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Do I need a permit for a shed in Dennis, Massachusetts?

Dennis, Barnstable County · Bylaws checked 2026-10-15 · Reviewed · 10 cited sections

Allowed with a permit

Yes, with paperwork. One shed of up to 200 sq ft and 15 ft tall may sit inside the normal setback areas as long as it is at least 2 feet from every lot line and not in front of the house, but it needs a Zoning Compliance Certificate from the Building Department. A larger or second accessory building must meet the district's full setbacks: for a single-family lot, 15 ft from the side and 25 ft from the rear in most districts, or 30 ft side and rear in R-60. North of Route 6, the Old King's Highway Committee must also approve the shed.

Small shed allowance1 accessory building, 200 sq ft footprint or less, 15 ft tall or less [1]
Small shed setbackAt least 2 ft from any lot line (may sit in setback areas) [2]
Front-yard locationNot forward of the front of the house (if the house is within 75 ft of the street) [3]
Permit for small shedZoning Compliance Certificate from the Building Department, plus fees [4]
Larger or additional accessory structures (most districts, e.g. R-40)Full setbacks: 25 ft front, 15 ft side, 25 ft rear; counts toward lot coverage [9]
Larger or additional accessory structures (R-60)Full setbacks: 75 ft front, 30 ft side, 30 ft rear [10]
Max accessory structure height18 ft above lowest floor (25 ft with a 6:12-12:12 roof pitch) [6]
OKH exempt shed (north of Route 6)1 wooden shed, 120 sq ft or less, 12 ft or less to ridge [7]

The single small shed

Under §2.3.3.6(a), one accessory building with a footprint of 200 sq ft or less and a height of 15 feet or less gets special treatment [1]. It may sit inside the normal side and rear setback areas if no part of it is within 2 feet of a lot line, subject to any screening the Building Commissioner requires [2]. It can't be placed in front of the front face of the house when the house is 75 feet or less from the street. If the house sits farther back, the shed must still be at least 75 feet from the street line [3]. It doesn't count toward maximum site coverage, but it does need a Zoning Compliance Certificate and Building Department fees [4].

All other accessory structures

A second shed, a larger shed, a garage or another accessory building must meet the district's required setbacks in the Intensity of Use Schedule (§2.3.2), count toward lot coverage, and follow the same front-yard placement rules [5]. That table gives single-family lot setbacks as a row of numbers (lot area, frontage, width, then front, side and rear setbacks, building coverage %, height). In most districts, including R-40, the row reads 25 ft front, 15 ft side and 25 ft rear, with 15% building coverage [9]. In R-60 it is 75 ft front, 30 ft side and 30 ft rear [10]. The Quivet Neck/Crowe's Pasture district has its own rules (below). For every accessory structure, the roof ridge may be no higher than 18 feet above the lowest floor, or 25 feet with a roof pitch between 6:12 and 12:12 [6]. A structure larger than state-code thresholds also needs a building permit.

Special areas

  • Old King's Highway Historic District (north of Route 6): you need a certificate from the Dennis OKH Committee. One wooden shed of 120 sq ft or less and 12 feet or less to the ridge can get an exemption if it meets the design criteria: a 7/12 roof pitch, approved siding and colors, and a location behind the rear wall of the house [7]. You'll need a site plan and 3 sets of elevations.
  • Quivet Neck/Crowe's Pasture district: accessory structures can't go in the front yard and must be 30 feet from side lines. Sheds of 120 sq ft or less may be 10 feet from side and rear lines [8].
  • Flood zones and wetlands: sheds in the floodplain overlay need a floodplain permit, and work near wetlands may need Conservation Commission approval.

