Any suggestions on shed placement in our yard?

[jeromedawg]

I have a couple aerial views of our yard space thanks to a friend who let me borrow his drone. We are also excavating parts of they yard with plans to lay down a flagstone patio area and crushed rock path.



Initially, I was thinking about putting up a 10x12 shed (want to get the max size possible for a shed without it being an ADU here in CA haha) right up against the fence between our neighbor but that's quite large. I'd basically just want a space to store some yard items and some things from the garage as well (maybe bikes, fishing gear, yard equipment, etc).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AMWts8CyZQgz4lGGKLjrLcv9SQsd_mRLC5KLBfoxGBredJFnXAqew7SD2YN819KD8AkFoXd4KZtVFpOvwSuomIdXpCXVHWE-X70_GlANTKkEh-yPZictHy7UOfFpFxyzUPxUl0qa9QloVPu1ehEZsDpPzMM-7g=w1050-h651-no?authuser=0

We also have a front inside courtyard area that I could, in theory, build something but I'm not 100% sure on this because the city I'm in states that you can't have a shed in the front yard. In our case, this is a inner courtyard so the shed would be behind walls. We have a front yard area as well so I definitely wouldn't plan on putting a shed out there...


Any ideas on placement?

[nereo]

Are there any setbacks?

[jeromedawg]

Are there any setbacks?

It has to be 3' from any property line. The fence between my neighbor and I sits level on our side but there's a slope on their side, so I don't want to be piling dirt or anything else over there. Also, the fence is starting to slowly fall apart (a couple slats are coming undone) so sooner than later we'll have to come up with a fair solution to repair it. I might be willing to give a shot at DIYing the fence repair - the neighbor on the other side (2 doors down) offered to fix part of the fence between the two of them and it looks pretty good.

Anyway, this is a very rough estimate of where it *could* go:


The other option, of course, is to build a smaller shed :)

[lthenderson]

I'd basically just want a space to store some yard items and some things from the garage as well (maybe bikes, fishing gear, yard equipment, etc).

If I were in your shoes, I would put up an outdoor tool cabinet instead of such a large shed (compared to the space available) and tuck it against the house somewhere perhaps on your fenced in yard in the front of the house. It has a much smaller footprint, easier to assemble and place without worrying about setbacks etc. If you need to work on the house it rests against, they are easy enough to move and put back. One of those would be more than enough to store everything on your list with the exception of multiple bicycles. For those, there are many systems for storing them on the walls or ceilings of your garage to get them up and out of the way.

https://www.amazon.com/UDPATIO-Lawnmower-Galvanized-Lockable-Backyard/dp/B09NJK2SDK?th=1

The problems I have with small sheds like that is they typically get rodent infested because they don't have floors or are built on wood floors that quickly degrade. I always pour cement for any sheds but it is a lot of work and fairly permanent when done. One of those tool cabinets generally have plastic floors to keep rodents out and prevent rot plus are easy to move around or dispose of later should you no longer need it.  They generally can sit on a few bricks to keep them up off the ground.  Putting such a large structure in a small space means it will always be in the way for future fence work and having setbacks make it take up even more space that you could use for expanding your outdoor patio area.  The quality on most kit type sheds you assemble yourself is pretty poor and not built for longevity. That is why I custom built mine a couple years ago.

Just some of my thoughts.

[jeromedawg]

I'd basically just want a space to store some yard items and some things from the garage as well (maybe bikes, fishing gear, yard equipment, etc).

If I were in your shoes, I would put up an outdoor tool cabinet instead of such a large shed (compared to the space available) and tuck it against the house somewhere perhaps on your fenced in yard in the front of the house. It has a much smaller footprint, easier to assemble and place without worrying about setbacks etc. If you need to work on the house it rests against, they are easy enough to move and put back. One of those would be more than enough to store everything on your list with the exception of multiple bicycles. For those, there are many systems for storing them on the walls or ceilings of your garage to get them up and out of the way.

https://www.amazon.com/UDPATIO-Lawnmower-Galvanized-Lockable-Backyard/dp/B09NJK2SDK?th=1

The problems I have with small sheds like that is they typically get rodent infested because they don't have floors or are built on wood floors that quickly degrade. I always pour cement for any sheds but it is a lot of work and fairly permanent when done. One of those tool cabinets generally have plastic floors to keep rodents out and prevent rot plus are easy to move around or dispose of later should you no longer need it.  They generally can sit on a few bricks to keep them up off the ground.  Putting such a large structure in a small space means it will always be in the way for future fence work and having setbacks make it take up even more space that you could use for expanding your outdoor patio area.  The quality on most kit type sheds you assemble yourself is pretty poor and not built for longevity. That is why I custom built mine a couple years ago.

Just some of my thoughts.

