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Home / Code Guides / Shed & Small Project Permits

What You Can Build Without a Permit — Sheds, Fences & the 200 Sq Ft Rule

The IRC carries a short list of work exempt from a building permit. Every item on it has a threshold, and every threshold has a catch: the exemption is from the building permit, not from the code, the zoning ordinance, or the utility permits.

RequirementModel Code StandardSection
Detached shedsOne-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft of floor areaIRC R105.2
FencesFences up to 7 ft tallIRC R105.2
Retaining wallsWalls up to 4 ft measured from the bottom of the footing, with no surchargeIRC R105.2
DecksDetached decks up to 200 sq ft, under 30 in. above grade, not serving the required exit doorIRC R105.2
Flatwork & finishesSidewalks, driveways, painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and similar finish workIRC R105.2
Trades still permittedElectrical, plumbing, and mechanical work keeps its own permit requirements even inside an exempt structureIRC R105.2

Worth knowing

  • Zoning never sleeps: setbacks, lot coverage, easements and HOA rules apply to a 100 sq ft shed exactly as to a 300 sq ft one.
  • Exempt does not mean non-compliant — the shed still has to meet the code if anyone checks, and a sale inspection is usually when someone checks.
  • Jurisdictions amend this list constantly — 120 sq ft is still the shed threshold in many localities that kept older editions. Confirm the local number before buying the kit.
  • Running power to the exempt shed is the step that ends the exemption in practice: the feeder needs an electrical permit, burial depth per NEC 300.5, and often GFCI protection.
Sections cite the 2021 International Residential Code and 2023 National Electrical Code as model standards. This is BuildSpec’s own summary — not ICC or NFPA text; read the authoritative language at codes.iccsafe.org. Your state may be on a different edition with amendments — check your jurisdiction page or get an Address Report.
Deck Footings →Deck Ledger →GFCI Protection →Egress Windows →Stairs →Handrails & Guards →