Saanich Shed Rules: Size, Permits and Setbacks
Quick answer: in the District of Saanich, a shed under 10 m² (about 107 sq/ft) does not need a building permit if it follows the zoning rules and creates no hazard. A shed or other accessory building over 10 m² needs a building permit.
Always check with the District of Saanich before building. Rules change and depend on the zone of the lot. This page was last fact-checked against the District’s website in October 2026.
Sheds under 10 m² (107 sq/ft)
Saanich does not require a building permit for an accessory building under 10 m² that meets zoning and is not a hazard. The size is measured the way the District measures it, so a shed that is close to the limit can tip over it once decks or roof overhangs are counted. Common sizes that sit under the limit are 8 x 10 ft (80 sq/ft), 8 x 12 ft (96 sq/ft) and 10 x 10 ft (100 sq/ft).
No permit does not mean no rules. The shed still has to meet the Zoning Bylaw for the lot.
Sheds and buildings over 10 m²
Anything over 10 m² needs a building permit before construction, with a separate application for each structure. Saanich takes these applications through its online residential permit portal. Application fees are based on the value of the work (for example $100 for work under $15,000 and $300 for $15,001 to $100,000), and a refundable surety deposit is collected when the permit is issued.
Where it can go: setbacks and height
Siting rules come from Zoning Bylaw 8200 and differ by zone. As an example, in the common RS-6 single family zone, accessory buildings must be:
- at least 7.5 m (24.6 ft) from the front lot line
- at least 1.5 m (4.9 ft) from the rear and interior side lot lines
- at least 3.5 m (11.5 ft) from an exterior side lot line (corner lots)
- no taller than 3.75 m (12.3 ft)
- kept, together with all other accessory buildings, to 10% of the lot
Other zones have different numbers, so the lot’s own zone page in the bylaw is the one that counts.
Other things to know
- A shed cannot be used for lodging, sleeping, a residence or a business. Garden suites follow separate rules.
- Properties within 30 m of a creek, stream or wetland may fall in the Streamside Development Permit Area. A small accessory building under 10 m² can be exempt if it stays in an already landscaped area, removes no native trees and sits at least 5 m from the stream’s high water mark.
- A plumbing or electrical installation in a shed brings in more permits, even when the shed itself is small.
Where to check
The District of Saanich Inspection Services office is at 770 Vernon Ave, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7. Permit questions and answers, the Zoning Bylaw and the online permit portal are on saanich.ca.
Other Capital Region municipalities: Oak Bay, Victoria, Esquimalt, Central Saanich, Colwood, Langford and Sidney.
Sources: District of Saanich, Permit Q & As; Building Bylaw 2019 No. 9529; Zoning Bylaw 8200 (Schedule 210, RS-6); Streamside Development Permit Area guidelines.