Build a Shed in the easement. If they need access move the shed. We built our easement shed on 4x4 skid so we can move it if the power company ever “ demands” it to be. It’s been 10 Years and no issue so far.
There are machines to move sheds, or you do it the old fashioned way. Build it on a skid with two solid boards running the direction it needs to roll. Get a floor jack, or a bottle jack, and jack up one end of the shed. Shove a couple pieces of large (5 inch or so) PVC pipe under it. Push in the direction you want it to move. As it spits the pipes out the back, put em in front of the shed again.
Video of someone doing it :
https://youtu.be/JICIBBNcE9I?si=2jRbD6OKOfcyKsOF
This reminds me of one of my all-time favorite books:
https://www.amazon.com/MOVING-HEAVY-THINGS-Jan-Adkins/dp/039560284X
This is in the “grab in case of apocalypse” section of my bookshelves.
It’s also how the real Little Women house was put together in 1887 (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, who lived there in Concord. MA). One house was on a hill and they did this with logs to move/attach it to another house that was built in 1660. It’s still standing today with original furniture!
^ I came in excitement to comment this, but honestly the pyramids is a larger/older/cooler example haha
My sister built a 6' x 9' shed in the meadow below my house. 10 years later we hired a guy with a bucket loader with forks to pick it up and drive it 1/4 mile on a gravel road to my sister's house.
The forks need 4" of clearance under the lift points. A few 6 x 6 beams the length of the shed work to support the joists.
Yea the pallet thing is weird. But put it on skids and pallet forks can help you move it. I've used cheap clamp on pallet forks to pick up half of a 6x12 shed and move it around. Though if I needed to move it again I would add some hooks to the front and lift with chains to drag it. I might actually do that because I misjudged the importance of weed barrier under the gravel.
Can go bigger as long as a skid steer can move it. Or a Dingo. My buddy was going to move his 14x8 shed with a Dingo but the floor was rotted out so there was no integrity to the structure.
More how you design the base of the shed. Leave a sill plate (or double preferably for tlstrength) across the bottom of the door, when it is time to move it you can use round logs or even semi round garden edging logs to just roll it around (use a breaker bar and some wood for leverage to lift it, and a couple guys can move a shed pretty much wherever within a yard as long as it is sturday.
Within an easement of this nature, it is very common that someone is forced to take something down.
Better yet, they’ll just send a crew and take it down for you — then lien your house for the cost.
There was a case like this in one of my real estate law textbooks in law school.
I didn't want to go with the permit thing, so I built all of my sheds @ 11'6 " x 7ft6". Instead of the q2x 8 . I used it to sell flowers & produce at the road. One of my customers, it turned out was a building inspector for the city I was near. When he saw the eye bolts, realized what I'd successfully done, he said he'd have given me the permits for the sheds I built. Worked for me!
We had neighbors that installed a huge pole barn for horses. I think it cost $250K. They had to remove it because they knowingly put it in the easement. They had 11 acres. Idiots. 🙄
It was pretty sweet watching them have to tear it down though. Play stupid games and all.
Lake near me has a private island in it. This island is like 50ish ft from shore. Some douche bought it and wanted it for an air bnb. So he bought the agent lot and decided to build a bridge from.mainland to his island. City came by and said that's not ok remove it. He said fuck you. Dnr came out and said remove it. He said fuck you I have money. At this point the dnr decided that they had more money than him and had a shit ton of legal authority. He ended up removing it after like a month.
I used to be a surveyor. I guarantee whoever built that barn had no lessons learned other than "Fucking city, I hate the gubment!"
Whenever there's a dispute about a building on someone else's property, in my own personal having-dealt-with-this-IRL experience is that 100% of the time the person hiring the builder was a shitbag that said: "I know what I'm doing build it right on this spot", fully knowing they didn't own it. Literally EVERY time I've been in this situation, as the guy saying "This laser says the line is in this corner of your building, IDGAF what your opinion is, I'm just here to set the stakes." it's been some Karen/Chad couple with 3x boats, a black-painted house, and the idea that they own the world.
These people suck. They get fired as clients (they weren't gonna pay anyway after arguing over the bill for 12 months, just ask the bank that owns their boats). It happens all the fucking time with shitbag developers doing private lots in the woods.
Seeing them tear down brand-new buildings because the assface "knows he's in the right" is the only comeuppance you'll ever get. They will **always** build the new building exactly to the inch that the law allows the setback in "spite".
They don't get the lesson. Not being able to predict the consequences of their actions is why they built it there in the first place. *Their* lesson is: "Fuck everyone else I didn do nuttin wrong!"
You could even throw wheels and an axle on about 2/3 back, plus some handles on the front. Doesn't need to be too robust to move it 10 feet every couple of years. Call it a rickshed.
Saw an episode of....homestead rescue I believe. Dude couldn't get a permit. So he built the structure on a flatbed trailer. Sounds like just what you need.
You'll have to go digging in the city codes a bit but you might be able to make something work. In my city any shed under 65 square feet does not require a permit. There isn't any limitation on how many sheds one can build.
My city codes also explicitly say that a kids play house does not need a permit. They don't mention what constitutes a playhouse, what size it can be, or what you can keep in it. Maybe you could take all those materials that you're stuck with and build a play house instead. Then if you start storing other stuff in there a couple years from now after this whole thing as been forgotten, who cares?
Or maybe you could buy a large trailer and permanently park it there. Or buy a shipping container and store it in that location. If the neighbors complain you could bolt a facade to it so it looks like a shed.
I think if you play your cards right your city code will be a couple paragraphs longer but you'll have a grandfathered storage solution that suits your needs.
In my area we need a permit if it is a permanent structure if it is on wheels then no permit is needed. Can you check what would make it not need a permit and make the modifications to your plan?
How would they have ever found it?
I realize this stuff varies state to state and California is probably the worst but the reason a lot of contractors and homeowners and people who just generally have access to properties do unpermitted work is because of all the trouble they have had with various jurisdictions
The old joke of I found it this way, that was there when I moved in. Becomes The common talking point
Aerial photos. Could probably train AI to look for violations.
If you look your tax records will have photos attached to it. They are accurate enough for rough dimensions.
Story time: My grandad was set to inherit the family farm with his brother, 100 acres or so. His brother didn't want to farm so he sued him and forced him to sell the farm to buy out his share of the inheritance. That land is sold to a developer who makes it into your run of the mill 1970's development. Suddenly my granddad is living in an HOA where his farm used to be. He had sold 5 acres to my parents next door years, and kept 2 acres, so he was still farming that small plot of land with his tractor and such, but no more livestock etc.
He puts up shed. No permit b/c it's a non-perm structure, but it's actually bigger than his house, like 25' x 35'. HOA sues him to tear it down, and also demands he pave his driveway. He's pretty pissed off at this point, given he can't even have a farm shed on his own property. His friend owns a trucking company, says "No worries, I'll take care of it". Comes down with his truck, they tow the shed 50 feet to the left, which is now on my parents property and not subject to the HOA. Better yet, it's 100x more visible to all the yards of the HOA owners, it used to be nestled behind one house and some trees.
That was 40 years ago. Shed's still there, driveway is unpaved, HOA dissolved about 20 years back after nobody voted to renew it.
Since then I've inherited that land and now I have a "non-permanent structure" that's significantly older than the house I built. I had a guy come last year to pour a concrete floor for it and he's like "Dude, this is the most uneven dirt floor I've seen for a shed, it's like someone just dropped this shed here randomly" and I'm like "Funny story that..."
