Anmore sits on the hills above Burrard Inlet, and its zoning rules for backyard buildings are some of the strictest in Metro Vancouver. In the main residential zone (RS-1), an accessory building such as a shed generally has to stay 7.6 metres from the rear line and 5 metres from an interior side line, although a building under 10 m² can sit closer. The Village’s building bylaw also doesn’t list a shed size below which a permit isn’t needed, so that point should be confirmed with the Village before anything is built.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Anmore?
- Anmore’s Building Bylaw 583-2018 (section 11.2(a)) requires a building permit before “any construction”, and no shed-size exemption was found in it.
- The Village’s building requirements page lists minor work that doesn’t need a permit, such as painting, roof repair, fencing and low decks, but it doesn’t mention sheds.
- Because the provincial 10 m² default may not apply here, the building department should be asked before a shed of any size goes up.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 568-2017 (consolidated to Bylaw 745-2026); Building Bylaw 583-2018 (consolidated December 2019); Fees and Charges Bylaw 608-2019 |
|---|---|
| Zones covered | Figures are for RS-1 (clause 9.1) unless noted. RS-1A, INF and RS-2 differ (see below). |
| Building permit threshold | Not confirmed. Building Bylaw 583-2018, section 11.2(a), requires a permit before “any construction”, and no size exemption was found (section 5.1 applies the bylaw to all buildings). |
| How area is measured | Floor area is the greatest horizontal area of all storeys, measured to the outside of the wall sheathing (Zoning Bylaw, Part 2). Parcel coverage is measured at grade to the outermost perimeter of buildings. |
| Max total accessory area | RS-1: 180 m² (1,937 square feet), up to 2 accessory buildings, only 1 if the lot has a coach house (clause 9.1.3). Parcel coverage 25% (9.1.5). All buildings together are limited to a floor area ratio of 0.25. |
| Max height | RS-1: 7 m (23 feet) for accessory buildings (9.1.3). Flat roofs are measured to the highest point; a roof flatter than 2 in 12 counts as flat (5.6.2(a), 5.6.4). Pitched roofs are measured to the midpoint between the peak and a point 2.4 m above the floor (5.6.2(b)). |
| Rear setback | RS-1: 7.6 m (25 feet); 3.0 m (10 feet) if the building is under 10 m² (9.1.4 and note (a)). RS-1A: 7.6 m, or 3.5 m (11 feet) under 10 m² (9.2.5). |
| Interior side setback | RS-1: 5 m (16 feet); 3.0 m (10 feet) if under 10 m² (9.1.4 and note (a)). RS-1A: 5 m, or 3.5 m (11 feet) under 10 m² (9.2.5). |
| Exterior side setback | RS-1: 7.6 m (25 feet) (9.1.4). RS-1A: 7.6 m (9.2.5). |
| Front yard | RS-1 accessory buildings must meet the 7.6 m (25 feet) front setback (9.1.4). No separate front-yard shed ban was found for RS-1. |
| Separation from house | Not confirmed for RS-1. A coach house must be 5 m (16 feet) from the main house (6.7.4). |
| Other zones | RS-1A (9.2): front 10 m, accessory area up to 25% of the house floor area to a maximum of 120 m². INF (9.22): 1 accessory building, setbacks 7.6 m front and rear, 5.0 m exterior side, 3.0 m interior side. RS-2 (9.23): 1 accessory building, front 6 m, rear 2.5 m, exterior side 3.0 m, interior side 1.5 m, and an accessory building up to 55.7 m² is allowed. |
| Permit fee | Fees and Charges Bylaw 608-2019, Schedule A: $500 non-refundable application fee (deducted from the permit fee if approved). Permit fee is $21 per $1,000 of work up to $5,000 (minimum $75), then $15 per $1,000 plus a $75 base for $5,001 to $20,000. |
| Site plan without a permit | Not confirmed. |
What the BC Building Code says
The BC Building Code 2024 (BCBC), Division A, clause 1.1.1.1(2)(e), says the Code doesn’t apply to accessory buildings under 10 m² in building area that don’t create a hazard, and “hazard” isn’t defined, so the local building official decides. Where a city’s own documents are silent, that provincial rule is the default, but a city can be stricter, and the figures on this page come from Anmore’s own zoning and building bylaws, not from the provincial rule.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning still applies to every shed: setbacks, height, total accessory area, parcel coverage and the limit on the number of accessory buildings.
- Electrical work, such as running power to a shed, is regulated separately by Technical Safety BC.
- An accessory building can’t contain a dwelling unit (clause 5.3.2). Using a shed as a bedroom or a regular office can trigger building, plumbing and zoning rules.
- Utility easements and rights-of-way on the title can block a shed location, whatever the setbacks say.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether any shed size is exempt from a building permit. The building bylaw has no exemption, and the Village’s web page doesn’t mention sheds.
- How far a shed must be from the house in the RS-1 zone.
- Whether a front-yard shed ban exists beyond the 7.6 m front setback.
- Whether a site plan or zoning check is needed when no permit is required.
- The setback to a lane.
- Later changes to the building bylaw. The copy read is a December 2019 consolidation.
Who to contact
Village of Anmore Village Hall: 604-469-9877. Official documents used for this page:
- Anmore Zoning Bylaw 568-2017 (PDF)
- Anmore Building Bylaw 583-2018 (PDF)
- Anmore Fees and Charges Bylaw 608-2019 (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
Does a shed in Anmore need a building permit?
The Building Bylaw requires a permit before any construction (section 11.2(a)), and no shed-size exemption was found. That makes a call to the Village the safest first step, even for a small shed.
How far does a shed have to be from the property line in Anmore?
In RS-1, accessory buildings need 7.6 m (25 feet) at the front, rear and exterior side, and 5 m (16 feet) at an interior side. A building under 10 m² can reduce the rear and interior side setbacks to 3.0 m (10 feet). Other zones differ.
How tall can a shed be in Anmore?
In RS-1, accessory buildings are capped at 7 m (23 feet). Height is measured from the lower of the average natural or finished grade.
How much total accessory building area is allowed in Anmore?
In RS-1, accessory buildings can total 180 m² (1,937 square feet), in up to 2 buildings, and the lot’s overall parcel coverage is capped at 25%. Only 1 accessory building is allowed if the lot has a coach house.
For the provincial picture, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC and Shed Rules by City.
These figures are a general guide checked 26 October 2026. Confirm them with the Village of Anmore before building.