Cost · permit · scope
Shed planning guide
Plan a shed with placement and setback checkpoints, foundation comparisons, scope controls, and a contractor-ready project brief.
Permit complexity
Low
Compare quotes per
shed
| Percentile | U.S. | California | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23.32 | $28.72 | $21.48 |
| Median | $29.12 | $36.50 | $23.51 |
| 75th percentile | $36.94 | $46.07 | $27.78 |
Shed buying path
Place it before you price it.
Footprint, height, setbacks, foundation, drainage and utilities should be resolved as one scope before a kit or site-built structure is compared.
01 · Place
Draw the clearances
Show exterior footprint, roof overhangs, lot lines, the house, easements and drainage paths on one simple site sketch.
02 · Classify
Declare the use
Storage, workshop and conditioned use create different scope conversations. Add electrical or plumbing before asking about permits.
03 · Support
Match the foundation
Price site preparation and the support system separately so drainage, anchorage and finished floor assumptions remain visible.
Decision matrix
Compare one specification at a time
Gravel pad
A drained granular base
Specify excavation, geotextile, compacted depth, edge restraint and finished elevation.
Concrete slab
A rigid finished base
Specify thickness, reinforcement, subbase, thickened edges, anchors and control joints.
Piers or blocks
A raised support concept
Specify bearing, frost assumptions, beam layout, anchorage and enclosure below the floor.
Quote controls
Keep every bid comparable
- Same exterior footprint, overall height and intended use
- Site preparation, drainage and foundation itemized
- Openings, roofing, finish and anchorage clearly specified
- Utility trenching, permits and inspections explicitly assigned
Next best action
Calculate, then lock the scope.
Size a slab foundation in the concrete calculator, then carry the footprint, foundation and use into a brief so kit and site-built quotes line up.
Start with two separate questions
Often exempt below a local size/height cap if it stays a simple accessory building without utilities. Confirm the cap.
Rear and side setbacks for accessory structures are often smaller than the house setback, but they are not zero. Utility easements still apply.
What usually decides the scope
- Footprint (square footage)
- Height at the ridge
- Distance to property lines
- Foundation type
- Electrical or plumbing
Square footage
Exemption thresholds vary. 120 sq ft appears in many older municipal codes; 200 sq ft appears in some IRC-influenced jurisdictions. Measure exterior footprint, not interior.
Setbacks
Even when a permit is not required, a shed usually still has to sit a stated distance from property lines and the house. ‘No permit’ is not ‘no rules.’
Utilities
Running power or water typically pulls the project into electrical and/or plumbing permits regardless of size.
From research to quotes
Give every bidder the same scope.
Set the footprint, height, foundation, utilities and use. The brief adds the setback and permit checkpoints that use raises, and asks each bidder to itemize site preparation, foundation, structure, roofing and finish. No contact details needed; sending it on is optional.
Create shed briefUse the dimensions, not a guess
Related field notes
- Shed Setbacks: The Rule People Skip Because ‘It’s Just a Shed’
- What a Property Setback Actually Is
- Easements on Your Property: What You Can Build in One
- Frost Line Depth: Who Sets It and What It Covers
- Do You Need a Permit for a Greenhouse?
- Backyard Chickens in Austin and Los Angeles: Coops and Limits
- Building Permit Cost and Time: Fees in Austin and Los Angeles