Shed Rules by City: Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island

Every BC city sets its own shed rules. Permits, height limits, setbacks and where a shed can sit all change from one municipality to the next. This guide lists the shed rules for Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, grouped by area, with one page per city and the key numbers in colour-coded tiles at the top of each page.

The BC rule that applies almost everywhere

The BC Building Code doesn’t apply to accessory buildings under 10 m² (about 108 square feet) that don’t create a hazard, so most cities don’t require a building permit for a shed that small. Zoning rules still apply, and some cities set their own, stricter limits. Each city page shows which source its numbers come from.

GreenPermit-freeThe size where no building permit is needed.

RedPermit neededThe size where a permit is required.

BlueHeightThe tallest a shed can be.

Amber and tealSetbacksDistance from rear and side property lines.

GreyOther or unconfirmedFront yard rules, area limits, or a figure still to be confirmed.

Metro Vancouver shed rules by area

Vancouver

North Shore and Howe Sound

Burnaby and New Westminster

Tri-Cities and Burrard Inlet

Richmond and Delta

Surrey, White Rock and the Langleys

Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Vancouver Island shed rules by area

Victoria and the core

West Shore and Sooke

Saanich Peninsula

Cowichan Valley

Nanaimo and Central Island

Comox Valley and Campbell River

North Island and the West Coast

Before you build

These pages are a general guide, checked in October 2026. Bylaws change, and each zone has its own details, so always confirm with your city’s building department before construction. For the province-wide picture, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC, or browse Backyard Outbuildings.