Shed set back requirement bylaw 4 feets vs. admin practice of 2 feets

Whatever written on the book should be followed.
If the inspecting by-laws officer didn't follow it he could be in trouble.
Your question is kind of funny.
" Should the city by-law officer follow city by-law "
Law is law.

Why would you need to have a shed 4 feet away from your fence on your property?

When did you build your shed? There was no lot line setback for less than 10m2 accessory buildings until Sep 2015. Now it is 1.2m.

As is usual for bylaw enforcement for minor matters - if there is a complaint, the bylaw will be enforced as written unless you can show some hardship and apply for a variance.

lamin wrote: ↑ Why would you need to have a shed 4 feet away from your fence on your property?

Because that’s what the bylaw states?

When we had the final inspection for our inground pool, the bylaw officer also measured how far our shed was from the fence. We had no problem because I built the shed making sure to be set back per our bylaw (2’). The officer thanked me because almost every shed she had inspected were built too close.

On the property next door in Richmond BC, the builder built the new house foundation closer to the 3' high retaining wall at the edge of the property than the building code allows. That's a safety issue putting the house in danger of collapse, The reaction of the Richmond permit department was "Actually we're not really familiar with all the sections of the building code here. If it passes inspection, it's probably fine."

I wouldn't worry about city enforcement in Richmond.

lamin wrote: ↑ Why would you need to have a shed 4 feet away from your fence on your property?

because it is required by city regulations. Here it's 5 Ft. from property line.

I don't think this is correct.

For example:
Driving in a 50 km/hour zoon (LAW) vs. Police typically wouldn't give you ticket until you exceed 60km/hour (ADMIN PRACTICE)

Vaalka wrote: ↑ Whatever written on the book should be followed.
If the inspecting by-laws officer didn't follow it he could be in trouble.
Your question is kind of funny.
" Should the city by-law officer follow city by-law "
Law is law.

In year 2020.

I think I agree with you. They can really enforce the 1.2m setback requirement if needed (especially if there's a valid complaint).

But, if I can show that my shed really doesn't distburb anyone with a setback of 2 feets, then I think it might be okay?

robsaw wrote: ↑ When did you build your shed? There was no lot line setback for less than 10m2 accessory buildings until Sep 2015. Now it is 1.2m.

As is usual for bylaw enforcement for minor matters - if there is a complaint, the bylaw will be enforced as written unless you can show some hardship and apply for a variance.

Yes, our bylaw states 4 feets.
However, no Sheds nearby my neighbourhood follows the 4 feets requirements.

Spoke to a professional shed builder previously, and he told me city admin practice is typically 2 feets.

Not sure how strict the city bylaw officer would enforce the setback requirements if my neighbour complains.

mrweather wrote: ↑ Because that’s what the bylaw states?

When we had the final inspection for our inground pool, the bylaw officer also measured how far our shed was from the fence. We had no problem because I built the shed making sure to be set back per our bylaw (2’). The officer thanked me because almost every shed she had inspected were built too close.

Fantastical wrote: ↑ In year 2020.


But, if I can show that my shed really doesn't distburb anyone with a setback of 2 feets, then I think it might be okay?

If there’s a complaint then your shed is really disturbing someone, isn’t it? Even if it is for the flimsiest of the reasons.

Fantastical wrote: ↑ Yes, our bylaw states 4 feets.
However, no Sheds nearby my neighbourhood follows the 4 feets requirements.

Spoke to a professional shed builder previously, and he told me city admin practice is typically 2 feets.

Not sure how strict the city bylaw officer would enforce the setback requirements if my neighbour complains.

So your question should read "can I get away with building a shed closer to the property line than the bylaw allows?"

Comparing these bylaws and an officer's discretion in ticketing for speeding doesn't really make sense.

Vaalka wrote: ↑ Whatever written on the book should be followed.
If the inspecting by-laws officer didn't follow it he could be in trouble.
Your question is kind of funny.
" Should the city by-law officer follow city by-law "
Law is law.

Fantastical wrote: ↑ I don't think this is correct.

For example:
Driving in a 50 km/hour zoon (LAW) vs. Police typically wouldn't give you ticket until you exceed 60km/hour (ADMIN PRACTICE)

then if you are that sure that there will be no issue, why you ask the question? City bylaw officer HAVE TO follow what's in the city bylaw if there is a complain about a said violation to a said rule. Your example is not appliable here. The police officer could give you a traffic ticket if you go 1 Km/H over the limit. But he judges if it is dangerous,and all the circumnstances of the violation, etc... to give you a ''chance''. City bylaw officer have to act when there is a complain...

Fantastical wrote: ↑ Yes, our bylaw states 4 feets.
However, no Sheds nearby my neighbourhood follows the 4 feets requirements.

Spoke to a professional shed builder previously, and he told me city admin practice is typically 2 feets.

Not sure how strict the city bylaw officer would enforce the setback requirements if my neighbour complains.

to take back your example of speed tickets. an officer could arrest you because your driving 5 Km/H over the limit on the hyghway, but would not arrest the one who follows you at the same speed... not because all the neighbours don't follow the rules that you are allowed to do so. No issues if there is no complain, but in your case there have been a complain to the city. If there is no complains about your neighbour's sheds there will be no ticket, as it is ''tolerated''. City bylaw officers doesn't run the streets to find so little derogations, unless there is a complain.