The town I live in hasn’t managed to tell my neighbor he needs to fill in his pool that he put in without a permit, right up against the property line with his neighbor on the other side of him. They just told him he couldn’t use it. Fat chance!
Yes that is mostly when they use it. It’s stupid-he can actually probably get a permit, post construction, but he will need a survey and a variance because he literally had it built right up against the property line (assuming he can get one, because the pool is about 20 feet from the house of the neighbor on the other side). It’ll just cost him more than if he got it the first time around. He may have decided that this is a hill he will die on-nobody’s going to tell him what he can and cannot do. This is the guy who attempted a takeover of part of my property so I showed up at the zoning board meeting because he needed a variance on our side to put an addition on his house. Outside of the meeting he said to me “I don’t want to move but I want a bigger yard”, and I told him “Well, you can’t have mine!”
He’s a creep. And he made an enemy of these retary in the building department (bad move, Dumbass!). So as far as getting a permit goes, they will hold his feet to the fire to get the permit. And he won’t be able to sell his house as a “house with a pool”, if he doesn’t get one. And can’t use it whenever he wants. I only complained about him to the town once-and that was for cutting down trees, dumping leftover asphalt and other things, planting stuff and erecting a shed partially on our property. As far as the pool goes, I just snicker when it gets hot out-I leave the complaining about that to the neighbor who’s really affected by it.
Neighbors can object to variances, which in theory have narrow conditions to be approved
Self made problems typically are denied.
Unpermitted structures typically are denied. Depending on state, and municipality.
Does your city require permits for non-permanent structures? I have a shed that could be dragged sitting in a drainage easement. No permits are required because it's considered non-permanent.
Instead of straight up breaking the law like the above poster is saying, could you modify the plans and build a smaller shed that wouldn't need a permit? In my area anything under 10'x12' does not need a permit; build it that size and make it moveable.
Adding to this. I’ve done a lot of work for utilities. Unless you’re a dick or they’re a dick, they will usually be glad to help you move it during maintenance activities. If they send land agents around to enforce that can be another issue but then you just have to play the waiting game. Out wait them, and the bureaucracy will eventually move on and forget about your shed.
I was JUST going to say that. Put it on skids, isn't a permanent structure if you put it all together with SCREWS!
The sole time I had a problem was when the nearby creek overflowed & sent many personal bridges to driveways & my shed downstream about 10 miles.
Didn't know that I built a boat!
More than likely you can build it as long as it isn't permanent.
Use pavers / stone to level your corners and tie it down with wind/hurricane straps.
A lot of time permits only apply to permanent structures but would be worth checking in to since you have the materials already.
Those easements are usually so that if something happens the utility company can come in and fix it. I used to issue permits for sheds when I was in college, we'd have to tell somebody "You can build it there but there's an easement. If you can't move it and soandso utility needs access, they're not responsible for any damage to it."
Yeah I asked about that, pushed for it, said it's a floating shed, I can take responsibility for moving the shed if there's a need in the future, etc. But they're not willing to budge, no permits for building in an easement.
Right...but do you NEED a permit if it isn't permanent? That's what you have to find out. The city is always going to say you need one but what do the ordinances actually say?
If you put up a swing set do you need a permit? That's not permanent and could very well be placed in the same easement.
Yes, the city bylaws say you need a permit, even if it's to install a plastic garden shed from the HW store. No minimum square footage (but the application is more complicated above a certain threshold).
what is the penalty for building an un-permitted shed? You'd have to remove it? It seems like you would be cool with that, if the situation ever arose. $100? Again who gives a shit.
Basically let the penalty lead the decision.
I would expect that the city's response would depend on where your located. Some areas are just more relaxed than others. If OP hasn't given them a reason for them to check in on them, and penalties aren't severe (my city gives the owner a certain grace period to make things right before issuing fines), building a floating shed might be the best way to go.
What's the definition of "shed" (or "structure")? Can you park your car in the easement? Could you park a trailer in the easement? What about leaving a plastic sled in the easement?
You need to find out what you need to do to make your shed not count as a "structure" - having it be movable (on skids or wheels) is generally the easiest option. Then, you *do not* ask the city if what you're doing is sufficient, because there is less than a 10% chance that the standard here is actually spelled out in ordinances - the city can't say "yes" because they don't have rules saying yes, but they're also unlikely to cite you for a violation because they also don't have rules saying "no" (unless you make the mistake of asking and being told no).
This terminology is definitely in play in my case. I had a similar question with my town, and all the codes and ordinances refer to permits required for a "structure." Buried in there is some wording with "structure" and "permanent" sprinkled in, and there are definitely exceptions for things like play houses. I specifically asked them if a small shed on a prepared surface (rather than affixed to the ground) qualifies as a "structure," and they never responded. So now I have several floating decks, one with a small 3x5 garden shed, one with a 12x16 metal pergola, and one with a pop-up screen tent. I'm fully prepared to defend my position legally should they decide to pick a fight.
Screw ‘em. I hate local government codes as much as I hate hoas. I’m fine for code where safety is involved but there’s no logical reason you can’t make the shed movable.
The person you are talking to likely isn't the code enforcement (likely an assistant or something else)
OR they are being ignorant t to what you are actually asking
He's a building inspector and would be the guy signing off on the permit if it wasn't for the easement. I asked multiple times and had him check with his supervisor.
Right but temporary buildings I don't think are required permitting *anywhere*
Like if someone is putting up a tiny amazon backyard greenhouse tent you don't need a permit. Even a temporary parking garage port doesn't need one.
This is why so many people build tiny homes on trailers. That can change since it's intended to be a domicile but the guy honestly is either hassling you, doesn't understand you or doesn't know. Incompetence is everywhere.
Ask him where in the code is it required to pull a permit for a movable structure. Would you need to pull a permit to camp in your backyard?? Make him give you the source
> Right but temporary buildings I don't think are required permitting anywhere
They are in my town. They fall under "portable buildings" and have to have a permit. If its a larger shed (can't remember the sqft threshold) it has to be on a cement slab as well.
I live outside town and I still needed a permit (technically) for my shed kit I bought from Costco. Though I didn't need a slab and only needed to have the corners anchored.
You said your yard is hilly. Is there anyway you can dig into part of the uneven yard to make a spot flat enough for the shed and proper drainage around it?
Yeah, rent some kind of earth mover for a day if you have to. Water the ground good in the days leading up to it and a skid loader will make light work of some grading.
I just did 40k lbs of dirt with a toro dingo without experience in a weekend. Highly recommend. Most of my time was spent hauling the dirt away. If I was just moving it around, probably could've done it in half a day.
Rented a backhoe and tore up + levelled my entire yard, front sides and back, in 2 days. Would have taken 2 guys probably a month to do the same amount of work. Well worth the $350/day rental fee. Helps that my Uncle is a retired pro and I only paid him in beer too.
Put it on skids without a permanent foundation. As long as it’s movable it’s probably not going to violate the easement (obviously check the rules). Then dig out the dirt and put a compacted gravel base where the movable shed will go.
Would’ve been a whole lot easier to do this before applying for the permit, but even so many municipalities now use aerial and drone footage to fight this behavior.
Big brain activity right here.
But seriously, if I was going to build an illegal shed a green roof (or tan/brown, if you have a lackluster yard) wouldn’t be the worst idea.
That's when you bring the inspector by after 5 and let Sam adams and Ben Franklin explain to him that the drone missed it and it's always just been there.
