear (RES-1A, RES-2, RES-3) down to 20 ft front and 12 ft side and rear (RES-5, RES-6, RES-7).
Can I put a small shed 5 feet from the property line in York, Maine?
One minor shed per lot, 150 sq ft or less with walls no taller than 10 ft and no utilities, may sit 5 ft from any property line. The lot must be in the Growth Area and in certain zones, including RES-1A/1B, RES-5, RES-6 and RES-7.
What is the shed height limit in York, Maine?
The maximum height is 35 ft in the residential districts. An accessory structure on a home lot can't have cooking facilities.

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.

State sources: 10 M.R.S. §9724 (MUBEC application; 4,000-resident threshold) · Bureau of Building Codes & Standards: MUBEC Standards and Amendments (eff. April 7, 2025) · MUBEC Rule Chapter 5: IRC adoption and Maine amendments (16-642 CMR 5) · DEP Chapter 1000: Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances

What the ordinance says

Exact text from York's published ordinances. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. Art. 2, Definitions: Minor Accessory Structure or Building, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 25
    MINOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURE OR BUILDING: An Accessory Structure or Building which has a gross floor area of 150 square feet or less, which has no walls taller than 10 feet, and which has no essential service connections.
  2. §5.1.6 Reduced Setback for Minor Accessory Structure or Building, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 95
    To allow added flexibility for smaller buildings in certain zones, the minimum setback for up one minor accessory structure or building per lot shall be 5’ from any property line rather than the standard setbacks for that base zone, if the property is located within the Growth Area and is in any of the following base zones: RES 1-A, RES1-B, RES-5, RES-6, RES-7, YBVC, GEN-3, RT 1-1, RT 1-2, RT 1-3, RT 1-4 or RT 1-5.
  3. §5.2.1 Residential Districts (dimensional table), front setback, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 96
    Minimum Front Yard Setback (Feet) without year-round public water or sewer 50 k 30 k 50 k 30 k 20 k 11/03/2015, 11/03/2020 with year-round public water 50 k 30 k 50 k 30 k 20 k 11/03/2015, 11/03/2020 with year-round public water and sewer 40 k s 30 k 40 k 30 k 20 b k 11/03/2015, 11/03/2020
  4. §5.2.1 Residential Districts (dimensional table), side setback (rear is identical), Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 96
    Minimum Side Yard Setback (Feet) without year-round public water or sewer 30 k 20 k 30 k 20 k 12 k 11/03/2020 with year-round public water 30 k 20 k 30 k 20 k 12 k 11/03/2020 with year-round public water and sewer 20 k s 20 k 20 k 20 k 12 k 11/03/2020
  5. §5.2.1 Residential Districts (dimensional table), height, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 96
    Maximum Building and Structure Height 35 35 35 35 35 12/29/1993
  6. §4.1.1, Miscellaneous Use Category (RES 1-A & RES 1-B), Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 43
    • Structures Accessory to Permitted Uses – If the principal structure or principal use is a dwelling unit, an accessory structure shall not have cooking facilities and shall not have more than one of the following: living facilities, sanitary facilities or sleeping facilities.
  7. §8.3.11.2 Limited Residential Subdistrict, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 168
    Within the Limited Residential Subdistrict, all principal and accessory structures and expansions of such structures shall set back 100 feet from the normal high water mark of any waterbody, or from the upland edge of any coastal wetland or of an inland wetland of 10 or more acres in size.
  8. §5.2.1 Residential Districts (dimensional table), coverage, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 96
    Maximum Coverage (Impervious Surface Ratio) 25% 25% l 25% l 25% 30 % 11/05/1996
  9. §5.2 Footnote l, Zoning Ordinance (Revised through May 16, 2026), p. 99
    l Coverage requirement pertains to non-residential development only.
This page summarizes York's posted ordinances as of 2026-10-01. Ordinances are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Code Enforcement Department (207-363-1002) before you build. Spot an error?