Town Permit Guide

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

Westford, Middlesex County · Bylaws checked 2026-10-19 · Reviewed · 14 cited sections

Allowed

A shed of 120 sq ft or less needs no building permit in Westford but must sit at least 10 feet from side and rear lot lines and out of the required front yard. A bigger shed needs a building permit and a plot plan and must meet the full district setbacks (15 ft side and 30 ft rear in Residence A and B).

No building permit120 sq ft or less [1]
Setback, shed 120 sq ft or less10 ft from side and rear lot lines [2]
Larger shedsBuilding permit; must meet Appendix C side/rear setbacks [3]
Front yardNo accessory building in the required front yard [4]
Max share of a required side/rear yard25% [5]
Attached or within 10 ft of the houseTreated as part of the house (house setbacks apply) [6]
Residence A setbacks (Building Dept)50 ft front / 15 ft side / 30 ft rear [7]
Residence B setbacks (Building Dept)25 ft front / 15 ft side / 30 ft rear [8]
Spacing from other buildings on the lot20 ft in RA and RB (Appendix C; also on the Building Dept checklist) [14]
Near wetlandsA shed of any size is a 'building': 55 ft from the wetland edge on a lawn area of a developed lot, 75 ft otherwise [13]

Permit threshold

Under the zoning bylaw, an accessory structure with 120 sq ft or less of floor area may be built without a building permit; anything larger needs one [1]. The state building code on its own exempts one-story sheds up to 200 sq ft from a building permit (see the state section), but Westford's bylaw and Building Department use the lower 120 sq ft line, so check with the Building Department before building a shed between 120 and 200 sq ft without a permit. The Building Department adds that a shed over 120 sq ft needs a building permit and a proposed plot plan, and that any shed may need Conservation Commission approval [10].

Where it can go

  • Small sheds (120 sq ft or less): at least 10 feet from any side or rear lot line [2].
  • Larger sheds: must meet the side and rear yard setbacks in the dimensional table [3]. The Building Department lists these as 50 ft front, 15 ft side and 30 ft rear in Residence A [7], and 25 ft front, 15 ft side and 30 ft rear in Residence B [8]. Corner lots have two front yards and two side yards.
  • Not in the front yard: no accessory building may sit in a required front yard setback [4].
  • Yard coverage: a detached accessory building goes in the side or rear yard and may occupy no more than 25% of the required yard area [5].
  • Close to the house: a shed attached to the house or within 10 feet of it counts as part of the house and must meet the house's setbacks [6].

The dimensional table in Appendix C sets a minimum distance of 20 feet between buildings on the same lot in Residence A and B (and in B and CH/PCD) [14], and the Building Department's checklist likewise says any new structure must be at least 20 feet from any other structure [9]. The bylaw also treats a shed within 10 feet of the house as part of the house [6], so ask the Building Department how the 20-foot spacing applies to a small shed near your house or garage.

Height

The zoning bylaw has no separate shed height limit that we found; the general maximum building height in the dimensional table is 35 feet in RA and RB [12].

Wetlands

The Conservation Commission's regulations treat a shed or other storage structure of any size as a "building" [11]. On a lot with a house, a building must stay 55 feet from the wetland edge if placed on lawn or landscaped area, and 75 feet in natural areas [13]. Work within 100 feet of a wetland needs Commission approval.

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

Next steps

  1. Find your zoning district, lot lines and any easements or septic components (certified plot plan and septic plan).
  2. For a shed of 120 sq ft or less, place it at least 10 ft from side and rear lines and outside the front yard; no building permit is needed.
  3. For a larger shed, apply online for a building permit with a proposed plot plan showing district setbacks.
  4. If the shed is within 100 ft of a wetland, check with the Conservation Resource Planner before installing.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a shed in Westford, Massachusetts?
Only if it's over 120 sq ft. Westford's zoning bylaw lets a shed of 120 sq ft or less go up without a building permit; a bigger one needs a building permit and plot plan. The state code exempts sheds up to 200 sq ft, but Westford uses the lower 120 sq ft line, so check with the Building Department for a shed between 120 and 200 sq ft.
How close to the property line can a shed be in Westford, MA?
A shed of 120 sq ft or less must be at least 10 feet from side and rear lot lines. A larger shed must meet district setbacks: 15 ft side and 30 ft rear in Residence A and B. No shed may sit in the required front yard, and one within 10 feet of the house counts as part of the house.
How far does a shed have to be from my house in Westford, Massachusetts?
It depends. Westford's dimensional table sets a 20-foot minimum distance between buildings on the same lot in Residence A and B, and the Building Department's checklist also says 20 feet from any other structure. But the bylaw treats a shed within 10 feet of the house as part of the house, so ask the Building Department how the 20-foot rule applies to your shed.
Can I put a shed near a wetland in Westford, MA?
Only with care. Westford's Conservation Commission regulations treat a shed of any size as a building: on a lot with a house it must stay 55 feet from the wetland edge on lawn or landscaped areas and 75 feet in natural areas. Any shed may need Commission approval, so check with the Conservation Resource Planner first.
How tall can a shed be in Westford, Massachusetts?
There's no shed-specific limit that we found. Westford's zoning bylaw has no separate shed height rule; the general maximum building height in the dimensional table is 35 feet in Residence A and B.

