Shed & Garage Permits in Salisbury Township
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Everything you need to know about getting a permit for a shed, garage, or other accessory structure in Salisbury Township.
Permit Requirements
Salisbury Township regulates sheds, detached garages, and other accessory structures under Zoning Ordinance Chapter 27 and the PA Uniform Construction Code (UCC)
A ZONING permit is required before you place or build any stationary structure — this comes first
A BUILDING permit (UCC) is also required for an accessory structure such as a shed or garage
Submit all applications for a project together; submitting them separately can trigger an extra administrative fee
Requirements vary by the parcel's zoning district — check your district on the Township Zoning Map before you buy
Setbacks & Placement
Accessory structures must go in the side or rear yard — they are NOT permitted in the front yard
Minimum 10 ft from the side and rear property lines (residential accessory structures)
Maximum height 18 ft for residential accessory structures (detached private garages and horse/carriage barns follow their own standards)
Agricultural (A) zone caps the combined footprint of all accessory buildings by lot size — roughly 1,500 sq ft on lots under 29,000 sq ft, up to about 2,100 sq ft on larger lots
These are the published ordinance figures — always confirm the exact numbers for your district with Community Development before siting the building
How to Apply (online portal)
Salisbury Township runs its permits through the GovWell online portal: https://app.govwell.com/salisbury-township
Create an account, then apply, upload your plans as PDFs, schedule inspections, track status, and pay by credit card all in one place
Include a plot/site plan showing the structure's location with the distances to each property line (our free plot-plan tool can help you draw this)
Building plans are reviewed under the PA UCC (building, energy, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC, and electrical as applicable)
Questions on the portal or the process: call Community Development at (610) 797-4000, ext. 5831
Applications & Documents
GovWell permit portal (apply, upload plans, pay, schedule inspections)
Fees
Accessory-structure building permit: $250 base for up to 500 sq ft, then +$15 for each additional 100 sq ft (or portion) over 500
A $50 deposit is due when you submit the application
The fee covers plan review plus up to 3 site visits/inspections (building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical); extra inspections are billed at $60/hour
A separate zoning permit fee applies
Fees change — confirm current amounts with Community Development at (610) 797-4000, ext. 5831
Township Office & Contacts
Department of Community Development (zoning, planning, code enforcement, permits)
Salisbury Township Municipal Building, 2900 South Pike Avenue, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (610) 797-4000 (Community Development ext. 5831) · Fax: (610) 797-5516
Email: [email protected]
Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer: James Young (appointed early 2026)
Director of Community Development / alternate zoning officer: Kerry Rabold
Honestly? It's usually simpler than it looks
Before you hand this off to anyone, we'd encourage you to just call or stop by the Salisbury Township township office. The folks there handle shed and garage permits all the time — they'll give you the forms and walk you through filling them out. For a standard shed, most townships only need three things from you:
A certificate of insurance. Just ask and we'll email you a copy. It's easier to get than most people expect — see what one looks like.
A drawing / spec sheet of your building. We'll email you a copy of this too.
That's typically the whole list for a standard shed. Give it a shot yourself first — a lot of folks are pleasantly surprised at how quick it is. And if you get stuck or would just rather not deal with it, we're glad to help (see below).
We Deliver to Salisbury Township
White Pine Structures handles delivery and setup throughout Lehigh County. We can also help you navigate the permit process — many of our customers in Salisbury Township have gone through this before and we know what to expect.
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a helpful reference and may not reflect the most current regulations. Always verify requirements directly with Salisbury Township's code enforcement or zoning office before starting your project. White Pine Structures is not responsible for permit application outcomes. Information last verified: July 2026.