HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuildingGuideGarageShed1-2family
1 2/6/2024
This handout will help guide you through the permit application process. Following the steps below will
help to expedite the issuance of your building permit. Please plan ahead and pick one of the following
methods to apply for your permit. We suggest that you apply for the permit a minimum of 2 weeks prior to
your start date. Permits can be applied for by using the following methods below:
In Person:
This is the best method to discuss the specifics of your project with a planner and inspector. Typically if all
the required information is submitted, and the information is found acceptable, the permit can be issued at
that time.
How to Apply
Step 1: Obtain site plan approval from Planning Services. They are located in RM 204 on the 2nd floor of
City Hall. A scaled site plan will need to be submitted for their review. If you have questions about
your project contact their office at (920) 236-5059. The planning office is open 8:00am-4:30pm
Monday through Friday.
Step 2: After you’ve obtained site plan approval apply for your permit at the Inspection Services Division,
room 205 on the second floor of City Hall.
Submit the following for review:
• A detailed description of all proposed work
• Elevation and floor plan showing overall size and detailing the following; overall height of the garage,
height of the side walls, door and window locations, sizes, dimensions of the overhangs, headers/beam
material and size, truss plans/rafter sizes, grade beam size, slab thickness & reinforcement size/location,
wall bracing lengths and locations, any portal frame method (see page 6 of this guide).
Inspectors are available for consultation and permit issuance 7:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Payment
The City of Oshkosh accepts cash, check or credit/debit cards for payment (a service fee applies when using
cards). If you have questions on permit fees please see page 2.
Inspection Requests
After the permit is obtained inspections can be requested by calling the Inspection Request Line at (920) 236-
5128. This is an automated line, and you will need the permit number or address and type of inspection be-
ing requested.
Online:
When applying for a permit online please follow this link: http://www.oshkoshwi.gov/EvolvePublic/
Underground Utilities: Call Diggers Hotline 3 Work Days Before You Dig! 1-800-242-8511
1 & 2 Family Garage/Shed Permits
City of Oshkosh Inspection Services Division
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How to Apply
Step 1: Click on “New Account” or “Login” located on the right hand corner and enter your contact infor-
mation. If you have an existing account with our department you may need to contact our office at
(920) 236-5050 to set up a password.
Step 2: Click on “Permit Application” on the left side of the screen. Select “Residential Building” for the cat-
egory and “Garage or Shed” for the type, click Next.
Step 3: Enter the address of the project, click next. If the address does not show up enter it in the lower box,
click next.
Step 4: Enter a detailed description of your project and the cost. Cost needs to include the fair market value
for labor (even if you as the owner are doing the work) and material costs. Only the highlighted fields
need to be filled in, click next.
Step 5: If you are applying as the owner, you may also if you choose, add any contractors you may have hired
for your project. This is not required. Only contractors that have obtained permits in the past with the
City of Oshkosh may be added, as they will have an existing account. If you are applying as the own-
er, but a contractor will be doing the work, a cautionary statement to owners will be needed.
Step 6: Upload the following for review: site plan, framing plans (foundation plan, elevations, cross sections,
wall bracing details, truss plans, beam/header calculations).
Step 7: Read the Esignature statement and check the “I agree to conditions” box, hit finish.
Step 8: You will see a message that your application has been submitted for review. Someone from the City
will contact you if additional information is required and/or when the permit is ready to be issued.
* Please note that no construction can commence until after the permit is approved and
obtained.
* When the permit is ready to be issued you will be notified for payment via email including payment
instructions. Please check your spam or trash folders if you have not received an email.
* Inspections can be scheduled after the permit has been obtained.
Permit Fees:
See the following link to view permit fees: https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/InspectionServices/
PermitFeeSchedule.pdf
• Inspection Services fee schedule for building fees. Questions please contact (920) 236-5050.
• Assessors fee schedule for property record maintenance fees. Questions please contact (920) 236-5070.
• Planning Services fee schedule for zoning fees. Questions please contact (920) 236-5059.
Check payments will need to be payable to “City of Oshkosh”.
