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Guides · Your home and yard

Can I put a shed in my backyard?

Yes, but only in a fenced rear yard, and only with written approval first. The amendment allows one permanent outside storage building. (Its title says “Storage Sheds”, but its text never uses the word “shed”; it says “outside storage building”.)

The limits it sets: the pad can be no more than 180 square feet, and the building no more than 9.5 feet tall, not counting the pitch of the roof. The outside has to be built of the same or similar materials, in the same color, as your house.

It cannot be lived in, cannot sit in a utility easement, and cannot be within five feet of a side property line or the back fence. The rear yard must be completely fenced.

That is a summary in plain words. The passages below are what the documents actually say, and they are the authority.

What the documents say

  1. Outside storage buildings located in a fenced rear yard of a Lot are allowed with the prior written approval of the Hidden Trails Reviewer.

    First Amendment Storage Sheds, §2.23Read page 2 in the documentscan

  2. One (1) permanent outside storage building will be permitted if: (i) the surface area of the pad on which the outside storage building is constructed is no more than one hundred eighty square feet (180 sq. ft.)

    First Amendment Storage Sheds, §2.23Read page 2 in the documentscan

  3. the height of the outside storage building, measured from the surface of the Lot, is no more than nine and one-half feet (9.5') which does not include the pitch of the roof

    First Amendment Storage Sheds, §2.23Read page 2 in the documentscan

  4. the exterior of the outside storage building is constructed of the same or substantially similar materials and of the same color as the principal residential structure constructed on the Lot

    First Amendment Storage Sheds, §2.23Read page 2 in the documentscan

  5. No outside storage building may be used for habitation. In no case shall the outside storage building (a) impact Lot drainage; (b) be placed in a utility easement; (c) be placed within five feet (5.0') of a side property line or back fence.

    First Amendment Storage ShedsRead page 3 in the documentscan

  6. no outside storage building of any type is permitted unless the rear yard of the Lot on which the outside storage building is being placed is completely enclosed by fencing

    First Amendment Storage ShedsRead page 3 in the documentscan

This guide was written from the copies in this archive. Documents can be amended after they are recorded, and this is not legal advice; the recorded instruments at the Comal County Clerk are the authoritative versions.