Do I need a permit for a shed in Chatham, Massachusetts?
Yes. In Chatham, one garden shed of 100 sq ft or less may sit as close as one-third of the district's abutter setback (about 5 ft in R20/R30, about 8 ft in R40/R60, less on some older lots), up to 12 ft tall, but not in the street setback. Sheds over 100 sq ft must meet the full building setbacks, and anything near wetlands needs Conservation Commission review.
| Garden shed 100 sq ft or less: side/rear setback | 1/3 of the district abutter setback [3] |
| Garden shed in street (front) setback | Prohibited without a ZBA special permit [3] |
| Garden shed max height | 12 ft (gable, gambrel, hip, saltbox roofs); 8 ft (shed or flat roofs) [4] |
| Sheds over 100 sq ft | Full building/structure setbacks [1] |
| Abutter setback (R60/R40; R40A; R30/R20/R20A) | 25 ft; 40 ft; 15 ft [7] |
| Abutter setback, R60/R40 lots that existed before May 1987 | 20 ft (so a small garden shed needs about 6.7 ft) [10] |
| Building coverage | One shed of 100 sq ft or less not counted [2] |
| Tiny structures (under 25 sq ft, 6 ft tall or less) | 1/3 of abutter setback [6] |
Small garden sheds (100 sq ft or less)
Chatham's zoning bylaw, as amended in May 2025, gives small storage sheds a reduced setback. A garden storage shed of 100 sq ft or less must be at least one-third of the district's abutter setback from the side and rear property lines. It can't go in the street setback without a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals [3]. Appendix II's table sets abutter setbacks of 25 feet in R60 and R40, 40 feet in R40A, and 15 feet in R30, R20 and R20A [7]. So a small shed can sit about 8 feet from the line in R60/R40, about 13 feet in R40A, and 5 feet in R30/R20. In R60 and R40, lots that existed before May 1987 have a 20-foot abutter setback instead [10], which works out to about 6.7 feet; ask the Building Division which figure applies to your lot. Only one such shed is allowed inside the setback area. It can be up to 12 feet tall with a pitched roof, or 8 feet with a shed or flat roof [4]. One shed of this size also doesn't count toward building coverage [2].
Utility sheds and tiny structures
A "utility shed" houses noisy equipment like pumps, generators or compressors. Even at 100 sq ft or less, it must meet the full abutter setback and is capped at 10 feet (pitched roof) or 8 feet (flat or shed roof) [5]. Single-story structures under 25 sq ft and no more than 6 feet tall can sit at one-third of the abutter setback [6].
Larger sheds and other accessory buildings
Accessory buildings over 100 sq ft, pools and tennis courts must meet the same street, abutter and conservancy setbacks as the house [1].
Near water and wetlands
All sheds must meet the Conservancy District setback. The Conservation Commission prohibits new structures within 50 feet of a wetland resource area without a variance [8], and sheds in the Floodplain Overlay District need a permit [9].
Permits
The bylaw doesn't set its own shed permit threshold. Under the state building code, a one-story shed of 200 sq ft or less doesn't need a building permit, but zoning setbacks still apply.
See how Chatham compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on sheds & accessory buildings →
Next steps
- Look up your zoning district (R20, R30, R40, R60) to find the abutter setback, then site a small shed at least one-third of that distance from side and rear lines and outside the front setback.
- Keep the shed to 12 ft tall (pitched roof) or 8 ft (flat or shed roof); for a shed over 100 sq ft, plan for full building setbacks.
- Ask the Building Division (508-945-5168) whether your shed needs a building permit; one over 200 sq ft does under the state code.
- If the spot is within 100 feet of a wetland, pond, marsh or the shore, or in a flood zone, contact the Conservation Commission first.
Common questions
- How close to the property line can a shed be in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- One garden shed of 100 sq ft or less may sit as close as one-third of the district's abutter setback, up to 12 ft tall, but not in the street setback without a ZBA special permit. Sheds over 100 sq ft must meet the full building setbacks.
