Sheds, Barns & Cabin Shells in Hickory Creek, TX

Inside Hickory Creek town limits: The Town's Zoning Ordinance (Code Ch. 14) limits portable accessory buildings by district. They can be up to 250 sq ft with a 12 ft plate height in SF-1 (Art. VII, Sec. 2(10)(i)), and up to 200 sq ft with an 8 ft plate height in SF-2 and SF-3 (Art. VIII, Sec. 2(2)(i); Art. IX, Sec. 2). Each must be anchored to withstand 75 mph winds. In those districts the height limit for any accessory building is 25 ft (Sec. 3(7)). SF-1 accessory buildings follow the district's setbacks, and accessory buildings not used as a dwelling may be built of metal, masonry veneer or wood. The SF-1 article also says building regulations and fees must be met before a permit is issued or construction starts. The Town's Residential Building Permit form lists 'Accessory Building' as a project type. Permitting is at Town Hall, 1075 Ronald Reagan Avenue, Hickory Creek, TX 75065, (940) 497-2528 (permitting and code compliance: 940-279-7047), permits@hickorycreek-tx.gov.

Outside city limits (unincorporated Denton County): 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.