Residential Building Inspector B1General Administration, Legal, and EnforcementHard
A residential building inspector discovers that a homeowner has constructed a new detached storage shed (150 sq ft) in their backyard without obtaining a building permit. The shed is not intended for human habitation and is located more than 5 feet from the property line. According to the 2021 IRC, what is the most likely reason this shed does NOT require a building permit?
- ADetached accessory structures under 200 sq ft are generally exempt from permits.
- BStorage sheds are never considered buildings and thus never require permits.
- CIts distance from the property line automatically exempts it from permits.
- DThe shed is not for human habitation, which exempts it from permit requirements.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Detached accessory structures under 200 sq ft are generally exempt from permits.
The 2021 IRC, Section R105.2, Exemption 1, states that one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet, are exempt from permits. The 150 sq ft shed falls within this exemption.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This is incorrect; many storage sheds do require permits, depending on size and other factors.
- C. Distance from property lines is a zoning/setback issue, not a direct permit exemption criterion under IRC R105.2 for small sheds.
- D. While 'not for human habitation' is a condition for the exemption, the size limitation (200 sq ft) is the critical factor for this specific shed.
Permit Exemptions (IRC R105.2)
Specific types of minor construction or alteration work that are explicitly exempted from the requirement to obtain a building permit under the International Residential Code.
- Exemptions are limited and specific.
- Common exemptions include small detached sheds, fences, and minor repairs.
- Even exempt work must still comply with other code provisions (e.g., zoning, setbacks).
Memory trick: Small Sheds, No Permit's Dread, Under '200' Square Feet, it's Said.