Saskatoon Garage Site Plan for Permit: Setbacks & Coverage

A detached garage or accessory building can add secure parking, storage, workshop space, and long-term value to a Saskatoon property. Before choosing a building size or pouring the concrete slab, however, the owner needs to confirm that the proposed structure will fit within the property’s zoning and permit requirements.

A clear Saskatoon garage or accessory building site plan for permit shows how the proposed building fits on the lot. It identifies the property lines, existing house, garage dimensions, setback distances, rear lane or driveway access, City trees, curb crossings, lot coverage, and other site conditions that may affect approval.

Important: The dimensions and lot-coverage calculation in the example image are for illustration only. The image also references former Zoning Bylaw No. 8770. Saskatoon’s current Zoning Bylaw No. 9990 has been in effect since January 3, 2025. Confirm the current zoning, setbacks, rear-yard coverage, site coverage, height, access, and building-size limits for the individual property.

Does a Detached Garage Need a Permit in Saskatoon?

A building permit is generally required for a new garage or accessory building larger than 10 square metres, or approximately 107 square feet.^[1]

An accessory building smaller than 10 square metres may not require a building permit when it is the only work being completed. However, the City makes it clear that the building must still comply with the applicable zoning regulations.^[1]

This distinction matters. A permit-exempt shed or small accessory building cannot automatically be placed anywhere on the property. Zoning requirements may still control:

• where the building can be located
• its distance from property lines
• its distance from the house
• its maximum floor area
• rear-yard and total site coverage
• building and wall height
• access from a street or rear lane
• placement on a corner property

Saskatoon’s City garage page provides the application steps for detached garages and accessory buildings. Applications are submitted through the City’s ePermitting system.^[2]

For a broader local overview, visit our guide to obtaining a site plan for a permit in Saskatoon, SK.

Check the Current Saskatoon Zoning First

Every Saskatoon property is assigned a zoning district. The zoning district determines the permitted uses and development standards that apply to the site.

Saskatoon’s current Zoning Bylaw is Bylaw No. 9990, which came into effect on January 3, 2025. The City provides an interactive zoning map where property owners can search an address and review zoning, legal parcel information, and other property details.^[3]

Zoning may affect:

• the permitted garage or accessory-building use
• maximum building area
• rear-yard coverage
• total site coverage
• front, side, and rear setbacks
• distance from the principal dwelling
• maximum wall and roof height
• corner-lot restrictions
• parking and vehicle access

Do not assume that the requirements for a neighbour’s garage will be identical. Two nearby properties can have different zoning, site dimensions, lane access, easements, existing buildings, or previous approvals.

What Must the Saskatoon Garage Site Plan Show?

The City states that a complete garage or accessory-building application includes a site plan showing:

• lot dimensions
• the dimensions of the proposed accessory building
• the dimensions and locations of other buildings on the property
• distances from the proposed building to property lines
• City tree locations
• curb crossings

The application may also require a drawing showing the direction of the trusses or rafters, along with the location and sizes of doors and windows. A cross-section may be requested to show the building’s height above the ground.^[2]

Our site plan checklist for garages, sheds, decks, pools, and additions provides a useful national checklist for organizing this information.

1. Property Lines and Lot Dimensions

The property boundaries form the base of the site plan. They establish the area within which the garage must be located and provide the reference points for measuring setbacks.

The drawing should show:

• front property line
• rear property line
• left and right side property lines
• lot width
• lot depth
• irregular boundary dimensions
• front street
• rear or side lane, where present

The site plan should not treat a fence, hedge, sidewalk, curb, or edge of pavement as the legal boundary unless reliable property information confirms that location.

When the exact legal boundary is uncertain, the garage is close to a property line, or the municipality requests certified information, a survey prepared by a licensed Saskatchewan land surveyor may be required.

Read our site plan versus survey guide for a plain-language explanation of the difference.

2. Existing House and Other Buildings

The proposed garage cannot be reviewed in isolation. The site plan should show the existing house and every other relevant building or structure on the property.

