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How to Anchor a Shed to the Ground (and Whether You Have To)
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What two cities require
| City | Rule |
|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | The building code requires storage buildings to be anchored to prevent overturning in high wind. An inspector verifies sheds are anchored or tied down, even for small sheds under 200 square feet. |
| Hopkins, MN | Sheds must be anchored by attachment to a slab or in-ground anchors. All corners of the shed must be anchored. A concrete slab is not required. |
Sources: City of Sioux Falls handout dated March 2010; City of Hopkins, Building a Shed.
Sioux Falls's anchoring details
- Shed on a concrete slab: minimum is 1/2-inch anchor bolts embedded 7 inches into the concrete, at least 4 inches from the corner and no more than 6 feet apart.
- Shed on the ground: each corner must be anchored into the ground. A common type is a conventional mobile home screw auger anchor, installed 4 to 5 feet deep depending on soil.
- Soil matters: a 6-inch diameter screw auger in stiff clay may withstand 4,450 pounds of pull. In sandy soil, the same size may withstand 2,500 pounds.
- If the anchors are not enough: stronger anchors or more tie-downs may be required. Extra measures include extra protection on vertical anchors, inclined anchors or diagonally pre-loading anchors. A steel plate next to a vertical anchor, or a concrete cylinder around its upper part, makes it more resistant to horizontal shifting.
Steps
- Ask your building department what anchoring it requires, even if the shed is small enough to skip a permit. Seattle says codes apply whether or not you need a permit.
- Pick the anchor type for your base: bolts for a slab, in-ground anchors for a shed on the ground.
- Call 811 before you dig (our note).
- Anchor all four corners and follow the anchor maker's instructions for depth and soil.
- Ask for an inspection if your town does them.
The pages we opened do not give a national standard, and they do not cover your wind zone. Building on uneven ground? See shed on a slope. Choosing a base? See shed foundations.
Need ground anchors?
Check the anchor's rating against your soil and your local rule before you buy.
Browse shed ground anchorsCommon questions
Do sheds need to be anchored?
In some cities, yes. Sioux Falls says its building code requires storage buildings to be anchored to prevent overturning in high wind, and that its inspector verifies this even for sheds under 200 square feet. Hopkins, Minnesota says sheds must be anchored to a slab or by in-ground anchors, at all corners. Rules vary, so ask your local building department.
How do you anchor a shed on a concrete slab?
Sioux Falls's minimum is 1/2-inch anchor bolts embedded 7 inches into the concrete, at least 4 inches from the corner and no more than 6 feet apart.
How do you anchor a shed on the ground?
Sioux Falls says that when a shed is simply placed on the ground, each corner must be anchored into the ground. It names a conventional mobile home screw auger anchor as a common type, installed 4 to 5 feet deep depending on soil. Hopkins also requires all corners anchored.
How strong are ground anchors?
Sioux Falls says soils have different holding strengths. A 6-inch diameter screw auger in stiff clay may withstand a pulling force of 4,450 pounds, and the same size in sandy soil may withstand 2,500 pounds. If the anchors cannot sustain the pull from strong winds, stronger anchors or more tie-downs may be required.
Does a shed that needs no permit still need anchoring?
Possibly. Seattle says building, land use, stormwater, grading and critical-area codes apply whether or not you need a permit. Sioux Falls says its inspector checks anchoring even on small sheds. Ask your building department.
Related guides
Free printable: Shed Build Checklist
From permit check to the last coat of paint, in one page. Download the one-page PDF now, or get it by email along with a short series of five helpful emails.