See how Dennis compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on sheds & accessory buildings →

Next steps

  1. Measure the shed's footprint and height: 200 sq ft or less and 15 ft or less qualifies for the 2-ft lot-line allowance.
  2. Apply to the Dennis Building Department (508-760-6157) for a Zoning Compliance Certificate (or building permit) with a plot plan showing distances to lot lines and the house.
  3. North of Route 6, first get a Certificate of Exemption or Appropriateness from the Dennis Old King's Highway Committee (site plan + 3 sets of elevations).
  4. If the lot is near wetlands or in a flood zone, check with the Conservation Commission before placing the shed.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a shed in Dennis, MA?
Yes, at least a Zoning Compliance Certificate from the Building Department. One shed up to 200 sq ft and 15 ft tall needs that certificate plus fees; a structure larger than state-code thresholds also needs a building permit.
How close to the property line can a shed be in Dennis, Massachusetts?
One shed of up to 200 sq ft and 15 ft tall may sit at least 2 feet from every lot line, but not in front of the house. A larger or second shed must meet full setbacks: 15 ft side and 25 ft rear in most districts, or 30 ft side and rear in R-60.
Do I need Old King's Highway approval for a shed in Dennis, MA?
Yes, north of Route 6. One wooden shed of 120 sq ft or less and 12 ft or less to the ridge can get an exemption; others need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
How tall can a shed be in Dennis, Massachusetts?
The small-shed allowance requires 15 feet or less. Any accessory structure's ridge can be no higher than 18 feet above the lowest floor, or 25 feet with a 6:12-12:12 roof pitch.

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.

State sources: 780 CMR 10th ed., Residential Chapter 1, R105.2 (work exempt from permit) · BBRS, Tenth edition of the MA State Building Code 780 · MassDEP, Protecting Wetlands in Massachusetts

What the bylaw says

Exact text from Dennis's published bylaws. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. § 2.3.3.6(a), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 25
    a. A single accessory building with a footprint of 200 square feet or less, and a building height of no more than 15 feet:
  2. § 2.3.3.6(a)(iii), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 26
    iii. May be located within other setback areas in accordance with Section 2.3.2 provided no portion of the accessory building is located within two (2) feet of any lot line, and subject to appropriate screening requirements as determined by the Building Commissioner;
  3. § 2.3.3.6(a)(i)-(ii), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 26
    i. Shall not be located forward of the front face of the principal structure whose front face is seventy-five (75) feet or less from the street line.
  4. § 2.3.3.6(a)(v), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 26
    v. Shall not be erected without a Zoning Compliance Certificate from the Building Department and is subject to all fees in accordance with the Building Department Fee Schedule.
  5. § 2.3.3.6(b)(i), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 26
    i. Shall be located in conformance with the required setbacks as found in Section 2.3.2 of this by-law;
  6. § 2.3.3.6(c)(i), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 26
    i. Height: The top of the ridge of the roof of an accessory structure may not be greater than Eighteen (18) feet above the top of the lowest floor elevation, except that a maximum height of twenty-five (25) feet shall be allowed for a structure with a roof pitch between 6:12 and 12:12.
  7. 972 CMR 3:04(g) Sheds, Old King's Highway Regional Historic District Commission Bulletin (March 1, 2022) incl. OKH Act, p. 26
    a. SIZE — No more than 120 square feet in floor area and no more than 12 feet in height to ridgeline.
  8. § 4.6.8 Accessory Structure (Quivet Neck/Crowe's Pasture), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 57
    An accessory structure with a footprint of one-hundred twenty (120) square feet or less may be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from any side or rear lot line except where greater distances are required by Section 4.6.11.
  9. § 2.3.2 Intensity of Use Schedule, Dwelling Unit, Other Districts, Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 24
    In Other Districts 40,000 50 100 25 15 25 154 2½
  10. § 2.3.2 Intensity of Use Schedule, Dwelling Unit, R-60, Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 24
    In an R-60 District 60,000 50 200 75 30 30 154 2½
This page summarizes Dennis's posted bylaws as of 2026-10-15. Bylaws are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Building Department (Building Commissioner / zoning enforcement) (508-760-6157) before you build. Spot an error?