Thinking of running power to a shed? With very few basements in the Triangle area and new residents moving here every day, we see a lot of new sheds being installed.
As a licensed electrician in Apex, we run power to sheds every week.
So, what are the steps you need to take?
Check to See if You Need a Permit for Your Shed
Per the North Carolina Building Code, any accessory structures (i.e. sheds) with any dimension greater than 12’ requires a permit with your local municipality.
If your shed does not have any dimension greater than 12’ then you should be good to go. However, we encourage all homeowners to check with their local planning / building department.
Get HOA Approval (If Needed)
If you live in a development that is managed and governed by an HOA, you will need to get their approval before installing the shed.
You will want to make sure that you abide by your HOA’s bylaws. Some common bylaws we see pertain to set back, color, size and location.
Once approved, then you can pull your permit.
Pull Your Permit (If Needed)
If any dimension of your shed is greater than 12’ you will need to apply for a permit with your local municipality. Every municipality is different in their process and pricing but you want to make sure you follow this step.
Why?
The permit allows your city/town to verify everything is installed correctly and safely. The most common regulations we see are related to setbacks from property line, maximum size, number of accessory structures, and proper anchoring.
If you plan to run electrical to your shed, you will also be required to add your licensed electrician to the permit as the electrical contractor.
Installing (And Running Power to Your Shed)
Once the HOA and your local municipality sign off on your application(s), it’s time to install your shed! We see three main ways this happens:
- Built on-site by homeowner
- Built on-site by local contractor
- Pre-fabricated and delivered directly to the planned location
With the shed installed, now is the time to run power to the shed (if you choose to).
When we run power to any shed, we follow all the guidelines laid out by the National Electrical Code as well as the North Carolina Department of Insurance. This gives you the peace of mind knowing it is installed properly and passes inspection from a licensed inspector.
Some important items to note when installing power to your shed:
- There will be no power interruption for you while running the power
- We will bury the electrical wire deep enough per code (varies based on method)
- All of our work comes with a lifetime warranty
Final Inspection
When your entire project is complete and the electrical is installed, it is time to call it in for final inspection.
Depending on the municipality, one inspector might inspect the entire project or specialized inspectors might inspect the work separately.
Once approved, you are good to go!
FAQ: What If You Don’t Pull a Permit?
If any dimension of your shed is greater than 12’ and you don’t pull a permit, you are exposed to many different liabilities. The main issues that could arise are:
- HOA telling you to remove the shed.
- Your town telling you to remove (or move) the shed.
- Your home owner’s insurance denying a claim related to the shed.
Thinking about installing a shed at your home? Give us a call today at 984-600-0100 and a professional on our team can walk you through the entire process.
