Shed Permit Drawings: What the City Requires

If your shed exceeds 10 square metres (roughly 108 square feet) of floor area, Toronto requires a building permit and scaled drawings showing your proposed structure. The drawings must include a site plan with property boundaries and setbacks, floor plan with dimensions, and elevation views of all sides. Sheds at or under 10 square metres typically don't need a permit, but they still must comply with zoning setback requirements and cannot be placed in easements or too close to property lines.

When Toronto Requires a Shed Permit

The 10 square metre threshold is the key number. Measure the exterior footprint of your planned shed. A typical 10x10 foot shed is about 9.3 square metres, so it squeaks under the limit. A 10x12 foot shed is about 11.1 square metres, which means you need a permit. The City also counts any attached roofed areas like covered porches or overhangs in this calculation.

Beyond size, permits are required when you're installing electrical, plumbing, or heating in the shed. Planning to run power for lights and outlets? That triggers an electrical permit even if the structure itself is exempt. The same applies if you're adding a sink or any water connection.

• Sheds over 10 square metres need a building permit
• Electrical work requires a separate electrical permit
• Plumbing requires a plumbing permit
• Sheds under 10 square metres are typically exempt but must still meet zoning setbacks
• Accessory structures cannot exceed height limits set by your zoning category

What Your Shed Permit Drawings Must Show

Toronto Building requires three main drawing types for a shed permit application: a site plan, floor plan, and elevations. Each serves a different purpose in the review process, and missing information on any of them will delay your approval.

Site Plan Requirements

Your site plan shows where the shed sits on your property. It must be drawn to scale, typically 1:200 or 1:100 for residential properties. Include your lot dimensions, the location of your house and any other structures, and the exact position of the proposed shed. Most importantly, dimension the setbacks from all property lines. Toronto zoning bylaws specify minimum distances from rear and side lot lines, and these vary by zone. In most residential zones, accessory structures need to be at least 0.6 metres from side and rear lot lines

The site plan should also show easements, rights-of-way, and any trees protected under Toronto's tree bylaws. If your shed location conflicts with a utility easement or requires removing a protected tree, you'll face additional approval requirements before your permit can be issued.

Floor Plan Requirements

The floor plan shows the interior layout and dimensions of your shed. Even for a simple storage shed, you need to indicate the overall interior dimensions, door and window locations, and wall thicknesses. If you're planning built-in shelving, workbenches, or storage systems, show those too. The floor plan helps the examiner verify the total floor area calculation and understand how the structure will be used.

Elevation Drawings

Elevations show each side of your shed as viewed straight on. You need at least front, rear, and both side elevations. These drawings must show the overall height from grade to peak, wall heights, roof slope, and the placement of doors and windows. Include material callouts indicating siding type, roofing material, and trim details. The City uses elevations to verify your shed meets height restrictions and to assess neighbourhood compatibility.

Technical Drawing Standards

Toronto Building accepts both hand-drawn and CAD-produced drawings, but they must meet certain standards. All drawings need a title block identifying the project address, drawing type, scale, and date. Dimensions must be in metric units. The scale must be consistent and clearly noted on each sheet. Illegible or unclear drawings will be returned for revision.

For shed permits, you typically need just one or two sheets. A common approach is combining the site plan and floor plan on one sheet, with elevations on a second sheet. If your shed is straightforward, some applicants fit everything on a single 11x17 inch sheet at appropriate scales.

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Accurate setback dimensions are the most common issue we see with shed permit applications. Property owners often estimate distances instead of measuring properly, which leads to rejections and resubmissions.

Construction Details the City May Request

Depending on your shed's size and design, the examiner may request additional construction details. For larger sheds or those with unusual designs, you might need to show foundation details, wall framing sections, and roof framing plans. Sheds on concrete slabs need footing details. Sheds on post foundations need information about post embedment depth and connection methods.

Pre-fabricated shed kits often come with manufacturer specifications and engineering documents. If you're installing a kit shed, include these materials with your application. They can satisfy many of the structural detail requirements without you needing to create custom drawings.

Zoning Compliance Beyond Setbacks

Setbacks are just one piece of zoning compliance. Toronto's zoning bylaws also regulate lot coverage, which is the percentage of your lot covered by buildings. Your new shed adds to this calculation along with your house, garage, and any other structures. In many residential zones, total lot coverage cannot exceed 35% of lot area If you're already near the limit, adding a shed might require a minor variance.

Height restrictions apply to accessory structures too. Most residential zones limit shed height to 4 metres for flat roofs or 5 metres for peaked roofs Your elevation drawings must clearly show the height measurement from average grade to the highest point of the structure.

The Application Process

Submit your shed permit application through Toronto Building's online portal or in person at a permit counter. The application requires your completed drawings, a completed application form, and the permit fee. Fees are calculated based on construction value and floor area For a typical backyard shed, expect the permit process to take several weeks from submission to approval.

Once approved, you'll receive a building permit that must be posted visibly at the construction site. The permit specifies required inspections, typically a footing inspection before pouring concrete and a final inspection when construction is complete. Don't cover any work that needs inspection before the inspector signs off.

Common Mistakes That Delay Approval

• Missing or incorrect setback dimensions on the site plan
• Floor area calculation errors that misrepresent permit requirements
• Elevation drawings that don't show accurate heights
• Failing to identify easements or protected trees
• Submitting drawings at inconsistent or unstated scales
• Omitting material specifications from elevation views

PermitsHub prepares shed permit drawings that address all City of Toronto requirements upfront. We handle the site plan, floor plan, elevations, and any construction details needed for your specific project, reducing back-and-forth with the permit office and getting you to approval faster.