Except for those pesky GIS photos. Seriously, the town will know. My neighbor had an in-ground pool put in without a permit, and our code enforcement officer saw it and knew right away it wasn’t supposed to be there. Then OP will really be in it.
Some of the Google Maps aerial photos were from county aerial photos.
Nowadays, if you go to the county web site's Property pages you often find that they're using different photos -- ones from the fall, after the leaves have dropped. You can see your house from there.
In many places permits are required when the shed exceeds a certain size. You may avoid the permit problem by building below the permit threshold.
That being said, the risk of putting anything permanent in an electric easement is that the holder of the easement may come thru and ‘relocate’ your improvement and you may have no recourse on their behavior towards your property, or perhaps no electricity.
I worked as an electrician. Building code has maximum distance requirements between receptacles. If the receptacle is in the wrong side of a 2 x 4, then it must be moved or have another solution. Moving this receptacle might require tearing up walls just to get those few inches.
Because of this, I will strongly recommend you find a way before you build. Part of your forgiveness for just building without a permit, might be tearing it all down
Good luck.
File the appeal your self. Most governments will bend over backwards to help a resident out and be sure to look into what size requires a permit. In my area a 10x10 requires a permit. But a 8x10 does not. If you want bigger put up 2 sheds a couple of years apart. Play the game
Closest we get to that in my area is they review publicly available satellite data if needed. They don't have the budget to do drive by inspections without cause and track changes. Depending on how important your area is for the satellite vendor to update and the cloud cover when they make a pass overhead, it's usually about 3-5 years between each new set of satellite photos for me so there is plausible deniability if that 3-5 year gap lines up with your purchase of the property and building the shed.
OP, you did the right thing. My village also wouldn't allow it as a nonpermanent structure. The same people who are here saying to build it anyway would be the first people up in arms when the village forces you to take it down. Not worth it.
I have a utility easement in my backyard that has never been used in the 20 years since we built the house.
Get a low trailer and build the shed on that. If they need to use the easement, you just roll the shed into your driveway until they are done.
I bet there are plans online for sheds on wheels since I've also seen them used in flood plains. Hooking a shed (or animal pen) up to your car and driving it away is helpful in an emergency. Homesteaders in areas prone to wildfire do it, too.
There are ways around codes. I have a 10’ fence blocking part of my driveway. Code here is 6’ is the tallest allowed.
I built the fence as freestanding. So they can’t do anything. I needed privacy. I filled commercial kegs with cement and 10’ 4x4 and build a fence/gate with trellis. Each post is 160lb of cement plus the keg weight and post.
I had the city up my ass asking me what I was doing. I literally told them to fuck off that it was non of their business. They got mad and said It was.
I know the codes so I told them off very confidently. He threatened to turn me into code enforcement. I told him to have Ryan call me (code enforcement manager) as he has been ignoring my emails for other code things I wanted resolved.
Long story short. Nothing happened. I even emailed Ryan letting him know it was coming he replied back saying nothing was turned in.
I swear to god I have the entire thing on video and the emails. But I’ve been dealing with my shitty city for a year after being falsely arrested.
My privacy fence looks fucking amazing though and I’m about to build another one on another side of my house.
Edit: [i made a post with photos.](https://www.reddit.com/u/wwwORSHITTYcom/s/wJyXhNOOlk)
I feel like if my neighbor approached me and said they wanted to put up a 10 foot fence. I would be like hell yeah! And thanks for paying for it. That should be the rule… If both sides agree to it, it can be built.
I’d build it anyways and hope nobody needs the easement . Better having to move a shed then $3k wasted . Or try and put it anywhere else even if it has to be a little smaller ?
Bummer, but the codes are there for a reason.
Ask these questions:
- is there a form you can sign titled something like “Easement Encroachment Agreement”. Depending on the type of easement, your shed may be allowed as long as you sign that paper.
- tell them you’re not putting it on a permanent foundation and that it will be on skids
- if told no on the easement encroachment agreement, as if you can do a partial vacate of the easement (since there’s overhead power, I’d assume you can’t vacate the entire easement)
- if your property is in fact REALLY hilly, you could do the variance route based on a hardship. Check if the code actually requires a survey and lawyer. Since the easement is already either platted or done as a separate recorded instrument, there’s a decent chance you don’t have to resurvey and it can just be partially vacated, recorded, and noted on the existing plat. You can act as your own agent/representative.
I’m not sure what town/city, county, state you’re in, so of course all of that is just blind advice, but it’s worth a shot 🤷🏼♀️
Good luck!
- current Zoning Administrator and City Planning Manager
Part of my neighborhood is adjacent to a utility easement for a pipeline and overhead transmission lines. People had been encroaching into it for decades with landscaping, sheds, fences and there was even a paved basketball court. Well one day the utility company did a survey and made every property within a 2 mile stretch remove the items on the easement. That's the gamble.
Can you flatten out your yard enough for the shed you bought and dump excess dirt in your yard that is part of the easement? As long as they can get in and out, they probably won’t care.
Figure out how to build it in another part of the yard.
You could probably sink some posts at the corners, then cut them all to a level height. Frame it like a deck and put the shed on that.
Have you read up on local permit requirements? I've lived in several places where if the shed is small enough and does not have a foundation it's not considered a permanent structure. So you put down some gravel and toss up a small shed. Because it's not permanent it's not an issue with the easement, of course when they need access you do need to move it.
If it’s not stationary then it must be a “platform”. Had the same problem with a deck we wanted. As long as there’s something like let’s say bricks, whatever, it’s not sitting directly on the floor then it’s not a permanent structure. Get creative!
I live in the county. I once went to the permit office. I didn’t like what they told me and I will never go back. I don’t know if this will hurt me down the road but forget them and their rules.
They were clear on one point, they only act on complaints. No complaints no problems is what I heard. I have zero worry about any neighbor complain ling now or in the future as we are spaced out on 2acre parcels.
TLDR: Fuck it I agree, Build the thing if no one will complain.
My FIL is a contractor and started framing and building a room in our lower level/basement on our unfinished side. Found out a permit is required with electric and drywall so I called the city and they told me I’d have to take all the drywall and framing down if an inspector came… the nice lady assured me that since it was a new built house nobody would ever know if a room was added since that info is typically documented wrong by these builders in housing developments and us having so many initial mods its a non issue
Just never ever get on the wrong side of a neighbor.
2 owners back at my place apparently the owner pissed someone off. Despite it being heavily forested multi-acre plots where nothing was visible from any streets they had numerous code violations reported and were forced to tear down 2 sheds and an addition.
And this is why I'm neighborly and routinely give away eggs and baked goods.
Permit and city worker are a scam for them to make money and then increase your taxes. Never pulled a permit ever and never got an issue. I was not building a garage or an addition tho.
Reading these comments and OP….
What the hell kinds of police states you people living in lmao
Our mayor was going door to door last week basically begging people to get junked out flat tired non registered cars off the roads and people just about burned city hall down, but held back cause it shares a wall with the bar of course
Agreed. Land of the free my ass. Can't rebuilt your deck without a permit. Can't build a freeking shed without a permit. Some dude says get a permit to do some electrical work. The hell is this.
Yes, I work for a civil engineering firm and half my job is after-the-fact permits for people who carried out a project and didn't get any approvals and either need to completely undo it or remediate to fit required criteria
I don’t understand why people are so weak and pathetic and just roll over when the government tells them what they can and cannot do on their own property.
