01
Storage shed
A qualifying storage-only shed can use Toronto’s specific 15 m² exemption. Once the use, plumbing, attachment, storeys or size changes, that exemption may no longer apply.
◆ Shed, gazebo & accessory structure permits
Shed, Gazebo & Accessory Structure Permit Drawings in Toronto
Planning a shed, gazebo, cabana, pergola, pool house or similar detached backyard structure? iPermit checks whether the project needs a building permit, reviews the site and zoning constraints, prepares the required permit drawings and supports the municipal application within the agreed scope.
Toronto Uses a 15 m² Shed Exemption but Not a 15 m² Rule for Every Backyard Structure
Toronto currently exempts a storage shed up to 15 m² from the Building Permit requirement only when it is one storey, detached from other structures, used only for storage and has no plumbing. Zoning still applies even when the shed qualifies for that exemption.
Other accessory structures use a different trigger. Toronto lists accessory structures larger than 10 m²—including workshops, pool houses and cabanas—as permit work. An accessory structure that is attached to an existing building or contains plumbing requires a building permit regardless of size.
That distinction matters for gazebos and cabanas. Calling every backyard structure a “shed” can produce the wrong permit advice. iPermit reviews the intended use, enclosure, size, attachment and services before deciding which permit rule applies.
Ready to Define Permit Path?
Send project context first, the next step can then focus on scope, information gaps and the right page or service route.
◆ Define the structure before applying the threshold
The Intended Use Changes the Permit Question
The same footprint can lead to a different permit scope depending on whether the structure is simple storage, covered outdoor space, a serviced building or a future dwelling.
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Gazebo / pergola
Open or partly open covered structures should be reviewed as accessory structures based on size, construction, location and how they are supported—not automatically treated as storage sheds.
03
Cabana / pool house
Pool houses, cabanas and similar enclosed structures are accessory buildings. Plumbing, changing areas, washrooms or more complex construction can expand the permit and servicing scope.
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Workshop or occupied-use idea
A detached workshop can still be an accessory structure, but a proposal intended for residential occupancy is no longer a standard shed or cabana and should be routed to the appropriate dwelling-unit service.
◆ Permit-exempt does not mean zoning-exempt
A Small Shed Can Avoid a Building Permit and Still Be in the Wrong Place
Toronto explicitly states that zoning compliance still applies when a project does not require a Building Permit. For accessory structures, location can be just as important as floor area.
A useful site review looks at the current survey or reliable property information, setbacks, existing buildings, lot coverage, grade, parking/driveway areas, easements and the distance between the proposed structure and other buildings.
This is why buying a prefab shed or gazebo before checking the lot can create unnecessary redesign. The structure may be small enough to avoid a Building Permit but still conflict with the zoning that applies to the property.
◆ When a permit is required
What the Accessory Structure Permit Package Needs to Show
The exact set depends on the structure and municipality, but Toronto reviews both the proposed building and its relationship to the lot.
SITE + ZONING
Site Plan
A survey-referenced site plan can show property lines, existing/proposed buildings, setbacks, distances to other structures, lot/zoning statistics, grade and relevant parking or landscape information.
BUILDING FORM
Plans, Elevations & Sections
Floor plans, elevations and sections communicate the structure’s dimensions, height, openings, roof form, intended use and relationship between the foundation, walls and roof.
CONSTRUCTION
Foundation & Construction Details
The permit set can document slab or foundation construction, wall/floor/roof assemblies and project-specific details. Professional engineering is added only when the actual design requires engineering content.
Ready to Define Permit Path?
Send project context first, the next step can then focus on scope, information gaps and the right page or service route.
What Toronto Currently Requires for a Shed, Cabana or Similar Accessory Building
Toronto’s current Accessory Structures application guide covers sheds, cabanas and other detached structures accessory to an existing house. Drawings must be on standardized sheets, drawn to scale, fully dimensioned, signed and dated.
The site plan is expected to show the lot, rights-of-way or easements, existing/proposed buildings, setback dimensions, zoning statistics, grade information, parking/driveway areas and other accessory structures. For the proposed structure itself, Toronto calls for floor plans, elevations, sections and construction details, including concrete floor-slab information where applicable.
Toronto’s broader building-permit requirement guidance is where the 15 m² storage-shed exemption and 10 m² accessory-structure trigger are distinguished. That distinction is carried into this page rather than simplifying every backyard structure to one threshold.
