The package
What is a JPD drawing package?
A complete set of drawings for one small, detached building, with a materials list, a cut list and a step-by-step build sequence.
Can I build it myself?
Yes, or hand it to a contractor. The build sequence takes you step by step.
Do you sell kits, or build them?
No. JPD sells drawing packages only. The materials are standard, from any lumberyard.
When can I buy one, and what will it cost?
The first packages release in summer 2027. Pricing will be announced before launch; join the waitlist to hear first.
Artist's rendering of the JPD design style
Size
How big is the building?
About 3.66 × 2.44 m (12 × 8 ft), measured to the outside of the walls: about 8.9 m². The roof overhangs extend beyond the walls and aren't included in that figure.
Why stay under 10 m²?
Under Ontario's Building Code Act, a structure occupying more than 10 m² is treated as a "building". JPD designs are drawn to stay under that threshold, measured to the outside of the walls. It's one reason each design is a single compact room.
Can I change the size, or add a deck or loft?
The size is part of the design's basis, so changing it can change what applies. So can adding a deck, porch, loft or a connection to another building. If you plan changes, check with your municipality first.
Permits and rules
Do I need a building permit?
I can't answer that for your property, and this site doesn't promise it either way. The designs are drawn to stay under the 10 m² threshold on a specific basis: area measured to the outside of the walls, one storey, fully detached, no plumbing, and not used for sleeping. Municipalities interpret the rules differently, and some may count roof overhangs. Before you build, ask your local building department whether a permit is needed for your project, and keep their answer in writing.
What about zoning?
Zoning applies whatever the size: setbacks, height, lot coverage and how many accessory buildings you can have. Check with your zoning office before you choose a spot.
Can I build one at the cottage?
Waterfront lots often add rules: shoreline setbacks, site plan approval, conservation authority permits and limits on clearing. Check with the township and, where it applies, the conservation authority.
Can I use the drawings for a permit application?
No. JPD packages are drawings to build from. They aren't prepared for permit submission, and JPD isn't registered as a designer under the Ontario Building Code (no BCIN). If your project needs a permit, you'll need drawings from a qualified, registered designer.
Artist's rendering of the JPD design style
Using it
Can I add a bathroom, or sleep in it?
No. The designs have no plumbing and aren't for sleeping or living in. Adding either changes the rules that apply, may need a building permit, and may not be allowed by zoning.
What about power and heat?
Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor, or by you where the Electrical Safety Authority allows it, with an ESA notification and inspection. Gas appliances need a certified gas technician. Wood stoves aren't part of any JPD design.
Artist's rendering of the JPD design style
These answers are general information, not legal advice.