What's Required in Philadelphia
- No zoning or building permit for a shed, playhouse or pergola up to 130 sq ft in the rear yard, one story and under 15 ft tall, at a 1-2 family home (Shed FAQ PG_011)
- A shed up to 130 sq ft in the side or front yard needs a zoning permit; L&I's zoning fee summary lists $189 for residential new construction
- Sheds over 130 sq ft accessory to a 1-2 family dwelling are not permitted by the Zoning Code; L&I issues a refusal and a ZBA variance is required
- Sheds over 200 sq ft also need a building permit: $75 for the first 500 sq ft plus $56 per 100 sq ft, plus $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges
- Minimum yard and setback requirements of the zoning district apply even when no permit is needed; the shed may not store a motor vehicle
- Any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work to the shed needs its own permit, and electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor
- Sheds accessory to anything other than a 1-2 family dwelling need both zoning and building permits at any size
- Properties on the Philadelphia Historic Registry need Historical Commission approval before L&I will accept an application
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Shed in Philadelphia?
Not for the typical backyard shed. Philadelphia runs two separate tests, zoning and building, and a shed at a one- or two-family home passes both if it is 130 square feet or less, in the rear yard, one story and no taller than 15 feet. L&I's own shed FAQ (PG_011, 2021-code edition) and its zoning page both say such a shed needs neither a zoning permit nor a building permit. The same rule covers playhouses and pergolas. Zoning setbacks for your district still apply, and the shed may not be used to store a motor vehicle.
The surprise is what happens above 130 square feet. The building-code exemption for detached accessory structures runs to 200 square feet (Title 4, A-301.2, as summarized on L&I's building-permit page and in the Start Right guide), so many people assume anything under 200 is fine. L&I's FAQ table says otherwise: a shed over 130 square feet accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling is not permitted by the Zoning Code. You must still file a zoning application, L&I issues a refusal, and the only route forward is an appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which requires a community meeting and a public hearing. Over 200 square feet, a building permit with plans is required on top of that.
Philadelphia Shed Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Shed, playhouse or pergola up to 130 sq ft, rear yard, one story, under 15 ft tall | None | Shed FAQ PG_011 row 1; zoning exemption list |
| Same shed placed in the side or front yard | Zoning permit ($189 plus $25 filing applied to it) | Shed FAQ example 2; zoning fee summary |
| Shed between 130 and 200 sq ft | Zoning application, refusal, ZBA variance | Shed FAQ: not permitted per Zoning Code |
| Shed over 200 sq ft | ZBA variance plus building permit ($75 first 500 sq ft plus $7.50 surcharges) | Shed FAQ row 4; fee summary, accessory structures |
| Running a light or outlet to any shed | Electrical permit ($63 minimum plus $7.50) | Shed FAQ additional notes; electrical permit page |
| Shed at a three-unit or mixed-use building | Zoning and building permits, any size | Shed FAQ: any use other than 1-2 family |
| Shed on a property on the Philadelphia Historic Registry | Historical Commission approval first | Building permit page, required pre-approvals |
How Much Does a Shed Permit Cost in Philadelphia?
Zero for the exempt shed. If your shed needs a zoning permit because it sits in a side or front yard, L&I's zoning fee summary (PZ_008, July 2026) prices residential new construction at $189; the $25 filing fee for a one- or two-family lot is non-refundable but is applied to that balance, so you pay $25 up front and $164 on approval. Zoning approvals carry no city or state surcharge. A shed large enough to need a building permit is priced under "new accessory structures or additions" at $75 for the first 500 square feet plus $56 per additional 100 square feet, plus the $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges on every building permit, so a 240-square-foot shed would be $82.50 once a variance is in hand. L&I's fee summary dated July 2026 takes effect October 1, 2026, and its project rows are unchanged from the schedule in force since January 2025; only the permit reinstatement fee moved.
What Counts as the Rear Yard?
L&I's FAQ drawings define the rear yard as the space between the house and the rear lot line, and the side yard as the space between the house and the side lot line. On a rowhouse lot that usually means the shed goes behind the house, not beside it. The FAQ adds that minimum yard and setback requirements of your zoning district still apply even when no permit is needed, so check your district on Atlas before you set the base. Height is measured to 15 feet and the structure must be a single story.
Who Can Build It and What Happens With Utilities
A shed that needs no permit can be built by anyone. Once a building permit is involved, L&I's rule for existing one- or two-family homes is that the work may be done by a licensed Philadelphia contractor, by a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor who holds a Commercial Activity License, or by an owner who lives in the building, as long as the project needs no electrical or plumbing permit. Electrical work is never a homeowner job here: only a licensed electrical contractor may perform it, and the permit fee is $25 per $1,000 of electrical cost with a $63 minimum. Permits are filed in eCLIPSE, and zoning applications for one- or two-family lots are reviewed within 15 business days.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Philadelphia
Measure and place the shed
Keep it at or under 130 sq ft, one story, under 15 ft, and in the rear yard. If it meets all four, you are done: no permit is needed.
Check your zoning district on Atlas
Look up the property's base district and any overlay, and confirm the shed clears the district's minimum yard and setback lines.
File a zoning permit in eCLIPSE if the shed is in a side or front yard
Pay the $25 filing fee, upload a site plan, and expect a decision within 15 business days; the $189 balance is due on approval.
Expect a refusal above 130 sq ft
L&I refuses sheds over 130 sq ft at 1-2 family homes. A ZBA appeal with a community meeting and public hearing is the only path, and over 200 sq ft you also need a building permit with plans.
Pull trade permits for utilities
Any wiring to the shed needs an electrical permit pulled by a licensed electrical contractor and inspected by a licensed electrical inspection agency.