What's Required in Charlotte
- A Mecklenburg County building permit is required for any shed or accessory building that exceeds 12 feet in any dimension, including mean roof height.
- A shed 12 feet or less in every dimension needs a City of Charlotte zoning use permit instead of a County building permit.
- A shed over 12 feet also needs a City LDIRL review ($65 zoning plus $50 stormwater review in FY2026) approved before the County will approve its permit.
- No accessory structure may be placed in the established front or corner side setback; side and rear setback placement must be at least 3 feet from the lot line.
- The shed must be separated from the house by at least 5 feet, and all accessory structures together may not exceed the heated area of the house's first floor.
- A one-story accessory building of 400 square feet or less may use a wood foundation with a ground anchor at each corner instead of masonry.
- Any electrical wiring to the shed requires a separate electrical permit, pulled by a licensed electrician or the owner-occupant doing the work personally.
- A general contractor license is required only when the contracted work costs $40,000 or more; owners may build their own shed with a homeowner permit.
Do you need a permit for a shed in Charlotte?
It depends on one number: 12 feet. Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement requires a building permit for any storage shed or accessory building that measures more than 12 feet in any dimension, and its Residential Construction Handbook says that includes the mean roof height. A shed that is 12 feet or less in every direction needs no County building permit, but it is not permit-free: the County says all sheds need a zoning permit, and Charlotte's UDO (Section 17.1.D) requires a zoning use permit for any permanent accessory structure that does not need a building permit. Any wiring to the shed needs an electrical permit whatever the size.
Two governments share your project. Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (LUESA, 2145 Suttle Avenue, 980-314-CODE) issues every building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit inside the city and runs the inspections. The City of Charlotte handles zoning under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO): setbacks, heights, lot coverage and the zoning sign-off the County needs before it will issue a permit.
How much does a shed permit cost in Charlotte?
Shed over 12 feet, County permit. The fee comes from the LUESA Fee Ordinance table on the construction value you declare (the County can substitute its own valuation if yours is low). A 12 by 16 shed at $8,000 pays $59.70 for the first $3,000 plus 5 x $12.19 = $120.65, plus a $3 technology charge, about $123.65. If you build it yourself as an owner-occupant on a project under $40,000, the homeowner schedule applies instead: $60 base fee per trade plus $45 per inspection trip, so two trips come to $153.00 with the technology charge.
City of Charlotte LDIRL. A detached accessory structure greater than 12 feet in any dimension is on the City's Individual Residential Lot (LDIRL) review list. The FY2026 schedule charges $65 for residential zoning review and $50 for stormwater review of a shed or detached structure, $115.00 together, and the review takes about 15 days (a 3-day gateway, then a 7-day detailed review once you pay). Together a contractor-built 12 by 16 shed runs about $238.65 in fees.
Shed 12 feet or under. No County fee. The City's Zoning Use Permit was $330 on the FY2025 residential zoning fee sheet (July 2024 to June 2025); the FY2026 sheet was not posted where we could reach it, so confirm the current figure in Accela Citizen Access before you pay.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 12 shed, 8 ft tall, no wiring | City zoning use permit only | Every dimension 12 ft or less, so no County building permit; UDO setbacks still apply |
| 12 x 16 shed at $8,000 | County building permit + City LDIRL | Over 12 ft; about $123.65 County plus $115.00 City; two County inspections typical |
| 10 x 10 shed whose mean roof height tops 12 ft | County building permit + City LDIRL | The handbook counts mean roof height as a dimension |
| Any shed with a light or outlet | Electrical permit added | Wiring is permitted work at any size; licensed electrician or owner-occupant doing it personally |
| Two-story workshop with fixed stairs | County plan review | Two-story detached accessory buildings with a fixed set of stairs require plan review before the permit |
| Prefab shed on skids, 400 sq ft or less, one story | County building permit (if over 12 ft) | May sit on a wood foundation with a ground anchor at each corner instead of masonry |
| Shed in the front yard | Not allowed | UDO 17.1.E.1: no accessory structure in the established front or corner side setback |
Where can a shed go on a Charlotte lot?
UDO Article 17 sets the placement rules: not in the established front or corner side setback; at least 3 feet from a side or rear lot line (15 feet from the rear line if the structure is 24 feet or taller); 5 feet from the house; and all accessory structures together (ADUs excluded) may not exceed the heated area of the house's first floor. The City runs setback determinations at 704-336-7600.
Who can build it and how do you apply?
You may build your own shed: North Carolina requires a general contractor license only when the job costs $40,000 or more, and the County issues homeowner permits to owners whose name is on the deed and who live in the home, through its AccelaMeck portal. File the City LDIRL (or zoning use permit) in Charlotte's Accela Citizen Access first; the County will not approve its permit until the City has. The County application for a shed uses sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 of the building permit form with a plot plan. Request inspections at 704-336-8000. The permit expires if no inspected work starts within six months.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Charlotte
Measure and place the shed
Check every dimension against 12 feet, keep it out of the front setback, 3 feet from side and rear lines and 5 feet from the house. Call 704-336-7600 for a setback determination.
File with the City of Charlotte
In Accela Citizen Access, submit an LDIRL for a shed over 12 feet (plot plan plus the accessory structure declaration) or a Zoning Use Permit for a smaller shed.
Apply to Mecklenburg County
For a shed over 12 feet, apply through AccelaMeck as a contractor or homeowner, completing sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 with the plot plan. List any electrical contractor.
Pay the fees
The City charges $115 for the LDIRL at the gateway. The County charges the valuation table fee ($120.65 on $8,000) plus $3, or $60 plus $45 per inspection trip for an owner-builder.
Build and call inspections
Request inspections at 704-336-8000 or online. Work must start and be inspected within six months or the permit expires.