Campbell River treats most backyard sheds as “ancillary buildings” under its zoning bylaw. According to the City’s building page, a shed larger than 10 m² (108 square feet) needs a building permit, while smaller storage sheds usually don’t, though they still have to follow the zoning rules. In residential zones the zoning bylaw caps a shed at 80 m² (861 square feet) and 5.0 m (16.4 feet) in height, and keeps it out of the required front yard.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Campbell River?
- Over 10 m² (108 square feet): yes, a building permit is needed, according to the City’s FAQ.
- Under 10 m²: a permit is “usually” not needed, but the shed still has to meet zoning size, height and setback rules.
- Any shed: it can’t be used as a dwelling, and it can’t sit in the required front yard.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006, s.4.12 (unofficial consolidation to Bylaw 4021, last amended 1 October 2026). Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023, s.4.3(a). |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | Over 10 m² (108 square feet) needs a permit, per the City’s FAQ. Bylaw 3899 s.4.3(a) only defers to the BC Building Code; the 10 m² figure isn’t written in the bylaw text. |
| How area is measured | Zoning “Floor Area” means all floors measured to the outer limits of the building wall. How roof overhangs count for the permit test: not confirmed. |
| Other conditions | Zoning s.4.12(b): no one may live in an ancillary building. The building bylaw lists no hazard, electrical or plumbing conditions for sheds. |
| Zoning check without a permit | The City says to check zoning for maximum area, height and coverage before building, and to email planning@campbellriver.ca before any development. |
| Max total area | 80 m² (861 square feet) for any single building and for all of them combined, s.4.12(c)(i). Rural and lakeshore zones: 160 m² (1,722 square feet), s.4.12(d)(i). |
| Max height, flat roof | 5.0 m (16.4 feet), s.4.12(c)(ii), measured to the highest point of the roof. Rural and lakeshore zones: 6.0 m (19.7 feet), s.4.12(d)(ii). |
| Max height, pitched roof | 5.0 m (16.4 feet), s.4.12(c)(ii), measured to the mid-point between the top plates and the ridge (“Building Height” definition). |
| Rear setback | 0.75 m (2.5 feet), s.4.12(c)(iii). |
| Interior side setback | 0.75 m (2.5 feet), s.4.12(c)(iii). |
| Exterior side setback | Not allowed in any side yard next to a local, collector or arterial road or a highway, s.4.12(c)(iii). |
| Front yard | Not allowed in the minimum required front yard, s.4.12(c)(iii). |
| Lane | A lane is treated as a rear lot line (0.75 m). Vehicle doors facing a lane need an approved entrance permit. |
| Separation from house | No distance is set in s.4.12. BC Building Code spacing rules may still apply. |
| Zones covered | The figures above are the “urban” rule, s.4.12(c): residential and residential multiple zones, commercial zones that allow homes, and public-area zones that allow care facilities. Rural (RU) and lakeshore (LS) zones follow s.4.12(d). |
| Permit fee | Bylaw 3899 Appendix A: simple building up to $5,000 of value has a $150 minimum; $5,000 to $100,000 is $150 plus $10 per $1,000. Building without a permit doubles the fee. |
What the BC Building Code says
BCBC 2024 Division A 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 the provincial rule is the default, but the city may be stricter; on this page the 10 m² permit figure comes from the City’s own FAQ, and the size, height and setback figures come from the zoning bylaw.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: size, height, setbacks and the front yard ban apply to every shed, permit or not.
- Electrical: wiring a shed is regulated separately by Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: this can turn a shed into habitable space, which needs a permit and is not allowed as a dwelling.
- Easements and rights-of-way: building over utility lines or covenants can be refused even if the size is fine. The City also warns that watercourse or eagle-tree protection zones can require an environmental development permit.
What isn’t confirmed
- The 10 m² permit limit is stated on the City’s FAQ page but not in the building bylaw text.
- The City’s page says its building bylaw is updated to Bylaw 3990 (2025), but the copy read for this page ended at Bylaw 3971 (2024), so the fee table could differ.
- Whether hazard, electrical or plumbing conditions can remove the permit exemption isn’t spelled out.
- Whether a site plan is needed for a small shed without a permit.
- A required distance between a shed and the house, a separate lot coverage cap for sheds, and how roof overhangs count toward 10 m².
Who to contact
City of Campbell River Building Services: (250) 286-5757 (City main line: (250) 286-5700). Official sources used:
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be in Campbell River without a permit?
The City’s FAQ says a permit is needed over 10 m² (108 square feet), and that smaller structures usually don’t need one. The shed must still meet zoning limits.
How much total shed space is allowed on a residential lot?
In residential zones, all ancillary buildings combined can’t exceed 80 m² (861 square feet). Rural and lakeshore zones allow 160 m² (1,722 square feet).
Can a shed go in the front yard?
No. Zoning s.4.12(c)(iii) keeps ancillary buildings out of the minimum required front yard and out of side yards that face a road.
What happens if a shed is built without a required permit?
The City says it will charge double fees and can issue a stop work order. Bylaw 3899 Appendix A also lists “double the building permit fee” for construction without a valid permit.
For province-wide context, 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 City of Campbell River before building.