Shed Permit in Chandler, Arizona

By Mario Bailey Last checked 2026-07-06 · 3 official sources

Verified against official sources Confirmed on official page

It depends

Quick answer

The City of Chandler exempts one-story detached accessory structures, such as storage sheds and open-air ramadas, from a building permit when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the height does not exceed 7 feet (up to 9 feet with additional setback). Chandler City Code Section 35-2203 separately limits a residential lot to one storage shed of no more than 120 square feet and bars any electrical, gas, or water connection without triggering full accessory-building review. A shed larger than 120 square feet, taller than the code allowance, or connected to a utility requires a building permit and a flat $150.00 accessory-structure permit fee.

Typical threshold: One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit.

Threshold illustrated: 120 sq ft. Whether Chandler requires a permit above or below this measurement is stated in the verdict on this page, verified 2026-07-06.

Who is pulling this permit?

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Apply on the Chandler permit portal

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When a permit is usually needed

For any detached shed, ramada, or accessory structure exceeding 120 sq ft, exceeding the code height allowance, or connected to electrical, gas, or water utilities

What shed permit costs in Chandler

Flat $150 residential ramada/accessory storage building permit fee per Fee Schedule 4.6.4(m), this line covers storage sheds and open-air ramadas.

Official fee schedule

How Chandler compares in Arizona

That is the strictest shed permit threshold among the Arizona jurisdictions we have verified: Gilbert, Maricopa County, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, and Pima County allow up to 200.

Jurisdiction	Permit needed?	Threshold
Chandlerthis page	It depends	One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit.
Gilbert	It depends	Structures less than 200 square feet do not require a permit; a permit is required at 200 square feet or larger, or if the shed has electrical or plumbing utilities or is connected to the house or another structure.
Maricopa County	It depends	structures under 200 sq ft with no electrical plumbing or mechanical are exempt from a building permit; all others require a permit
Mesa	It depends	detached structures under 200 sq ft without utilities are exempt; structures 200 sq ft or larger or those with utilities require a permit
Peoria	It depends	One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit when the floor area is not greater than 200 square feet.
Phoenix	It depends	detached structures without utilities at or under 200 sq ft are exempt; structures over 200 sq ft or with utilities require a permit
Pima County	It depends	One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar non-habitable accessory structures are the category Pima County's own adopted code amendments refer to as "structures exempted from permits"; the standard exemption size carried in the adopted IRC for this category is 200 sq ft with no electrical, plumbing, or mechanical connections, though Pima's own published guidance pages do not restate that figure directly.

Closest shed permit thresholds outside Arizona

Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Chandler's 120 sq ft.

Boston, Massachusetts, one-story detached accessory sheds used for tools or storage are exempt if floor area does not exceed 120 sq ft
Houston, Texas, one-story detached accessory structure under 120 sq ft does not require a permit
Jefferson County, Colorado, Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers 120 sq ft or less that sit at least 10 feet from any occupied structure and are no more than 14 feet tall need only a Miscellaneous Permit; anything larger, taller, or closer than 10 feet to an occupied structure needs a full Building Permit instead. Some permit is required at every size.
Los Angeles, California, one-story shed under 120 sq ft and under 12 ft in height with no electrical or plumbing does not require a permit

How to apply in Chandler

A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.

What most shed permit applications include:

A written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
A scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).

General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. City of Chandler Development Services Department, Building Safety Division sets the exact checklist for Chandler.

Where to apply in Chandler:

City of Chandler Development Services Department, Building Safety Division

215 E. Buffalo St., Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: 480-782-3074
Email: rod@chandleraz.gov

Inspections and closing out your permit

A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.

Foundation or anchor inspection: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
Frame inspection: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
Final inspection: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
For a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).

Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Chandler permit portal or by phone at 480-782-3074.

Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.

Your Shed Permit checklist for Chandler

Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit. Usually needed: For any detached shed, ramada, or accessory structure exceeding 120 sq ft, exceeding the code height allowance, or connected to electrical, gas, or water utilities.
Budget the fee. Flat $150 residential ramada/accessory storage building permit fee per Fee Schedule 4.6.4(m), this line covers storage sheds and open-air ramadas. Official fee schedule.
Apply. A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Chandler permit portal.
Keep the office details handy. City of Chandler Development Services Department, Building Safety Division. Phone: 480-782-3074. Address: 215 E. Buffalo St., Chandler, AZ 85225.
Plan for inspections. A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.

Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked 2026-07-06.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you need a shed permit in Chandler?: The City of Chandler exempts one-story detached accessory structures, such as storage sheds and open-air ramadas, from a building permit when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the height does not exceed 7 feet (up to 9 feet with additional setback). Chandler City Code Section 35-2203 separately limits a residential lot to one storage shed of no more than 120 square feet and bars any electrical, gas, or water connection without triggering full accessory-building review. A shed larger than 120 square feet, taller than the code allowance, or connected to a utility requires a building permit and a flat $150.00 accessory-structure permit fee. One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit. Always confirm with the office before starting.
How much does a shed permit cost in Chandler?: Flat $150 residential ramada/accessory storage building permit fee per Fee Schedule 4.6.4(m), this line covers storage sheds and open-air ramadas. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
Where do you apply for a shed permit in Chandler?: You can apply through the Chandler permit portal or contact the City of Chandler Development Services Department, Building Safety Division directly. The links are listed on this page.

From the Library

What else needs a permit in Chandler

Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.

Project	Permit needed?	Threshold	Typical fee
Deck Permit	It depends	Decks not exceeding 200 sq ft in area, not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, and not serving a required exit door are exempt from a building permit; any deck exceeding those limits or attached to the residence requires a permit.	No deck-specific line item, billed as a standard building permit by construction valuat...
Electrical Permit	It depends	Like-for-like repair or replacement of motors, transformers, overcurrent devices (breakers), or similar equipment on a single-family residence is exempt when the replacement is the same rating, installed in the same location, and properly labeled; new wiring, circuits, service work, or new outlets and fixtures require a permit.	Fee schedule sets a flat $100 fee only for electrical service upgrades of 400 amps or l...
Fence Permit	It depends	Fences not over 7 feet high are exempt from a building permit; a fence taller than 7 feet requires Planning approval and a building permit. A separate zoning limit caps front-yard fence height at 3 feet regardless of the building-permit threshold.	No fence-specific fee line, a permit is only required for retaining walls over 4 feet o...
HVAC Permit	It depends	Like-for-like replacement of an evaporative cooler (equal or lesser airflow, same location) or of gas-fired air-conditioning equipment, direct-vent equipment, furnaces, or log lighters (equal or lesser BTU, same location) is exempt from a permit; new HVAC installations or non-like replacements require a permit.	No HVAC or mechanical-specific fee line, mechanical permits are billed as a standard bu...
Patio Permit	It depends	An open, unattached patio slab no more than 200 sq ft in area and not more than 30 inches above grade falls under the same code exemption as an unattached deck and does not require a permit; a patio cover (roofed structure) requires a permit regardless of size, per the city's Patio Covers guidance.	No patio-cover-specific fee line, patio covers are billed as a standard building permit...
Plumbing Permit	It depends	Like-for-like replacement of water conditioning/treatment equipment, solar pool or spa heating equipment, or electric water heating equipment is exempt when the replacement has equal or lesser capacity/amperage and is installed in the same location; new pipe work or system alterations require a permit.	No stand-alone plumbing fee line, minor combined work of 1-6 plumbing openings with lim...
Pool Permit	It depends	A prefabricated swimming pool less than 18 inches deep is exempt from a building permit; any pool or spa (in-ground or prefabricated) 18 inches deep or greater requires a permit, and a compliant safety barrier is required regardless of depth once a permit-triggering pool exists.	Flat $110 residential pool permit fee per Fee Schedule 4.6.4(d), a separate flat $55 fe...
Roof Replacement Permit	It depends	Re-roofing with the same type of material as the existing roof, where the replacement covering classification is equal to or greater and does not increase structural loads, is exempt provided it does not exceed two layers over an existing roof; replacing with a different material, exceeding two layers, or increasing structural load requires a building permit.	No reroof-specific fee line, a reroof is billed as a standard building permit by valuat...
Solar Permit	Permit required	Not specified	Flat $150 fee for a residential solar photovoltaic system permit and a separate flat $1...

Shed Permit in other Arizona localities

Official sources

Verified by a person against the sources above on 2026-07-06, not confirmed with City of Chandler Development Services Department, Building Safety Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.

Last checked: 2026-07-06Report an error on this page

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City of Chandler Development Services Department, Building Safety Division

480-782-3074 Permit portal

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