Do I need a permit for a shed in Bourne, Massachusetts?
In Bourne, a shed under 200 sq ft doesn't need a building permit, but you must file a free Shed Registration Form with a plot plan. A shed over 200 sq ft needs a building permit ($0.60 per sq ft for homes). Sheds must meet zoning setbacks, for example 15 ft from side and rear lines and 30 ft from the street in R-40, or 25 ft and 40 ft in R-80.
| Under 75 sq ft | No fee; Shed Registration Form + plot plan; must meet street-side setback [1] |
| Under 200 sq ft | No fee; Shed Registration Form + certified plot plan; must meet side, rear and street-side setbacks [2] |
| Over 200 sq ft | Building permit, $0.60/sq ft residential ($0.75 commercial) [3] |
| Front/street-side setback | R-80 40 ft; GD/SDD 40 ft; R-40 30 ft; B-1/VB 0*; B-2 30*; B-3 30; B-4 30* [4] |
| Rear and side setback | R-80 25 ft; GD/SDD 25 ft; R-40 15 ft; B-1/VB 12*; B-2 12*; B-3 12; B-4 30 [5] |
| Slab shed near septic | 10 ft from septic tank or leaching area [6] |
| Nonconforming lots | Footprint of all structures limited by Table 2456 (20%-25% of lot area) [7] |
Permit or registration
The Building & Inspections Department's Shed FAQ (2026) sets three tiers:
- Under 75 sq ft: no permit fee, but you still complete a Shed Registration Form with a plot plan showing all buildings and septic, and the shed must meet street-side setbacks [1].
- Under 200 sq ft: no permit fee; it must meet side, rear and street-side setbacks, and you file the registration form with a certified plot plan showing setbacks and lot coverage [2].
- Over 200 sq ft: a building permit is required, at $0.60 per sq ft for residential ($0.75 commercial), with a certified plot plan [3].
All work must follow the state building code. All applications go through the town's OpenGov portal.
Setbacks by zoning district
The FAQ's chart gives minimum setbacks by district [4][5]:
| District | Front / street side | Rear & side |
|---|---|---|
| R-80 | 40 ft | 25 ft |
| GD/SDD | 40 ft | 25 ft |
| R-40 | 30 ft | 15 ft |
| B-1/VB | 0* | 12* |
| B-2 | 30* | 12* |
| B-3 | 30 ft | 12 ft |
| B-4 | 30* | 30 ft |
*Starred figures have footnotes in the zoning bylaw's §2500 Intensity of Use Schedule. Use the town zoning map to find your district. A shed on a slab must be 10 ft from the septic tank or leaching area [6].
Lot coverage on small lots
On a residential nonconforming lot, the total footprint of all structures, including decks and sheds, can't exceed the lot-coverage percentage in Table 2456 [7]. That limit ranges from 25% on the smallest lots down to 20%. The shed counts toward the total.
Near wetlands
If the shed would be within 100 feet of a wetland or in a flood zone, the Conservation Commission's wetland bylaw may also apply, so check with Conservation before placing it.
See how Bourne compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on sheds & accessory buildings →
Next steps
- Find your zoning district on the town zoning map and look up your setbacks in the Shed FAQ chart.
- Get a certified plot plan showing all buildings, septic, setbacks, lot coverage and the marked shed location.
- Under 200 sq ft: submit the Shed Registration Form (no fee) through OpenGov. Over 200 sq ft: apply for a building permit ($0.60/sq ft) through OpenGov.
- If you're within 100 feet of wetlands or in a flood zone, contact the Conservation Department before installing.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Bourne, Massachusetts?
- Not for a shed under 200 sq ft: you file a free Shed Registration Form with a plot plan instead. A shed over 200 sq ft needs a building permit, at $0.60 per sq ft for homes.
- What is the shed setback in Bourne, MA?
- It depends on your zoning district. For example, 15 ft from side and rear lines and 30 ft from the street in R-40, or 25 ft and 40 ft in R-80. A shed under 75 sq ft only has to meet the street-side setback.
- How far does a shed need to be from a septic system in Bourne, Massachusetts?
- A shed on a slab must be 10 ft from the septic tank or leaching area.
- Does a shed count toward lot coverage in Bourne, Massachusetts?
- Yes, on a residential nonconforming lot. The total footprint of all structures, including sheds and decks, can't exceed the Table 2456 limit, which ranges from 25% on the smallest lots down to 20%.
Massachusetts building code rules for sheds
The Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR, 10th edition) sets when a shed needs a building permit. Your town's zoning sets where it can go.
- No building permit needed for a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar, if the floor area is 200 sq ft or less (Residential Code R105.2).
- Bigger sheds, or any with more than one story, need a building permit from your local building department.
- Also exempt from a building permit: detached decks of 200 sq ft or less that are no more than 30 inches above grade, and greenhouses covered only in plastic film.
- The exemption covers only the building permit. Electrical, plumbing or gas work in the shed still needs its own permits, and the shed still has to meet local zoning (setbacks, lot coverage, height). Many towns set accessory-structure setbacks even for small sheds.
- Wetlands: putting a shed in a wetland resource area or within 100 feet of a wetland (or 200 feet of a river) may require Conservation Commission approval first, whatever its size.
The 10th edition took effect October 11, 2024 and has been the only code in force since July 1, 2025.
What the bylaw says
- Shed FAQ - Sheds under 75 SQFT, Building & Inspections - Shed FAQ (2026), p. 1
Sheds under 75 SQFT − No permit fee required − Need to meet street side property lines − Complete the Shed Registration Form through the Building Department
- Shed FAQ - Sheds under 200 SQFT, Building & Inspections - Shed FAQ (2026), p. 1
Sheds under 200 SQFT − No permit fee required − Need to meet side, rear, and street side setbacks − Complete the Shed Registration Form through the Building Department
- Shed FAQ - Sheds over 200 SQFT, Building & Inspections - Shed FAQ (2026), p. 1
Sheds over 200 SQFT − Permit Fee of $0.60 per square foot (residential fee) or $0.75 per square foot (commercial fee)
- Shed FAQ - Setback Information chart, Building & Inspections - Shed FAQ (2026), p. 1
R80 GD/SDD R40 B1/VB B2 B3 B4 Min. Front yard/street 40 40 30 0* 30* 30 30*
- Shed FAQ - Setback Information chart, Building & Inspections - Shed FAQ (2026), p. 1
Min. Rear & side 25 25 15 12* 12* 12 30 yard setback
- Shed FAQ - Setback Information, Building & Inspections - Shed FAQ (2026), p. 1
Setbacks for septic systems are for a slab foundation 10ft from SAS or tank
- §2454 Maximum lot coverage (nonconforming lots), Town of Bourne Zoning Bylaw ('2025 Zoning Bylaw', as most recently amended at the Special Town Meeting October 20, 2025), p. 35
2454. Maximum lot coverage. Total building footprint area of all structures, including decks and other structures, whether roofed or not, located on a non-conforming lot shall not exceed the percentage of lot area shown in Table 2456.