Storage Sheds & Backyard Buildings Near Little Elm, TX

Inside the Town of Little Elm: the town's handout says accessory structures under 200 sq ft don't require a permit but still have to meet the building code; 200 sq ft and larger require a permit and site plan approval, and anything over 200 sq ft needs a permanent engineered foundation. Buildings stay out of the front yard and easements, at least 3 ft from side and rear lines (18 ft from the curb on a corner lot), and within 20 ft of a property line need a 6-ft wood or masonry fence. Height is 14 ft and one story. Size caps: 750 sq ft on lots under half an acre, 1,000 sq ft on half to one acre, and 2,500 sq ft total over one acre. Metal or wood siding is fine at 199 sq ft or less. HOA residents may need architectural committee approval before the town issues a permit.

Outside town limits (Paloma Creek, Savannah, and other unincorporated areas): Denton County requires a Development Permit for any improvement to a property, applied for before construction through the county's Civic Access portal with a site plan showing existing improvements and any septic system. Its pages don't list an exemption for small sheds, so check with Development Services at (940) 349-2990 before delivery. In a flood zone, a finished-floor elevation certificate is required after construction. New or changed driveway entrances need a culvert/driveway permit, and county roads have a 60-foot right-of-way (30 feet each way from the center).

Adding plumbing? Septic (OSSF) permits come from Denton County Public Health's Environmental Health Division at (940) 349-2920, starting at $310 for a new system.