Fire Separation:
• Any garage/shed located less than 10’ from the principal structure or closer than 3’ to the property line
must be provided with a 3/4 hour fire separation. This requirement would be a minimum of 1 layer of 5/8”
Type X Fire Code Gypsum applied to the inside walls of the garage that would extend from the foundation
to the underside of the roof sheathing.
• Twenty-minute fire rated doors and windows may also be required.
Foundation:
• Attached garages must have a minimum of 48 inches of frost protection.
• Detached garages are allowed to have a minimum of a 4-inch concrete slab, and an 8 inch by 8 inch
perimeter grade beam. (See page 7)
• The slab must be reinforced with a minimum of 6x6 #10 welded wire mesh, 1/2 inch re-rod tied @ 24
inches on center (maximum) and supported, or Fiber mesh. (See page 7)
• 1/2” anchor bolts embedded at least 7 inches into the concrete with a maximum spacing of 18” from the
corners and 6 foot o/c. Anchor bolts with washers and nuts must extend through double bottom plates if
Building Code Requirements:
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Top Plates:
• Studs at bearing walls shall be capped with double top plates.
• End joints in double top plates shall be offset at least 2 stud spaces.
• Double top plates shall be overlapped at the corners and at intersections with partitions.
• Any breaks in the top plates shall be broken over a stud.
Roof Rafters:
• Where rafters meet to form a ridge, they shall be placed directly opposite each other and nailed to a ridge
board of not less than 1 inch in thickness and not less in depth than the plumb cut of the rafters.
• Hip rafters may be single members.
• Valley and hip rafters shall be 2 inches deeper than jack rafters and continuous from ridge to plate.
• Collar ties of 1 inch by 6 inch (1x6) boards or better shall be installed in the upper third of the roof height
to every third pair of rafters.
• Ceiling joists shall be nailed to exterior walls and to the ends of the rafters.
• Engineered straps/clips, “Hurricane Ties” or approved truss screws are required to secure the trusses and/
or rafters to the top plate.
Roof Sheathing:
Panels 24 inches or wider should be used. For panel widths of 12 inches or less, lumber blocking applied to
both narrow-width panel edges is required, regardless of adjacent ridge or valley. For panels 12 inches but
less than or equal to 16 inches, lumber blocking is required. For panel widths 16 inches but less than 24
inches, use panel edge clips or lumber blocking at unsupported edges. The edge support is to be placed at the
joint between the narrow-width panel and an adjacent full-width panel. Unless otherwise required by the
building code, the support may be omitted at the edge adjacent to a ridge or valley when the opposite edge or
the narrow-width panel is thus supported. When used, two panel edge clips, equally spaced, shall be placed
between each pair of supports. Two-by-four blocking may be used flatwise or edgewise and shall be adequate-
ly attached to roof framing.
Wall Openings:
• Headers shall be sized to carry loads imposed where doors or windows occur.
• Where the opening is less than 6 ft. in width, the header shall be supported on each end by a single com-
mon stud and shoulder stud.
• Where the opening is more than 6 ft. the header shall be supported on each end by a single common stud
and two shoulder studs or as required by beam bearing calculations.
Exterior Wall Bracing (Does not apply to sheds):
• When a garage has structural sheathing (osb) applied to the entire surface of the exterior walls the mini-
mum required Braced Wall Panel width is determined by the height of the garage walls. Each corner must
have a minimum of a 2’ braced wall panel return at each corner unless using a portal frame method. See
page 6 of this guide for portal framing.
• When using portal frame method, panel splice must be within 24 inches of wall height mid-span.
• For 8’ high walls a minimum Braced Wall Panel Width of 24” is required.
• For 9’ high walls a minimum Braced Wall Panel Width of 27” is required.
• For 10’ high walls a minimum Braced Wall Panel Width of 30” is required.
NOTE: A minimum clearance of 8 inches is required from untreated wood sheathing to finished grade.
Nailing Requirements:
Building code requirements specify that common nails are to be installed for wall bracing. It is rare for a con-
tractor to install common nails. Please refer to the charts below for the required spacing for gun nails and sta-
ples.
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The following can be substituted for 6d common nails:
The following can be substituted for 8d common nails:
NOTE: When installing fasteners into treated plates make sure you are using fasteners that have been
approved for corrosion resistance.
