Storage Shed Building Permits 101: What You Need to Know

Before building or buying an outdoor storage shed, always check your local government’s building codes and secure the required permits. After all, the last thing you’d want after building your shed is to tear it down because it isn’t up to code. 

To help you avoid all that, shed and steel buildings expert Metal Warehouse, Inc. lists below the things you should know beforehand:

International Building Codes vs. Local Building Codes: Is There a Difference?

Most towns and cities incorporate guidelines International Building Code (IBC), although they usually make a few modifications, most of which are quite restrictive compared to the original code. For instance, under the IBC, storage sheds with an area of 120 square feet don’t need a permit. However, this doesn’t mean you no longer need to consult your local building department—some local governments require a permit for sheds with an area of 60 square feet. 

Zoning Restrictions 

To get approved, the plans for your shed have to comply with your local area’s zoning restrictions. Listed below is an overview of the common restrictions: 

• Size – Most cities and towns don’t allow large sheds. 
• Countermeasures against extreme weather – Some towns might also require their sheds to have countermeasures against the area’s extreme weather. For instance, areas frequented by hurricanes and tornadoes will likely require buildings, including sheds and carports, to be anchored to the ground. 
• Location – Sheds should be located in the backyard, away from fences, trees, property lines and pools.

Quality of the Materials 

Don’t forget to use high-quality materials to build your shed. Zoning restrictions and other permit requirements are aimed at ensuring people’s safety and the integrity of buildings—using substandard materials to build flimsy sheds defeats the main purpose of complying with your local area’s building codes. 

Metal Warehouse, one of the three finalists in the Best of Texoma 2019 Awards, offers building kits for a wide variety of metal buildings, including  metal carports kits. To get a free quote, you can call one of our sales reps at (903) 465-6699 or leave us a message here.