Comox handles small sheds differently from most Vancouver Island towns. Building Bylaw No. 1472 sets out a simplified permit application for accessory buildings under 10 m² (108 square feet), with a site plan and a sketch, and a $100 total fee. Zoning Bylaw No. 2056, adopted 18 February 2026, caps accessory buildings at 4.5 m (14.8 feet) and 60 m² (646 square feet) in total in the low-density residential zones.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Comox?
- Yes, in most cases. Bylaw 1472 s.21 requires a building permit application for an accessory building under 10 m², with a site plan and elevation sketch.
- The fee for a shed under 10 m² is $50 for the application plus $50 for the permit, $100 in total.
- A chicken coop of 5 m² or less is the one listed exception.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (adopted 18 February 2026; consolidated to 8 July 2026; s.6.1 and Tables 9.4(1) and 9.5(2)). Building Bylaw No. 1472 (consolidated to 15 January 2025; s.5(2) and s.21). |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | A permit application is still required for an accessory building less than 10 m² in building area (s.21(1)). A chicken coop of 5 m² or less needs none (s.21(2)). |
| How area is measured | The building bylaw uses “building area”, which wasn’t defined in the text read. Zoning measures floor area where clear ceiling height is 1.8 m or more, to the inside face of exterior walls. |
| Conditions that remove an exemption | Bylaw 1472 s.5(2) excludes only what Part 1 of the Building Code exempts. A building containing a dwelling unit is never an accessory building (Zoning s.6.1(5)). |
| Site plan without a permit | The application itself needs a site plan showing dimensions and distances to property lines and existing buildings, plus an elevation sketch with roof lines and height (s.21(1)(b) and (c)). |
| Max total accessory area | 60.0 m² combined gross floor area (Table 9.4(1)(e)). R-SSMU lot coverage is 50% (Table 9.4(1)(a)). |
| Max height | 4.5 m (14.8 feet) (Table 9.5(2)(a)). Height runs from the highest point to the lesser of natural or finished grade. |
| Rear setback | 1.2 m (3.9 feet); 0 m for an accessory building under 10.0 m² of floor area (Table 9.5(2)(c), note 1). |
| Interior side setback | 1.2 m (3.9 feet); 0 m under 10.0 m² (Table 9.5(2)(d), note 1). |
| Exterior (corner) side setback | R-SSMU: 3.0 m (9.8 feet), or 6.0 m for a garage or carport. R-WF, R-CL and R-LL: 3.5 m (11.5 feet) (Table 9.5(2)(e)). |
| Front yard | Not banned in the low-density zones. The minimum front setback for an accessory building is 3.0 m (9.8 feet) in R-SSMU and 7.5 m (24.6 feet) in R-WF, R-CL and R-LL (Table 9.5(2)(b)). Shipping containers can’t sit in a front or exterior side yard (s.6.1(4)). |
| Separation from house | Not confirmed. No figure found in s.6.1 or Section 9. |
| Zones covered | R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL and R-LL (Table 9.5(2)). Multi-unit residential zones (Section 10) and other zones differ. |
| Building permit fee | Under 10 m²: $50 application plus $50 permit, $100 in total (Bylaw 1472 Schedule of Fees, A.1(a) and A.2(a)). |
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. Comox is stricter than that provincial default, because its own Building Bylaw 1472 still requires a permit application for these small buildings, so the permit and fee figures on this page come from the Town’s bylaw and the height, area and setback figures come from Zoning Bylaw No. 2056.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, total area, coverage and setbacks apply to every shed.
- Electrical: wiring is regulated by Technical Safety BC. See Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: a building containing a dwelling unit is never an accessory building, so a shed can’t become a suite.
- Easements and rights-of-way: check the land title for utility easements before choosing a spot.
What isn’t confirmed
- How “building area” is defined in the Town’s Building Bylaw.
- Whether a newer building bylaw than the January 2025 consolidation exists. That copy is marked “for convenience only”.
- Any required distance between a shed and the house.
- Whether hazard, electrical or plumbing work changes what the Town requires, and a separate building department phone number.
Who to contact
Town of Comox: Town Hall 250-339-2202, Planning 250-339-1118 (no separate building line is listed). Official documents used: Zoning Bylaw No. 2056, Building Bylaw No. 1472 and the Town’s Zoning Bylaw Page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a shed under 10 m² need a permit in Comox?
Building Bylaw 1472 s.21 sets out a permit application for these small buildings, with a site plan and elevation sketch, for a $100 total fee.
How tall can a shed be?
Up to 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in the low-density residential zones.
How close to the property line can a shed be?
1.2 m (3.9 feet) from rear and side lines, or 0 m if the shed is under 10 m² of floor area.
How much total shed area can a lot have?
Up to 60 m² (646 square feet) of accessory buildings combined, within a 50% lot coverage limit in the R-SSMU zone.
For the provincial picture, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC and Shed Rules by City.
The figures on this page are a general guide checked 26 October 2026; confirm them with the Town of Comox before building.