Garden sheds
Custom Garden Sheds in Aurora, York Region and the GTA
Cedar storage sheds, workshops and pool sheds, designed to match your house and built in our Aurora shop.
The short answer
Cedar Wood Structures designs and builds custom garden sheds in cedar for homeowners in Aurora, York Region and the GTA. Choose a standard model or a fully custom shed, with options such as windows, shelving, a workbench, electrical and insulation. We’re at 5 Child Drive, Aurora (416-990-8855), and build across Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Toronto, Milton and Oakville.
On this page
Garden sheds we build
A good shed keeps your mower, bikes, garden tools and patio cushions dry and out of sight. It can also be a workshop or a potting shed. We build sheds in cedar to suit the house and the yard, so the shed looks like it belongs on the property.
You can start from one of our standard single-storey models or have us design a shed from scratch. Either way, the parts are built in our shop in Aurora and then installed in your yard.
Why Cedar Wood Structures
- 28 years designing and building in Aurora
- Owner Val Dumitriu holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Parts built in our shop, then installed on site
- Plans and permit drawings prepared by our team
- Free design consultation at your home
Shed styles
Gable roof shed
The classic shape. A steep gable sheds snow well and leaves headroom for shelves and a loft.
Hip roof shed
A four-sided roof with a lower profile, often paired with French doors and large windows.
Modern lean-to or mono-pitch
A single sloped or flat roof. Good beside a house wall or fence, or for a cleaner modern look.
Pool and pump shed
Hides the pool pump and filter, and stores chemicals, floats and towels close to the water.
Shed with a bar window
A serving counter and roll-up shutter turn the front of the shed into a bar for the patio.
Workshop shed
Wide double doors, a workbench and good light for woodworking, bikes or small-engine repair.
If you need a fully insulated room for work or hobbies, look at our backyard studios and garages. Already have a shed and want to use it differently? Our guide to converting a shed explains what changes.
Options and features
- Doors and windows. Single or double doors, French doors, and different window styles. We make custom windows and doors to match the shed.
- Siding. Knotty cedar, pine, Canexel engineered wood siding, or stucco.
- Roof. Flat, gable or hip roof, with asphalt shingles or red cedar shakes.
- Inside. Shelving, a workbench, built-in units, storage benches and interior partition walls.
- Electrical. Lights, outlets and a heater, installed by a licensed electrician.
- Insulation. Insulated walls and roof if you plan to work in the shed in cooler weather.
- Details. Shutters, flower boxes, interior finishes and custom bars.
Cedar vs engineered wood vs metal or plastic kits
Most of our sheds are cedar, and some use engineered wood siding to match the house. Here is how they compare with store-bought kits.
| Cedar | Engineered wood siding | Metal or plastic kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Natural wood grain, can be stained or left to weather | Smooth painted finish in many colours | Factory look, limited colours |
| Rot and insects | Natural oils help cedar resist rot and insects | Treated to resist moisture when installed and maintained properly | Will not rot, but metal can dent or rust and plastic can fade |
| Size and layout | Any size and layout | Any size and layout | Fixed sizes |
| Snow and wind | Wood frame designed for the shed | Wood frame designed for the shed | Light frame, roofs need watching in heavy snow |
| Matching the house | Easy to match trim, roof and colours | Easy to match painted siding | Hard to match |
| Upkeep | Stain or seal every few years to keep the colour | Repaint as needed | Little upkeep, but limited repair options |
Foundations: concrete pad or gravel and skids
The foundation depends on the size of the shed, what you will store in it and the ground in your yard.
Concrete pad
Larger sheds and workshops
A concrete slab gives a solid, level floor for heavy equipment, ride-on mowers and workbenches. It is also the best base if you plan to add electrical or insulation later.
Gravel base with wood floor
Smaller storage sheds
A compacted gravel base with a wood floor frame on skids or beams drains well and keeps the floor off wet ground.
“CWS built us a shed, as per our design and specifications, in cedar, on a concrete pad. The shed is beautifully integrated with the house and the garden.”
Google review · Custom cedar shed
“Val was fantastic to work with. He is detail oriented and a good communicator … the quality of our finished shed is excellent.”
Google review · Garden shed
Planning a shed this year?
Tell us what you need to store and where it will go. We’ll suggest a size, a style and a foundation, and give you a free quote.
Shed sizes and permits
In Toronto, a shed up to 15 m² (161 sq ft) can be built without a building permit if it is one storey, detached from the house, used only for storage and has no plumbing. Other accessory buildings over 10 m² (107 sq ft) need a permit, and any with plumbing or attached to the house need one at any size. Other towns have their own by-laws, so check with your town or ask us.
Zoning rules on setbacks, height and lot coverage apply even when you do not need a permit. If your shed needs one, we prepare the plans and permit drawings and help with the application.
How the process works
Design
We review your yard and what you need to store, then design the shed. The consultation is free.
Drawings and permits
If your town requires a permit, we prepare the drawings and help you apply.
Shop build
Walls, roof and doors are built in our Aurora shop.
Install
We prepare the base, assemble the shed, fit the doors and windows and clean up.
Sheds we’ve built
See more sheds, cabanas and studios in our portfolio.
Areas we serve
Our shop is at 5 Child Drive, Aurora, ON L4G 1Y4. Call 416-990-8855. We build garden sheds across York Region, Toronto and the GTA, including:
- Aurora
- Newmarket
- Richmond Hill
- King City
- Stouffville
- East Gwillimbury
- Markham
- Vaughan
- Toronto
- Milton
- Oakville
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a shed in Toronto?
In Toronto, a shed up to 15 m² (161 sq ft) does not need a building permit if it is one storey, detached, used only for storage and has no plumbing. Larger sheds, or any with plumbing or attached to the house, need a permit, and zoning rules on setbacks and height always apply. Other towns have their own by-laws, so check with your town or ask us.
Do I need a concrete pad for a shed?
Not always. A concrete pad suits larger sheds, workshops and heavy equipment. Smaller storage sheds can sit on a compacted gravel base with a wood floor frame. We recommend a foundation after looking at the shed size and your yard.
Can you add electricity or insulation to a shed?
Yes. We can add lights, outlets and a heater, installed by a licensed electrician, and insulate the walls and roof. If the shed will be used as a workspace rather than storage, check whether it still qualifies for a permit exemption in your town.
How much does a custom shed cost?
The price depends on the size, the siding and roofing, the foundation, the number of doors and windows, and extras such as electrical, insulation and shelving. We give a free quote after a design consultation, so you know the cost before anything is built.
Do you build sheds in Newmarket and Milton?
Yes. We are based in Aurora and build sheds across York Region and the GTA, including Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Toronto, Milton and Oakville.
Are cedar sheds good for Ontario winters?
Yes. Cedar contains natural oils that help it resist rot and insects, and a properly framed roof handles snow.
Related services and guides
Ready to plan your shed?
Book a free design consultation. We’ll look at your yard, talk through what you need to store and design a cedar shed to suit it.
Permit information on this page is general guidance based on City of Toronto rules as of October 2026. Always confirm the requirements with your own municipality before you build.