Building Services Department

1695 Emsdale Road, P.O. Box 70, Emsdale ON P0A 1J0

Phone: 705-636-5941 Fax: 705-636-5759
www.townshipofperry.ca

Garage and Shed Construction Guide

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General Requirements
A building permit is required for all accessory buildings where:

• The size of the structure is larger than 10 m2 (108 sq. ft.); or

• It is attached to another structure; or
• It contains plumbing

Examples of General Zoning Restrictions:

Shoreline Residential (SR) lots under Zoning By-law 2014-21, the following would
apply:

Lot Coverage: Maximum of 5 percent (5%) total coverage for accessory

structures. (Please note that deck, dock and boathouse building
areas count for this overall lot coverage).

Setbacks: In most cases, the minimum required setbacks are:

• 30 m (98.4 ft.) from front yard (lake shore)

• 1.2 m (3.9 ft.) from interior side lot line
• 20 m (65.6 ft.) from exterior side lot line
• 10 m (32.8 ft.) from rear lot line; and
• 2 m (6.6 ft.) from main building (cottage or home) if detached

Building Height: The maximum height for an accessory structure is 6.5 m (21.3 ft.)

Rural (RU) lots under Zoning By-law 2014-21, the following would apply:

Lot Coverage: Maximum of 5 percent (5%) total coverage for accessory

structures.

Setbacks: In most cases, the minimum required setbacks are:

• 30 m (98.4 ft.) from front yard (road side)

• 1.2 m (3.9 ft.) from interior side lot line
• 30 m (98.4 ft.) from exterior side lot line
• 15 m (49.2 ft.) from rear lot line; and
• 2 m (6.6 ft.) from main building (cottage or home) if detached

Building Height: The maximum height for an accessory structure is 6.5 m (21.3 ft.)

Note: All accessory structures must comply with the Township of Perry’s
Zoning By-law. If you are unsure whether the accessory structure complies or
not, please contact the Building Services Department at 705-636-5941.

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Application Requirements
• Completed building permit application forms.

• Two copies of the most recent survey or detailed site sketch for the property
showing dimensions of all existing buildings and structures, and their
setbacks, drawn to scale. The proposed garage or shed is to be plotted on the
site plan and setback dimensions to all property lines are to be shown. (See
attached sample site plan on page 5).

• Two copies of construction drawings including floor plans, elevations, and

sections drawn to scale. The attached template drawings and details could be
used, providing all dimensions and information are shown on the “Floor Plan”
(page 6).

• The current permit fee, payable at time of application by cheque, cash, debit,
credit card (2% additional fee) or electronic payment. Cheques are made
payable to “The Township of Perry”. If choosing to make an online banking
payment, please contact the municipality to obtain the online banking number.

Call before you dig:

It is the owner(s) / contractor(s) responsibility to call the utility companies to locate
any underground utility lines within the construction zone to avoid damaging them
during construction.

• ON1CALL – Call before you dig 1-800-400-2255

Step by Step Application Instructions

1. Site Plan - Refer to the sample “Site Plan” on page 5.

Create or modify a copy of your own survey or site plan. Include all the
dimensions and information as shown on the sample.

2. Floor Plan - Refer to the sample “Floor Plan” on page 6.

Create your own or modify the sample to show all of your openings and
structural information. Refer to page 11 for structural detail to assist you with
framing construction. If engineered roof trusses are to be used then label
‘Engineered Roof Trusses’ on the Floor Plan.

3. Elevations - Refer to the sample “Elevations” on page 7.

Create your own or modify the sample to show all of your openings. Note the
direction each elevation is facing in the title block under each elevation (i.e.
North, South, East, West). No openings are permitted in a wall within 4 feet of
a property line.

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4. Building Section – Refer to the “Building Section” on page 8.

Create your own or modify the sample provided to show framing details and
building height. If a truss system is used please include the wording, “Trusses
as per attached” on the drawing and attach the engineered stamped truss
drawings to your application.

5. Foundation Design – Refer to the “Foundations” on pages 9 and 10.

There are 4 foundation options to choose from based on site conditions, cost,
and use of the building. Select the foundation you wish to use for your building
and provide the construction detail with your drawing. ‘Pier Type’ foundations
with wood floors and ‘Mud Sill’ foundations are to be used for sheds only to
maximum size of 55 m2 (592 sq. ft.) and are not designed to support the
weight of motorized vehicles.

6. Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)

Electrical work requires a permit from Hydro One. A copy of the approved final
electrical report from ESA will be required by the Township at the time of final
inspection for your building. Contact numbers for Hydro One 1-888-664-9376
and ESA 1-877-372-7233.

Note: Please provide your own shed or garage plans if your shed or garage is
different from what is shown in this package (use the same concept and provide
the same information). You will also need to provide your own details if the
proposed construction methods differ from those provided.