Thanks! We used to have one of those stand-up sheds. Part of my intent with building a larger shed too though is to make it a work space in addition to the storage space. Ultimately, I'd throw a couple solar panels on top of it (non-permanent) that I could attach a portable battery powerbank to for lighting or to power a laptop and fan perhaps.  I was considering building a lean-to shed with better quality materials and not buying a kit shed btw. I still may put up a plastic shed like what we used to have to store garden/yard stuff (especially stuff like insect spray, weed killer, and tools) but the larger shed would be used for storing bikes. Unfortunately our garage isn't well-suited for storing bikes - the ceilings are lower than normal as it's an attached garage with rooms above. For whatever reason, they made the garage less than standard heights of most garages (I think it's like an 8-9' from the ground) so hoisting stuff up will get in the way if you want to park something like a minivan or suv (and definitely if you needed to back in. Another option is to build a covered area in our courtyard that we could leave our bikes under... I'm just not sure what exactly that would look like.

[SunnyDays]

Put the shed wherever it’s most convenient for you and it isn’t in the way of yard activities.  There’s no correct answer.

I have a wood custom built shed that did have a plywood floor over top of wood joists and of course it rotted, as water got under it over the years.  I had the floor replaced with crushed limestone and patio blocks and it’s now solid and waterproof.  I’ve never had a rodent problem even though there are some mice around.

[GilesMM]

I think sheds are ugly.  Before resorting to one I would do everything I could to optimize garage storage with shelving, racks, bike hangers, etc.

[Car Jack]

I think sheds are ugly.  Before resorting to one I would do everything I could to optimize garage storage with shelving, racks, bike hangers, etc.

This really depends on the shed and the yard it's placed in.  I have a 12x20 shed set parallel to our garage about 16 feet from the garage.  Same roof shingles, same color.  If not for the garage doors vs side shed doors, it could pass for a miniature version of the garage.

We have had mice in there and have had to thoroughly clean it, then set a bunch of sticky traps.  I have some garden tools in there and a dozen sets of wheels and tires.

[EileenK]

Given the size of the yard and the restrictions in your area, I would suggest looking into a shipping container. Shipping containers are a great way to store items and can be placed in a variety of locations. They are also much more secure than a shed and can be customized to fit your needs. You could even paint it to match the exterior of your home or landscape. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. If you are still confused, then consider renting a shipping container https://www.sigmacontainer.ca/products-and-services/container-rentals/ , which is really pocket-friendly.

[uniwelder]

Given the size of the yard and the restrictions in your area, I would suggest looking into a shipping container. Shipping containers are a great way to store items and can be placed in a variety of locations. They are also much more secure than a shed and can be customized to fit your needs. You could even paint it to match the exterior of your home or landscape. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. If you are still confused, then consider renting a shipping container https://www.sigmacontainer.ca/products-and-services/container-rentals/ , which is really pocket-friendly.

With the ongoing discussion of AI and chatgpt, this comment and the other comment (a definition of inflation in another thread) from this username (only 2 comments so far) feel like poorly placed Wikipedia-ish entries. It sort of fits the discussion but without proper context to guide it. Adding a link doesn’t give much confidence either. Also the obvious problem, how is OP going to fit a shipping container?

To other members here, how do these weird entries get created?

[nereo]

Given the size of the yard and the restrictions in your area, I would suggest looking into a shipping container. Shipping containers are a great way to store items and can be placed in a variety of locations. They are also much more secure than a shed and can be customized to fit your needs. You could even paint it to match the exterior of your home or landscape. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. If you are still confused, then consider renting a shipping container https://www.sigmacontainer.ca/products-and-services/container-rentals/ , which is really pocket-friendly.

With the ongoing discussion of AI and chatgpt, this comment and the other comment (a definition of inflation in another thread) from this username (only 2 comments so far) feel like poorly placed Wikipedia-ish entries. It sort of fits the discussion but without proper context to guide it. Adding a link doesn’t give much confidence either. Also the obvious problem, how is OP going to fit a shipping container?

To other members here, how do these weird entries get created?

I checked user post to see if it was spam and was left… unsure.

For this who have followed the OPs renovation journey, s/he does not live in a location (densely populated, affluent SCal neighborhood of AFH with an active HOA) where a shipping container would be practical or even allowed. Further, while shipping containers are secure, they can be problematic in hot weather such as where OP is located

[jeromedawg]

Given the size of the yard and the restrictions in your area, I would suggest looking into a shipping container. Shipping containers are a great way to store items and can be placed in a variety of locations. They are also much more secure than a shed and can be customized to fit your needs. You could even paint it to match the exterior of your home or landscape. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. If you are still confused, then consider renting a shipping container https://www.sigmacontainer.ca/products-and-services/container-rentals/ , which is really pocket-friendly.