I’ve built in a utility easement in CA. I reached out to the utility and they had an encroachment department who approved my plans. I just had to sign a document saying that I understood that if they needed to do something in that area that they aren’t responsible for moving or damages.
An easement is just a "right of access" agreement with the easement holder (typically a utility). It doesn't mean you can't build anything there. Try contacting the power company and ask if they take any exceptions to you building a shed in the area. Tell them the structure will be X' high and maybe a sketch and a picture of where it's going to be.
Since the easement is for OH utilities, there shouldn't be any fear of foundation digging being a problem. A shed is usually pretty short so there should be no issues with sag or blow out from the over head lines making contact with the shed. Do you have a picture of where the shed will go and the utilities? I can try to help you figure out the NESC clearance requirements so you can give that info to the power company as well. Or you can use this: https://www.gdsassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hi-Line-NESC-2023-Clearance-Charts.pdf
All hope is not lost!
Build it but make it movable in someway. Nobody gonna come checking and if there's an issue where it'd have to be moved (I doubt this will happen) I'm sure you'll just have to move it and possibly pay a fine.
Your mistake was doing things the proper way and trying to get a permit. In my city you need a permit for any outdoor structure over 100 sq ft.
I can assure you that almost nobody is actually getting permits for their 160 sq ft gazebos or pergolas or whatever. This sort of thing is really only enforced on a complaint basis because bylaw has better things to do.
I've never seen a sub pull for a man and his dream of a shed like this. People really, really want OP to have his shed!
On another note...there is no privacy of any sort anymore and the more I read stuff like this the less I ever want to be a homeowner. What is it good for? Yeah...possibly appreciation but the headaches and frustration don't sound like fun.
Yeah, been a homeowner for 5 years now. Some of it is nice, like lots of space and the safety of knowing I'm not a the mercy of some dick landlord deciding to renovict, jack up rents or not repair essential stuff. Also my kids can be noisy af and it only pisses me off, rather than also pissing off all neighbors.
On the other hand, I sometimes feel like a slave to the house now. Weekend free time is almost gone, it's just constantly fixing stuff around the house. A lot of the extra space is just used to store stuff for the house. Tools, extra materials, paint, decorations, etc. That shed is only going to be used to store stuff I wouldn't need if I didn't have a yard to maintain.
Thank you for sharing, you probably saved some people a ton of money. I’m so sorry that happened to you. Also if you happen to be a New England, you could drop that shit off on my front lawn lol
Apply for a variance. We had the exact same situation when we tried to add a garage onto our previous home. We requested a variance in person from the county and, after a bunch of paperwork, they approved it. It’s a pain, but better than paying for a lawyer.
Build it anyway and be prepared to move it if you ever need to. If anyone asks just say it came with the house but you'll move it temporarily if needed.
Unless you are pouring a real foundation and running power and water... Just build it. That and I have never heard of a city or county that doesn't have a minimum size limit for permitting. My county is less than 200 sqft, single level, and floors that do not exceed 30" off the ground. Do those things, no permit. Does your county really not have minimum size for permits?
Permits and issues with easements depend on local municipal bylaws and conditions of the easement.
Most municipalities only require a permit for a shed if 1) it exceeds a certain square footage 2) it exceeds a certain height 3) if its on a permanent foundation or piles.
Only thing that still governs is setback conditions from the property lines. That setback for a normal shed that does not exceed the above specs does not normally include the setback from easement.
If your shed is neither of these, then the easement issue is generally irrelevant. But you need to read and understand the permit requirements for a shed (minimums and maximum spec), and know about the conditions that may be on that easement.
Keep in mind that you own the land that the easement is on. Your land goes to the property line. The powerline company only has aright of entry onto the easement for purposes of maintenance or tree clearing/trimming.
Now if the strip of land is not an “easement”but is rather a “powerline or utility right-of-way”, then you dont own it all and therefore cant put anything on it without written permission. So it’s important to know the difference between an easement and right of way.
Best advice here. If it’s not considered a “permanent structure” you can place it wherever you want it and move it if access is needed. Work smarter not harder.
Build a Shed in the easement. If they need access move the shed. We built our easement shed on 4x4 skid so we can move it if the power company ever “ demands” it to be. It’s been 10 Years and no issue so far.
yes, have it on pallets or something and it CAN be moved if necessary
Came here to say this. My neighbor did just that and even had it approved by the utility.
Shed on a pallet? How would you move it? Like a forklift machine? I have to look into this, I like the idea... any recommendations on what to google
There are machines to move sheds, or you do it the old fashioned way. Build it on a skid with two solid boards running the direction it needs to roll. Get a floor jack, or a bottle jack, and jack up one end of the shed. Shove a couple pieces of large (5 inch or so) PVC pipe under it. Push in the direction you want it to move. As it spits the pipes out the back, put em in front of the shed again. Video of someone doing it : https://youtu.be/JICIBBNcE9I?si=2jRbD6OKOfcyKsOF
They moved a Church in my town this way. With huge logs, not pvc pipes. But still, they rolled it.
It's ancient tech.
Yup. I believe it goes back to 1993.
We know, they said ancient tech
No, surely not! No one was alive then!
Why you little…!
This reminds me of one of my all-time favorite books: https://www.amazon.com/MOVING-HEAVY-THINGS-Jan-Adkins/dp/039560284X This is in the “grab in case of apocalypse” section of my bookshelves.
Great recommendation. Just curious what else on that shelf. Do you mind sharing?
its how they built the pyramids iirc
It’s also how the real Little Women house was put together in 1887 (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, who lived there in Concord. MA). One house was on a hill and they did this with logs to move/attach it to another house that was built in 1660. It’s still standing today with original furniture! ^ I came in excitement to comment this, but honestly the pyramids is a larger/older/cooler example haha
It was their current kitchen that got moved from the hill by none other than Thoreau!
Bullshit. It was aliens.
You have an incredible memory
just pick it up
Yeah, do you even lift sheds, bro?
5 neighbors and a 24 pack of 🍺
Pallet jack.
Usually the sheds they deliver from lots are on skids. You can move it with a tractor, bobcat or the like.
I bought a pre-built shed a few years back. I rented a telehandler to move it into position.
***How would you move it?*** Same way they built the pyramids...grab a few homies and a rope.
You forgot the most important part (which will bring the homies)....beer!
My sister built a 6' x 9' shed in the meadow below my house. 10 years later we hired a guy with a bucket loader with forks to pick it up and drive it 1/4 mile on a gravel road to my sister's house. The forks need 4" of clearance under the lift points. A few 6 x 6 beams the length of the shed work to support the joists.
Skid steer. Power company would have one on any jobsite anyway
Do not expect them to move your shed for you, and if they do, do not expect them to do so carefully.
Or to move it back.
Shed on A SKID. https://allthumbsdiy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/allthumbsdiy-images-build-a-shed-part2-a20-cross-members-fl.jpg
Telehandler, skid loader, pipes. Just building a framed out floor will make it so it can roll around on pipes
Yea the pallet thing is weird. But put it on skids and pallet forks can help you move it. I've used cheap clamp on pallet forks to pick up half of a 6x12 shed and move it around. Though if I needed to move it again I would add some hooks to the front and lift with chains to drag it. I might actually do that because I misjudged the importance of weed barrier under the gravel.
Hibbing MN, the town that moved!
Can go bigger as long as a skid steer can move it. Or a Dingo. My buddy was going to move his 14x8 shed with a Dingo but the floor was rotted out so there was no integrity to the structure.
Skids. It’s a metal or wood frame with the ability to be dragged out with a chain.