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 Westford's published bylaws. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. Sec. 3.5.1 Permit Required, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 25
    An accessory structure with 120 square feet or less of gross floor area may be erected without a building permit. An accessory structure with more than 120 square feet of gross floor area shall require a building permit.
  2. Sec. 3.5.2(3) 120 Square Feet or less, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 26
    An accessory structure with 120 square feet or less of gross floor area shall be located at least ten (10) feet from any side or rear lot line.
  3. Sec. 3.5.2(4) More than 120 Square Feet, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 26
    An accessory structure with more than 120 square feet of gross floor area shall be located in the side or rear yard in accordance with the Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations, Appendix C.
  4. Sec. 3.5.2(1) Front Yard, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 25
    No accessory building or structure, except a permitted sign or roadside stand, shall be located within a required front yard setback.
  5. Sec. 3.5.2(2) Side or Rear Yard, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 26
    A detached accessory building or structure shall be located in the side or rear yard areas and on the same lot as a principal building, provided that not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the required yard area shall be so occupied.
  6. Sec. 3.5.2(5) Attached Structures, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 26
    An accessory building attached to its principal building or within ten (10) feet of it shall be considered an integral part thereof and as such shall be subject to the front, side, and rear yard requirements applicable to the principal building.
  7. Accessory Structure checklist, Building Department - Accessory Structure checklist, p. 1
    In Residence A Districts setbacks are 50 feet from the front lot line, 15 feet from the side lot line and 30 feet from the rear property line
  8. Accessory Structure checklist, Building Department - Accessory Structure checklist, p. 1
    In Residence B Districts setbacks are 25 feet from the front lot line, 15 feet from the side lot line and 30 feet from the rear property line
  9. Accessory Structure checklist, Building Department - Accessory Structure checklist, p. 1
    Also, any new structure must be a minimum of 20 feet from any other structure
  10. Accessory Structure checklist, Note, Building Department - Accessory Structure checklist, p. 1
    A shed 120 square feet or less in area does not require a building permit and has a reduced setback to side and rear lot-lines; sheds over 120 sq. ft. require a building permit and proposed plot plan. Any shed may need Conservation Commission Approval for installation please check with Conservation Resource Planner before installation
  11. Ch. 235, §235-2(E)(9) Minimum Set-Backs, Conservation Commission - Chapter 235 Wetlands Rules and Regulations (updated to 12-9-2020), p. 9
    For the purposes of the table above, “work” means cutting or removal of vegetation, filling, excavation, grading, operation of motorized construction equipment, storage or stockpiling of earth or construction materials or debris or brush or other wood or yard waste or placement of vehicles, recreational equipment such as swing sets or trampolines or fences, and “building” means any structure requiring a building permit, as well as a shed or other storage structure of any size.
  12. Appendix C, Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 219
    Maximum building height (feet) 35 35 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
  13. Ch. 235, §235-2(E)(9) Minimum Set-Backs table, Conservation Commission - Chapter 235 Wetlands Rules and Regulations (updated to 12-9-2020), p. 9
    Work on a lot with an existing structure where work is 30 55 proposed on an artificial surface area of the lot.
  14. Appendix C, Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations, minimum distance between buildings, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 219
    Minimum distance between buildings on the same lot (feet) RA 20 RB 20 B 20 CH/PCD 20
This page summarizes Westford's posted bylaws as of 2026-10-19. 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 Officer Erik Tardif), Town Hall, 55 Main Street, Westford MA 01886 (978-692-5527) before you build. Spot an error?