If drawings or documents submitted with the permit bear a professional engineer’s seal, Toronto requires the responsible P.Eng. to identify the engineering content for which they assume responsibility. The page does not imply that every shed, gazebo or cabana requires an engineered package.
Eligible detached residential ancillary structures can also fall within Toronto’s Express Services stream. The City’s current goal is a three-business-day review after a complete eligible application has been taken in; this is a review target, not a promise for the total project timeline.
◆ When a simple backyard building stops being simple
Four Conditions That Change the Permit Scope
These conditions can change the exemption, drawings, professional coordination or zoning path. They should be identified before a prefab structure or contractor package is treated as permit-ready.
The structure will have plumbing
Toronto states that an accessory structure with plumbing requires a Building Permit regardless of size. Plumbing also changes the servicing and drawing scope, so the fixture/use should be identified before the structure is treated as a simple backyard building.
The structure is attached to the house or another building
Toronto’s size-based accessory-structure exemption is for detached structures. If the project attaches to the house or another structure, the permit path changes and the connection/support conditions need to be shown.
The preferred location does not meet zoning
A permit threshold does not override setbacks, lot coverage, height or other zoning provisions. If the preferred structure cannot comply, the design may need to change or proceed through a minor variance.
There is already an old shed or accessory building on the site
An existing accessory building may affect lot coverage, available setbacks and the replacement strategy. If the old structure is being removed, confirm whether demolition documentation or other municipal steps apply before relying on the same footprint for the new building.
Some Backyard Buildings Need a More Specific Permit Page
This page owns ordinary non-dwelling accessory structures such as sheds, gazebos, cabanas, pergolas, pool houses and similar detached buildings. Three nearby project types should be routed elsewhere when they become the defining scope.
Detached garage: Toronto uses a separate Garages and Carports application guide and separate Express application route. A proposed garage also brings parking, driveway access and garage-specific construction decisions. Use the Detached Garage Permit page.
Residential occupancy: if the backyard structure is intended as a self-contained dwelling unit, it should be reviewed under the Garden Suite Permit service rather than described as a shed or workshop.
Pool approval: Toronto’s pool work has its own zoning and Pool Fence Enclosure approval path. Use the Pool Permit page when the main project is the pool and enclosure rather than the pool house/cabana itself.
◆ Start with the structure type and site
Send the Address, Survey and Backyard Structure Concept
A useful first review establishes what you are actually building, whether a Building Permit is required and whether the proposed location works before detailed drawings begin.
- Property address: Identifies the municipality and the zoning and property context that applies to the proposed structure.
- Structure type and use: Tell us whether it is a storage shed, gazebo, pergola, cabana, pool house, workshop or another detached accessory building and how it will be used.
- Size, height and services: Provide the approximate length, width, height, number of storeys and whether plumbing or other building services are proposed.
- Survey, photos and prefab information: Send the survey or site plan if available, photos of the proposed location and any manufacturer drawings or sketches you already have.
◆ Shed & accessory structure questions
Shed, Gazebo & Accessory Structure Permit FAQs
These answers separate Toronto’s storage-shed exemption from the rules that apply to other accessory structures.
Does a shed under 15 m² need a building permit in Toronto?
A storage shed can be exempt if it is not more than 15 m², is one storey, is detached from other structures, is used only for storage and has no plumbing. Zoning still applies.
Does a gazebo use the same 15 m² exemption as a storage shed?
Do not assume so. Toronto’s 15 m² exemption is written specifically for qualifying storage sheds. Other accessory structures use different permit triggers, including the general 10 m² threshold for structures such as workshops, pool houses and cabanas.
Does a cabana or pool house need a building permit?
Toronto identifies pool houses and cabanas as accessory structures. Structures larger than 10 m² require a Building Permit, and attachment or plumbing can trigger a permit regardless of size. The exact scope should be confirmed from the proposed design.
Does a permit-exempt shed still have to meet Toronto zoning?
Yes. Toronto explicitly states that work can be exempt from the Building Permit requirement and still have to comply with the Zoning By-law. Location, setbacks, lot coverage, height and other site rules can therefore matter even for a small shed.
What drawings are required for an accessory structure permit?
Toronto’s current accessory-structure guide calls for a survey-based site plan plus floor plans, elevations, sections and construction details appropriate to the proposed structure. The exact package depends on the design and site conditions.
Why is a detached garage on a separate permit page?
Toronto publishes a separate Garages and Carports permit guide and a separate Express application route for detached garages. Garage projects also bring parking/driveway and garage-specific design issues, so they are better served by the dedicated Detached Garage Permit page.