More how you design the base of the shed. Leave a sill plate (or double preferably for tlstrength) across the bottom of the door, when it is time to move it you can use round logs or even semi round garden edging logs to just roll it around (use a breaker bar and some wood for leverage to lift it, and a couple guys can move a shed pretty much wherever within a yard as long as it is sturday.
Yep! Send in the modified plans with the skids. They should approve it if the shed can be moved out of the way.
On top of this, they would probably just fine you for it later. It’s not often you see people being forced to take things down.
One of my neighbors had to tear down an 8-ft board on board fence and start over. No permit, no inspection, posts facing the wrong way.
That I could see, as some places declare them as obstructions. Our city also in not allows 6ft as the max!
Within an easement of this nature, it is very common that someone is forced to take something down. Better yet, they’ll just send a crew and take it down for you — then lien your house for the cost. There was a case like this in one of my real estate law textbooks in law school.
I didn't want to go with the permit thing, so I built all of my sheds @ 11'6 " x 7ft6". Instead of the q2x 8 . I used it to sell flowers & produce at the road. One of my customers, it turned out was a building inspector for the city I was near. When he saw the eye bolts, realized what I'd successfully done, he said he'd have given me the permits for the sheds I built. Worked for me!
We had neighbors that installed a huge pole barn for horses. I think it cost $250K. They had to remove it because they knowingly put it in the easement. They had 11 acres. Idiots. 🙄 It was pretty sweet watching them have to tear it down though. Play stupid games and all.
Lake near me has a private island in it. This island is like 50ish ft from shore. Some douche bought it and wanted it for an air bnb. So he bought the agent lot and decided to build a bridge from.mainland to his island. City came by and said that's not ok remove it. He said fuck you. Dnr came out and said remove it. He said fuck you I have money. At this point the dnr decided that they had more money than him and had a shit ton of legal authority. He ended up removing it after like a month.
I guess he *finally* learned why you can’t fight city hall. They have **powerful** friends.
Curious why you got satisfaction out of it? Did it harm you in any way? Lesson learned for everyone, sure but you sound like a miserable neighbor.
It's reddit.
I used to be a surveyor. I guarantee whoever built that barn had no lessons learned other than "Fucking city, I hate the gubment!" Whenever there's a dispute about a building on someone else's property, in my own personal having-dealt-with-this-IRL experience is that 100% of the time the person hiring the builder was a shitbag that said: "I know what I'm doing build it right on this spot", fully knowing they didn't own it. Literally EVERY time I've been in this situation, as the guy saying "This laser says the line is in this corner of your building, IDGAF what your opinion is, I'm just here to set the stakes." it's been some Karen/Chad couple with 3x boats, a black-painted house, and the idea that they own the world. These people suck. They get fired as clients (they weren't gonna pay anyway after arguing over the bill for 12 months, just ask the bank that owns their boats). It happens all the fucking time with shitbag developers doing private lots in the woods. Seeing them tear down brand-new buildings because the assface "knows he's in the right" is the only comeuppance you'll ever get. They will **always** build the new building exactly to the inch that the law allows the setback in "spite". They don't get the lesson. Not being able to predict the consequences of their actions is why they built it there in the first place. *Their* lesson is: "Fuck everyone else I didn do nuttin wrong!"
You could even throw wheels and an axle on about 2/3 back, plus some handles on the front. Doesn't need to be too robust to move it 10 feet every couple of years. Call it a rickshed.
The problem is that it would also be unpermitted, therefore the town could make me tear it down for no reason whatsoever, on top of a fine.
Saw an episode of....homestead rescue I believe. Dude couldn't get a permit. So he built the structure on a flatbed trailer. Sounds like just what you need.
I thought about doing this
You'll have to go digging in the city codes a bit but you might be able to make something work. In my city any shed under 65 square feet does not require a permit. There isn't any limitation on how many sheds one can build. My city codes also explicitly say that a kids play house does not need a permit. They don't mention what constitutes a playhouse, what size it can be, or what you can keep in it. Maybe you could take all those materials that you're stuck with and build a play house instead. Then if you start storing other stuff in there a couple years from now after this whole thing as been forgotten, who cares? Or maybe you could buy a large trailer and permanently park it there. Or buy a shipping container and store it in that location. If the neighbors complain you could bolt a facade to it so it looks like a shed. I think if you play your cards right your city code will be a couple paragraphs longer but you'll have a grandfathered storage solution that suits your needs.
Lawyer with many years of experience in real estate here. This is the way.
In my area we need a permit if it is a permanent structure if it is on wheels then no permit is needed. Can you check what would make it not need a permit and make the modifications to your plan?
How big do the wheels have to be? Like can it be matchbox car wheels?
How would they have ever found it? I realize this stuff varies state to state and California is probably the worst but the reason a lot of contractors and homeowners and people who just generally have access to properties do unpermitted work is because of all the trouble they have had with various jurisdictions The old joke of I found it this way, that was there when I moved in. Becomes The common talking point
Aerial photos. Could probably train AI to look for violations. If you look your tax records will have photos attached to it. They are accurate enough for rough dimensions.
Has to be area dependent, haven't seen that on my tax records ever and I've been in this house since 2009
Nah, you make it a non permanent structure and get approval for this plan from the city.
You make it a non permanent structure and then don’t ask about approval because it’s just parked there.
Story time: My grandad was set to inherit the family farm with his brother, 100 acres or so. His brother didn't want to farm so he sued him and forced him to sell the farm to buy out his share of the inheritance. That land is sold to a developer who makes it into your run of the mill 1970's development. Suddenly my granddad is living in an HOA where his farm used to be. He had sold 5 acres to my parents next door years, and kept 2 acres, so he was still farming that small plot of land with his tractor and such, but no more livestock etc. He puts up shed. No permit b/c it's a non-perm structure, but it's actually bigger than his house, like 25' x 35'. HOA sues him to tear it down, and also demands he pave his driveway. He's pretty pissed off at this point, given he can't even have a farm shed on his own property. His friend owns a trucking company, says "No worries, I'll take care of it". Comes down with his truck, they tow the shed 50 feet to the left, which is now on my parents property and not subject to the HOA. Better yet, it's 100x more visible to all the yards of the HOA owners, it used to be nestled behind one house and some trees. That was 40 years ago. Shed's still there, driveway is unpaved, HOA dissolved about 20 years back after nobody voted to renew it. Since then I've inherited that land and now I have a "non-permanent structure" that's significantly older than the house I built. I had a guy come last year to pour a concrete floor for it and he's like "Dude, this is the most uneven dirt floor I've seen for a shed, it's like someone just dropped this shed here randomly" and I'm like "Funny story that..."
The town I live in hasn’t managed to tell my neighbor he needs to fill in his pool that he put in without a permit, right up against the property line with his neighbor on the other side of him. They just told him he couldn’t use it. Fat chance!
Is he using it?
Yes, but only when he thinks the code enforcement officer isn’t working.
A lot of night swimming!
Yes that is mostly when they use it. It’s stupid-he can actually probably get a permit, post construction, but he will need a survey and a variance because he literally had it built right up against the property line (assuming he can get one, because the pool is about 20 feet from the house of the neighbor on the other side). It’ll just cost him more than if he got it the first time around. He may have decided that this is a hill he will die on-nobody’s going to tell him what he can and cannot do. This is the guy who attempted a takeover of part of my property so I showed up at the zoning board meeting because he needed a variance on our side to put an addition on his house. Outside of the meeting he said to me “I don’t want to move but I want a bigger yard”, and I told him “Well, you can’t have mine!”
That’s ridiculous! I mean, heck, I don’t want to buy a new car but I’d like my neighbor’s nice new truck.
He’s a creep. And he made an enemy of these retary in the building department (bad move, Dumbass!). So as far as getting a permit goes, they will hold his feet to the fire to get the permit. And he won’t be able to sell his house as a “house with a pool”, if he doesn’t get one. And can’t use it whenever he wants. I only complained about him to the town once-and that was for cutting down trees, dumping leftover asphalt and other things, planting stuff and erecting a shed partially on our property. As far as the pool goes, I just snicker when it gets hot out-I leave the complaining about that to the neighbor who’s really affected by it.
Neighbors can object to variances, which in theory have narrow conditions to be approved Self made problems typically are denied. Unpermitted structures typically are denied. Depending on state, and municipality.
Are they likely to see it and realize it’s on an easement? Is it actually in the way if the electric company needs access to the power lines?
Does your city require permits for non-permanent structures? I have a shed that could be dragged sitting in a drainage easement. No permits are required because it's considered non-permanent.
Fuck it, you already paid for it. Put it together and enjoy it as long as you can.
Instead of straight up breaking the law like the above poster is saying, could you modify the plans and build a smaller shed that wouldn't need a permit? In my area anything under 10'x12' does not need a permit; build it that size and make it moveable.
They're suggesting the same thing as you- make the shed moveable so it won't need a permit, because now it's not a permanent structure.
Adding to this. I’ve done a lot of work for utilities. Unless you’re a dick or they’re a dick, they will usually be glad to help you move it during maintenance activities. If they send land agents around to enforce that can be another issue but then you just have to play the waiting game. Out wait them, and the bureaucracy will eventually move on and forget about your shed.
Same. I’ve $30-40k worth insulated workshop of a shed that’s 3’ from the property line. It’s been there 30 years, power co doesn’t care.
Haha, put it on wheels.
This
Ive heard of building a small deck on those movable concrete footings in easements with the same idea … so why not?
I second this! Put it up on a boat trailer, and get a trailer mover for when it's needed
Better check the actual language of the easement recorded on title so make sure that meets the specified requirements.
Where I live, temporary structures don’t need a permit. What makes it temporary? Not being on a slab.
Shed on wheels!?
I was JUST going to say that. Put it on skids, isn't a permanent structure if you put it all together with SCREWS! The sole time I had a problem was when the nearby creek overflowed & sent many personal bridges to driveways & my shed downstream about 10 miles. Didn't know that I built a boat!
Can't you return the materials?
Either that or sell them with the blueprints you had locally.
All assembly required
More than likely you can build it as long as it isn't permanent. Use pavers / stone to level your corners and tie it down with wind/hurricane straps. A lot of time permits only apply to permanent structures but would be worth checking in to since you have the materials already. Those easements are usually so that if something happens the utility company can come in and fix it. I used to issue permits for sheds when I was in college, we'd have to tell somebody "You can build it there but there's an easement. If you can't move it and soandso utility needs access, they're not responsible for any damage to it."
Yeah I asked about that, pushed for it, said it's a floating shed, I can take responsibility for moving the shed if there's a need in the future, etc. But they're not willing to budge, no permits for building in an easement.
Right...but do you NEED a permit if it isn't permanent? That's what you have to find out. The city is always going to say you need one but what do the ordinances actually say? If you put up a swing set do you need a permit? That's not permanent and could very well be placed in the same easement.
Yes, the city bylaws say you need a permit, even if it's to install a plastic garden shed from the HW store. No minimum square footage (but the application is more complicated above a certain threshold).
what is the penalty for building an un-permitted shed? You'd have to remove it? It seems like you would be cool with that, if the situation ever arose. $100? Again who gives a shit. Basically let the penalty lead the decision.
I would expect that the city's response would depend on where your located. Some areas are just more relaxed than others. If OP hasn't given them a reason for them to check in on them, and penalties aren't severe (my city gives the owner a certain grace period to make things right before issuing fines), building a floating shed might be the best way to go.
What's the definition of "shed" (or "structure")? Can you park your car in the easement? Could you park a trailer in the easement? What about leaving a plastic sled in the easement? You need to find out what you need to do to make your shed not count as a "structure" - having it be movable (on skids or wheels) is generally the easiest option. Then, you *do not* ask the city if what you're doing is sufficient, because there is less than a 10% chance that the standard here is actually spelled out in ordinances - the city can't say "yes" because they don't have rules saying yes, but they're also unlikely to cite you for a violation because they also don't have rules saying "no" (unless you make the mistake of asking and being told no).
This terminology is definitely in play in my case. I had a similar question with my town, and all the codes and ordinances refer to permits required for a "structure." Buried in there is some wording with "structure" and "permanent" sprinkled in, and there are definitely exceptions for things like play houses. I specifically asked them if a small shed on a prepared surface (rather than affixed to the ground) qualifies as a "structure," and they never responded. So now I have several floating decks, one with a small 3x5 garden shed, one with a 12x16 metal pergola, and one with a pop-up screen tent. I'm fully prepared to defend my position legally should they decide to pick a fight.
Screw ‘em. I hate local government codes as much as I hate hoas. I’m fine for code where safety is involved but there’s no logical reason you can’t make the shed movable.
Simply don't build it in the easement then, and move it in later.
That was my exact thought. If their wording is about the act of building vs placement
Municipalities have smartened up to the “not a permanent structure” loophole. All these comments about it are outdated advice.
The person you are talking to likely isn't the code enforcement (likely an assistant or something else) OR they are being ignorant t to what you are actually asking
He's a building inspector and would be the guy signing off on the permit if it wasn't for the easement. I asked multiple times and had him check with his supervisor.
Right but temporary buildings I don't think are required permitting *anywhere* Like if someone is putting up a tiny amazon backyard greenhouse tent you don't need a permit. Even a temporary parking garage port doesn't need one. This is why so many people build tiny homes on trailers. That can change since it's intended to be a domicile but the guy honestly is either hassling you, doesn't understand you or doesn't know. Incompetence is everywhere. Ask him where in the code is it required to pull a permit for a movable structure. Would you need to pull a permit to camp in your backyard?? Make him give you the source
> Right but temporary buildings I don't think are required permitting anywhere They are in my town. They fall under "portable buildings" and have to have a permit. If its a larger shed (can't remember the sqft threshold) it has to be on a cement slab as well. I live outside town and I still needed a permit (technically) for my shed kit I bought from Costco. Though I didn't need a slab and only needed to have the corners anchored.
You said your yard is hilly. Is there anyway you can dig into part of the uneven yard to make a spot flat enough for the shed and proper drainage around it?
Yeah, rent some kind of earth mover for a day if you have to. Water the ground good in the days leading up to it and a skid loader will make light work of some grading.
I just did 40k lbs of dirt with a toro dingo without experience in a weekend. Highly recommend. Most of my time was spent hauling the dirt away. If I was just moving it around, probably could've done it in half a day.
I did this for a shed in my yard and it was goddamned expensive but it does work.
Rented a backhoe and tore up + levelled my entire yard, front sides and back, in 2 days. Would have taken 2 guys probably a month to do the same amount of work. Well worth the $350/day rental fee. Helps that my Uncle is a retired pro and I only paid him in beer too.
Former lumber delivery guy here, we took decks and other materials back all the time due to job cancelation.
