How Do I Get a Shed into a Fenced-In Backyard? (Answered)

It’s not the only thing that may crop up when you find that perfect shed you’ve wanted for years. Oh no, there are many things to consider before getting a shed, especially if you have an already-developed backyard. 

Sheds can be driven into a backyard, forklifted into a backyard, or built on-site to fit your choice of location in the backyard. Before doing this, you need to make some decisions on placement, find out about permits and regulations, and know how you want to proceed – with builders or DIY.  

Let’s talk about getting a shed for your backyard. And in the end, maybe you’ll get an idea of what to expect and where to go from here. 

Before You Get a Shed – What You Should Know

Understand why you want the shed to begin with. Will you be storing tools in your shed or lawn equipment? Will you need to drive things into it or just take things inside? What kind of access should you leave around it or in front of it? What are your HOA restrictions? What will the neighbors think?

Will you need electricity to run to your shed? If so, have you budgeted for an electrician and the possible permitting needed for that?  

You see, sheds are what most places call free-standing construction or free-standing structures, and they usually don’t need a permit to be placed in your yard. However, there is usually an inspection handled to be sure you are not too close to the next property.  There are possible community guidelines to follow when placing anything near a neighbor’s property line. Then, there are practical concerns in placing a shed close to a wood fence. 

And as always, be sure you don’t need a permit for it. Sometimes, when you have to opt for having a shed built, a permit will then be needed. 

Make sure you are handling everything correctly when it comes to your HOA approvals and being sure your neighbor is fine with a building near their fenceline. I mean, you don’t have to do this portion, but it sure makes life nicer to not have angered your neighbors. 

Call the local planning department to double-check for requirements. Then, have the correct permits pulled for the entire process (if they are needed). We had to be sure anything we put (including the pergola) in the backyard was at least 9 feet from the property line. We had an inspector come out to be sure. 

Mark the area with flags or paint or something that tells the delivery folks where to place the shed. If you are placing it close to a fence, be sure to leave enough space for mowing around the shed. Also, be aware of where you need your doors to open. If your shed is too close to a fence and not angled properly, you might be limiting the field of movement. 

If you put your shed too close to a fence, particularly a wooden fence, you can cause problems for the wood. Moisture can collect, especially in the shade. You could easily end up with a mold or mildew problem if you aren’t careful. So long as plenty of air can move easily between the two structures, you won’t get premature rotting. This is important, especially in high humidity areas. 

How to Get Things Where They Need to Be

Once you’ve decided on the type of shed and have all of the permissions and permits you need, it’s time to get the shed into the backyard. So…what if you have a fence? Well, usually, fences come with a door section large enough to allow most towers into the backyard. If it were our backyard, my worry would be more about them not getting stuck in the mud. 

Shed delivery can be tricky in some spaces. Even when you may not have a fence opening large enough, some of these magicians on delivery teams will use a forklift to get a shed over a fence that’s blocking them. 

If you have a driveway that’s too narrow, too many trees in the way, or fences that you didn’t think about placing a large door on, you may not be able to use a pre-built shed. However, there are plenty of shed distributors that have the means to build one where you want them. Usually, with just a deposit, the building can begin, and within a few days’ time, your shed will be exactly where you want it to be. 

Want to know something else? Usually, if you know what you’re doing and have the right tools, building a shed is much less expensive than buying a pre-made model. Then, you can also make your own special customizations as you go. You can also find all kinds of building kits. These have precut and measured parts that you assemble. Still cheaper than a full shed being delivered to your home. 

If you don’t have the time, the tools, or the fortitude to take on this project, get someone else to do it. Usually, hiring someone to build a shed is comparable to buying a premade shed. And that still leaves some room for customization depending on the building professional. 

Something else to keep in mind is the floor of a shed. The shed usually needs to be kept off the ground directly for longer lasting. Also, this way, you can make sure the shed is level. That done, you’ll need a floor. Most pre-made sheds come with a plywood floor. However, when it comes to some DIY and kit sheds, there may not be flooring at all. The flooring may end up being an additional expense. 

What do you think?

I’ve always wanted a shed, but where we are, and for as small an amount of time that we plan on staying, I just don’t see it as feasible. However, if we were going to be here longer, I would love a shed. Why? Because you can store stuff in it, sure, but you can also turn those bad boys into she-sheds, man-caves, playhouses, and office spaces. 

A shed brings with it value. You just have to know how to get it onto your property and then take care of it. Hopefully, this article helped with part of that!