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Small Cabin Forum / Properties / 108 sqft. limitation
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aazard
Member
# Posted: 10 Apr 2023 03:34pm - Edited by: aazard
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new OBC rules, Ontario Regulation 451/22 Section 28 (accessory buildings) say 108sqft footptint with 2 floors, or 160sq ft single floor.

Meet your local inspector 1st, get approval 1st, before starting down this road

Not a cheater shed (good space use??)


My take on this idea (better space use)

see here: https://www.reddit.com/r/shedditors/comments/11x3ixb/the_10_x_10_108sq_ft_cheater_she d_aka_canticubic/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Cantilevering, in the OBC, lifted floor on a 9" joist, is a max of 24" allowed extension, 360 degree (but all in metric).

For this to work no supports, past 108sqft footprint base/foundation can contact the ground (a 12" kneel wall will be key)

you can not bypass other restrictions (existing building, plumbing, etc) that I know of

1: So.. a 12" (the min to get away with this 9" joist off the ground) brick kneel wall lifting the "shed".

2: Then, cantilever the 1st floor over 10.3x10.3ft kneel wall, to 14.3x14.3ft

3: To the max allowed building height (15ft+), main floor ceiling at least 6'10-1/2" with a 6'10-1/2" loft ceiling also, (access with 56 degree ATD stair is allowed)

This gives you a full 2-floor 14.3x14.3ft building on a 108sqft footprint or 204.49sq ft (with matching loft floor)

In theory a building, 2 levels (main + 2nd floor) could be 409sq ft (408.98sq ft) combined ... with the ability to pass a NBC/OBC inspection

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 10 Apr 2023 07:38pm
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Fwiw; an observation....
Folks 'pushing' the limits past what was intended is one of the reasons the 'powers that be' crack down and are not welcoming to our notions.

aazard
Member
# Posted: 10 Apr 2023 09:25pm
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Quoting: gcrank1
Folks 'pushing' the limits past what was intended is one of the reasons the 'powers that be' crack down and are not welcoming to our notions.


I agree, and dont mean to cause an issue (sorry)
The hyper restrictive limitations are what forces such ideas.
Ontario has become combative to "tiny" homes and family camping & Fishing/hunting cabins (namely with the current wet plumbing revisions)

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 10 Apr 2023 11:38pm - Edited by: gcrank1
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No apology necessary, I sympathize totally!
As I said, its just an observation (from being 'involved' in cabineering, 2 diff places, since 1981).

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2023 10:00pm
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It’s nice that they have expanded the allowable sq footage for sheds/ bunkies (accessory buildings) in Ontario but the issue still remains that there has to be a residence (house or cottage) on the property first before an “accessory building” ie. shed can be put up…that’s why the shed is called an accessory building…or maybe I’m missing something here? Perhaps more has changed? I know that unorganized townships used to be a little more flexible…some of us have built in these areas but they have there pros/cons too.

Houska
Member
# Posted: 18 Apr 2023 06:45am
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Yes, <161 sq ft is for "accessory shed" only, not for residential use, no plumbing etc.

One still needs to get creative regarding the primary structure.

Four years ago, our local (small but organized) township actually encouraged us, in the pre <161 sq ft days, to get a 8x12 Amish shed (under 108 sq ft) + outhouse, unpermitted, as a primary structure, and then come to them to get our desired 240 sq ft bunkie/shed permitted as an accessory structure to it. I wonder if one could use the same approach now with a primary <108 sq ft, and then unpermitted "accessory" to it 109-160 sq ft, even though the latter would actually be the main one.

Other approaches are to establish a primary use which is nonresidential, e.g. (hunt) camp, tree farm (managed forest) and then have accessory buidings for it.

Some (organized) townships are friendlier to finding a way to make it work than others, particularly the ones more in Northern or Eastern Ontario, away from the GTA. YMMV. A lot also depends on whether you have enough land to be hidden away from prying eyes. While there are exceptions, a lot of enforcement is driven by complaints, especially where "use" rather than the physical parameters of the structure come into the picture.

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 18 Apr 2023 08:35am
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Yes, we had all these same discussions 10 years ago on this site and I agree that there are factors such as where you are in Ontario ( Bruce Peninsula no way!) and if you have enough acres to stay away from prying eyes…though in my area some folks actually tour properties when you’re not there and call bylaw on you. We ended up building a two floor bunkie anyway hidden on our property and became really good friends with neighbours so no one would have reason to complain about us. 10 years later we have a 1000 sq ft cabin and now the bunkie is great for visiting friends…so it can be done if you are willing to take some chances, be nice to folks around you, have enough property and fly under the radar.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 18 Apr 2023 08:02pm
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And have some LUCK!
My take, after having done it with my 1st cabin, is that you have to be prepared all the time to 'lose it' for your decision(s). Some folks are not comfortable with that stress.
This time around we are legal but there is always the chance of vandalism, theft and/or fire/tornado, etc. so the 'lose it' possibility is still there.
Im much more comfortable with being on good terms with our township officials at this one.

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 18 Apr 2023 10:34pm - Edited by: bushbunkie
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Agreed gcrank1….a little luck helps too! Though we never found it that stressful to ruin our experience. We invested $2500 in our bunkie and accepted that the risk was that we might be asked to move it but it wasn’t a huge deal. My neighbour would have just picked it up with his tractor and moved it and we most likely would have sold it and said “well, we gave it a good shot”. Of course now our larger cabin has been built in compliance which I certainly feel better about because much more $$ invested and we weren’t going to gamble with that amount of $$. So now the bunkie is in compliance and all is good. We were fortunate to have it all work out.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 20 Apr 2023 07:09pm - Edited by: KinAlberta
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On creative construction:

Can these sheds have tornado or bomb shelters under them?




… or how many sheds can one have, with roll-up awnings between them?

Could a wall lift up to form a ceiling and partially cover an “outdoor kitchen”… (with no plumbing or electrical connections…)

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