In East Gwillimbury, a storage-only shed of 15 square metres or less usually needs no building permit. It still has to sit 1 metre off the rear and side lot lines, stay under the height limit, and wait until the house exists.
A shed looks like the easiest project on a lot, and often it is. The trouble is that "no permit" and "no rules" are two different things. East Gwillimbury checks sheds against its zoning by-law, and a few lots add a second layer from the conservation authority. Here is how the pieces fit, so you know what to confirm before the first post goes in.
The building permit line: 15 square metres, with a catch
Since the 2022 Building Code amendments, a shed used only for storage and accessory to the house does not need a building permit if it is no more than 15 square metres (161 square feet), one storey, not attached to any building or structure, and has no plumbing. Other Ontario municipalities, such as the Township of Severn, publish that list in their shed guides.
Here is the catch. East Gwillimbury's own Accessory Buildings application form, last revised in 2019, still says a detached accessory building over 10 square metres (108 square feet) needs a permit, and one under that "may not" need one. The Town's applicant guide is older still, dated 2018. Those documents predate the Code change, so they may not match what staff apply today. If your shed is between 10 and 15 square metres, call the Town's Building Standards Branch at 905-478-4282 and ask which number they use. Get the answer before you buy the kit.
A shed with a light, a sink or any plumbing is a different case, and so is a garage, workshop or studio. Those are not "storage-only", so they follow the permit route. If you plan to run power to the shed, the electrical work is regulated separately and goes to a licensed electrician.
The zoning rules apply either way
The Town's Accessory Buildings form excerpts Zoning By-law 2018-043, section 4.2.2. Whether or not you need a permit, these provisions apply to your shed:
- Not before the house. No accessory building can be erected on a lot before the main building is built.
- 1.0 metre setbacks. At least 1.0 metre from the rear lot line and the interior side lot line, and 1.0 metre from any other building or structure on the lot, unless the Building Code allows less.
- Not in front of the house. The shed cannot sit closer to the front or exterior side lot line than the main building. Rural and Oak Ridges Moraine lots of 0.4 hectares or more are the exception.
- Keep clear of easements and sight triangles. No part of a shed can be in an easement or in the daylighting (sight) triangle on a corner lot.
- Height. A maximum of 4.5 metres in most zones, and 11.0 metres in the Rural and Oak Ridges Moraine zones.
- Coverage and count. All accessory buildings together, including a detached garage, can cover no more than 10 percent of the lot. A residential lot can have no more than three detached accessory buildings.
- Not a living space. An accessory building cannot be used for human habitation or a home business unless the by-law expressly allows it.
The by-law also says a structure attached to the main building in any way is not an accessory structure. A lean-to shed fastened to the house wall is treated as part of the house, which changes both the permit answer and the setbacks.
New subdivisions: the developer comes first
If your home is in a newer Queensville or Sharon subdivision the Town has not yet assumed, a shed can affect lot grading even where it needs no permit. The Town expects the developer's approval first. That is covered in our guide for new Queensville and Sharon homes.
Near a river or wetland: the conservation authority
Much of East Gwillimbury sits in the Lake Simcoe watershed, where the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) regulates building near rivers, streams, wetlands and flood plains. Ontario Regulation 41/24 carves out an exception for a non-habitable accessory building that is incidental to the main building, is 15 square metres or less, and is not within a wetland or watercourse. A small shed in an ordinary back yard is covered by that exception.
The exception is narrow. A shed set inside a wetland or a watercourse is not covered, and the regulation's other limits on development in hazard areas still apply. If your lot backs onto a creek, a ravine or a wet low spot, contact LSRCA before you pick the site.
Getting it level and sited right
Most shed problems are not about paperwork. A shed on bare soil settles unevenly, the door stops closing, and the floor rots from below. A compacted gravel pad or a few concrete deck blocks, set level and kept clear of the ground, fixes most of it. Measure your setbacks from the actual lot lines on your survey, not from the fence. Fences are often a little off the property line.
Quick answers
Do I need a permit for a shed in East Gwillimbury?
A storage-only shed of 15 square metres or less, one storey, unattached and with no plumbing, is exempt under the Ontario Building Code. The Town's own form still says 10 square metres, so call Building Standards first.
How close can a shed be to my fence line in East Gwillimbury?
At least 1.0 metre from the rear and interior side lot lines, under Zoning By-law 2018-043. That applies even when no building permit is needed.
How tall can a shed be in East Gwillimbury?
On most residential lots the limit is 4.5 metres. Rural and Oak Ridges Moraine zones allow up to 11.0 metres for accessory buildings.
Can I build a shed before the house is finished?
No. The Zoning By-law does not allow an accessory building on a lot before the main building is built. A new-build lot has to wait.
Does a shed need a conservation authority permit?
Usually not. Ontario's conservation regulation exempts a non-habitable accessory building of 15 square metres or less that is not in a wetland or watercourse. Check with LSRCA if you are near a river or flood plain.
Check three things, then build
For a plain storage shed under 15 square metres, the path is short: confirm the Town's current permit threshold with one phone call, measure 1 metre in from the rear and side lot lines, and check the lot is not in a regulated area. If you would rather have someone build the base and assemble it, ask Rhodex for a fixed price.
Related reading
- All Rhodex services: get a fixed price
- Decks, Sheds and Fences on a New Queensville or Sharon Home
- Deck Repair or Rebuild in East Gwillimbury: When Does It Need a Permit?
- Replacing a Fence in East Gwillimbury: Height Rules
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