About this office
This 8×12 backyard office gives a working parent a quiet place to work, a short walk from the house. It sits on the back patio of a single-storey home in Edgemont, in the District of North Vancouver. The office is 8′ x 12′ (96 sq/ft), with a sliding glass door, a row of clerestory windows and grey panel siding. It was built in a factory, then lifted over the house by crane in one piece.
Why a backyard office instead of a spare room
The family was growing, and the spare bedroom used as an office had turned into a place to store things. It was hard to focus there during the day. A separate office in the backyard is far enough from the house to stay focused, but close enough to help out at home when needed.
Light from every side
The front wall has a sliding glass door and a row of clerestory windows set high under the roof. A tall window and an awning window sit on one side, and a long horizontal window runs along the other. The single-slope shed roof rises toward the front, so the tallest part of the room is where the glass is.
Inside, the ceiling is pine tongue-and-groove, the walls are white, and the floor is vinyl plank. Track lights, five outlets and a baseboard heater make it usable all year. It’s also pre-wired for phone, internet and TV.
Built in a factory, lifted in by crane
The office was built in a factory in North Vancouver and arrived on site about 95% finished. There was no side access to the backyard, so a large truck-mounted crane lifted it over the house. The crane reached nearly 80 feet into the yard. The lift took less than two hours from start to finish. Building off site means weeks less noise and mess for the neighbours.
| Size | 8′ x 12′ (96 sq/ft) |
|---|---|
| Design | Modern backyard office with a single-slope shed roof |
| Build type | Factory-built, delivered about 95% complete |
| Siding | Hardie open-joint panels + corrugated Galvalume |
| Roof | Standing seam Galvalume |
| Overhangs | Front 18″; sides 12″ |
| Windows | Clerestory windows, plus tall and awning windows |
| Doors | Sliding glass door |
| Step | 60″ wide x 12″ deep step at the door (no deck) |
| Interior | Pine tongue-and-groove ceiling, white melamine walls, vinyl plank floor |
| Power | 5 duplex outlets; pre-wired for phone, internet and TV |
| Heat | Baseboard heater |
| Permit status | Under 10 m²: no building permit in most BC cities. Zoning still applies. |
| Location | Edgemont, District of North Vancouver, BC |
More photos
The photos below show the office from every side, plus close-ups of the siding, windows and interior.
What to plan before building an 8×12 backyard office
- Size: 8′ x 12′ (96 sq/ft) fits a desk, a chair and shelving, and stays under 10 m² (about 108 sq/ft).
- Access: check how the building will get into the yard. With no side access, a crane may be the only way in.
- Light: clerestory windows let in daylight while keeping privacy from neighbours.
- Power and data: plan outlets, phone, internet and TV wiring before the walls are closed in. Electrical work needs its own permit.
- Heat: a baseboard heater makes an office this size usable in winter.
Frequently asked questions
How big is this backyard office?
It’s 8 feet by 12 feet, which is 96 sq/ft (about 8.9 m²) of floor space.
Do you need a permit for a backyard office in the District of North Vancouver?
The District doesn’t require a building permit for a shed under 10 m² (108 sq/ft), but it asks for a site plan, and zoning still applies. The District says a building used as a studio or hobby space no longer counts as a shed, and lights, outlets or a heater need an electrical permit through Technical Safety BC. Check with the building department first. See North Vancouver Shed Regulations for the details.
How did the office get into the backyard?
It was lifted over the house in one piece by a truck-mounted crane. The building was strapped to a lifting frame, raised, swung over the roof and lowered onto the patio.
Are there other backyard offices in North Vancouver?
Yes. See the North Vancouver Backyard Office and the 8×12 Red Backyard Office, also in the District of North Vancouver.
More outbuildings to explore
Browse more Backyard Outbuildings, check the Shed Rules by City, or read Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit.