Do I need a permit for a shed in Winchester, Massachusetts?
Yes. A tool shed, greenhouse or similar accessory structure up to 150 sq ft is allowed by right in Winchester's residential districts. In the RDA, RDB, RDC and RG districts it can sit in the required rear yard if it's at least 5 ft from every property line, no more than 1.5 stories, at least 15 ft from other buildings, and (with other accessory buildings) covers no more than 30% of the rear yard. In the RA and RB districts, sheds can't go in any required yard. These rules come from the 2018 bylaw and may have changed.
| Allowed by right | Tool shed, greenhouse or similar structure up to 150 sq ft gross floor area [1] |
| Setback from property line (in a required rear yard, RDA/RDB/RDC/RG only) | 5 ft [2] |
| Location | Rear yard; no accessory building in required front or side yards [2] |
| Max height | 1.5 stories (when in a required yard) [2] |
| Rear-yard coverage | All accessory buildings together no more than 30% of the rear yard [2] |
| Distance from other buildings | 15 ft [2] |
| Accessory use area | No more than 25% of unbuilt lot area or of required rear yard [3] |
These rules come from the town's April 30, 2018 zoning bylaw PDF, the only full zoning text we could obtain; the current bylaw on eCode360 includes later amendments, so the rules may have changed.
Is a shed allowed?
Winchester's zoning use table lists a "noncommercial greenhouse, tool shed or other similar accessory structure not in excess of 150 square feet of gross floor area" as allowed by right (Y) in all residential districts [1]. The 2018 text doesn't separately list larger sheds, so ask the Building Department how a structure over 150 sq ft is treated.
Where it can go
Section 3.3.2 says no separate accessory building may be within 15 ft of any other building, and none may be built in a required yard, with an exception for the RDA-20, RDB-10, RDC-15 and RG-6.5 residence districts [2]. There, accessory buildings may go in the required yard if they are in the rear yard, together cover no more than 30% of it, are no more than 1.5 stories, and are at least 5 ft from every property line [2]. That exception doesn't cover the RA and RB districts, where no accessory building may be in a required yard. Outside the required yards, the shed must meet the district's normal building setbacks. Accessory uses outside a building can't take up more than 25% of the unbuilt lot area or the required rear yard [3], and no accessory use may occupy the required front or side yards.
Other reviews
If the shed is within 100 ft of a wetland, pond, river or stream, Winchester's Wetlands Bylaw requires a Conservation Commission permit before you build [4].
See how Winchester compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on sheds & accessory buildings →
Next steps
- Check your zoning district (RDA-20, RDB-10, RDC-15 or RG-6.5) on the town zoning map.
- Site the shed in the rear yard at least 5 ft from all lot lines and 15 ft from the house or garage, keeping total accessory-building coverage under 30% of the rear yard.
- Ask the Building Department whether your shed (especially if over 150 sq ft, or with electricity) needs a building permit.
- If the shed is within 100 ft of a wetland or water body, contact the Conservation Commission first.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a shed in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- A tool shed, greenhouse or similar accessory structure up to 150 sq ft is allowed by right in residential districts. The page doesn't list sheds over 150 sq ft separately. These rules come from the 2018 bylaw and may have changed.
- How far from the property line must a shed be in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- In RDA, RDB, RDC and RG, it can sit in the required rear yard at least 5 ft from every property line and 15 ft from other buildings. In RA and RB, sheds can't go in any required yard.
- How tall can a shed be in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- No more than 1.5 stories when in a required yard.
- How much of the rear yard can sheds cover in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- All accessory buildings together can cover no more than 30% of the rear yard.
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. 3.1 Table of Use Regulations, Group VI Accessory Uses, line 4, Zoning Bylaw (recodified April 30, 2018; amendments through Nov 2017 TM) - town PDF, p. 21
4. Noncommercial greenhouse, tool shed or other See 7.3.11.3 similar accessory structure not in excess of 150 Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N SP square feet of gross floor area
- Sec. 3.3.2 Accessory Buildings, Zoning Bylaw (recodified April 30, 2018; amendments through Nov 2017 TM) - town PDF, p. 25
No separate accessory building shall be erected within 15 feet of any other building. No accessory building shall be erected in any required yard provided, however, one or more accessory buildings may be placed within a required yard within the RDA-20, RDB-10, RDC-15 and RG-6.5 districts if such accessory buildings: 1. Are located in the rear yard; 2. Do not, taken together, cover more than 30 percent of such rear yard; 3. Are not over one and one-half (1.5) stories in height; and 4. Are not located nearer than five (5) feet to any property line.
- Sec. 3.3.1(2) Size Limitations, Zoning Bylaw (recodified April 30, 2018; amendments through Nov 2017 TM) - town PDF, p. 24
Other than required off-street parking, no accessory use or uses without a building shall occupy more than a combined total of 25 percent of the unbuilt lot area, or of the required rear yard area.
- Ch. 13 Wetlands Bylaw, Section 3. Jurisdiction, Chapter 13 Winchester Wetlands Bylaw - town PDF, p. 4
Except as permitted by the commission or as provided in this bylaw no person shall remove, fill, dredge, alter, or build upon or within one hundred (100) feet of any freshwater wetland, wet meadow, bog, or swamp; within one hundred (100) feet of any bank; upon or within one hundred (100) feet of any lake, river, pond, stream;