Arizona / Gilbert

Shed Permit in Gilbert, Arizona

It depends

Sometimes, depending on the project

Sheds 200 sq ft or larger, sheds with utilities, or sheds attached to another structure

Confirmed on official page Verified

Issued byDevelopment Services (Plan Review and Inspection Division)

By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources

Quick answer

Gilbert exempts one-story detached non-habitable accessory structures up to 200 square feet from building permits under its amended 2018 IRC Section R105.2. The Town FAQ states a permit is required for any building 200 square feet or larger, for sheds with electrical or plumbing, or for sheds connected to the house or another structure. Gilbert enforces the 2018 IRC with Town amendments, adopted by Ordinance 2739 effective January 1, 2020.

Typical threshold: 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.

Diagram of the 200 sq ft footprint area threshold for a shed permit in Gilbert, Arizona
Threshold illustrated: 200 sq ft. Whether Gilbert requires a permit above or below this measurement is stated in the verdict on this page, verified 2026-07-19.

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When a permit is usually needed

Sheds 200 sq ft or larger, sheds with utilities, or sheds attached to another structure

What a shed permit costs in Gilbert

Line item
shed permitBy formulaValuation-based building permit fee, minimum $50 for work valued up to $1,100; building plan review fee is 65 percent of the calculated permit fee.
Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead . Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.

How Gilbert compares in Arizona

Across the Arizona jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 120 to 200, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.

JurisdictionPermit needed?Threshold
ChandlerIt dependsOne-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.
Gilbertthis pageIt dependsStructures 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 CountyIt dependsstructures under 200 sq ft with no electrical plumbing or mechanical are exempt from a building permit; all others require a permit
MesaIt dependsdetached structures under 200 sq ft without utilities are exempt; structures 200 sq ft or larger or those with utilities require a permit
PeoriaIt dependsOne-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.
PhoenixIt dependsdetached structures without utilities at or under 200 sq ft are exempt; structures over 200 sq ft or with utilities require a permit
Pima CountyIt dependsOne-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 Gilbert's 200 sq ft.

  • Austin, Texas, one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds with floor area no greater than 200 sq ft and no more than 15 ft in height and no plumbing and not in a floodplain are exempt
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana, floor area of a detached accessory structure
  • Bellevue, Washington, detached storage sheds playhouses or gazebos with a floor area of 200 square feet or less do not require a building permit; structures over 200 square feet require a permit
  • Clark County, Nevada, sheds over 200 sq ft require a building permit; storage sheds 200 sq ft or under may be exempt under Building Administrative Code Section 22.02.190

How to apply in Gilbert

In Gilbert, 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:

  • For Gilbert, 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).
  • For Gilbert, 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. Development Services (Plan Review and Inspection Division) sets the exact checklist for Gilbert.

Where to apply in Gilbert:

Development Services (Plan Review and Inspection Division)

Shed Permit in Gilbert compared with nearby Arizona localities

LocalityPermit needed?ThresholdWhat each Arizona schedule saysVerified
GilbertIt dependsStructures 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.Valuation-based building permit fee, minimum $50 for work valued up to $1,100
ChandlerIt dependsOne-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.Flat $150 residential ramada/accessory storage building permit fee per Fee Schedule...
Maricopa CountyIt dependsstructures under 200 sq ft with no electrical plumbing or mechanical are exempt from a building permit; all others require a permitNon-habitable accessory buildings are valued as a private garage with the Table 1-A fee...
MesaIt dependsdetached structures under 200 sq ft without utilities are exempt; structures 200 sq ft or larger or those with utilities require a permitSheds under 200 sq ft with no utility connections need no permit per the Residential...
PeoriaIt dependsOne-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.Valuation-based building permit fee, minimum 87 dollars

Inspections and closing out your permit

In Gilbert, 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.