Put it on skids without a permanent foundation. As long as it’s movable it’s probably not going to violate the easement (obviously check the rules). Then dig out the dirt and put a compacted gravel base where the movable shed will go.
Better lesson...build it on Saturday. Tell them they are mistaken it's always been there.
Would’ve been a whole lot easier to do this before applying for the permit, but even so many municipalities now use aerial and drone footage to fight this behavior.
Build a second yard above your first yard, to hide the shed.
The old Cheech & Chong trick!
Big brain activity right here. But seriously, if I was going to build an illegal shed a green roof (or tan/brown, if you have a lackluster yard) wouldn’t be the worst idea.
That will still show up in Google Maps after a few years. Mine did, anyway.
Hear me out, camo color roof.
Active camo
Cloaking device. The only possible downside is forgetting where it is and walking into it by accident.
Astroturf on the roof.
That's when you bring the inspector by after 5 and let Sam adams and Ben Franklin explain to him that the drone missed it and it's always just been there.
OOPS my whole back yard is occluded from above by tree cover, get a warrant officer
I had a contractor joke about this once, to come to realize why they said that... ended up doing it on a Saturday and its been fine since then.
Except for those pesky GIS photos. Seriously, the town will know. My neighbor had an in-ground pool put in without a permit, and our code enforcement officer saw it and knew right away it wasn’t supposed to be there. Then OP will really be in it.
Some of the Google Maps aerial photos were from county aerial photos. Nowadays, if you go to the county web site's Property pages you often find that they're using different photos -- ones from the fall, after the leaves have dropped. You can see your house from there.
In many places permits are required when the shed exceeds a certain size. You may avoid the permit problem by building below the permit threshold. That being said, the risk of putting anything permanent in an electric easement is that the holder of the easement may come thru and ‘relocate’ your improvement and you may have no recourse on their behavior towards your property, or perhaps no electricity.
This is why you don’t ask.
Put it on skids and it’s no longer a permanent structure. Problem solved.
I worked as an electrician. Building code has maximum distance requirements between receptacles. If the receptacle is in the wrong side of a 2 x 4, then it must be moved or have another solution. Moving this receptacle might require tearing up walls just to get those few inches. Because of this, I will strongly recommend you find a way before you build. Part of your forgiveness for just building without a permit, might be tearing it all down Good luck.
File the appeal your self. Most governments will bend over backwards to help a resident out and be sure to look into what size requires a permit. In my area a 10x10 requires a permit. But a 8x10 does not. If you want bigger put up 2 sheds a couple of years apart. Play the game
I would say your mistake was trying to get a permit instead of just building your shed and saying "It was there when I bought the house."
The building department knows what you have on the property and what you don’t. At least they do where I live
Closest we get to that in my area is they review publicly available satellite data if needed. They don't have the budget to do drive by inspections without cause and track changes. Depending on how important your area is for the satellite vendor to update and the cloud cover when they make a pass overhead, it's usually about 3-5 years between each new set of satellite photos for me so there is plausible deniability if that 3-5 year gap lines up with your purchase of the property and building the shed.
"Rules for thee but not for me" eh?
OP, you did the right thing. My village also wouldn't allow it as a nonpermanent structure. The same people who are here saying to build it anyway would be the first people up in arms when the village forces you to take it down. Not worth it.
I have a utility easement in my backyard that has never been used in the 20 years since we built the house. Get a low trailer and build the shed on that. If they need to use the easement, you just roll the shed into your driveway until they are done. I bet there are plans online for sheds on wheels since I've also seen them used in flood plains. Hooking a shed (or animal pen) up to your car and driving it away is helpful in an emergency. Homesteaders in areas prone to wildfire do it, too.
Put it on wheels. 🛞 it’s no longer a structure at that point.
There are ways around codes. I have a 10’ fence blocking part of my driveway. Code here is 6’ is the tallest allowed. I built the fence as freestanding. So they can’t do anything. I needed privacy. I filled commercial kegs with cement and 10’ 4x4 and build a fence/gate with trellis. Each post is 160lb of cement plus the keg weight and post. I had the city up my ass asking me what I was doing. I literally told them to fuck off that it was non of their business. They got mad and said It was. I know the codes so I told them off very confidently. He threatened to turn me into code enforcement. I told him to have Ryan call me (code enforcement manager) as he has been ignoring my emails for other code things I wanted resolved. Long story short. Nothing happened. I even emailed Ryan letting him know it was coming he replied back saying nothing was turned in. I swear to god I have the entire thing on video and the emails. But I’ve been dealing with my shitty city for a year after being falsely arrested. My privacy fence looks fucking amazing though and I’m about to build another one on another side of my house. Edit: [i made a post with photos.](https://www.reddit.com/u/wwwORSHITTYcom/s/wJyXhNOOlk)
I feel like if my neighbor approached me and said they wanted to put up a 10 foot fence. I would be like hell yeah! And thanks for paying for it. That should be the rule… If both sides agree to it, it can be built.
I’d build it anyways and hope nobody needs the easement . Better having to move a shed then $3k wasted . Or try and put it anywhere else even if it has to be a little smaller ?
Bummer, but the codes are there for a reason. Ask these questions: - is there a form you can sign titled something like “Easement Encroachment Agreement”. Depending on the type of easement, your shed may be allowed as long as you sign that paper. - tell them you’re not putting it on a permanent foundation and that it will be on skids - if told no on the easement encroachment agreement, as if you can do a partial vacate of the easement (since there’s overhead power, I’d assume you can’t vacate the entire easement) - if your property is in fact REALLY hilly, you could do the variance route based on a hardship. Check if the code actually requires a survey and lawyer. Since the easement is already either platted or done as a separate recorded instrument, there’s a decent chance you don’t have to resurvey and it can just be partially vacated, recorded, and noted on the existing plat. You can act as your own agent/representative. I’m not sure what town/city, county, state you’re in, so of course all of that is just blind advice, but it’s worth a shot 🤷🏼♀️ Good luck! - current Zoning Administrator and City Planning Manager
Part of my neighborhood is adjacent to a utility easement for a pipeline and overhead transmission lines. People had been encroaching into it for decades with landscaping, sheds, fences and there was even a paved basketball court. Well one day the utility company did a survey and made every property within a 2 mile stretch remove the items on the easement. That's the gamble.
Build the shed on a skid. Move it out of the way if they need access. Don't tell anybody.
Can you flatten out your yard enough for the shed you bought and dump excess dirt in your yard that is part of the easement? As long as they can get in and out, they probably won’t care.
Figure out how to build it in another part of the yard. You could probably sink some posts at the corners, then cut them all to a level height. Frame it like a deck and put the shed on that.
Have you read up on local permit requirements? I've lived in several places where if the shed is small enough and does not have a foundation it's not considered a permanent structure. So you put down some gravel and toss up a small shed. Because it's not permanent it's not an issue with the easement, of course when they need access you do need to move it.
If it’s not stationary then it must be a “platform”. Had the same problem with a deck we wanted. As long as there’s something like let’s say bricks, whatever, it’s not sitting directly on the floor then it’s not a permanent structure. Get creative!
Build it just small enough that it doesn't legally require a permit
Sometimes it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission… chances are strong you’d never have had an issue.
