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Waterford · Building on your lot

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Waterford

Waterford limits nonresidential accessory structures in R Districts to 12 feet, or 15 feet with a pitched roof.

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Key points

  • Accessory structures: Waterford limits nonresidential accessory structures in R Districts to 12 feet, or 15 feet with a pitched roof.

Each rule below links to the section of the Waterford Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Waterford's code says

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 12 feet.
    Applies: For non-living accessory structures in R districts.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    The maximum height of a nonresidential accessory structure shall be twelve feet, subject to the provisions of this subsection;
  • No more than 15 feet.
    Applies: For pitched roofs of non-living accessory structures in R districts.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    provided, that pitched roofs shall not exceed a height of fifteen feet.
  • Up to 20 feet.
    Applies: For a pitched roof on an RS lot with a single-family home, to match the home's roof pitch.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    For any RS lot containing a single-family residence, a pitched roof may extend to twenty feet in height to match the roof pitch of the existing or proposed residence on the site.
Size or lot coverage
  • Must stay within the RS district's lot coverage limit.
    Applies: In an RS district, the floor area of accessory structures over 4 feet tall counts toward lot coverage.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    In an RS district, the total gross floor area of accessory structures more than four feet in height shall be counted in computing lot coverage, and shall meet, and not exceed, the lot coverage requirements of the RS district
  • No larger than the main home on the same site.
    Applies: For any one accessory building in an RS district.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    except that the total area of any one accessory building shall not exceed the total area of the primary residential structure on the same site.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet from a property line, unless built on the line.
    Applies: For non-living accessory structures in a required rear yard.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    A nonresidential accessory structure in a required rear yard shall be located on a property line or shall be not less than three feet from a property line.
No permit needed up to
  • Up to 100 square feet.
    Applies: Larger accessory buildings need building official approval before placement or construction.
    § 17.40.140 · code text
    Accessory buildings exceeding one hundred square feet shall require approval of the building official prior to their placement or construction on a lot.
Distance from the house
  • At least 3 feet from the main building.
    Applies: For accessory buildings in R districts.
    § 17.40.150 · code text
    A minimum three-foot distance shall be maintained between an accessory building and the principal structure on the site.
  • At least 6 feet from any home or building on the same or an adjacent lot.
    Applies: For detached accessory buildings, which must also be on the rear half of the lot.
    § 17.40.140 · code text
    A detached accessory building shall be located on the rear one-half of the lot and at least six feet from any dwelling/building existing or under construction on the same lot or any adjacent lot.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Waterford?

Waterford limits nonresidential accessory structures in R Districts to 12 feet, or 15 feet with a pitched roof.

General information, not legal advice.

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Waterford Municipal Code — full text