A homeowner in Colwood can usually build a small backyard shed without a building permit if it’s under 10 square metres (108 square feet) and doesn’t create a hazard, according to the City of Colwood. Even then, the shed has to follow the city’s Land Use Bylaw No. 151, which sets limits on total size, height and how close the shed can sit to property lines and the house. This page sets out what the city’s own bylaws and web pages say for typical residential lots.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Colwood?
- No building permit is needed for a shed under 10 m² (108 square feet) that doesn’t create a hazard, per the City of Colwood web page.
- Bigger sheds usually need a permit, and a site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, elevations and cross sections are listed for accessory building applications.
- Zoning rules apply either way: 1 m from side and rear lot lines, 1 m from the house, 4 m high and 60 m² total in the general rule.
| Bylaws | Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to 24 August 2026), s.2.1.06. Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to 22 January 2024), cl.1.2.1. |
|---|---|
| Building permit threshold | Under 10 m² (108 square feet) and no hazard: no permit. This figure is on the city web page. Bylaw 977 cl.1.2.1 only points to the Building Code exemptions, 1.1.1.1(2)(a) to (h). |
| How area is measured | Not confirmed. The city page says only “in area”. |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | The shed must not create a hazard (city page). No dwelling use, s.2.1.06(1)(c). Electrical and plumbing triggers: not confirmed. |
| Zoning check without a permit | Yes. The city page says an exempt shed must still meet setbacks and lot coverage rules in the Land Use Bylaw. |
| Max total accessory area | 60 m² (646 square feet), s.2.1.06(1)(b), in the general rule that covers R1, R2 and R3. R1 lot coverage is 35% for all buildings, s.5.6.07(1). R4 and R5 zones allow 37 m² (some CD zones 46 m²). |
| Max height | 4 m (13 feet), s.2.1.06(2)(a). Flat roofs are measured to the highest point and sloped roofs to the mean of eaves and ridge (s.1.2 “Height”). There is no separate flat or pitched limit. |
| Rear setback | 1 m (3 feet), s.2.1.06(2)(b). R4 and R5 accessory buildings other than garages: 1.0 m. |
| Interior side setback | 1 m (3 feet), s.2.1.06(2)(b). R4 and R5: 1.5 m (5 feet). |
| Exterior side setback | Not closer to the flanking street than the side yard required for the house, s.2.1.06(2)(c)(i). In R1 that flanking yard is 6 m (20 feet), s.5.6.06(2)(b). Also 2 m (7 feet) from a rear line that borders a neighbour’s side yard, s.2.1.06(2)(c)(ii). |
| Front yard rule | Not within 15 m (49 feet) of the front lot line unless it meets the house’s front yard setback, s.2.1.06(1)(d). R1 front yard is 7.5 m, s.5.6.06(1). No accessory building in a required yard otherwise, s.2.1.02(1). |
| Separation from the house | At least 1 m (3 feet), s.2.1.06(1)(e). |
| Lane setback | Not confirmed. |
| Zones covered | s.2.1.06(1) and (2) apply to Agricultural, Residential and Multiple Family zones, including R1 to R3. R4, R5, R6, RM and CD zones set their own accessory limits. |
| Building permit fee | Bylaw 977 Appendix A, A.1(a): $50 for work valued at $1,000 or less. A.1(b): $50 for the first $1,000 plus $12 per $1,000 for the next $99,000. A $100 non-refundable application fee is included, A.1(e). Fees double if work starts before a permit, Appendix A, D.1. |
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 less than 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 of Colwood web page, while the size, height and setback figures come from Colwood’s Land Use Bylaw No. 151 and the fees from Building Bylaw No. 977.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: setbacks, height, total area and lot coverage in the Land Use Bylaw apply to every shed, permit or not.
- Electrical: a shed with wiring needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: an accessory building can’t be used as a dwelling or sleeping space, Land Use Bylaw s.2.1.06(1)(c). An office or bedroom use changes what the building has to meet.
- Easements and utilities: don’t build over a registered easement, right-of-way, septic field or buried service line. Check the title and call before digging.
What isn’t confirmed
- How the shed’s area is measured for the 10 m² test (walls, roof overhang or floor area). The city page doesn’t say.
- Which bylaw clause contains the 10 m² exemption. It appears on the city web page, not in Building Bylaw No. 977.
- Setback rules for a shed beside a lane.
- Which conditions about electrical or plumbing remove the permit exemption.
- Whether sloped and flat roofs have different height limits. The bylaw gives one 4 m figure.
- Accessory building limits in every zone. R2 and R3 follow the general rule, but other zones differ and weren’t all checked.
Who to contact
City of Colwood Building Department: 250-478-5999, building@colwood.ca. The city’s page also lists 250-478-5053.
- Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151
- Colwood Building Bylaw No. 977
- Colwood Renovations and Additions (Accessory Buildings)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a building permit for a shed in Colwood?
Not if the shed is under 10 m² (108 square feet) and doesn’t create a hazard, according to the city’s web page. Larger accessory buildings usually do need one. Zoning rules apply either way.
How big can a shed be in Colwood?
In the general rule, all accessory buildings on a lot can total 60 m² (646 square feet), and each can be up to 4 m high (s.2.1.06). In R4 and R5 zones the total is 37 m², so the zone matters.
How close to the fence can a shed go?
At least 1 m (3 feet) from side and rear lot lines and 1 m from the house in the general rule. On a corner lot, the shed can’t sit closer to the flanking street than the house’s side yard allows.
Can a shed go in the front yard in Colwood?
Generally not. An accessory building can’t be within 15 m (49 feet) of the front lot line unless it meets the house’s front yard setback (s.2.1.06(1)(d)), and R1 requires a 7.5 m front yard.
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 with the City of Colwood before building.