ZoningVerdict

Garages, sheds, and accessory structures in Surprise, AZ

What the Surprise zoning ordinance says about garages, sheds, and accessory structures, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.

All districts

Accessory uses/structures must be on the same lot as the principal use and at least 5 feet from another structure (Sec. 106-10.3.A). Per Table 106-10b: shade structures are capped at 400 square feet with a building separation of 5 feet, a front-yard setback matching the underlying zoning's minimum, a side/rear setback of 5 feet, and a maximum height of 9 feet measured at the 5-foot setback line (may increase 1 foot vertical per 1 foot horizontal moving away from the property line). Other accessory structures are capped by the zoning district's total lot coverage (each structure maxes out at 3,000 square feet regardless of lot coverage), are not allowed in the front yard (except in the RR district, or for attached ADUs and decorative shade structures like gazebos/pergolas/arbors), and share the same 5-foot side/rear setback and 9-foot height rule (up to the district height maximum on lots of 30,000 square feet or more, within the building envelope). No more than one detached garage accessory structure is allowed per dwelling. Apiaries must be at least 80 feet from any dwelling, lot line, or right-of-way.

Get the full picture for your property

Enter an address. We identify the zoning district and assemble what the ordinance says about it: permitted uses, dimensional rules, accessory structures, and the approval process.

District identification is free. The full brief is $79.