Taxed on wood shed?

[Rob711]

i live on suburban Long Island, New York. My town would tax me for farting in my backyard if they could. I’ve looked at town codes for sheds and garages, can’t find wood shed. I’m pretty confident they would tax any structure I built, even if built on blocks or such.
Is this a issue for anyone else living in a tax heavy part of this great country.
Eventually I’ll build something with out permission and deal with the wrath when/if it comes.

 

[mar13]

My local town in California has a 120 sq ft limit for not needing permits (and no electricity, etc.) The planning folks at city hall were happy to answer my questions. I'd go to your town's planning department and ask as every place is different.

 

[WiscWoody]

When I lived in Minnesota I asked about backyard sheds and the town I lived in said that they didn’t tax them unless they had a cement floor but where I live here in Wisconsin they tax them no matter what. I looked into my property taxes at my old place here in Wisconsin a few years ago since I thought they were too high and I found out they were taxing me for a finished 1200 sq ft basement just because they assumed it was finished since it was a walk-out basement, even though it wasn’t finished at all so yes they try to get the upper hand it seems.

 

[jaoneill]

I also live in the People's Progressive Paradise of NY where they never miss an opportunity to tax. You can bet that any permanent structure will be taxed. Not certain if it's statewide, but here locally anything over 80 sq ft requires a permit (which triggers the tax assessor) whether it's permanent or not.

 

[Nateums]

I live upstate, last I checked the exemption was 144 sq ft.

Doesn't mean they won't tax it at some point. Around here I have seen several examples of locals being assessed at 1/4 - 1/2 the rate non-locals are paying. Really gets my blood boiling, I have met several people that left the state over taxes.

 

[jaoneill]

I live upstate, last I checked the exemption was 144 sq ft.

Doesn't mean they won't tax it at some point. Around here I have seen several examples of locals being assessed at 1/4 - 1/2 the rate non-locals are paying. Really gets my blood boiling, I have met several people that left the state over taxes.

I was born in NY and have lived here my entire life. The bulk of my friends made tracks as soon as they retired, some before that if their career allowed, I have seriously considered it, and may yet. At some point one gets tired of working just to pay taxes.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

I'm in New Jersey my Township will tax things like this, they do not do a total square foot just the square foot of each individual buildings so I made sure all of mine were under the square feet I think it was 130 square feet

 

[GadDummit]

I have met several people that left the state over taxes.

Sadly, they don't seem to learn and bring that same "taxes are great" voting record with them. We had a yankee move in down the street from us and all he talks about is all the state programs he's missing instead of just enjoying being free and having a little walkin around money. It's like trying to talk to a wall to get him to change his mind though. All those freebies cost taxes and none are worth the cost. Stubborn as a mule, he is. I kinda wish he'd just move back.

Can you get by with a tarp covered woodpile for now? Or will they tax you for "potential green energy hoarding" anyway or somesuch?

 

[paulnlee]

Hell here in NJ they just passed a "rain" tax. Glad I live in rural farm country.

 

[blades]

Milw. WI. water run off taxon anything deemed commercial property or rental properties.

 

[TreePointer]

My brother lived in an area in northern Virginia that did not require a building permit for his rather large tool shed if it didn't have a permanent foundation. He built his shed on blocks and pavers but still had to comply with code regarding overall height and and a few neighborhood rules regarding exterior color, trim, etc. I never asked him about how it affected his taxes, and now I'm curious about it.

 

[WiscWoody]

I’m going to put a lean-to on the side of my 36’ long rural garage this coming summer and I don’t need a permit for it. If they tax it it shouldn’t be much since it’ll just be a dirt floor with the pitched roof and some posts.

 

[Rob711]

I can have one shed, under 100 sqft without permit. Otherwise I need a permit. Plans. Surveys and inspections.

 

[mar13]

What about this shed (see URL link) from https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/best-wood-burning-practices site? They also have a link to the video on how to build it. They claim it's light enough to move by hand, so by not being permanent, it may get around many local rules.

 

[kennyp2339]

Best idea is to look up the definition of what is referred to as a building or shed then go from there.
My town have a shed / building rule for taxable reasons, but the definition is a building with 4 walls and a roof over 120sq ft. My wood shed just has a roof and no walls..aka not a shed or a building.

 

[spudman99]

In most areas real estate taxes are levied on the "value" of a property which includes all the land and improvements. Yes a permit is required for most sheds, and that is to ensure someone doesn't build an 8x8x30' high eyesore for example. Permits will usually trigger the tax assessor. Then the argument becomes - "does the woodshed increase the overall property value?". If not then taxes will not change. In 99.9% of the cases a woodshed will not increase property values.

Now don't cry if the cost to build is shed is not recouped in the sale of the property cause it probably wont.

 

[ispinwool]

Any structure in our town over 10'x10' is supposed to be taxed. When we moved into this house 24 years ago, we followed the
rules and got a building permit for our 24x24 garage and have paid taxes on it ever since.
However, the neighbor built a 20x20 garage about 4 years ago with
no permits and hasn't paid a dime in taxes on it. really...really annoying!

 

[saewoody]

Always thought I had it bad in CT. But in my town I can go up to 200 sq ft with no permit. But I don’t know about the tax issue.


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[GadDummit]

Any structure in our town over 10'x10' is supposed to be taxed. When we moved into this house 24 years ago, we followed the
rules and got a building permit for our 24x24 garage and have paid taxes on it ever since.
However, the neighbor built a 20x20 garage about 4 years ago with
no permits and hasn't paid a dime in taxes on it. really...really annoying!

Exactly, the only reason they want a permit is so they know to add more to your taxes. They physically view your property every year to assess taxes, so this shouldn't even be necessary. But if they don't do their job, then they just make you do it for them by adding a permit process. I'm about to build my wife a "she shed" office that will be about 12x15. Will i call for a permit? Nope. I already pay too much in taxes for the house. I'm not about to gift them a big wad on top of that.

 

[billb3]

Every town is different here, probably there too.

Here over 10x12 needs a building permit and plans submittted, including a site plan.
Any non-movable outbuilding permanently installed is taxed.

so you can get away with a 10x12 on skids, maybe blocks, for blocks I'd have to go down and check. The rules are always changing.


If it looks like a carport that's the rate they'd probably charge at. Likely not much.

 

[wilsoncm1]

No wonder the South is filling up with Yankees. Here in NC we call them half-backers because they first fled to FL and then moved halfway back.

 

[peakbagger]

I have seen where folks build a wood shed on trailer frame, block it up and keep a registration on it. It cant be taxed in my area as long as there are plates on it. It really comes down to local and possibly state tax policy.

 

[maple1]

I can have one shed, under 100 sqft without permit. Otherwise I need a permit. Plans. Surveys and inspections.

What exactly is their definition of 'shed'?

 

[peakbagger]

Varies by municipality. My town taxes structures. When I was on a zoning board a dog house could be considered a structure. There was no need for a foundation for it to be called a structure, it just had to be permanent. These portable car sheds made up of tubing and tarps are taxable if they stay up all year but if the are only there during winter for less than so many months they are not taxable

 

[ValleyCottageSplitter]

I guess if you really have to you could stick to pallets and tarps. There's no way that could be called a shed? I have a small 1/4 cord "shed" and didn't bother asking. It's just sitting on concrete stones and can be easily moved. I looked a bit online and it certainly doesn't classify for needing a permit. About 2 cords are stored in a rack with a tarp "roof". It has no walls at all and is also completely move-able once the wood is removed. There are two fully open sides and good cover so it works great for seasoning.

Rockland Co might be slightly better for these types of things than Westchester or LI.