  1. Foundation or anchor inspection in Gilbert: 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).
  2. Frame inspection in Gilbert: 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).
  3. Final inspection in Gilbert: 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).
  4. In Gilbert: 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 Gilbert permit portal or by phone at (480) 503-6700.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a shed permit in Gilbert?
Gilbert exempts one-story detached non-habitable accessory structures up to 200 square feet from building permits under its amended 2018 IRC Section R105.2. The Town FAQ states a permit is required for any building 200 square feet or larger, for sheds with electrical or plumbing, or for sheds connected to the house or another structure. Gilbert enforces the 2018 IRC with Town amendments, adopted by Ordinance 2739 effective January 1, 2020. 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. Always confirm with the office before starting.
How much does a shed permit cost in Gilbert?
Valuation-based building permit fee, minimum $50 for work valued up to $1,100; building plan review fee is 65 percent of the calculated permit fee. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
Where do you apply for a shed permit in Gilbert?
You can apply through the Gilbert permit portal or contact the Development Services (Plan Review and Inspection Division) directly. The links are listed on this page.
Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Gilbert?
Under Arizona law (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(5), (A)(9), (A)(14)(a); 32-1164(A)(2), (B)): Arizona addresses owner-builders through its contractor licensing law rather than through the building code itself. A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(5) exempts property owners who build or improve structures on their own land and do the work themselves, with their own employees, or with duly licensed contractors, as long as the finished structure is for the owner's own occupancy and is not intended for sale or rent. Selling or renting within one year of completion or of the certificate of occupancy is prima facie evidence the project was really undertaken for sale or rent, which defeats the exemption, a rule that functions much like Florida's one-year restriction. The exemption does not waive the underlying permit requirement: several of the chapter's small-job licensing exemptions, including the $1,000 casual-work exemption in A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(14), expressly do not apply whenever the work requires a local building permit, so once a job needs a permit, anyone doing that work for someone else generally must hold an Arizona contractor's license regardless of dollar amount. Acting as a contractor without a license, on permit-required work or otherwise, is a class 1 misdemeanor under A.R.S. 32-1164, carrying a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for a repeat offense. Confirm how Gilbert applies this before you apply.

From the Library

What else needs a permit in Gilbert

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

ProjectPermit needed?ThresholdTypical fee
Deck PermitIt dependsDecks are not addressed in Gilbert's published amendments to the IRC R105.2 exemption list, so permit requirements follow the unamended 2018 IRC provisions, which Gilbert's own pages do not restate.If a permit is required, valuation-based building permit fee, minimum $50
Electrical PermitPermit requiredExemptions include work by a serving utility and solar or like-for-like water heating appliance replacements installed by an Arizona licensed contractor under amended exemption 16.Individual Electrical Permit, residential: $150 (fee schedule revised 7/1/2026).
Fence PermitIt dependsGilbert's amended IRC R105.2 exempts only fences not over 3 feet high; the Town's pool barrier policy statement says internal fences over 3 feet in height require building permits and inspections.Walls/Fences fee $180 as a separate single-family permit, or $120 when combined with a...
HVAC PermitPermit requiredGilbert's amended IRC R105.2 mechanical exemption list includes a replacement-based exemption and cross-references the exemption for water heating appliance replacements by an Arizona licensed contractor.Individual Mechanical Permit, residential: $150 (fee schedule revised 7/1/2026).
Patio PermitIt dependsOnly one-story detached non-habitable accessory structures up to 200 square feet are exempt from permit; attached patio covers and larger structures require a building permit.Valuation-based building permit fee, minimum $50
Plumbing PermitPermit requiredWater softeners and like-for-like replacements of gas or electric water heating appliances (not tankless) installed by an Arizona licensed contractor are exempt from permit.Individual Plumbing Permit, residential: $150 (fee schedule revised 7/1/2026).
Pool PermitPermit requiredNon-permanent wading pools of rubber or plastic holding no more than 18 inches of water are excepted from the pool enclosure regulations.Swimming pool permit fee $300 for permanent in-ground pools/spas and $140 for portable...
Roof Replacement PermitIt dependsRe-roofing not requiring a structural change is exempt from permit; a re-roof that involves a structural change requires a building permit.If a permit is required, valuation-based building permit fee, minimum $50
Solar PermitIt dependsSolar photovoltaic systems and solar hot water heating systems are exempt from permit when installed by an Arizona licensed contractor using equipment listed and labeled by a nationally recognized third-party testing agency.No Town permit fee when the licensed-contractor exemption applies

Shed Permit in other Arizona localities

Everything above, sourced

Code references

National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Gilbert documents; the office above sets the local rules.

How this shed permit page for Gilbert was verified. 3 official sources: gilbertaz.gov, gilbertaz.gov, gilbertaz.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Development Services (Plan Review and Inspection Division). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.

Last checked: Report an error on this page

Compare Shed Permit requirements across Arizona localities

Shed permit rules nationwide

Look up an existing Gilbert permit record

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