There are many reasons why you might want to move a shed. You may just want to move it to another location in your yard, or, perhaps, you’re moving to another home and want to take your shed with you! Maybe you bought a property with a shed, and you don’t want it, so you want to remove the shed. Whatever your reason, it’s important to know what to expect to ensure your shed arrives to its new location without harm.

Is Moving a Shed Feasible?

Moving a shed is a viable option if the building was constructed to be moved. If a shed has no shed floor, they can probably be removed and repositioned without problems. There are also sheds that are portable buildings constructed with skids beneath them that allow the building to be moved without causing any damage. But others, especially those built on concrete slabs, were never intended to be moved.

If moving your shed is do-able though, there are also the questions of how it can be moved and who can move it!

Who Can Move a Shed?

While moving even a small shed might sound like an easy task if you are good with heavy equipment, the truth is that only a few people can do the job in some cases.

The job requires a heavy-duty trailer or similar method of transporting the unit from one location to the next. It also requires the mover to be able to load the structure onto the trailer, unload the structure when it gets to its new home, lift the unit so it can be leveled, and obtain the correct permits for the job when necessary.

Safety is paramount. If you aren’t sure about the safety part, leave it to a bonded and insured pro.

What Permits are Required?

Each state has its own rules and regulations concerning the moving of storage sheds down a highway. Almost every state will require the mover to obtain a permit before moving a unit that is more than 8′ wide.

The width of a building (for moving) is measured from the very outer corner of the roof from one side to another. Your overhang does not count as part of the size of the unit during purchase, but before you can drive the building to a new spot, you need to measure those overhangs.

Typical highways have lanes that are usually at least 10 feet in width. That means that a building more than ten feet wide on those highways would infringe on the other lanes. When you buy a permit to move a building, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for that state will tell you the exact route you can take. Sometimes their routes take you the long way around, but this is done for the safety of all drivers.

Permits might also be needed for the placement of a shed at its final destination.  We did an entire piece on shed permits if you want to learn more.

Who Should You Hire to Move Your Shed?

There are a few different professionals you can hire to move your shed, depending on its size, where you bought it, and where you’re moving it to and from.

• Professional Building Movers
  • For sheds more than 8′ wide, more than 8′ in height, or extremely heavy a professional building mover is needed.
• Building Manufacturers
  • If you are buying your shed new, the business will often deliver the shed for you. Some manufacturers even offer second moves, but in the event that they don’t, you can request the names of contractors in the area that specialize in moving sheds from them.
• Mobile Home Companies
  • If the building is greater than 12′ wide or longer than 24,’ you may have to call mobile home companies to get professionals that work with more significant buildings to move it for you.
• Wrecker Services
  • If the building is 10′ x 16′ or smaller, a wrecker service can do the job for you. This will depend on the skids the building has under it, however.

When Can You Move the Shed Yourself?

We get lots of questions about DIY shed topics. If you have a building less than 8′ wide, you can move it yourself using a low-boy trailer and a winch to get the building onto the trailer.

If you are moving the building on your own property, you can hook a tow line to the skids under the unit and move the building with a tractor.
If you hook to the skids of the building, be careful. You can damage the skids, damage the structure, or get injured during this process.

Considerations of Moving a Shed

You need to consider a few things about the shed before determining if the move is possible, viable, and cost-effective.

Before moving your shed, you should ask:

• Is it portable?
  • If it is portable, there will be skids beneath the building. The skids should stick out from under the building slightly.
• Was it manufactured to be portable?
  • Suppose the unit was constructed with skids that allow it to be moved. In that case, you could also be assured that the framing was done in such a way as to make it possible to move the building without racking the walls or compromising the integrity of the structure.
• What is the condition of the building?
  • If the building has been damaged from a long life, storms, or other causes, it may not be sturdy enough to move. Always be sure that the shed is worth saving before going through all the effort of moving it.
  • If the skids beneath the building are starting to rot or are otherwise compromised, the building may not be able to be moved.
  • If the building has shingles on top and the shingles are loose, you may not be able to move them.
• Is the location accessible?
  • Can a mover get equipment to the building without encountering obstacles like fences, trees, or low-hanging power lines?
  • Can you pull the building from its location without having to drive over someone else’s property? If you have to cross the property of someone else, you need their written permission to move the structure.
• Does the building have electricity, sewer, or water connections?
  • Suppose the building is connected to gas, electricity, sewer, or water. In that case, you may need to hire a professional to make the disconnects for you.
• Is the new location level ready for the building?
  • The building must have a level pad prepared for it to be moved onto. Check the new location to ensure it is level, the ground is dry, and nothing is blocking the building from being placed there.
• Is it empty?
  • Portable buildings are manufactured to support their weight during transport. They are not designed to support the weight of items stored inside them.
  • If the building is finished on the inside, that will also increase the structure’s weight. If the ceiling or walls have sheetrock on them, there is a good chance that the materials will crack during the move.

Is Your Shed Worth Moving?

This may be the most challenging part for you to determine. You need to assess the actual value of the building that you have. Just because you paid $5000 for it 15 years ago does not mean it is valued at $5000 or more now. Portable buildings depreciate like cars, boats, and other things do.
You have to determine what a building of the same size sells for. Then decide if the cost of moving your old building will be more than what your old building is worth.

The beautiful thing about sheds built with skids is that they can be moved. You have to consider how the building will be moved and how much the move will cost, then you can determine whether to take the building with you or buy a new one for the new place.