Do I need a permit for a shed, carport or patio cover in Baytown?
Short answer: A one-story, detached storage shed or playhouse of 200 square feet or less doesn't need a building permit, though it still has to be built to the city's building code. Anything bigger needs a permit, and so does a carport, patio cover or awning that's over 200 square feet or attached to the house.
Do I need a permit for a shed, carport or patio cover in Baytown?
Layer twoWhat the code actually says, word for wordTap to open
"used as storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses with a floor area not greater than 200 square feet, do not require a building permit."
Layer threeWho handles it: Planning and Development Services: Building Services for permits, Planning for setbacks and zoningMap
What the code says
One-story, detached accessory structures "used as storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses with a floor area not greater than 200 square feet, do not require a building permit." Every accessory building, small or large, must still be built to the prescriptive standards of the building code the city has adopted. The 200-square-foot rule waives only the permit. (City Code Sec. 18-26.)
The city's permit guide
The Building Services Division's "What Requires a Permit" guide lists: - storage sheds over 200 square feet; - accessory buildings over 200 square feet; - porch and patio covers, awnings and carports over 200 square feet or attached to the existing structure; - decks more than 30 inches above the ground, with or without a cover.
Where it can go
No permit doesn't mean anywhere goes. How close a shed or carport can sit to your property lines (setbacks) is set by the city's Unified Land Development Code and depends on your zoning district. HOA and deed restrictions can be stricter. Ask Planning before you build near a fence line.
Who to call
Planning and Development Services: Building Services for permits, Planning for setbacks and zoning.
Sources
- City of Baytown Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-26 (accessory buildings and structures). library.municode.com/tx/baytown
- City of Baytown Building Services Division, "What Requires a Permit" (baytown.org DocumentCenter, View 5358), and "When is a Residential Permit Required" (baytown.org/970).
En español
En Baytown, un cobertizo o casita de juegos de un piso, separado de la casa, de 200 pies cuadrados o menos no necesita permiso de construcción, aunque debe construirse según el código de construcción de la ciudad. Los más grandes sí, igual que las cocheras, techos de patio y toldos de más de 200 pies cuadrados o pegados a la casa, y las terrazas a más de 30 pulgadas del suelo. La distancia a los límites del terreno depende de la zonificación; consulte a Planeación antes de construir.