What No One Thinks to Ask About Those Cute Backyard Sheds

If you’ve seen some of the so-called ‘she-sheds’ making waves online lately, you, too, may have decided that a tiny shed near your house is just what your life is missing (silly name for these structures notwithstanding). There are some pesky details you have to tend to before you start building, though: insert zoning laws, permits and the questions you need to ask right out of the gate.

For me, the appeal goes back to childhood. I remember making and decorating a clubhouse with my little brother when we were kids. Now, granted, we started with a former chicken coop at our rural home, and my staging consisted mostly of milk crates, but after being barred from the neighborhood boys’ clubhouse in our last hometown because—eww, I was a girl—the only thing that mattered was that it was mine.

The allure is still strong today. What’s better than a teeny place to make your very own, away from the chores and responsibilities (and open concept) of your everyday home, where you can pursue whatever your passion is, whether that’s meditation, welding, macramé, or, I dunno, ham radio?

I’d love to have four walls and a roof dedicated just to a writing space, personally. Ooh, or a bourbon tasting room! It’s funny; when the space is small, the options seem limitless.

Before you go all Michael Pollan building a place of your own, remember you need to think about the aforementioned zoning laws and permits.

While there was nobody around to care when a couple of kids converted a chicken coop to a clubhouse, you can bet eyes are watching if you decide to build the next Pinterest-worthy shed on your property.

And if you don’t have all the proper permissions in place, you’ll get a stop work notice faster than you can say ‘she shed’. What if it’s already done and you’re found out? This Popular Mechanics article puts it in no uncertain terms:

There’s a common misconception that building permits are only required for sheds larger than 100 square feet (or some other arbitrary size). That is simply not true. You must apply for a building permit regardless of the size of the shed, and there are three very good reasons why.

First, the town building inspector will want to make sure the shed is built to code so that it won’t sink into the ground, suffer a catastrophic roof collapse, or be blown over by a strong wind. (Go ahead and laugh, but all three incidents occur all the time.)

Second, town officials will need to approve the proposed building site to ensure it isn’t encroaching into wetlands, sitting over a septic system or straddling a property line.

Lastly, if you build a shed on your property without first obtaining a building permit, the town can make you either move the shed, or even take it down completely.

Rules will vary widely (and wildly) from city to city, and not only will your local government have guidelines but do you have a Homeowner’s Association? Or do you live in a Historic Preservation District? (I do, and I can’t touch anything on the outside of my house or on my property without permission that may or may not be granted after an arduous review process.) You may even find that a shed isn’t allowed where you live.

If it is allowed, there are certain to be restrictions. For instance, when I checked my city’s riveting “homeowner’s permit toolbox: garages/accessory buildings” brochure, here’s what I found:

“Accessory” structures larger than 200 square feet require a building permit before you start construction. Some of their requirements include that “a detached garage 3 feet or closer to the primary structure needs drywall finish on the inside. Structures closer than 5 feet to a property line will have fire rating requirements on the walls and overhangs/eaves. Accessory structures shall be minimum 5 feet from the rear property line and minimum 2 feet from a side property line. They are not allowed in the front yard. Parking access shall be provided from alley where present. Accessory structures shall not combine to be larger than the foot print area of the main house. Accessory structures shall be not taller than 24 feet or the main house, whichever is lower. An Accessory Apartment over the garage or elsewhere on site requires a Conditional Use Permit. And oh boy, after getting one of those I can tell you that’s a costly and time consuming can of worms right there requiring reams of paperwork, neighborhood notices and meetings, a sign in your yard, and a public zoning hearing.

Are your eyes glazed over yet? You also have to ensure everything is done to code and confirm that you’re not blocking any easements (access to the property for something like utilities). You’ll need a site plan drawn up, of course, before you can even apply, to show all sides of structure indicating building height from finished grade, exterior finishes, and egress components–doors, windows, posts, columns and take note: Plans that include a retaining wall (4) foot tall or higher … are required to have the seal of and Architect or Engineer registered in the state … Special conditions may exist that also require additional construction documents prepared by a registered design professional. Oh and don’t forget the inspections at the foundation stage and framing stage, and the final inspection.

I don’t know about you, but I gave up before I made it halfway through all the jargon. That’s not to say you can’t have a place of your own. Just do your research first. Check your local government’s website in the zoning and building permits sections, or call them up and ask them to walk you through the requirements and steps. And remember: Not everything you see on Pinterest can come true.

More About Backyard Sheds:

• 6 Reasons I’m Kinda Embracing The Whole ‘She Shed’ Thing
  
• A Bright, Happy, Family Home… in a Backyard Shed