These may include:

• attached garage
• existing detached garage
• shed or storage building
• deck or covered patio
• gazebo or amenity building
• carport
• retaining wall
• stairs and landings
• driveways and parking pads

Each building should be labelled and dimensioned. This helps establish the available rear-yard area, combined accessory-building area, separation between buildings, and overall site coverage.

3. Proposed Garage Footprint

The proposed garage or accessory building should be clearly distinguished from existing construction.

The plan should identify:

• building length
• building width
• total floor area
• wall locations
• roof overhang or eave dimensions
• garage-door locations
• person-door locations
• window locations where relevant
• foundation or slab location
• intended use of the building

Roof overhangs should not be ignored. A wall may comply with a required setback while the eave, gutter, or soffit extends closer to the boundary.

The garage dimensions on the site plan should match the dimensions shown on the floor plan, foundation plan, elevations, roof plan, and construction details.

Understanding Garage Setbacks

A setback is the distance between a property line or other regulated feature and the nearest relevant part of the proposed building.

A Saskatoon garage site plan may need to show:

• distance to the rear property line
• distance to both side property lines
• distance to the front property line
• distance to the existing house
• distance to other accessory buildings
• distance to a lane
• distance to a flanking street on a corner lot

The current Zoning Bylaw’s general accessory-building provisions include separation requirements from the principal building and from a rear lane toward which a vehicle door faces. However, the final required distances depend on the building orientation, zoning, site configuration, and any applicable exceptions.^[4]

The actual proposed dimensions should be written directly on the site plan. A note saying “setback as required” does not tell the reviewer where the building will sit.

Rear-Lane Access and Garage-Door Placement

Many Saskatoon detached garages are accessed from a rear lane. In this situation, the site plan should clearly show:

• rear lane location and width, if known
• rear property line
• garage-door location
• distance from the garage to the rear property line
• driveway apron or parking pad
• vehicle approach
• utility poles and overhead lines
• garbage or recycling storage areas
• existing fences and gates

The current zoning provisions establish a minimum setback from a lane toward which a vehicle door faces. The setback provides room between the garage and lane and can affect how comfortably a vehicle enters the building.^[4]

The layout should also account for snow storage, garbage collection, drainage, and other practical lane conditions.

Front-Driveway Access

Some garages are accessed from the front street rather than a rear lane. The site plan should then show the entire route between the public street and garage.

This may include:

• existing driveway
• driveway width
• curb-crossing location
• sidewalk and boulevard
• garage-door orientation
• vehicle parking and manoeuvring area
• distance from the driveway to property lines
• proposed driveway widening or replacement

If the project changes a curb, sidewalk, ditch crossing, or another part of public property, a separate traffic or crossing permit may be required. The City’s garage page directs applicants planning a new driveway to review the applicable traffic-permit requirements.^[2]

Corner-Lot Garages

A corner lot has two street frontages, which can reduce the area available for an accessory building.

The site plan should identify:

• both street names
• front lot line
• street-side lot line
• interior side lot line
• rear lot line
• required street-side yard
• driveway or lane access
• visibility areas near the intersection

An accessory building generally cannot extend into a required side yard beside a street unless specifically permitted by the applicable regulations. Corner-lot owners should confirm how the City classifies each property line before finalizing the building location.

Lot Coverage Versus Rear-Yard Coverage

Lot coverage and rear-yard coverage are related calculations, but they are not necessarily the same thing.

Lot or Site Coverage

Site coverage generally measures the portion of the entire site covered by buildings above grade.

A coverage calculation may include:

• existing house footprint
• attached garage
• detached garage
• existing sheds or accessory buildings
• covered decks or porches when included by the bylaw definition
• carports and other roofed structures
• the proposed accessory building

Rear-Yard Coverage

Rear-yard coverage looks specifically at how much of the defined rear-yard area is occupied by accessory buildings.

