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Free tool Permits Sheds
Shed Permit Checker: Do You Need a Permit for Your Shed?
Answer a few questions about your shed. The checker applies the Ontario size and use thresholds and reminds you of the zoning rules every shed must meet.
Short version: A one-storey detached storage shed of about 15 m² (roughly 161 sq ft) or less, with no plumbing, usually does not need a building permit in Ontario. Bigger, wired, plumbed, heated or used for more than storage, and you are into permit territory. Zoning setbacks apply to every shed.
Check your shed
The thresholds this checker uses
- Size: about 15 m² (161 sq ft) of building area for a one-storey detached shed.
- Services: plumbing puts it into permit territory; wiring needs an ESA permit and heat changes the picture.
- Use: simple storage only. Workshops, offices and sleeping cabins are treated differently.
- Zoning always applies: setbacks from lot lines, lot coverage, height and location on the lot.
Full explanation and what to submit: Shed permits in Ontario.
Questions people ask
How big can a shed be without a permit in Ontario?
Usually up to about 15 m² (roughly 161 sq ft) for a one-storey detached storage shed with no plumbing. Some municipalities have their own bylaws, so check with yours.
Does a shed with electricity need a permit?
Wiring needs an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit, and wiring or heat can push a shed into building-permit territory.
Do zoning rules apply to small sheds?
Yes. Setbacks, lot coverage, height and location apply to every shed, with or without a building permit.
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