• Garage construction packages purchased from a building supply store or from

a qualified designer require a Schedule 1: Designer Information form to
accompany the building application. Structures designed by the property
owner require a Schedule 1: Designer Information form as well. As the
property owner, you are exempt from designer qualification. The form must
still be filled in and property owner to check off last check box indicating
“property owner” as reason for exemption.

• Truss roof system must have a set of stamped drawings provided by a

licensed Engineer with the Province of Ontario (the manufacturer or building
supply store will supply you these sealed plans with your building package).

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Sample Site Plan Sketch
Dimension your own site plan similar to the one below and include the required
information as set out in ‘Site Information’ table.

SITE INFORMATION:
SITE FEATURES AREA (ft²/m²)
Area of lot:
Footprint of house:
Footprint of existing accessory buildings:
Footprint of proposed shed/garage:
Length of shoreline:

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Sample Floor Plan
Draw a floor like the sample below and include building features such as truss/rafter direction/location and
spacing on centre, window and door openings with header/lintel sizes, stud wall sizes with spacing on
centre, eve overhang, etc.

Note: Electrical Lighting Required by Ontario Building Code

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Elevations
Label the building elevations (i.e. front, right, left and rear) or by indicating the
facing directions (North, South, East, West). Be sure to include building features
(i.e. window and door openings), size of openings and header/lintel sizes above the
openings.

________ ELEVATION ________ ELEVATION

________ ELEVATION ________ ELEVATION

Note: Refer to the Framing Tables on page 11 to assist you with the Framing
Structural Details.

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Sample Building Section
Draw a building cross section and indicate overall building height, soffit overhang, wall and roof framing.

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 Sample Foundation Design

Pier Type Foundation Mud Sill Type Foundation

NOTES: NOTES:
1) Ensure pier footing base has proper footing 2) Mud Sill Foundations require earth anchorage.
(i.e. Bigfoot tube) 3) Maximum 55m2 (592 sq. ft.), one story wood
frame

Foundation Notes: Soil bearing capacity to be considered as 2090 PSF (100kPa)

unless otherwise determined by Chief Building Official

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Frost Wall Foundation Concrete Pad Type Foundation
(Single storey only, less than
55 sq. m. (592 sq. ft.)

NOTES:
1) Concrete pad larger than 55 sq. m. to be
designed by engineer

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Framing Tables

TABLE 1: Wood Floor and Pier Type Foundation Sizing

FOOTING SIZE BEAM SIZE
JOIST JOIST SIZE
PIER SPACING PIER SPACING
SPAN
4’ 6’ 8’ 10’ 4’ 6’ 8’ 10’
6’ 14”Ø 18”Ø 20”Ø 22”Ø 2-2X6 2-2X6 2-2X8 2-2X10 2X6

8’ 16”Ø 20”Ø 22”Ø 24”Ø 2-2X6 2-2X8 2-2X10 2-2X12 2X6

10’ 18”Ø 22”Ø 24”Ø 28”Ø 2-2X6 2-2X8 2-2X10 2-2X12 2X8

12’ 20”Ø 24”Ø 28”Ø 30”Ø 2-2X6 2-2X8 2-2X10 2-2X12 2X10

• Use pressure treated lumber when in close proximity to finished grade (ground)

TABLE 2: Exterior Wall Framing

Supported Loads Minimum Stud Minimum Stud Spacing Minimum Unsupported
(including dead loads) Size mm (in) mm (in) Height, m (ft in)
Roof with or without 38x64 (2x3) 400 (16) 2.4 (7 ft 10 in)
attic storage 38x89 (2x4) 600 (24) 3.0 (9 ft 10 in)
Roof with/without attic 38x89 (2x4) 400 (16) 3.0 (9 ft 10 in)
storage plus one floor 38x140 (2x6) 600 (16) 3.0 (9 ft 10 in)

TABLE 3: Sample Building Features

MAN DOOR WINDOW GARAGE DOOR HEADER SIZES
2-2x6 – 4’ OPENING
2-2x8 -6’ OPENING
2-2x10 – 8’ OPENING
2-2x12 – 10’ OPENING

TABLE 4: RAFTER SIZING (or Engineered trusses as per manufacturer)

MAXIMIM CLEAR RAFTER SPAN
RAFTER SPACING
RAFTER SIZE 12” O.C. 16” O.C. 24” O.C.
2x4 8’-11” 8’-0” 7’-0”
2x6 14’-0” 12’-9” 11’-2”
2x8 18’-5” 16’-9” 14’-5”
2 x 10 23’-6” 21’-4” 17’-8”
• Do not use screws to assemble your beams or to secure your joist/beam hangers
Roofing Note: Ensure roof snow loading designed for minimum of 42 lbs./sq.ft.

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Cut Away Garage Diagram (for information purposes only)

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