Shed Permit in Greensboro, North Carolina
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a shed, detached garage, carport or similar residential accessory building that is over 12 feet in length, width or height.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Greensboro answers the shed question with a single dimensional test. Its Planning Department brochure on residential accessory buildings asks 'Do I need a building permit?' and answers 'Yes, if your building is over 12 feet in any dimension', naming length, width and height. The city's Residential Accessory Building Permit Application carries the same line from the code side, warning that if any of those dimensions exceeds 12 feet the building must comply with all of the North Carolina Residential Code, and it requires a concrete or masonry foundation for buildings over 400 square feet or more than one story. Zoning applies at every size: accessory structures must sit behind the front building line, at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines (10 feet if over 15 feet tall), at least 5 feet from the house, and all accessory structures together must total less than 50% of the home's footprint.
Typical threshold: length, width or height of the accessory building.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a shed, detached garage, carport or similar residential accessory building that is over 12 feet in length, width or height.
What a shed permit costs in Greensboro
How Greensboro compares in North Carolina
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Permit required | Not specified |
| Greensborothis page | It depends | length, width or height of the accessory building |
| Mecklenburg County | It depends | a storage shed requires a building permit if any dimension exceeds 12 feet; sheds under 12 feet in any dimension do not require a building permit but may require a zoning permit |
| Wake County | It depends | any dimension of the detached accessory building |
How to apply in Greensboro
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 Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections) sets the exact checklist for Greensboro.
Where to apply in Greensboro:
City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections)
- Development Services, Melvin Municipal Office Building, Upper Ground Level, Room UG10, 300 W. Washington St., Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: 336-373-2155
- Email: DevelopmentServices2@greensboro-nc.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 Greensboro permit portal or by phone at 336-373-2155.
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 Greensboro
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: length, width or height of the accessory building. Usually needed: Before building a shed, detached garage, carport or similar residential accessory building that is over 12 feet in length, width or height.
- Budget the fee. Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. The residential Alt/Add column charges the $85.00 minimum on construction values up to $11,000 and rises above that ($88.00 at $12,000, $127.00 at $25,000, $302.00 at $100,000, then '$100,000 - 500,000 = $302.00 PLUS $2.00 PER $1,000'). 'STATE LICENSED CONTRACTORS: Add $10.00 to all Residential Permits'. 'DOUBLE PERMIT FEE: BUILDING PERMIT FEES WILL BE DOUBLED IF WORK IS BEGUN BEFORE SECURING A PERMIT'. The department page adds that 'The minimum permit fee for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits has increased from $75 to $85.'. 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 Greensboro permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections). Phone: 336-373-2155. Address: Development Services, Melvin Municipal Office Building, Upper Ground Level, Room UG10, 300 W. Washington St., Greensboro, NC 27401.
- 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 .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Greensboro?
- Greensboro answers the shed question with a single dimensional test. Its Planning Department brochure on residential accessory buildings asks 'Do I need a building permit?' and answers 'Yes, if your building is over 12 feet in any dimension', naming length, width and height. The city's Residential Accessory Building Permit Application carries the same line from the code side, warning that if any of those dimensions exceeds 12 feet the building must comply with all of the North Carolina Residential Code, and it requires a concrete or masonry foundation for buildings over 400 square feet or more than one story. Zoning applies at every size: accessory structures must sit behind the front building line, at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines (10 feet if over 15 feet tall), at least 5 feet from the house, and all accessory structures together must total less than 50% of the home's footprint. Length, width or height of the accessory building. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Greensboro?
- Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. The residential Alt/Add column charges the $85.00 minimum on construction values up to $11,000 and rises above that ($88.00 at $12,000, $127.00 at $25,000, $302.00 at $100,000, then '$100,000 - 500,000 = $302.00 PLUS $2.00 PER $1,000'). 'STATE LICENSED CONTRACTORS: Add $10.00 to all Residential Permits'. 'DOUBLE PERMIT FEE: BUILDING PERMIT FEES WILL BE DOUBLED IF WORK IS BEGUN BEFORE SECURING A PERMIT'. The department page adds that 'The minimum permit fee for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits has increased from $75 to $85.'. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a shed permit take in Greensboro?
- Five or more business days for the limited residential plan review track, depending on Planning Department approval of the site plan; the city says a permit is issued immediately if no site plan is required. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Greensboro?
- You can apply through the Greensboro permit portal or contact the City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Greensboro?
- Under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-1(a), 87-1(b)(2), 87-14(a)(1), 160D-1113, 160D-1115): A North Carolina homeowner may pull the permit and do the work. G.S. 87-1(a) reaches general contracting only where the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more, and G.S. 87-1(b)(2) then exempts a person who constructs or alters a building on land that person owns, provided the building is intended solely for occupancy by that person and his family after completion and the person complies with G.S. 87-14. There is no outright ban on selling, but there is a look-back that works like one: if the building is not occupied solely by the person and his family for at least 12 months following completion, the statute presumes the person did not intend the building solely for that occupancy, which defeats the exemption. G.S. 87-14(a)(1) requires an owner claiming the exemption to execute a verified affidavit attesting that they own the property, that they will personally superintend and manage all aspects of the construction and will not delegate that duty to anyone unlicensed, and that they will be personally present for all inspections required by the State Building Code unless a licensed architect sealed the plans. The inspector transmits that affidavit to the Licensing Board, and if the Board determines the exemption was not available the building permit is revoked under G.S. 160D-1115. The exemption removes the general contractor license requirement only. It does not exempt the work from permits or inspections, and G.S. 160D-1113 provides that when a permit is held by an owner exempt under 87-1(b)(2), no inspection may be conducted without the owner present unless an architect sealed the plans. Confirm how Greensboro applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Greensboro
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 | Not specified | Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electrical Permit Fee Schedule, Document #4100 dated 7/16/24: 'Minimum Permit Fee 85.00'. |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule, Document #4200 dated 7/16/24: 'Minimum Inspection Fee $... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule, Document #4300 dated 7/16/24: 'Minimum Permit/Inspection... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | cost of the construction, installation, repair, replacement or alteration | Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. |
Shed Permit in other North Carolina localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Greensboro documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- 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
- 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
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Shed Permit requirements across North Carolina localities
Permit office
City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections)
336-373-2155Permit portal