Permit Required? Sometimes Required
Typical Fee Range $150–$385 Exempt if < 200 sq ft; Zoning Clearance ($150) required if > 169 sq ft.
Fee Method Flat rate
Apply Online Apply at City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services →

What's Required in Columbus

  • Building permit required for any accessory storage shed over 200 square feet
  • Zoning clearance required for sheds between 169 and 200 square feet
  • Must be located in a rear yard and maintain 50% lot coverage limits
  • Side yard setbacks apply per Columbus Code 3332.25
  • Shed limited to one story and must be unheated for exemption status
  • Site plan showing distances to property lines is required for zoning review

What Size Shed Needs a Permit in Columbus

Whether you need a building permit for a shed in Columbus usually comes down to size. In Columbus, the cutoff is 200 square feet: a simple one-story shed at or under that size generally doesn’t need a building permit, while anything that exceeds it does. A popular 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) comes in under the limit, so it typically doesn’t need a building permit. Larger sheds, and any shed with electrical, plumbing, or a permanent foundation, almost always need a permit regardless of footprint.

Building a Shed Without a Permit in Columbus

Even when a shed is small enough to skip a building permit in Columbus, “no permit” doesn’t mean “no rules.” A permit-exempt shed generally must stay at or under the 200-square-foot limit, sit on a non-permanent base (sheds on skids or a gravel pad are treated more leniently than those on a poured foundation), and have no electrical or plumbing run to it. Crucially, zoning setbacks still apply — your shed usually has to sit a minimum distance from property lines and other structures, and that holds even for a permit-free shed. Confirm both the size exemption and the setback distance with the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services before you build.

How to Get a Shed Permit in Columbus

1

Step 1: Size & Zoning Verification

Verify if your shed footprint is under the 169 sq ft zoning threshold.

2

Step 2: Check Setbacks

Ensure location meets 25% rear yard requirement per code 3332.27.

3

Step 3: Portal Submission

Apply via Citizen Access Portal for 'Accessory Structure' if over 169 sq ft.

4

Step 4: Fee Payment

Pay $150 zoning fee or $385 building fee.

5

Step 5: Inspection

If a building permit is required, schedule a final structural inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Only if larger than 200 sq ft (building permit) or 169 sq ft (zoning clearance).
$150 for zoning clearance or $385 for a residential accessory building permit.
Standard rear yard setbacks must be maintained; check your specific zoning district.
In Columbus, you can build a shed up to 200 square feet without a building permit; anything over that needs one. The exemption usually also requires no permanent foundation and no electrical or plumbing, and zoning setbacks from property lines still apply even without a permit.
Often not, if it’s also within Columbus’s 200 sq ft limit and has no utilities — many jurisdictions treat a shed on skids or a gravel pad as movable rather than a permanent building. A poured foundation or any electrical/plumbing typically triggers a permit. Confirm with the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services; zoning setbacks apply either way.