Do you need a permit for a shed in Columbus?
It depends on the project. Columbus exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 200 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Columbus's rule“A building permit is required for a storage shed over 200 square feet.”1
City of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning Services, Common Projects - Residential > Storage Sheds > For a 1, 2, or 3-Unit dwelling
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Shed over 200 sq ft (1-3 unit dwelling) | A building permit is required for a storage shed over 200 square feet.1 |
| Zoning permit or review | Cumulative shed area over 200 sq ft | Only if the cumulative area for multiple sheds is greater than 200 square feet of shed space, would Zoning Clearance(PDF, 182KB) be required for a shed under 200 square feet.1 |
Limits and conditions in Columbus's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 200 square feet | Building permit required over 200 square feet.1 |
| Exempt up to this area (FAQ glossary) | 200 square feet | All sheds in residential areas over 200 sq. ft. require a building permit.1 |
| Exempt up to this area under the Ohio Building Code | 120 square feet, for 4+ unit dwellings and commercial (OBC) | One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed one hundred twenty square feet and playground structures.1 |
| State baseline | 200 square feet | 1. One-story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet.2 |
| Maximum height | 15 feet | No shed may exceed fifteen (15) feet in height, measured from the finished grade at the structure to its highest point.1 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Lot coverage | 50% | Building lot coverage (i.e., building, porch, deck, shed, but not pavement) max is 50% (You can include 50% of a rear or side alley in this calculation), 3332.18(D)…1 |
| Rear yard | 25% | The rear yard needs to account for at least 25% of the lot, 3332.27.1 |
| Zoning approval needed above | 200 square feet | Only if the cumulative area for multiple sheds is greater than 200 square feet of shed space, would Zoning Clearance(PDF, 182KB) be required for a shed under 200 square feet.1 |
| Building lines | All structures subject to building lines | All Structures are subject to the building lines on a lot.1 |
What to submit
- RCO shed limits: one story, unheated, accessory1
Who can apply
- Owner (own work, notarized owner affidavit) or City of Columbus licensed/registered contractor1
- Owner may not pull permits for work done by a hired contractor1
Shed permit fees in Columbus
Fee lines as Columbus's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Alterations/Accessory Structures (1, 2, and 3 Family) | Flat fee | Alterations/Accessory Structures (includes 2 inspections) $3853 |
All of Columbus's fee lines are on the Columbus permit page.
Review time
About one week (1, 2 and 3 family residential plan review)1. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Historic district / commission areas may need extra approvals4
Ohio law that applies
- State rules on which work needs a permit in Ohio
- Homeowners doing their own work in Ohio
- Contractor licensing in Ohio
Who to ask
City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS)5
Building permits
- Website
- columbus.gov4
- Apply online
- portal.columbus.gov5
- Phone
- (614) 645-74336
- [email protected]4
- Address
- 111 N Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 432154
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., City holidays excluded4
- Inspections
- Online via Citizen Access Portal or automated phone line (614) 645-8235, until midnight for next business day7
Shed permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Columbus with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- BZS Frequently Asked QuestionsCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- 2019 Residential Code of Ohio Building Department Resource PackageState of Ohio, Department of Commerce, Board of Building StandardsPublished July 2019Checked November 7, 2026
- 2026 Combined Development Related Fee ScheduleCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesPublished 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Typical Residential ProjectsCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesRevised March 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Building & Zoning ServicesCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- BZS Contact SheetCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesRevised March 2026Checked November 6, 2026
- Building InspectionsCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesChecked November 7, 2026