Madison County · Alabama
Metal buildings in Madison, AL.
We supply detached garages, workshops, storage buildings and more across Madison. Our work reaches from in-town neighborhoods to the agricultural land at the edge of the city, and anywhere else you’re building.
Accessory height
15 ft
Size cap
500 sq ft or 25% of house
Rear setback
10 ft
Side setbacks
8 ft, 20 ft street side
From the City of Madison Zoning Ordinance in effect July 1, 2026, Sections 5-4-18, 5-7-2 and 7-4-3.
What people build in Madison
A fast-growing city with a brand-new zoning ordinance that sets firm limits on accessory size and height.
Detached garages
Up to 15 feet tall and 500 sq ft, or 25% of the house’s floor area if that’s larger. A 3,000 sq ft house allows 750 sq ft.
Small sheds
A building 8 feet tall or less and 200 sq ft or less can sit in the setbacks if it’s in the rear two-thirds of the lot.
Large lots
When the house sits at least 200 feet from the side or front line, the building can go in the front yard, outside the front setback.
Farm buildings
In the AG district, barns and silos can exceed the 35-foot height limit, as long as they sit 50 feet from the property line.
We work in tubular steel, cold-formed steel, steel truss and red iron. See what a steel building costs.
Permitting metal buildings in Madison
Madison’s 2026 ordinance ties accessory size to the house and holds every residential accessory building to 15 feet.
Setbacks
- Detached accessory buildings over 8 feet tall or 200 sq ft sit 8 feet from interior side lines, 20 feet from street-side lines and 10 feet from the rear line.
- Buildings and overhangs stay at least 1 foot from any dedicated easement or right-of-way.
Size & height
- Maximum height is 15 feet. On residential property, a building can’t exceed 500 sq ft of floor area or 25% of the house’s floor area, whichever is greater.
- Any accessory structure with a solid roof counts toward the lot’s coverage limit.
Farms & commercial
- The AG district requires 3 acres. Bona fide farm buildings are exempt from its 35-foot height limit, but any taller part sits 50 feet from the property boundary. Garages and dwellings aren’t exempt.
- In the R-4, TND, UC, MU and B districts, architectural metal panels are limited to 25% of any wall unless the Planning Commission approves more. Painted metal roofs are allowed.
In Madison, the house sets the size of the shop. The limit is 500 sq ft or a quarter of the house’s floor area, whichever is greater, and 15 feet tall. A 30×40 needs a 4,800 sq ft house on a residential lot. We’ll size the building to your house before you buy.
Madison reaches into Limestone County, and land outside city limits is permitted by the county. We also serve Huntsville. See all of Alabama.
Start with a conversation
Let’s talk about your Madison project.
Tell us what you’re planning and where you’re building. We’ll help you work out the next steps.
- Tell us what and whereSend us the size, how you’ll use the building and the address.
- We check the siteWe confirm who permits the address and which code and loads apply.
- You get a clear recommendationWe recommend the frame that fits and price it against the alternatives.
Or call
417-218-8348