Permanent Weather Resistant Finish:
The exterior walls of the garage are required to be covered with a permanent weather resistant finish.
There is a misconception in the construction industry that vinyl siding is a permanent weather resistant fin-
ish. However the vinyl siding does not protect the osb sheathing from getting wet and is actually con-
structed with holes in it to let the water shed out due to the fact that it is not weather resistant. Most vinyl
siding manufacturers require a weather barrier under the siding such as tar paper or house wrap. Please
also note that osb is not an exterior finish material and it shall not be exposed to the elements for longer
than required during construction even if it is painted. When installing house wrap and/or tar paper please
remember to properly lap it so that the water sheds from the top of the structure to the bottom.
Wiring Requirements:
• All service doors and their required landings are required to be illuminated by a wall switch-controlled
light.
• At least one wall switched light and one receptacle is required for garages with electric power.
• All garage receptacles are required to be GFCI protected.
• Romex (type NM cable) shall be supported within 8 inches of a plastic box or 12 inches of a metal box
and every 41/2 ft. thereafter.
• Nail guards required when wire is within 1-1/4” of stud edge.
• Metallic boxes are to be grounded.
• Mechanically secure all ground wire splices (green wire nuts, crimps, pigtails with wire nuts, etc.)
• All devices are to be grounded including switches, receptacles, light fixtures, etc.
• All receptacles shall be of the Tamper Resistant type.
• Underground wiring shall be approved for direct burial and shall be placed:
* 18” (to the top of the pipe) below finished grade and 24” under any driveway.
* 24” below finished grade for direct burial cable in all locations.
* 12” below finished grade for a 120 volt, 20 amp or less GFCI protected single circuit.
6d Common Nail Spaced 3” o/c Spaced 6” o/c Spaced 12” o/c
2-3/8” x .113 Gun Nail 3” 6” 12”
16 Gage Staple (7/16” crown) 2” 4” 8”
8d Common Nail Spaced 3” o/c Spaced 6” o/c Spaced 12” o/c
2-3/8” x .113 Gun Nail 2” 4” 8”
16 Gage Staple (7/16” crown) 1.5” 3” 6”
Electrical Code Requirements:
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24’
Effective 4/1/09 the State of WI Uniform Dwelling Code changed to include new standards for the con-
struction of wall bracing and foundation requirements for all structures. The diagram below is a sample of
what is required to be submitted to show compliance with the State of Wisconsin Wall Bracing
Requirements for a garage. The following information is required when submitting your plans:
1. Note the bracing method being utilized.
2. Garage dimensions. Label the size and location of all windows, service doors and overhead doors.
3. Show all header sizes.
4. Show bracing panel locations, dimensions and the total braced wall percentage for each wall.
5. Show the direction of the trusses.
24
’
16’ 24” 24” 3’ 12”
3’ Service Door
16’ Overhead Door/Continuous header across the garage, 2(2x12)’s
or engineered lumber
48” Wood Structural Panel (3/8” min. thickness) 16” o/c stud spacing.
Minimum Nailing: 8d common nails at 6” spacing (panel edges) and at
12” spacing (intermediate supports) or
16 ga. X 1 3/4 staples at 3” spacing (panel edges)
and 6” spacing (intermediate supports)
The sheathing is required to extend full length from
the foundation to the top of the double top plate.
Any seams are required to be blocked.
24” Minimum Panel width unless utilizing portal frame method
(3/8” min. thickness) for an 8’ high wall per table 21.25 J with a minimum of
2’ returns
Trusses 24” o/c
3’Window/2(2x10) header
Wall Bracing Method Being Utilized:
Continuously Sheathed Braced Wall Method
Braced Wall Percentage (front wall): 24’ wall x 12”/1 ft x 16% = 46.08” of wall is required to be braced.
24” panel + 24” panel = 48” (Passed! ….needed 46.08”)
***The other walls pass due to the other wall sections having 96” of braced wall length***
Sample Wall Bracing Plan
City of Oshkosh Inspection Services Division
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Portal Frame Construction:
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Typical Slab Construction: