Do I need a permit for a shed in Scituate, Massachusetts?
Scituate's Building Department requires a building permit for a shed larger than 200 sq ft or taller than 15 feet, but every shed must meet zoning setbacks. A one-story detached shed must be at least 15 feet from side and rear lot lines in the R-1 and R-2 districts, or 8 feet in R-3, and at least 30 feet from the street.
| Building permit threshold | Over 200 sq ft or over 15 ft tall [1] |
| Side and rear setback, R-1 and R-2 | 15 feet (one-story detached accessory building) [3] |
| Side and rear setback, R-3 | 8 feet (one-story detached accessory building) [3] |
| Street setback | 30 feet from most streets (100 ft from Chief Justice Cushing Hwy) [2] |
| Max building height (residential) | 3 stories or 35 feet, whichever is lower [4] |
| Floodplain | Permit required for sheds in the floodplain overlay district [6] |
Sheds are allowed accessory structures
Scituate's zoning bylaw lists a tool shed, playhouse, greenhouse or similar structure for domestic storage or use as a residential accessory use [5], allowed as of right in residential districts.
Do you need a permit?
The Building/Inspections Department says a permit is needed if the shed is larger than 200 sq ft or more than 15 feet tall, and that every shed, whatever its size, must still meet the setback requirements [1]. That lines up with the state building code's 200 sq ft exemption.
Setbacks
No building may be built within 30 feet of a street or way (100 feet from Chief Justice Cushing Highway, and 60 feet from parts of the Driftway and New Kent Street) [2]. Side and rear setbacks depend on your district [3]:
- R-1 and R-2: 15 feet from side lines; 15 feet from the rear line for a one-story detached accessory building (30 feet for other buildings).
- R-3: 8 feet from side lines; 8 feet from the rear line for a one-story detached accessory building (20 feet for other buildings).
- Business (B): 8 feet side and rear for non-dwelling buildings.
Because the street setback applies to every building, a shed generally can't go in the front yard near the road. The bylaw doesn't set a separate lot-coverage limit for residential lots.
Height
In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts, no building may exceed three stories or 35 feet, whichever is lower [4]. In practice a shed over 15 feet needs a permit, and a two-story accessory building loses the reduced rear setback.
Flood zones and wetlands
The Conservation Commission's regulations require a permit for all development in the floodplain overlay district, including sheds and fences [6]. If your lot is in a FEMA flood zone or within 100 feet of a wetland, marsh, beach or bank, check with the Conservation Commission before placing a shed.
See how Scituate compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on sheds & accessory buildings →
Next steps
- Find your zoning district (R-1, R-2, R-3 or B) on the town zoning map to know your side and rear setbacks.
- If the shed is over 200 sq ft or over 15 ft tall, apply for a building permit with the Building/Inspections Department (781-545-8716) and include a plot plan showing distances to lot lines.
- If your lot is in a flood zone or near a wetland, contact the Conservation Commission before placing the shed.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- It depends on size. The Building Department requires a building permit for a shed larger than 200 sq ft or taller than 15 feet, but every shed must meet zoning setbacks.
- How far from the property line must a shed be in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- A one-story detached shed must be at least 15 feet from side and rear lot lines in R-1 and R-2, or 8 feet in R-3.
- How far from the street must a shed be in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- At least 30 feet from most streets, and 100 ft from Chief Justice Cushing Highway.
- Can I put a shed in a floodplain in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- A permit is required for sheds in the floodplain overlay district.
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
- Building/Inspections FAQ: Do I need a permit to erect a shed?, Building/Inspections FAQ - Do I need a permit to erect a fence?
If the shed is larger than 200 square feet (10' x 20') or more than 15' in height you will need a permit. Regardless of the size you will still need to abide by the setback requirements.
- Sec. 620.3 (Setback and Yard Requirements), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 113
In all zones, except as herein provided, no building shall hereafter be erected on its lot within one hundred feet of the exterior lines of the Chief Justice Cushing Highway (or, if lesser, nearer to those lines than fifty percent of lot depth), or within sixty feet of the exterior lines of the New Driftway and the Driftway from the extension of the easterly boundary of South Shore Auto Parts Company, Inc. (Assessors Lot No. 53-3-9), easterly to New Kent Street, and then New Kent Street northerly to the intersection of New Kent Street and Kent Street; or within thirty feet of the exterior line of any other street or way; or nearer to the side lines of its lot than the "Required Side Yard Distance," or nearer to the rear line of its lot than the "Required Rear Yard Depth," specified in the following table for the district in which said lot is located:
- Sec. 620.3 (Setback table), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 113
R-1 and R-2 15 feet 15 feet for one story detached accessory buildings. 30 feet for all other buildings. R-3 8 feet 8 feet for one story detached accessory buildings. 20 feet for all other buildings.
- Sec. 620.1 (Building Heights), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 112
In R-1, R-2 and R-3, Districts, no building shall be constructed or altered to exceed more than three stories or thirty-five feet in height, whichever is lower, the height in each case to be measured vertically from the average finished grade of the ground adjoining such building to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deck line for mansard roofs, and to the average height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs with a maximum height of 40’ to the highest point of any roof, e.g. ridge.
- Sec. 430.2(A)(2), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 27
2. Private greenhouse, stable, tool shed, playhouse, tennis court, boat house, or other similar structure for domestic storage or use.
- Floodplain Overlay District (permit requirement), Conservation Commission Wetlands Protection Rules and Regulations (Bylaw Sec 30770; revised July 6, 2021), p. 8
a) The Town of Scituate 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 risks to other properties.