Coquitlam’s Building Bylaw says a storage or garden shed that doesn’t exceed 10 m² (108 square feet) doesn’t need a building permit, as long as it meets the bylaw’s construction standards and the Provincial Code and complies with all City bylaws, including Zoning siting. A larger shed needs a permit. In the R-1 zone, detached sheds can be up to 3.7 m or 4.6 m tall, need 1.2 m (4 feet) from the rear and side lines and 3.0 m (10 feet) from the house, and can’t go in the front yard. A shed within 1.6 m (5 feet) of the house is treated as attached to it.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Coquitlam?
- No building permit is needed for a storage or garden shed that doesn’t exceed 10 m² (108 square feet), as long as it meets the Building Bylaw’s construction standards and the Provincial Code (Building Bylaw 3598, Art. 21.2).
- A shed larger than 10 m² needs a building permit (Art. 21.1), and the City’s 2019 brochure agrees, saying “larger than 10 sq. m.”
- Zoning applies either way: a detached shed needs 1.2 m (4 feet) from the rear and side lines, can’t go in the front yard, and must be 3.0 m (10 feet) from the house. A shed within 1.6 m (5 feet) of the house is treated as attached to it, with a 6.0 m (19.7 feet) rear setback.
| Bylaws | Building Bylaw No. 3598, 2003 (consolidated September 2026), Articles 21.1 and 21.2; Zoning Bylaw 3000, 1996, Part 10 s. 1002 (R-1 Small-Scale Residential), clauses (5), (6), (8), (9), (10); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025 (with 5551, 2026), Schedule D Table 1 |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | No building permit for a building intended or used as a storage or garden shed that does not exceed 10 m² (Building Bylaw 3598, Art. 21.2). Otherwise a permit is required (Art. 21.1). The 2019 Minor Projects brochure agrees: a permit for a shed larger than 10 sq. m. |
| How area is measured | The Building Bylaw says the building “does not exceed 10 m².” The brochure says “floor area.” How roof overhangs count: Not confirmed. |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | The shed must otherwise meet the construction standards of the Building Bylaw and the Provincial Code, and comply with all applicable City bylaws including Zoning siting (Art. 21.2). Electrical and plumbing rules for exempt sheds: Not confirmed. |
| Zoning check without a permit | Zoning siting (setbacks) must be met even without a permit (Art. 21.2). Whether a site plan is required: Not confirmed. |
| Maximum accessory area | No separate accessory cap in R-1. All buildings together: 50% lot coverage (s. 1002(6)(a)); floor area ratio 0.65 for one or two dwelling units (s. 1002(5)(a)). |
| Maximum height | Flat roof: 3.7 m (12 feet). Pitched roof: 4.6 m (15 feet) if the pitch is 4 in 12 or more over at least 80% of the roof; otherwise 3.7 m (s. 1002(10)(b)). |
| Rear setback | Detached shed (sited 1.6 m or more from the house, and in practice 3.0 m or more because of s. 1002(8)(d)): 1.2 m (4 feet), with or without a lane (s. 1002(8)(a)). A shed attached to the house or sited less than 1.6 m (5 feet) from it is treated as attached: 6.0 m (19.7 feet) at a rear lot line without a lane, and 1.2 m along a lane (s. 1002(8)(a)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.2 m (4 feet) (s. 1002(8)(a)) |
| Exterior side setback | 3.0 m (10 feet) (s. 1002(8)(a)) |
| Front yard | Detached accessory buildings must not be in the front yard (s. 1002(9)(b)). The front setback is 5.5 m (18 feet). |
| Separation from the house | A detached shed must be at least 3.0 m (10 feet) from the house (s. 1002(8)(d)). A shed within 1.6 m (5 feet) of the house is treated as attached to it, so the larger attached-building setbacks apply (s. 1002(8)(a)). The bylaw’s setback table does not say what applies between 1.6 m and 3.0 m, but s. 1002(8)(d) requires 3.0 m for any accessory building, so plan for 3.0 m. |
| Zones covered | R-1 Small-Scale Residential only. The older RS-1 zone (Part 22 s. 2203) shows 1.2 m rear and side, 3.8 m exterior side, 7.6 m front, and the same heights. Other zones weren’t reviewed. |
| Permit fee (sheds over 10 m²) | Fees and Charges Bylaw 5484, Schedule D Table 1: for a construction value of $0 to $5,000, $35.60 per $1,000 (no base fee); for $5,001 to $20,000, $46.40 plus $26.70 per $1,000. Plan recheck: $245.00. A $106.70 minimum-type fee line also appears; confirm with the City. |
| Phone and email | 604-927-3441 (Planning and Development); permits@coquitlam.ca |
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 because “hazard” isn’t defined, the local building official decides. Where a city’s own documents are silent, the provincial rule is the default, but a city may be stricter; on this page the permit figure comes from Coquitlam’s own Building Bylaw 3598 (Art. 21.2), the fees come from the City’s Fees and Charges Bylaw, and the height, setback and separation figures come from Zoning Bylaw 3000.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, setbacks, location and separation from the house apply to every shed, permit or not.
- Electrical: wiring a shed can need a separate permit through Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: the exemption covers a storage or garden shed, so a building used for living, sleeping or regular work is treated differently and can need a permit.
- Easements and rights-of-way: a shed can’t sit on a utility easement or right-of-way, so check the title for one before building.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether a site plan is needed when no permit is required.
- How roof overhangs count toward the 10 m² limit.
- Electrical and plumbing rules for an exempt shed.
- A phone number labelled for the building department; 604-927-3441 is the Planning and Development number printed on a City brochure.
- The meaning of the $106.70 fee line in the fee schedule, because its heading was cut off in the document.
- Rules for zones other than R-1.
Who to contact
Coquitlam Planning and Development can be reached at 604-927-3441 (3000 Guildford Way) or permits@coquitlam.ca. Official documents used:
- Coquitlam Building Bylaw 3598
- Coquitlam Fees and Charges Bylaw 5484
- Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw Part 10 Low-Density Residential Zones (PDF)
- Coquitlam FAQ: When Is a Building Permit Not Required?
- Coquitlam Minor Projects Brochure (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be in Coquitlam without a permit?
Up to 10 m² (108 square feet), including a shed of exactly 10 m², as long as it meets the Building Bylaw’s construction standards and the Zoning siting rules (Building Bylaw 3598, Art. 21.2).
How tall can a shed be in Coquitlam?
In the R-1 zone, 3.7 m (12 feet), or 4.6 m (15 feet) with a roof pitched 4 in 12 or more over at least 80% of the roof.
Can a shed go in the front yard in Coquitlam?
No. In R-1, detached accessory buildings must not be in the front yard (s. 1002(9)(b)).
How far from the house does a shed need to be in Coquitlam?
At least 3.0 m (10 feet) from the principal building in R-1 (s. 1002(8)(d)). A shed within 1.6 m (5 feet) of the house is treated as attached to it, and the bylaw then applies the larger attached-building setbacks, including 6.0 m at a rear lot line without a lane (s. 1002(8)(a)).
For province-wide context, 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 City of Coquitlam before building.