Fantastical wrote: ↑ For example:
Driving in a 50 km/hour zoon (LAW) vs. Police typically wouldn't give you ticket until you exceed 60km/hour (ADMIN PRACTICE)

They typically won't, but they absolutely can. They could ticket you for going 51 in a 50. It also won't matter if everyone else is going faster than you, the only thing that would matter is how fast you were going.

It will be the same if someone complains about your shed and a bylaw officer has to come out. It won't matter if all the sheds in a 100km radius are also too close to the property line, just how close your shed is and when it was built.

It's annoying when people do this. I had to replace a bunch of posts on my fence recently. The neighbour had a shed less than a foot away from the fence, and all the fasteners are on that side of the fence. The fence is also entirely on my side of the property line.

mrweather wrote: ↑ Because that’s what the bylaw states?

When we had the final inspection for our inground pool, the bylaw officer also measured how far our shed was from the fence. We had no problem because I built the shed making sure to be set back per our bylaw (2’). The officer thanked me because almost every shed she had inspected were built too close.

I fully understand 2’, but 4’ and 5’ with the shrinking properties we have here in the GTA doesn’t make any kind of sense. We as Canadians accept way too much bs, but hey we are all doing our part. I think sometimes we all forget that we are the ones that pay and put these people who create all these bylaws in the position they are in.

How up to date are bylaws anyhow? I have seen million dollar properties with no backyards to even put a shed, but we should all follow bylaws that tell us how we can use the property that we apparently own.

Fantastical wrote: ↑ Spoke to a professional shed builder previously, and he told me city admin practice is typically 2 feets.

But is the professional shed builder willing to put it in writing that if he builds it 2 feet away and the city causes a fuss, he will move it to 4 feet away for free?

Of course he's going to say you have room to have a bigger shed or you can have it wherever you want and no one really cares what the law says - his job is to sell sheds.

I can't speak to your area specifically, but in most cases the level of enforcement is directly related to the level of complaints. If one or more of your neighbours makes it their mission to target your shed and relentlessly demands that the bylaw officers enforce the written bylaw, and refuses to listen to any compromises, that's probably what will happen. I personally would stick to the bylaw (though in your case I get what's done is done) just to not give neighbours ammunition in case they want to harass me for some entirely unrelated reason.

This reminds of the by/law that tells us adults that we can’t smoke in a closed environment with young kids present.

Why should parents need a law to stop them from smoking in the car with young kids given all that we know about second hand smoke nowadays?
Some things are just common sense.

What’s a good reason for a shed to be more than 2’ from the property line?

lamin wrote: ↑ I fully understand 2’, but 4’ and 5’ with the shrinking properties we have here in the GTA doesn’t make any kind of sense. We as Canadians accept way too much bs, but hey we are all doing our part. I think sometimes we all forget that we are the ones that pay and put these people who create all these bylaws in the position they are in.

How up to date are bylaws anyhow? I have seen million dollar properties with no backyards to even put a shed, but we should all follow bylaws that tell us how we can use the property that we apparently own.

Here it's 5 feet I guess to leave room to utility workers as the poles are backlot. Bylaws are not about tlling us how we can use the property we paid for, bylaws are meant to have a nice and peaceful;l neighbourhood.

lamin wrote: ↑ This reminds of the by/law that tells us adults that we can’t smoke in a closed environment with young kids present.

Why should parents need a law to stop them from smoking in the car with young kids given all that we know about second hand smoke nowadays?
Some things are just common sense.

What’s a good reason for a shed to be more than 2’ from the property line?

You just pointed to why there is bylaws. Because some dumb and irrespectful folks just don't care about anything. Just like the parent who smoke in a car, all windows closed, with a toddler on the backseat. Governemnt had to make a law prohibiting smoking in an enclosed car when there is kids. Ridiculous that we need a law for this, and that common sense is not applied by everyone.

Manatus wrote: ↑ But is the professional shed builder willing to put it in writing that if he builds it 2 feet away and the city causes a fuss, he will move it to 4 feet away for free?

Of course he's going to say you have room to have a bigger shed or you can have it wherever you want and no one really cares what the law says - his job is to sell sheds.

I can't speak to your area specifically, but in most cases the level of enforcement is directly related to the level of complaints. If one or more of your neighbours makes it their mission to target your shed and relentlessly demands that the bylaw officers enforce the written bylaw, and refuses to listen to any compromises, that's probably what will happen. I personally would stick to the bylaw (though in your case I get what's done is done) just to not give neighbours ammunition in case they want to harass me for some entirely unrelated reason.

no shed builder / installer would take this kind of responsibility... you said it all, shed builder wants to sell sheds, and don't gives a heck if you ask him. At some point, he won't sign anything saying he will move the shed in case of issue with the city, but YOU will have to sign if YOU want the shed installed in an inappropriate spot You are absolutely right.