Thinking of Building a Detached Garage for Extra Storage? Read These 4 Rules First
Over the past couple of years, many people have opted to renovate their existing home instead of starting from scratch with a custom home. The reason? Construction costs are too high right now.
So, in order to make their current spaces last longer, they usually add storage. Unfortunately, a two-car garage doesn't cut it for most people anymore—especially if they have a family. They’ve collected things throughout their life in this home, but are quickly running out of places to put those items.
If this sounds like an issue you’re facing at the moment, there’s a solution: building a detached garage. That being said, there are a few things to consider before moving forward with this seemingly simple fix. True, you can head to Lowe’s, Menards or Home Depot for a detached garage kit to be delivered to your home. Although this doesn’t require an architect, it’s not as easy as you’d think. Let’s walk through a few rules of building a detached garage.
Rule #1: Check the Rules with Your County’s Building Department
Even the most simple detached garages require rules. First things first, start a conversation with your county’s building department. Since a detached garage would be considered an accessory building, they may have certain regulations. Although your building department may not regulate the size of your garage, they may regulate the percentage of permeable space that you can take up on your lot. To do this, take your lot size, then subtract the size of your house. From there, you’ll want to add in the garage and see if you still have enough permeable space for groundwater to go.
You may run into some setbacks that may be unique to a detached garage, versus an attached garage. For example, Springhouse is currently designing a garage that’s going to be a woodshop in a historic district. For us to do a detached structure, the rules state that it can’t be bigger than a shed. So, we went back and asked if the rules change if it’s an attached garage. Turns out, if it's attached, we can make it a three-car garage and a workshop.
The bottom line? Ask to see your building department’s rules for both a detached garage and an attached garage. It may greatly determine your decision.
Rule #2: Ask Your HOA for Their Restrictions
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, things can become a little more restrictive. For one, ask if you’re even allowed to build a garage in the first place—it won’t matter if the county gives you the green light. That being said, most HOAs have a provision for an attachment, which may allow a simple roofline. They’ll most likely regulate the size, roofline pitch, styling, detailing and materials to match the house. Simply put, they want the neighborhood to feel more homogenous.
In addition, you’ll want to ask if it needs to be built on the side of your home or in your rear yard. The HOA usually has regulation over if the door faces the street. In most traditional residential homes, you usually drive straight into the garage where the door already faces the street. If you have a side-entry garage, then the arrangement can be to build your new garage behind that, so that the new detached garage doors will face the street. Sometimes this is allowed, but often it is not. Always ask your HOA, because sometimes there are exceptions. For example, don’t be afraid to ask for variance. If you have nice garage doors picked out and are following all of the other rules, they may give you the okay—especially if the garage is going to be built in the back of the house.
Rule #3: Determine Your Garage’s Design
Now for the fun part. What do you want the structure to look like? You’ll want it to match your house’s style, materials and roofline, but you can absolutely take some liberties to give it a little more character and wimzie. This will all depend on your setting. Does your house reside on a large property where you can do something a little different? Are you in the middle of the woods? Are you in a subdivision where everything looks the same? Consider the context of your property, as well as your neighborhood. How can you make it fit in while pushing the boundaries?
Lastly, where do you want access? Do you only want access through the garage doors? Do you want to build a door in the front and out to the backyard? If you're building it for lawn equipment and garden storage, you might do a full overhead door on the back. Keep in mind, you don’t want to install too many doors and windows—you may screw up all of your storage along the walls.
Rule #4: Determine Your Garage’s Use
What is your garage going to be used for? Will it be a two-car garage or a multi-car garage? Will it be a workshop? Is there going to be living space in it? If so, your county building department may have rules you’ll need to follow. If you want it to include a kitchen or bathroom, go to them first and ask if this is allowed.
More importantly, think through what the future use of your garage may be. Although you may not want a living space on the second floor of your detached garage right now, you may consider it in the future. In this case, you could build it with storage trusses. You won’t have to put in the stairs or flooring—it can simply act as an attic for now. But by adding storage trusses, the structure will be done and it won’t cost a lot more down the line for a living space. Either way, have a plan. Will it be a storage space, living space, exercise room, play room, man cave, or woman cave in the future? Get the structure up now to house your cars or mower. You can always add insulation, drywall or HVAC at a later date—but you’ll want a plan.
Have any questions?
Although we covered a lot in this post, you may still have some other questions about the rules of building a detached garage. Whether you’re involved in the custom home process now, or even just considering it, join our free Facebook group—we’ll help you answer any questions you might have! Also, feel free to invite anyone that you think would benefit from this collaborative. You’ll not only get advice from me, but from other people who have been through this, too.
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