Winnipeg Shed Site Plan for Permit | Setbacks & Placement

Example of the information commonly shown on a Winnipeg shed site plan. Setbacks shown in illustrations should always be confirmed for the specific property.

Planning to build a shed in your Winnipeg backyard? Before purchasing materials or choosing the final location, it is important to understand how the shed relates to your property lines, existing house, lane, easements, utilities, and required setbacks.

A clear Winnipeg shed site plan shows the proposed shed in relation to the entire property. It helps the City confirm that the structure fits on the lot and complies with applicable zoning and permit requirements.

The City of Winnipeg identifies storage sheds as detached accessory structures. Depending on the shed’s size, location, construction, and proposed services, you may need a building permit, supporting building plans, and possibly other approvals.

Do you need a permit for a shed in Winnipeg?

According to the City of Winnipeg, detached garages and accessory structures that are greater than 10 square metres, or 108 square feet, require a building permit.

A smaller shed may not require a building permit, but that does not mean it can be placed anywhere on the property. Structures that do not require a permit must still comply with the Winnipeg Zoning By-law and applicable building-code requirements.

A development permit or another supporting approval may also be required depending on the property, zoning district, proposed location, nearby waterways, site-specific restrictions, or whether the property is used for something other than a single- or two-family dwelling.

Before submitting an application, homeowners should review the City’s current

detached garage and accessory structure requirements
.

What is a shed site plan?

A shed site plan is an overhead drawing of the property. It shows the boundaries of the lot, the existing house and other structures, and the exact proposed location of the new shed.

Unlike a shed floor plan, which shows the construction and interior dimensions of the shed itself, the site plan explains where the shed will be placed on the property.

The City uses this drawing to review matters such as:

• Distance from the shed to each property line
• Location of the shed in the rear or side yard
• Relationship to the existing house and accessory buildings
• Access from a street or rear lane
• Overhead electrical lines
• Lot coverage and available open space
• Possible zoning, easement, drainage, or utility conflicts

For a broader overview, see our

Winnipeg site plan for permit guide
.

What should a Winnipeg shed site plan show?

The City’s detached accessory structure application identifies several items that should be included on a fully dimensioned site plan.

1. Property boundaries

The drawing should clearly show the shape and dimensions of the property. Every proposed setback measurement depends on the correct location of these boundaries.

The City warns homeowners not to assume that a fence, sidewalk, driveway edge, or laneway marks the legal property line. Where the boundary location is uncertain, a Manitoba Land Surveyor may be needed. For fence placement, gates, and corner-lot considerations, see our

Winnipeg fence site plan guide
.

2. Proposed shed location

The shed should be drawn in its proposed backyard location and labelled clearly. Its exterior length and width should be included so the reviewer can understand the shed’s footprint.

3. Setback dimensions

The plan should show the distance from the shed to all relevant property lines. Measurements should generally be taken from the exterior wall or other point required by the City, with roof eaves and projections also considered.

4. Existing structures

Show the existing house, garage, deck, shed, carport, pool, and other significant structures. This helps the reviewer calculate available yard space and combined accessory-building coverage. For properties containing several backyard structures, review our

Winnipeg accessory-building site plan requirements
.

5. Streets and rear lanes

The site plan should identify adjoining streets and public lanes. Lane access can affect placement, especially where the shed is near an existing garage, parking area, or vehicle approach.

6. Overhead electrical lines

Where overhead electrical lines cross or border the property, their location should be shown. A proposed shed should not conflict with electrical infrastructure or required clearances.

7. Legal property description

The City’s application form asks for the property’s legal description. This is different from simply listing the street address.

8. North arrow and drawing scale

A north arrow and consistent scale make the drawing easier to review. Dimensions should remain readable when the site plan is converted to PDF and submitted electronically.

You can also review our

site plan checklist for sheds, garages, decks, pools, and additions
.

Winnipeg shed setback requirements

The required setback depends on where the shed is located and the characteristics of the lot.

The City’s construction information brochure states that, in many typical situations, a storage shed located behind the dwelling may be placed as close as 600 millimetres, or 2 feet, from the side and rear property lines.

That measurement should not be treated as a universal rule. Different requirements may apply when:

• The shed is beside the house rather than behind it
• The property is a corner or reverse-corner lot
• The shed is close to a street
• The roof has wide eaves or projections
• The lot is affected by a site-specific zoning condition
• The structure is near a riverbank or flood-prone area
• A utility easement crosses the proposed building area

The width of the roof overhang matters because an eave can extend closer to the boundary than the shed wall. The City’s brochure explains that permitted overhangs and minimum clearances must be considered when determining the final shed location.

Because setback requirements can vary, place the shed on the site plan only after confirming the property’s zoning and site conditions.

Why property lines must be accurate

A common mistake is measuring the setback from an existing fence. Fences are not always constructed directly on legal boundaries. They may be located several centimetres—or sometimes much farther—inside or outside the actual property line.

An inaccurate boundary can make a compliant-looking site plan incorrect. It can also create disputes with neighbours or lead to a shed being placed too close to the lot line.

If the property corners cannot be confidently identified from reliable documents or markers, the City recommends obtaining a Manitoba Land Surveyor’s Staking Certificate or consulting a qualified surveyor.

A drafting service can prepare a permit site plan from available records and customer-provided measurements, but a site plan is not automatically a legal boundary survey.

Lot coverage and shed size

Shed placement is not determined by setbacks alone. Winnipeg also limits the amount of the property that may be occupied by garages and other accessory structures.

The City’s linked construction brochure states that garages and accessory structures combined generally cannot exceed 12.5% of the total lot area, up to a stated maximum of 81.75 square metres, or 880 square feet. The brochure also explains that up to 45 square metres of accessory structures may be permitted regardless of lot area, subject to the applicable regulations.

Existing detached garages, sheds, gazebos, workshops, and similar structures may therefore affect how large the new shed can be. A detached garage should also be reviewed using our

Winnipeg detached garage site plan guide
.

Where the proposed total exceeds the permitted amount, a zoning variance may be required. Always confirm the current calculation for the specific property before relying on a general percentage. Where the property also includes a gazebo, pergola, or covered patio, consult our

Winnipeg pergola and patio-cover site plan guide
.

Building plans required with the application

For permit applications requiring building plans, the site plan is only one part of the submission package.

The City’s application form lists building drawings such as:

• Exterior elevations showing the height from grade to the roof
• A dimensioned floor plan
• Wall, roof, and floor framing information
• A fully dimensioned foundation plan
• A building cross-section with construction details
• Engineering where required by the design

The complexity of these drawings depends on the shed’s size, foundation, materials, roof design, and intended use.

For example, a simple one-storey wood-framed storage shed may require less technical documentation than a large workshop with plumbing, electrical service, unusual framing, or a non-standard foundation.

Electrical, plumbing, and excavation

Additional permits may be required when the shed includes electrical wiring or plumbing. The City advises applicants to confirm applicable trade-permit requirements separately.

Homeowners should also identify underground utilities before excavating for footings, foundations, anchors, or utility connections. The City directs property owners to Click Before You Dig Manitoba before digging below grade.

Common reasons shed site plans are delayed

A permit review may be delayed when the site plan is missing information or the proposed placement cannot be verified.

• Property lines are not dimensioned
• The shed dimensions are missing
• Only one setback is shown
• The existing house or garage is omitted
• A fence is incorrectly treated as the legal boundary
• The roof overhang is not considered
• Existing accessory structures are left off the plan
• The plan does not show the street or rear lane
• Overhead electrical lines are not identified
• The drawing is not clear or fully dimensioned

A complete plan gives the reviewer enough information to understand the proposal without repeatedly requesting corrections.

How to prepare for your shed site plan

Before ordering or preparing the drawing, collect:

• The property address and legal description
• A survey, staking certificate, subdivision plan, or other available property document
• The proposed shed length and width
• The preferred backyard placement
• Measurements from the shed to the property boundaries
• Information about existing sheds, garages, decks, and other structures
• Photos of the yard and proposed construction area
• Details about roof overhangs, doors, windows, electrical service, and plumbing

Homeowners outside Winnipeg can review our broader

Manitoba site plan services guide
and our article explaining

when a site plan may be needed for a shed permit in Canada
.

Frequently asked questions

Does a shed under 108 square feet need a building permit in Winnipeg?

The City states that detached accessory structures greater than 10 square metres, or 108 square feet, require a building permit. A smaller shed must still comply with zoning, placement, construction, and any other applicable requirements.

Can I put a shed directly against my fence?

Usually, no assumption should be made based only on the fence location. The fence may not mark the legal property boundary, and a setback may be required between the shed and the actual property line.

Can a shed be placed two feet from the property line?

The City’s brochure states that in many ordinary situations, a shed behind the dwelling can be as close as 600 millimetres, or 2 feet, from the side and rear boundaries. Corner lots, side-yard placement, eaves, site-specific zoning, and other conditions can change the requirement.

Does the site plan need to show the roof overhang?

The roof outline or overhang should be accounted for because eaves and projections affect clearance from the property line.

Is a site plan the same as a survey?

No. A permit site plan shows the proposed project and its relationship to the property, while a legal survey or staking certificate is prepared by a licensed land surveyor and establishes boundary information.

Order a Winnipeg shed site plan

A well-prepared site plan helps show that the proposed shed fits within the backyard, maintains the applicable setbacks, and does not conflict with existing structures or obvious site constraints.

Siteplans.ca prepares residential permit site plans using available property information, customer-provided measurements, and proposed project details. Free edits are available when a permit reviewer requests reasonable drawing changes within the original project scope.

Permit and zoning requirements can change and may vary by property. Confirm current requirements with the City of Winnipeg before construction. Siteplans.ca does not replace the services of a Manitoba Land Surveyor, architect, engineer, or municipal authority where those services are required.