Under Saskatoon’s current zoning provisions, the permitted rear-yard coverage can depend on the total site area and the applicable calculation in the Zoning Bylaw. It should not automatically be assumed to be 45%, 50%, or any other single percentage for every property.^[4]

A complete calculation should clearly show:

• total site area
• defined rear-yard area
• existing accessory-building coverage
• proposed garage area
• combined accessory-building area
• resulting rear-yard coverage
• resulting total site coverage where required

Our Saskatchewan site plan services guide explains how setbacks, access, and lot coverage are commonly presented on permit drawings.

Why the House Footprint Matters

The size and placement of the existing house can affect the garage in several ways.

It may influence:

• the amount of rear yard available
• the maximum combined area of accessory buildings
• the distance between the garage and house
• vehicle access through the side yard
• rear-yard coverage
• total site coverage
• drainage around both buildings

The site plan should show the actual house footprint rather than a generic rectangle taken from an unverified map.

Existing Sheds and Accessory Buildings Count Too

An existing shed, gazebo, workshop, storage building, or detached garage may affect the area available for the proposed project.

These structures should not be omitted because they are small, old, movable, or believed to be permit-exempt. Zoning calculations may consider the combined area of accessory buildings on the site.

The plan should identify whether each structure will:

• remain
• be demolished
• be relocated
• be incorporated into the new project

The City notes that demolishing or relocating a building larger than 10 square metres requires a permit.^[2]

City Trees and Tree Protection

The City specifically asks garage applicants to show City tree locations on the site plan.^[2]

A Tree Permit may be required when construction, excavation, demolition, landscaping, equipment movement, or material storage occurs within six metres of a City-owned tree.

The plan may need to identify:

• City tree trunk locations
• trees on the adjacent boulevard
• approximate canopy or drip lines
• proposed excavation
• driveway and equipment routes
• material-storage areas
• tree-protection fencing

Moving a garage slightly before the permit application can be much easier than redesigning the foundation after a tree conflict is discovered.

Easements, Utilities, and Overhead Lines

Before digging, Saskatoon advises applicants to contact SaskPower to identify utility lines and property easements.^[2]

Potential site constraints include:

• electrical lines
• gas services
• water services
• sanitary sewer
• storm sewer
• communications lines
• drainage easements
• access easements
• overhead power lines
• utility poles and anchors

A garage should not be positioned over an easement or underground service merely because the area appears open.

Known easements and utilities should be shown on the site plan. When exact locations are important, the owner may need title documents, survey information, municipal records, or a formal utility locate.

Drainage Around the Garage

The City’s garage project guidance states that the ground should slope to drain water away from the building and that new construction should not alter the existing surface flow in a harmful way.^[5]

A site plan may show:

• existing drainage direction
• proposed drainage arrows
• finished floor elevation
• finished grade around the garage
• roof slope
• gutters and downspouts
• swales or low areas
• driveway slope
• nearby catch basins

Runoff should not be redirected toward the house, neighbouring property, lane, fence, or another area where it may cause ponding or erosion.

A complex site may require a grading or drainage plan prepared by an appropriate professional.

Garage Height and Roof Design

The building height should be coordinated with the site plan, elevations, and cross-section.

Useful information may include:

• finished grade
• garage-floor elevation
• wall height
• soffit or eave height
• roof peak height
• roof slope
• roof-overhang dimensions
• number of storeys

The City may request a cross-section to establish the garage height above the ground.^[2]

Do not rely on the building supplier’s advertised height alone. The finished grade, foundation design, roof form, and site-specific zoning rules can affect the permitted result.

Windows, Doors, and Property-Line Separation

Garage windows, doors, eaves, and soffits can be affected by the distance to a property line or lane.

The permit package may need to show:

• garage-door width and height
• person-door size and location
• window sizes and locations
• distance from openings to property lines
• eave projection
• soffit construction
• fire-resistance construction where required

A building close to a boundary may require restrictions on openings, special wall construction, or non-vented soffits. These are building-code issues and are normally addressed in the construction drawings rather than the site plan alone.

A Site Plan Is Only One Part of the Permit Package

The site plan explains where the garage will be built, but it does not replace the construction drawings.

