Maplewood Garage Permit & Zoning Requirements
This page is a homeowner-friendly summary of the City of Maplewood’s most common garage permit and zoning requirements. Final requirements depend on your lot size, zoning, existing buildings, and site conditions. Western Garage Builders verifies requirements by address, prepares permit-ready plans, and manages the permit and inspection process as part of a turnkey garage build.
Jump to: Verify My Address | Permit Basics | Plan Submittal Checklist | Setbacks & Lot Coverage | Maximum Garage Size (by Lot Area) | Height Limits | Lot Line Verification | Required Inspections | Get a Quote | Back to Minnesota City Hub
Verify My Address (Fast Maplewood Zoning Check)
Maplewood limits garage size based on lot area, enforces specific setbacks, and requires visible corner monuments for inspection in many cases. If you share your address and target garage size, we’ll confirm:
- Maximum allowed garage area for your lot size
- Required setbacks (front, side, rear) and any street/prevailing setback issues
- Height compliance (street-view height rules)
- Whether existing accessory structures reduce the allowable total
City of Maplewood – Building Permits & Inspections
City of Maplewood – Community Development
1902 County Road B East
Maplewood, MN 55109
Phone: (651) 249-2300
Website: maplewoodmn.gov
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Garage in Maplewood?
- Garages: Building permits are required for garages and garage additions.
- Very small accessory structures: One-story detached accessory structures may not require a building permit if they are 120 sq ft or less (tool sheds, storage sheds, playhouses, similar uses).
Practical note: Even when a small structure doesn’t require a building permit, zoning rules still apply. When in doubt, we verify with the City for your specific lot and layout.
Building Permit Application: Plan Submittal Checklist
Maplewood requires a completed permit application and three sets of construction plans that typically include:
- Site drawing (lot size, all existing/proposed buildings, and proposed setbacks)
- Proposed garage size
- Footing sizes and reinforcement
- Floor truss/joist detail
- Roof truss/rafter detail
- Wall stud size, height, and spacing
- Window/door locations
- Header spans and sizes for each opening
- Sheathing detail
Plans may be allowed on 8½" x 11" paper if neatly drawn and complete. Permit approval timelines can vary based on plan review workload.
Minimum Setbacks & Lot Coverage (Common Maplewood Standards)
Front yard setback: 30 feet or the prevailing setback of adjacent houses (whichever is greater). Additional setbacks may be required due to planned widened rights-of-way in master plans.
| Structure Type |
Front (ft) |
Side (ft) |
Rear (ft) |
| Garage |
30 |
5 |
5 |
| Accessory Building |
30* |
5 |
5 |
| Driveway |
— |
5 |
5 |
*Accessory buildings must not be closer to the street than the principal structure.
Maximum lot coverage: Total building area coverage is limited to 30% of the lot area.
Maximum Garage Size in Maplewood (Based on Lot Area)
Maplewood limits the combined total square footage of attached garages, detached garages, and accessory buildings based on lot area. Below is the City’s commonly referenced allowance table.
| Lot Area (sq ft) |
Detached bldgs (no attached garage) |
Attached garages (no detached bldgs) |
Combination (detached + attached) |
| Under 8,000 |
786 |
768 |
1,188 |
| 8,000 – 11,999 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,420 |
| 12,000 – 15,999 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,480 |
| 16,000 – 20,999 |
1,100 |
1,100 |
1,660 |
| 21,000 – 41,999 |
1,250 |
1,250 |
1,850 |
| 42,000 + |
1,250 (garage)
1,000 (all other bldgs.) |
1,250 |
2,500 |
Important: The City limits the total area of all detached accessory buildings and the total of all attached garages independently. If you already have an attached garage and/or shed, we calculate what’s still available for your new detached garage.
Note: For very large garages, Minnesota law may require plans/design prepared by a licensed design professional. (We can guide this if it applies.)
Garage Height Limits in Maplewood
- A private garage is commonly limited to 16 feet in height as viewed from the street.
- City Council may approve an increase in height or area by conditional use permit in some cases, but height generally cannot exceed the height of the house.
Lot Line Verification (Corner Monuments)
Maplewood may require that permanent iron monuments at lot corners be visible for inspection. The owner/applicant may need to show corner monuments to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector. The City may waive all or part of this requirement when stakes are not needed to confirm setbacks.
Required Inspections for Maplewood Garages
Inspections vary by project scope, but commonly include:
- Footing / Slab: after excavation and forms are in place (or slab formed with sand cushion and reinforcement), before concrete
- Framing: after framing is complete and rough trade inspections (if applicable) are approved
- Insulation: after insulation and vapor barriers are in place (when applicable)
- Wallboard: after sheetrock is fastened, before taping (when applicable)
- Final: after grading is finished and the building is complete; a certificate of occupancy may be required by ordinance
To schedule inspections:
Building Inspections: (651) 249-2300
Electrical Inspections: (651) 426-1319 (typically 7:30–9:30 a.m. scheduling window)
Plumbing / Heating: (651) 249-2300
Get a Maplewood Garage Quote
Western Garage Builders — part of Western Construction, Inc. — builds code-compliant garages across the Twin Cities and handles zoning verification, permit-ready plans, concrete, construction, and inspections.
Note: This page summarizes Maplewood garage permitting and zoning guidance and is not a substitute for City review. Final requirements depend on lot conditions, zoning, and plan review.