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- The bylaw sets no shed permit threshold. Under the state building code, a one-story shed of 200 sq ft or less doesn't need a building permit, but zoning setbacks still apply.
- How tall can a shed be in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- A small garden shed can be up to 12 ft tall with a gable, gambrel, hip or saltbox roof, or 8 ft with a shed or flat roof.
- Can I put a shed near wetlands in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- The Conservation Commission prohibits new structures within 50 feet of a wetland resource area without a variance. Sheds in the Floodplain Overlay District also need a permit.
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
- Sec. III.D.3.h.1 Accessory Building & Structures, Over 100 square feet, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 30
All structures accessory to a residential use, including buildings over one hundred (100) square feet in area; swimming pools and tennis courts and their enclosures, shall be set back from the street, abutters and conservancy district as required for buildings and structures in Appendix II, Schedule of Dimensional Requirements.
- Sec. III.D.3.h.2 Accessory Building & Structures, 100 square feet or less, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 30
A single one-story storage structure of one hundred (100) square feet or less in area shall not be counted toward building coverage on residentially zoned lots.
- Sec. III.D.3.h.2.a Garden Storage Sheds, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 30
Garden Storage Sheds of one hundred (100) square feet or less in area shall be set back a minimum of one third (1/3) the distance of the Abutters Setback from the property line, as required for buildings and structures in Appendix II, Schedule of Dimensional Requirements. Placement of Garden Storage Sheds within the Street Setback area is prohibited, except by Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Sec. III.D.3.h.2.a Garden Storage Sheds, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 30
There shall be no more than one (1) Garden Storage Shed located within the required setback area. The Building Height of these Garden Storage Sheds shall not exceed twelve feet (12’) for sheds with gable, gambrel, hip or lean-to or saltbox style roofs and eight feet (8’) for shed or flat style roofs.
- Sec. III.D.3.h.2.b Utility Sheds, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 31
Utility Sheds of one hundred (100) square feet or less in area shall be set back the distance of the Abutters Setback to the property line as required for buildings and structures in Appendix II, Schedule of Dimensional Requirements.
- Sec. III.D.3.h.3 Structures Under 25 square feet, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 31
Single story structures under twenty five (25) square feet in area and six feet (6’) or less in height shall be set back a minimum of one third (1/3) the distance of the Abutters Setback from the property line as required for buildings and structures in Appendix II, Schedule of Dimensional Requirements.
- Appendix II Schedule of Dimensional Requirements, Minimum Building/Structure Setbacks (Road, Abutter), Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 106
R6013 60,000 150 407 257 50 R4013 40,000 150 407 257 50 R40A13 40,000 150 407 40 50 R3013 30,000 100 25 15 50 R2013 20,000 100 25 15 50
- Wetlands Protection Regulations Sec. 4.01(6)(c) No Disturb Zones, Chatham Wetlands Protection Regulations (Rev. 6/11/2025, 1/14/2026, 7/1/2026), p. 69
Specifically, within the NDZ, the following are prohibited unless authorized by the issuance of a variance pursuant to Section 1.12 of these regulations. (1) New structures (unless limited to the footprint of an existing structure)
- Sec. IV.B.11 Floodplain District, Permits Required, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 46
The Town of Chatham requires a permit for all proposed construction or other development in the Floodplain Overlay District, including new construction or changes to existing buildings, placement of manufactured homes, placement of agricultural facilities, fences, sheds, storage facilities or drilling, mining, paving and any other development that might increase flooding or adversely impact flood risk to other properties.
- Appendix II Schedule of Dimensional Requirements, footnote 7, Protective Zoning Bylaw, as amended through May 2025 (attested 09/03/2025), p. 107
7 Except that for lots in existence prior to May 1987, a road setback of thirty (30) feet and an abutter’s setback of twenty (20) feet shall be required.