With the ongoing discussion of AI and chatgpt, this comment and the other comment (a definition of inflation in another thread) from this username (only 2 comments so far) feel like poorly placed Wikipedia-ish entries. It sort of fits the discussion but without proper context to guide it. Adding a link doesn’t give much confidence either. Also the obvious problem, how is OP going to fit a shipping container?

To other members here, how do these weird entries get created?

I checked user post to see if it was spam and was left… unsure.

For this who have followed the OPs renovation journey, s/he does not live in a location (densely populated, affluent SCal neighborhood of AFH with an active HOA) where a shipping container would be practical or even allowed. Further, while shipping containers are secure, they can be problematic in hot weather such as where OP is located

Actually, in my current location, I wouldn't call it "densely populated" (relatively speaking) nor do we have an HOA here (which I'm really happy about). My previous residence was definitely more "densely populated" (again, relatively speaking) and we did have an HOA there. That said, the only time I'd ever want to use a shipping container is for moving (which I don't want or intend to do for a really long time *fingers crossed*). Granted, I have seen tiny homes and such made of shipping containers, but I don't think that would really fit what we're going for here.

[nereo]

Given the size of the yard and the restrictions in your area, I would suggest looking into a shipping container. Shipping containers are a great way to store items and can be placed in a variety of locations. They are also much more secure than a shed and can be customized to fit your needs. You could even paint it to match the exterior of your home or landscape. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. If you are still confused, then consider renting a shipping container https://www.sigmacontainer.ca/products-and-services/container-rentals/ , which is really pocket-friendly.

With the ongoing discussion of AI and chatgpt, this comment and the other comment (a definition of inflation in another thread) from this username (only 2 comments so far) feel like poorly placed Wikipedia-ish entries. It sort of fits the discussion but without proper context to guide it. Adding a link doesn’t give much confidence either. Also the obvious problem, how is OP going to fit a shipping container?

To other members here, how do these weird entries get created?

I checked user post to see if it was spam and was left… unsure.

For this who have followed the OPs renovation journey, s/he does not live in a location (densely populated, affluent SCal neighborhood of AFH with an active HOA) where a shipping container would be practical or even allowed. Further, while shipping containers are secure, they can be problematic in hot weather such as where OP is located

Actually, in my current location, I wouldn't call it "densely populated" (relatively speaking) nor do we have an HOA here (which I'm really happy about). My previous residence was definitely more "densely populated" (again, relatively speaking) and we did have an HOA there. That said, the only time I'd ever want to use a shipping container is for moving (which I don't want or intend to do for a really long time *fingers crossed*). Granted, I have seen tiny homes and such made of shipping containers, but I don't think that would really fit what we're going for here.

thanks for the correction.  Given your photos it seemed like you were in a housing development with sub-acre lots.  I may have been combining statements you've made about your past and current locations.

[jeromedawg]

Given the size of the yard and the restrictions in your area, I would suggest looking into a shipping container. Shipping containers are a great way to store items and can be placed in a variety of locations. They are also much more secure than a shed and can be customized to fit your needs. You could even paint it to match the exterior of your home or landscape. Shipping containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. If you are still confused, then consider renting a shipping container https://www.sigmacontainer.ca/products-and-services/container-rentals/ , which is really pocket-friendly.

With the ongoing discussion of AI and chatgpt, this comment and the other comment (a definition of inflation in another thread) from this username (only 2 comments so far) feel like poorly placed Wikipedia-ish entries. It sort of fits the discussion but without proper context to guide it. Adding a link doesn’t give much confidence either. Also the obvious problem, how is OP going to fit a shipping container?

To other members here, how do these weird entries get created?

I checked user post to see if it was spam and was left… unsure.

For this who have followed the OPs renovation journey, s/he does not live in a location (densely populated, affluent SCal neighborhood of AFH with an active HOA) where a shipping container would be practical or even allowed. Further, while shipping containers are secure, they can be problematic in hot weather such as where OP is located

Actually, in my current location, I wouldn't call it "densely populated" (relatively speaking) nor do we have an HOA here (which I'm really happy about). My previous residence was definitely more "densely populated" (again, relatively speaking) and we did have an HOA there. That said, the only time I'd ever want to use a shipping container is for moving (which I don't want or intend to do for a really long time *fingers crossed*). Granted, I have seen tiny homes and such made of shipping containers, but I don't think that would really fit what we're going for here.

thanks for the correction.  Given your photos it seemed like you were in a housing development with sub-acre lots.  I may have been combining statements you've made about your past and current locations.

Yea, it's quite confusing because looking at this development most people would assume it's part of an HOA. I believe the short-history of is was that there was an HOA but it dissolved either before or shortly after the development was completed. In either case, I'm happy to not have an HOA that tells us what we can and can't do to or on our properties. It's quite refreshing :)