Garage & Accessory Structure Permit Design
Permit drawings for detached garages, attached garages/carports, sheds, cabanas and other residential accessory structures. We check both the structure and where it is allowed to sit on the property.
What 828 Design can prepare
Depending on the accessory building, the permit package can include:
- site plan showing the structure, property lines and existing buildings
- floor plan, elevations and building sections
- foundation/slab, wall and roof construction details
- structural framing information within applicable BCIN scope
- garage/carport opening, door and connection details where relevant
- zoning statistics and permit coordination where included
What we check before the structure is designed
Accessory buildings are frequently limited more by the lot than by the desired floor plan.
- setbacks, height, lot coverage and permitted location
- whether the structure is detached or attached to the house
- intended use: vehicle storage, ordinary storage, workshop, cabana or another use
- whether plumbing or other building services are proposed
- trees, easements, overhead conductors and site-access constraints
- relationship to an existing driveway, house, fence and neighbouring structures
Detached garage permits
A detached garage is an accessory building with its own zoning and permit considerations. The site plan, building size, height, foundation and structural framing all need to be coordinated with the property.
Attached garage & carport
When the garage or carport is attached to the house, it is generally treated as part of an addition/alteration to the main building rather than as a completely independent backyard structure. Connection, fire/life-safety and structural conditions can therefore change.
Sheds & accessory structures
Ontario’s Building Code provides a permit exemption for a qualifying storage shed not more than 15 m² when it is one storey, detached, used only for storage ancillary to a principal building and has no plumbing. That exemption does not mean every accessory structure under 15 m² is permit-free, and zoning/property rules still need to be checked.
Common garage and accessory-building questions
Does a small shed need a building permit?
A qualifying storage shed can be exempt under the Building Code when it meets the specific exemption conditions. Other accessory structures and sheds that do not meet those conditions can still require a permit.
Can I put a garage anywhere in the backyard?
No. Zoning regulates where accessory buildings can be located and can control setbacks, height, coverage and other standards.
Is an attached garage the same as a detached garage for permits?
No. An attached garage interacts directly with the house and is generally reviewed as an addition/alteration, with different connection and life-safety considerations.
Can I add plumbing to a shed or cabana?
Plumbing changes the permit and servicing scope. The small-shed exemption does not apply to a shed with plumbing.
Do I need a survey?
Reliable property information is often important because the municipality needs to confirm setbacks and location.
Can 828 Design prepare the structural details?
We can provide building-structural design within applicable BCIN scope and coordinate separately regulated professional input where required.
After the permit is issued
Construct the building in the approved location and from the approved foundation/framing details. Moving the structure or changing its size, roof, openings or structural system can affect zoning and permit compliance.
What to send for a quote
- property address and municipality
- survey or site plan if available
- type of structure: detached garage, attached garage/carport, shed, cabana or other
- approximate width, depth and height
- photos of the proposed location and nearby buildings/property lines
- whether plumbing, heating or other services are planned
Related residential permit services
Home Addition Permit Design · Deck & Porch Permit Design · Zoning Review · Building Structural Permit Drawings
828 Design Inc. — BCIN building design & permit services. Content reviewed for current Ontario permit context: August 2026. Requirements are confirmed for the property, municipality and agreed project scope. Qualifications & responsibility →
Planning a garage, carport or accessory structure?
Send the property address, survey if available, and approximate size/use. We can identify the zoning and permit-design information needed.