A shed can be a great addition to your backyard, but before building, you need to think about where you want it to go.

There can be a lot to consider when putting a shed in your garden, such as the terrain you plan to build it on, how far you want it from your property line, and how your new shed will affect your neighbors.

Can I Build A Shed Next To My Neighbour’s Fence?

Before you build a shed next to your neighbor’s fence, you should find out if there are any local planning laws that state a distance you should keep between your shed and the neighboring fence. If you feel that your shed may be intrusively close to your neighbor’s property, it may be wise to have a discussion with them beforehand about your plans for a shed.

Depending on where you live, you may be required to keep a certain amount of distance between your shed and any neighbor’s fences, so it’s a good idea to check with your local planning authority if you’re unsure.

Even if there are no restrictions that stop you from building a shed next to your neighbor’s fence, it’s still advisable to leave space in between your shed’s wall and any fences so that you can access the fence and all four sides of your shed.

And if you do leave space, you’ll be less likely to have problems with moisture build-up, mold, or rot because the walls will have room to breathe.

Typical Restrictions On Building Sheds

A garden shed next to a neighbor's fence

Though, as we mentioned, specific rules may change based on your location, some general regulations are applicable in most situations.

Most sheds fall under the “permitted development” category, which means that you don’t need to get planning permission to build one.

However, this is only true if your shed meets several requirements about its size, location relative to the main house, etc.

The main ones are:

  • The outbuilding/shed must be a single story tall, with a maximum height of 4 meters.
  • If the building is located less than 2 meters from a property boundary line, the maximum height is 2.5 meters.
  • It should be at least 2.5 meters from the main house.
  • No more than half of the yard can be covered by sheds, additions, or other buildings.

If the shed is outside of those limitations, then you may need to get a permit before building.

Is It A Good Idea To Build A Shed Next To My Neighbour’s Fence?

You’ll notice, though, that this list of restrictions doesn’t specifically forbid you from building a shed next to your neighbor’s fence, so long as it doesn’t exceed the maximum height.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean building next to the fence is a good idea.

There are many additional problems to consider before you choose your shed’s location.

Choose a Good Building Location

We’ve already discussed that building a shed right next to your neighbor’s fence can lead to unforeseen problems like rot, mold, and damp build-up, but there are also unexpected issues that may arise if you build too close to the property line.

Before deciding to build a shed right next to your neighbor’s fence, it’s a good idea to have a discussion with them about the project and make sure that they’re okay with it.

Even if they are okay with it, however, there’s a chance that any future neighbors may not be, so proceed carefully.

If you do choose to proceed with placing your shed right next to your neighbor’s fence, try to make sure that it’s still far enough away that you can get to all sides of the building relatively easily, and that the edge of your shed’s roof isn’t hanging over your neighbor’s lawn.

They probably wouldn’t appreciate having rain running off your roof into their yard.

Finally, definitely don’t use your shed’s wall as a replacement for a fence.

That can cause many problems with property disputes in the future, and if it’s determined that the shed is over the property line, you’ll have to move the entire building instead of some fencing.

Taking these precautions will lessen the chance of you needing to pay for property damages or deal with property disputes in the future, which makes it more likely that you’ll be able to keep the shed in the place you originally built it.

What’s The Best Choice?

The answer to the main question, “Can I build a shed next to my neighbor’s fence?” is, depending on what part of the country you live in, most likely yes.

However, the better question is probably, “Should I build a shed next to my neighbor’s fence?”

The answer there is that it might be better to avoid it if possible.

Not only could it be annoying to your neighbors, but down the road, it could also lead to disputes over property lines and damages that you might not want to deal with.

Even if your current neighbors are fine with it, the next ones might not be.

To avoid potential future headaches and stress, you may want to find a different location to place the shed if possible.

And don’t forget to check with your local planning office if you’re ever unsure of the regulations.