What's Required in Tucson
- Apply for a Residential Addition/Alteration permit in TDC Online for every shed, playhouse or similar structure.
- Submit a site plan showing property lines, shed location, setbacks to property lines and existing structures, height and square footage.
- Add building plans if the shed is over 200 square feet, has any utility connection, or is attached to the house.
- Expect building inspections only for sheds over 200 square feet, with utilities, or attached to the house.
- Keep sheds out of the front yard.
- Get a signed Neighbor Waiver or an approved Design Development Option before placing a shed inside a setback.
- Get Historic Preservation Design Review first if the property is in a Historic Preservation Zone or is a Historic Landmark.
- File the Owner/Builder Affidavit if you will build the shed yourself instead of hiring a licensed contractor.
Do you need a permit for a shed in Tucson?
Yes, for every shed. The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) requires a permit application for all storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures, regardless of size or utilities. Tucson's amendments to the 2024 building code raise the building-code exemption for small accessory structures to 200 square feet, but that only changes how much review the shed gets, not whether you file. The city still checks every shed against the zoning code so it is not placed in a front yard and meets setback rules. If your lot is outside city limits, Pima County handles the permit instead, under its own rules.
What the filing looks like
Every shed is filed as a Residential Addition/Alteration permit in Tucson Development Center (TDC) Online. A detached shed under 200 sq ft with no utilities needs only a site plan and zoning/engineering review, with no building inspections. A shed over 200 sq ft, one with any utility connection, or one attached to the house also needs building plans and building inspections. The site plan has to show property lines, the shed location, setbacks to property lines and to existing structures, height and total square footage.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Small detached shed, no power or water | Permit: site plan only | Under 200 sq ft: zoning review, no building inspections |
| Shed over 200 sq ft | Permit: site plan + building plans | Building inspections required |
| Any shed with lights, outlets, plumbing or gas | Permit: site plan + building plans | Utilities trigger plans regardless of size |
| Workshop, greenhouse or other occupied shed | Permit (occupied structure) | Occupied if designed or used for sustained activity |
| Shed inside a side or rear setback | Permit + Neighbor Waiver or DDO | DDO for setback and height: $278.07 |
| Shed in a Historic Preservation Zone | Permit + historic design review | All development there needs a permit |
| Shipping container used for storage | Shipping Container permit | Required regardless of use |
How much does a Tucson shed permit cost?
PDSD says shed fees are assessed by the type of review required, and the fee schedule adopted May 19, 2026 (effective July 1, 2026) has no flat shed line. Where a building permit fee applies, it runs off the city's valuation table, which values detached storage under 400 sq ft at $29.56 per square foot. The permit fee is $89.45 for the first $2,000 of value plus $22.95 per additional $1,000 (values round up), residential plan review adds 50% of the permit fee, and a digital filing fee of 1% (minimum $18.54) goes on everything.
Worked example, 240 sq ft shed: 240 × $29.56 = $7,094.40. Permit fee $89.45 + 6 × $22.95 = $227.15; review $113.58; filing fee $18.54; about $359. A small site-plan-only shed should cost less. The bottom of the table is $89.45 plus the $18.54 filing fee, about $108, but PDSD does not publish what it charges for a site-plan-only shed review, so confirm the figure with the department.
Placement rules that still apply
Placing a shed inside a setback needs zoning and building safety review plus a signed Neighbor Waiver from the adjacent owner. Without a waiver you can request a Design Development Option (DDO). The CODE Tucson '26 proposals would raise the height limit for detached accessory structures from 12 feet to 15 feet. As of the city's August 2026 update the package was at the Planning Commission study-session stage, with Mayor and Council action expected later in 2026, so plan to the current 12 feet.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Tucson
Step 1: Confirm city jurisdiction and zone
Look up the parcel in Map Tucson or Property Research Online. Addresses outside city limits go to Pima County.
Step 2: Draw the site plan
Show property lines, the shed footprint, setbacks to lines and buildings, height and square footage. Add building plans if the shed is over 200 square feet or has utilities.
Step 3: Apply in TDC Online
Choose the Residential Addition/Alteration permit and upload the plans, plus a Neighbor Waiver if the shed sits in a setback.
Step 4: Pay the fees
Review fees are collected before review starts and the remaining permit fees at approval, with the 1 percent digital filing fee added.
Step 5: Build and inspect
Sheds that need building plans get building inspections. Small site-plan-only sheds are released after zoning approval.