What's Required in Fort Worth
- A building permit is required for every storage shed, regardless of size.
- Size is capped by lot area: 120, 200 or 400 sq ft, or 2% of lots of an acre or more.
- The shed must sit behind the rear wall of the house or at least 75 feet from the front property line.
- Side and rear setbacks are 5 feet for sheds up to 10 feet tall, 7 feet at 11 feet and 9 feet at 12 feet.
- Non-habitable sheds are limited to one story, and the loft may not be heated or cooled.
- The shed must be anchored or placed on a foundation that meets city standards.
- Submit the recorded plat, a site plan with setbacks and easements, and construction drawings.
- The applicant must be a registered building contractor or an owner-occupant with a homestead permit.
Do you need a permit for a shed in Fort Worth?
Yes, whatever the size. Fort Worth has no small-shed exemption: the city's residential permitting page says all storage buildings require a building permit, and its Nuts & Bolts brochure says all storage sheds require one. The work-exempt list in the city's Administrative Code covers things like fences, flagpoles and playground equipment, but not sheds. A shed on skids is not an exception either. The accessory building packet says accessory buildings must be anchored or placed on a foundation that meets city standards.
How much does a shed permit cost in Fort Worth?
Sheds are priced by square footage, not by what they cost to build. Texas Local Government Code 214.907 bars cities from basing residential permit fees on value. Under Fee Ordinance 26-28781, adopted September 15, 2026 and effective October 1, 2026, a storage building at an existing house uses the Group U table:
- Up to 175 sq ft: $61.01.
- Over 175 sq ft: $102.00 for the first 175 sq ft, plus $0.20 for each additional square foot.
- Every permit: a $33.08 application fee and a $16.87 technology fee.
Worked examples: a 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) is $61.01 + $33.08 + $16.87 = $110.96. A 200 sq ft shed is $102.00 + (25 x $0.20) = $107.00, plus $49.95, for $156.95. A 400 sq ft workshop is $102.00 + (225 x $0.20) = $147.00, plus $49.95, for $196.95. No plan review deposit is charged for accessory structures at a house. Wiring or plumbing the shed is separate trade work with its own permit.
How big can a shed be in Fort Worth?
Zoning caps the size of a non-habitable accessory building by lot size. The city's accessory building packet lists the limits: 120 sq ft on lots up to 5,000 sq ft, 200 sq ft on lots of 5,001 to 9,999 sq ft, 400 sq ft on lots of 10,000 to 43,559 sq ft, and 2% of the lot on an acre or more. Sheds must sit behind the rear wall of the house, or at least 75 feet from the front property line, whichever is less restrictive. They are limited to one story and are not allowed in front yards.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Prefab 8x10 shed (80 sq ft) on any lot | Building permit, $110.96 | All storage sheds need a permit; up to 175 sq ft is $61.01 plus fees |
| 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) on a 5,000 sq ft lot | Building permit, $110.96 | 120 sq ft is the zoning maximum on lots of 5,000 sq ft or less |
| 200 sq ft shed on a lot of 5,001 to 9,999 sq ft | Building permit, $156.95 | 200 sq ft cap on 5,001 to 9,999 sq ft lots |
| 400 sq ft workshop on a quarter-acre lot | Building permit, $196.95 | 400 sq ft cap on 10,000 to 43,559 sq ft lots |
| Shed 12 feet tall | Building permit | 12 feet is the maximum without a variance; keep 9 feet from side and rear lines |
| Shed larger or taller than zoning allows | Board of Adjustment variance, $591 | Owner-occupied residential variance fee, plus the building permit |
| Shed placed in a front yard | Not allowed without a variance | Accessory structures are not permitted in front yards |
How far from the property line does a shed have to be?
The packet ties the side and rear setback to height: up to 10 feet tall, 5 feet from the rear and side lines; 11 feet tall, 7 feet; 12 feet tall, 9 feet. Twelve feet is the most you can build without a variance. Corner lots and some districts have larger setbacks. For example, Board of Adjustment cases cite a 10-foot rear setback in the A-10 district. Check your district in Chapter 4 of the Zoning Ordinance. Variances go to the Board of Adjustment, and the fee for an owner-occupied home is $591.
Who can pull the permit?
A building contractor registered with the city can pull it. So can you, with a homestead permit if you own the house and live in it as your primary residence. Apply online through Accela Citizen Access. In the contractor lookup, homestead applicants enter Homestead. If you build first and permit later, the city charges an investigation fee equal to the permit fee.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Fort Worth
Check your lot size and zoning
Look up your zoning district and lot area so you know the maximum shed size and the setbacks that apply.
Draw the site plan
Show the shed's size, its distance from each property line and the house, and any easements, together with a copy of the recorded plat.
Apply in Accela Citizen Access
Submit a Residential Accessory New permit online. Homestead applicants enter Homestead in the contractor lookup.
Pay the fees
Pay the square-footage fee plus the $33.08 application fee and $16.87 technology fee. Residential building plans get first review comments within 7 business days.
Build and call for inspections
Schedule the required inspections in Accela. Requests made before 6:30 a.m. are scheduled the same day, and a permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection.