Why Inspectors Don’t Include Sheds, Treehouses or Outbuildings

During an inspection, it’s natural to expect every structure on the property to be examined. But most standard home inspections don’t include sheds or treehouses.

 What a Standard Home Inspection Covers

A home inspection is primarily focused on the main dwelling — the place you’ll be living in every day. This includes the foundation, roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more. The purpose is to assess safety, functionality, and major defects in the core living space.

 Why Sheds and Treehouses Are Excluded

Sheds, treehouses, and other outbuildings are often excluded for a few key reasons:

1. They’re Not Permanently Habitable Structures
   Most sheds and treehouses aren’t built to the same standards as homes. They’re typically not heated, insulated, or connected to utilities — so they fall outside the scope of a general home inspection.
2. Access and Safety Issues
   Treehouses and aging sheds may be unstable or hard to reach, which poses safety concerns for inspectors. Liability policies often exclude non-standard or elevated structures for this reason.
3. Lack of Permit or Code Information
   Many of these structures are built without permits or don’t follow local codes.

 What You Can Do If You Want These Inspected

If the shed or treehouse is important to you — maybe it’s a future workshop or play space — you have options:

• Request a Specialized Add-On: Some inspectors offer outbuilding evaluations for an extra fee. Ask in advance!
• Hire a Contractor: A licensed builder or handyman should be able to assess the structure. However, a treehouse would probably be trickier since it depends on a tree for support.
• Check Permits: You can also look into whether the structure was permitted and built to code via your local building department.

Final Thought

Sheds and treehouses can be charming, useful additions to a property, but when it comes to inspections, they fall into a different category. We’re here to help you focus on the safety and soundness of your main home.

Thanks for reading. As always, if you have questions, we’re just a phone call or email away!

Alliance Inspections is fully qualified to conduct EEE inspections for both SB 721 and SB 326!

We also conduct specialty assessments for homeowners who have been tasked by their insurance company to provide specific information. These assessments don’t follow ASHI or CREIA standards which allow us the freedom to make notes on only parts of the structure, just to fulfill the insurance company’s needs — if possible, without providing too much information and risking client’s coverage.