A complete application may also require:

• submission-details form
• foundation or slab plan
• floor plan
• roof-framing plan
• truss or rafter direction
• door and window schedule
• building elevations
• cross-section
• wall and roof details
• beam and lintel information
• engineered design where required

The City notes that electrical and gas permits are administered separately by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan.^[2]

Garage, Garage Suite, or Accessory Building?

The intended use should be clearly identified before the drawings are prepared.

A standard detached garage is not the same as:

• a garage suite
• a garden suite
• a dwelling unit
• a commercial workshop
• a home-based business space
• a sleeping or habitable room

A garage or accessory building that contains living accommodation is subject to different zoning, building-code, servicing, parking, drainage, and access requirements.

Applicants planning a garage suite should use the City’s current garage-suite guidance rather than relying on the standard detached-garage rules.

Common Garage Site Plan Mistakes

Permit review can be delayed when the site plan does not provide enough information to understand the project.

Common mistakes include:

• using an outdated zoning bylaw
• copying setbacks from another property
• showing the garage without lot dimensions
• omitting distances to one or more property lines
• not showing the existing house dimensions
• leaving existing sheds or garages off the plan
• forgetting roof overhangs
• confusing site coverage with rear-yard coverage
• using an assumed 45% coverage limit without checking the property
• not showing the rear lane or driveway access
• omitting City trees and curb crossings
• placing the garage over an easement
• not showing gate, fence, or retaining-wall conflicts
• submitting an unscaled aerial screenshot
• using site-plan dimensions that conflict with the construction drawings

Our guide to correcting missing site plan information explains how incomplete dimensions, setbacks, access details, and property information can be fixed.

When Might You Need a Survey or Engineer?

A standard drafted site plan may be suitable for many garage permits, but additional professional information may be required when:

• the legal property boundaries are uncertain
• the garage is close to a property line
• an easement or encroachment may be involved
• the site has a significant slope
• a retaining wall is proposed
• substantial grading or fill is required
• the garage exceeds the prescriptive building-code limits
• an engineered foundation is required
• the structure has unusual walls, beams, or roof framing
• the City requests certified elevations or dimensions

SitePlans.ca can prepare a clear permit-focused site plan, but the drawing does not replace a legal survey, engineering, architectural design, building-code review, utility locate, or municipal approval when one of those services is required.

What Information Should You Provide?

To prepare a Saskatoon garage or accessory-building site plan, it is helpful to provide:

• property address
• existing survey or site plan, if available
• garage length and width
• roof-overhang dimensions
• wall and roof height
• preferred garage location
• garage-door orientation
• photos of the yard, street, and rear lane
• a sketch or marked aerial image
• existing house and accessory-building dimensions
• driveway or lane-access information
• tree locations
• known easements and utility information
• City review comments, if already received

The more accurate the starting information is, the more accurately the finished drawing can represent the proposed project.

Get a Saskatoon Garage Site Plan for Permit

A garage site plan should do more than place a rectangle in the backyard. It should explain how the proposed building relates to the property boundaries, existing house, other structures, setbacks, rear-yard coverage, total site coverage, lane or driveway access, trees, utilities, easements, and drainage.

SitePlans.ca prepares clear residential site plans for Saskatoon homeowners, contractors, garage builders, designers, and permit applicants.

For more permit-planning information, review our complete Canadian site plan requirements checklist or visit our main site plan for permit service page.

Official Sources

1. City of Saskatoon – Building Permits
2. City of Saskatoon – Garages and Accessory Buildings
3. City of Saskatoon – Zoning and Land Use
4. City of Saskatoon – Zoning Bylaw No. 9990, General Provisions
5. City of Saskatoon – Detached Garage and Accessory Building Project Guide
6. City of Saskatoon – Zoning Maps

Zoning, permit, building-code, and site requirements can change and may vary by property. Confirm the current zoning district, setbacks, coverage calculations, access requirements, tree restrictions, easements, and required drawings with the City of Saskatoon before purchasing materials or beginning construction.