IX. Storage Shelters - Sheds

Storage sheds are intended for the purpose of housing such items as bicycles, garden tools, lawn mowers and porch furniture. Any structure used for storage, regardless of shape or size, is considered a shed. Storage sheds must not detract unnecessarily from the appearance of the community. To this end, the following regulations have been adopted to assure that sheds be pleasing to neighbors and passing traffic and that they be of good quality in design, workmanship, and materials. Sheds will be given a visual inspection of the exterior condition annually as part of the Beautification Program.

1. For all sheds, including small easy-to-assemble structures, plans and specifications showing size, materials and location must be submitted to GHI for written approval. A GHI permit must be obtained before installation begins.
2. When a shed is approved, the member will be notified in writing by GHI. If the shed is not approved, the member will be notified in writing of the reasons for the disapproval.
3. A unit must have at most one shed.  Sheds and other accessory structures should be located on the garden side (or rear yard, when the garden side does not apply) or in the side yard of an end unit. Accessory structures may only be located on the service side (or front yard when the service side does not apply) if the member demonstrates it is not feasible to locate such structures elsewhere in the yard due to utility locations  or other constraints. Nonresidential accessory structures may be permitted pursuant to the regulations of the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance.
4. A trash storage shed is permitted in a unit's serviceside yard if there is no other trash container or screened enclosure and the shed is at most 4 feet high, 5 feet long, and 3 feet deep. This trash storage shed is in addition to the one shed permitted as described above.
5. All other accessory buildings must be approved by the Board of Directors.
6. Any exceptions to the above siting requirements for sheds and other accessory structures can only be granted by Prince George’s County.

1. Sheds shall not exceed 8% of the yard area where they are to be located.
2. A shed shall not exceed 80 square feet, except that a shed for a multi-bedroom unit with neither an attic nor an attached garage shall not exceed 100 square feet.
3. Any shed of more than 24 square feet must be either wood-framed or vinyl. No new metal sheds may be erected, including replacement of an existing shed, as of March 30, 1998.
4. The height of sheds is limited to 9 feet from floor to exterior peak. The height of the shed support, floor to ground, should be kept to the minimum allowed by the particular shed base framing and surrounding ground conditions, as determined by staff on a case-by-case basis. Decorative elements such as cupolas and weathervanes are in addition to this 9 foot height limit.
5. All sheds must be level, plumb, and properly anchored.
6. No bright or reflective colors are permitted.

1. In locating the shed, the member should consider the size of the yard, proximity of neighboring sheds, screens and fences, the slope of the yard, and drainage swales. Staff will use its judgment in determining the final placement.
2. The location of a shed must be approved by GHI staff.
3. All sheds shall maintain a minimum distance of 2 feet from existing structures, sidewalks, and shared yard lines, except where two sheds are joined at the shared yard line to form one structure. However, a trash storage shed may be closer to the building.
4. No shed shall join a neighbor's shed unless it is joined to a shed of the same size. This works particularly well in small yards, or when the neighbors build the sheds at the same time. The visual effect is that of one building, allowing the largest open area to each yard.
5. Placement of sheds shall not obstruct access to any utility, access way, or swale.
6. No shed shall cover or partially cover any door, window, crawl space vent or access, or utility panel or access to a utility panel.

1. A temporary structure is one that is ordinarily constructed on a seasonal basis. Examples of temporary structures include garden gazebos, mosquito screen rooms, tents, canopies, etc.
2. The maximum allowable size for a temporary structure is 100 square feet.
3. Temporary structures that are erected for more than 1 week shall be erected no sooner than 1 April, and removed no later than 1 November of each year.
4. Members shall submit a one-time Notification Form of Responsibility for Temporary Structures to the Technical Services office.