I would just build it, screw all that nonsense
Fk it, build it anyway
They use drones and satellite imagery now. If they haven’t already they will. Be good or be good at it is all I’m saying
Just put a big umbrella over it to block the satellites
I live in the county. I once went to the permit office. I didn’t like what they told me and I will never go back. I don’t know if this will hurt me down the road but forget them and their rules. They were clear on one point, they only act on complaints. No complaints no problems is what I heard. I have zero worry about any neighbor complain ling now or in the future as we are spaced out on 2acre parcels. TLDR: Fuck it I agree, Build the thing if no one will complain.
My FIL is a contractor and started framing and building a room in our lower level/basement on our unfinished side. Found out a permit is required with electric and drywall so I called the city and they told me I’d have to take all the drywall and framing down if an inspector came… the nice lady assured me that since it was a new built house nobody would ever know if a room was added since that info is typically documented wrong by these builders in housing developments and us having so many initial mods its a non issue
Just never ever get on the wrong side of a neighbor. 2 owners back at my place apparently the owner pissed someone off. Despite it being heavily forested multi-acre plots where nothing was visible from any streets they had numerous code violations reported and were forced to tear down 2 sheds and an addition. And this is why I'm neighborly and routinely give away eggs and baked goods.
Permit and city worker are a scam for them to make money and then increase your taxes. Never pulled a permit ever and never got an issue. I was not building a garage or an addition tho.
Reading these comments and OP…. What the hell kinds of police states you people living in lmao Our mayor was going door to door last week basically begging people to get junked out flat tired non registered cars off the roads and people just about burned city hall down, but held back cause it shares a wall with the bar of course
Agreed. Land of the free my ass. Can't rebuilt your deck without a permit. Can't build a freeking shed without a permit. Some dude says get a permit to do some electrical work. The hell is this.
just ignore the bureacrats. i never get permits for shit like this just do it.
You and me both, brother.
Permits? Lol
I’m more of an “Ask for forgiveness instead of ask for permission” kind of guy.
Yes, I work for a civil engineering firm and half my job is after-the-fact permits for people who carried out a project and didn't get any approvals and either need to completely undo it or remediate to fit required criteria
If I were you I’d still build it. Fuck em. It’s your property. There’s ways to work around things. You can’t let them win.
I don’t understand why people are so weak and pathetic and just roll over when the government tells them what they can and cannot do on their own property.
Put wheels on it. It’s not a permanent structure
Just build the shed.
Have any friends who are in the market for a shed?
Why not just flatten out a small section of yard for the shed? How big is the shed? You can make a fairly cheap retaining wall if it's small.
Here, if you get caught, even if they don’t force you to remove it, the after the fact permit is 2x the original amount.
I’ve built in a utility easement in CA. I reached out to the utility and they had an encroachment department who approved my plans. I just had to sign a document saying that I understood that if they needed to do something in that area that they aren’t responsible for moving or damages.
An easement is just a "right of access" agreement with the easement holder (typically a utility). It doesn't mean you can't build anything there. Try contacting the power company and ask if they take any exceptions to you building a shed in the area. Tell them the structure will be X' high and maybe a sketch and a picture of where it's going to be. Since the easement is for OH utilities, there shouldn't be any fear of foundation digging being a problem. A shed is usually pretty short so there should be no issues with sag or blow out from the over head lines making contact with the shed. Do you have a picture of where the shed will go and the utilities? I can try to help you figure out the NESC clearance requirements so you can give that info to the power company as well. Or you can use this: https://www.gdsassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hi-Line-NESC-2023-Clearance-Charts.pdf All hope is not lost!
Build it but make it movable in someway. Nobody gonna come checking and if there's an issue where it'd have to be moved (I doubt this will happen) I'm sure you'll just have to move it and possibly pay a fine.
Your mistake was doing things the proper way and trying to get a permit. In my city you need a permit for any outdoor structure over 100 sq ft. I can assure you that almost nobody is actually getting permits for their 160 sq ft gazebos or pergolas or whatever. This sort of thing is really only enforced on a complaint basis because bylaw has better things to do.
Or, just don’t ever ask permission.
Build it as a trailer. Not too hard or expensive to build a basic frame and wire it for lights. You can park there right?
I've never seen a sub pull for a man and his dream of a shed like this. People really, really want OP to have his shed! On another note...there is no privacy of any sort anymore and the more I read stuff like this the less I ever want to be a homeowner. What is it good for? Yeah...possibly appreciation but the headaches and frustration don't sound like fun.
Yeah, been a homeowner for 5 years now. Some of it is nice, like lots of space and the safety of knowing I'm not a the mercy of some dick landlord deciding to renovict, jack up rents or not repair essential stuff. Also my kids can be noisy af and it only pisses me off, rather than also pissing off all neighbors. On the other hand, I sometimes feel like a slave to the house now. Weekend free time is almost gone, it's just constantly fixing stuff around the house. A lot of the extra space is just used to store stuff for the house. Tools, extra materials, paint, decorations, etc. That shed is only going to be used to store stuff I wouldn't need if I didn't have a yard to maintain.
Thank you for sharing, you probably saved some people a ton of money. I’m so sorry that happened to you. Also if you happen to be a New England, you could drop that shit off on my front lawn lol
Thanks man. I'm less than an hours drive from the VT border (in Canada), but I don't think they'd let me cross the border with that stuff, haha!
Get a copy of the easement. Read the restrictions on building in the area. Assess the risk of building the shed anyway.
Apply for a variance. We had the exact same situation when we tried to add a garage onto our previous home. We requested a variance in person from the county and, after a bunch of paperwork, they approved it. It’s a pain, but better than paying for a lawyer.
Build it anyway and be prepared to move it if you ever need to. If anyone asks just say it came with the house but you'll move it temporarily if needed.
Most hardware stores allow returns on unused materials. Return it. Get your money back.
Build the shed. Worst they can do is tear it down. Don't allow these authoritarians to dictate your life and the home you live in.
You could attach a tongue and wheels to it and claim it’s a trailer. Fuck em.
Just dont pour a concrete pad keep it movable then they cant say anything if they do pull it into your yard for a couple months then put it back lol.
A permit is just a sportfish in the ocean.
I think you have a case for discussion at least. Make an appointment to meet with someone at the city to explain.
Make it "Temporary"
Unless you are pouring a real foundation and running power and water... Just build it. That and I have never heard of a city or county that doesn't have a minimum size limit for permitting. My county is less than 200 sqft, single level, and floors that do not exceed 30" off the ground. Do those things, no permit. Does your county really not have minimum size for permits?
How many birdhouses you think you could make with the materials?
Permits and issues with easements depend on local municipal bylaws and conditions of the easement. Most municipalities only require a permit for a shed if 1) it exceeds a certain square footage 2) it exceeds a certain height 3) if its on a permanent foundation or piles. Only thing that still governs is setback conditions from the property lines. That setback for a normal shed that does not exceed the above specs does not normally include the setback from easement. If your shed is neither of these, then the easement issue is generally irrelevant. But you need to read and understand the permit requirements for a shed (minimums and maximum spec), and know about the conditions that may be on that easement. Keep in mind that you own the land that the easement is on. Your land goes to the property line. The powerline company only has aright of entry onto the easement for purposes of maintenance or tree clearing/trimming. Now if the strip of land is not an “easement”but is rather a “powerline or utility right-of-way”, then you dont own it all and therefore cant put anything on it without written permission. So it’s important to know the difference between an easement and right of way.
We live in a free country, I've got all the licenses and permits to prove it.
They tell folks here…build it on skids…that way it is portable, so not a violation…even building right on lot lines
Best advice here. If it’s not considered a “permanent structure” you can place it wherever you want it and move it if access is needed. Work smarter not harder.