Shed permit checklist — Chesapeake, Virginia
Assembled from Chesapeake’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Chesapeake requires a permit for a shed.
Sheds and accessory buildings of 256 square feet or less are exempt from the building permit, although a zoning permit and a site plan are still required. Farm buildings are exempt from the building permit with a Farm Use Affidavit, but require a zoning permit and site plan.
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Sources
- shed — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Chesapeake publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Chesapeake before you build.