Sheds, detached garages, and pole buildings
Storage is the number one complaint in Twin Cities homes with small original garages. A purpose-built shed or a second garage solves it for a fraction of what an addition costs.
What we build
- Custom sheds — 8x10 through 16x24, matched to your house siding and roofing
- Detached garages — single, double, and tandem, with or without a second story
- Pole barns and post-frame buildings — the cheapest dollar-per-square-foot enclosed space
- Lean-tos and equipment covers
- Workshops and studio buildings — insulated, wired, heated
- Existing garage rebuilds on the original slab where the slab is sound
Slab, footings, or skids?
- Skid / gravel pad — cheapest, fine for a small storage shed, no permit in many cities
- Frost-protected footings — required for anything permanent and larger; 42 inches deep in the metro
- Monolithic slab — the right answer for garages and any building holding vehicles
Skipping frost footings on a permanent building is how sheds end up racked and doors stop closing after two Minnesota winters.
Planning ranges (Twin Cities, estimates)
| Building | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 8x10 shed on gravel | $3,500 – $7,000 |
| 12x16 shed, frost footings | $9,000 – $18,000 |
| Single-car detached garage | $22,000 – $38,000 |
| Two-car detached garage | $32,000 – $60,000 |
| Two-car with storage loft | $45,000 – $80,000 |
| 30x40 pole barn | $30,000 – $70,000 |
| Insulating and heating a garage | $4,000 – $12,000 |
Estimates for planning. Concrete, electrical, and site access drive the range.
Permits and zoning
Most Twin Cities suburbs require a permit above 120 or 200 square feet (it varies by city), and nearly all have rules on setbacks from lot lines, maximum accessory-building footprint, total impervious surface, and height. Minneapolis and St. Paul both have their own accessory-structure rules. We check your city's code before designing so you do not find out at inspection.
What's included
- Free, no-pressure estimate
- Licensed & fully insured crew
- Cleanup included — we leave it spotless
- Same-day or scheduled service
- Written quote, fair pricing
- 24/7 emergency response
FAQ
Do I need a permit for a shed?
It depends on your city and size — many allow up to 120 or 200 square feet without one, but setback and lot coverage rules still apply. We verify with your city before we start.
Pole barn or stick-built garage?
Post-frame is cheaper per square foot and goes up faster, which makes it the winner for large storage or shop space. Stick-built matches a house better and is usually preferred for a detached garage in a residential neighborhood.
Can a detached garage have a loft or apartment?
Structurally yes. Whether you can legally live in it depends on your city ADU rules, which differ a lot between Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburbs.
How deep do the footings need to be?
Frost depth in the Twin Cities metro is 42 inches for permanent structures. Anything shallower will heave.
Sheds, Garages & Pole Barns near you
We cover 74+ Twin Cities cities. Pick yours: