Legal Definitions - outbuilding

An outbuilding is a structure that is separate and detached from the main dwelling on a piece of land. These structures are legally significant as they can help define the boundaries of the curtilage—the area immediately surrounding a home—or other property limits for various legal purposes.

An outbuilding refers to any structure that is located on the same property as a primary residence or main building, but is physically separate and detached from it. These structures typically serve a purpose related to the main property, such as storage, utility, or recreational use, but are not considered part of the main dwelling itself.

• Example 1: A homeowner constructs a small, standalone art studio in their backyard, a short distance from their main house, where they can paint without disturbing the household. This studio, being a separate structure on the same property as the primary residence, qualifies as an outbuilding.

• Example 2: On a rural property, a large, detached structure is used solely for storing farm equipment and tools, situated several yards away from the farmhouse. This storage facility is an outbuilding because it is a distinct structure on the same land as the main dwelling, serving a functional purpose related to the property.

• Example 3: A property features a small, self-contained guesthouse, complete with its own bathroom and kitchenette, located across the driveway from the main family home. Since this guesthouse is a separate building on the same parcel of land as the primary residence, it is considered an outbuilding.