In Courtenay, the Building Bylaw doesn’t apply to an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 m² (108 square feet), so a small backyard shed can go up without a building permit. Zoning still governs it: Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 limits accessory buildings to 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in height, keeps them 1.5 m (4.9 feet) from side and rear lot lines, and bars them from the front of the house. A few finer points, such as how the 10 m² is measured, are not confirmed and are listed below.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Courtenay?
- A shed with a floor area under 10 m² (108 square feet) is outside the Building Bylaw, so no building permit is needed.
- A shed of 10 m² or more needs a building permit, and the City’s fee is $150 plus 1% of the construction value, with a $150 application fee credited toward it.
- Every shed must stay in the side or rear yard, within 4.5 m height and 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026 (replaced Zoning Bylaw 2500; consolidated 21 July 2026; s.6.2 and s.8.1). Building Bylaw No. 3114 (s.3.3(b)). |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | The Building Bylaw doesn’t apply to an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 m² (s.3.3(b)). It also exempts anything exempt under Building Code Division A Part 1 (s.3.3(a)). |
| How area is measured | The Building Bylaw says “floor area” without defining it. Zoning defines “building area” as the greatest horizontal area within the outside of the exterior walls. Which applies is not confirmed. |
| Conditions that remove an exemption | None stated in s.3.3(b). Zoning bars human habitation in any part of an accessory building (s.6.2.3). |
| Site plan or zoning check without a permit | Not confirmed. Zoning siting rules in s.6.2.6 still apply. |
| Max total accessory area | 50.0 m² or 10% of the rear yard, whichever is greater (s.6.2.6(4)). R-SSMUH zone lot coverage is 70% including structures and impermeable surfaces (s.8.1.5). |
| Max height | 4.5 m (14.8 feet) (s.6.2.5). A flat or shed roof is measured to its highest point; a gable or hip roof to the mean between eaves and ridge (s.4). |
| Rear setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet); 4.5 m (14.8 feet) if the rear yard flanks a street, excluding a lane (s.6.2.6(2)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (s.6.2.6(2)). |
| Exterior (corner) side setback | 4.5 m (14.8 feet) where the side yard flanks a street, excluding a lane (s.6.2.6(2)). |
| Front yard | Accessory buildings are permitted in the side and rear yard only and not at the front of a principal building (s.6.2.6(1) and (3)). |
| Separation from house | None stated for R-SSMUH or R-1A. Some other zones require 3.0 m from the principal building. |
| Zones covered | The s.6.2.6 defaults apply to R-SSMUH (s.8.1.8) and R-1A (s.8.2.9) unless a zone says otherwise. Zone section 8.3.41 differs: front yard allowed but not within 7.5 m of the front lot line, and 1.5 m or 3.0 m side and rear. |
| Building permit fee | If a permit is needed: $150 application fee (or 25% of the permit fee if higher, credited to the permit) plus a $150 permit fee and 1% of construction value (Building Bylaw 3114, Appendix 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. Courtenay’s own Building Bylaw 3114 states the same 10 m² threshold in s.3.3(b), so the permit size on this page comes from the City’s bylaw rather than the provincial default, and the height, area and setback figures come from Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, though the City’s wording has no hazard condition and a building official may still apply one.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: side and rear yard placement, height, total area and setbacks apply to every shed.
- Electrical: wiring is regulated by Technical Safety BC. See Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: no part of an accessory building may be used for human habitation (s.6.2.3).
- Easements and rights-of-way: check the land title for utility easements before choosing a spot.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether the Building Bylaw’s “floor area” is measured inside or outside the walls.
- Whether hazard, electrical or plumbing work removes the exemption.
- Whether a site plan or zoning check is needed when no permit is required.
- Any required distance between a shed and the house in the main residential zone, and whether flat roofs have a separate height limit.
Who to contact
City of Courtenay: 250-334-4441 (City main number; no separate building line was found). Official documents used: Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Building Bylaw No. 3114 and the City’s Zoning Bylaw Page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shed under 10 m² exempt from a permit in Courtenay?
Yes. Building Bylaw 3114 doesn’t apply to an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 m². Exactly 10 m² isn’t exempt.
Can a shed go in the front yard?
Not in the main residential zones. Accessory buildings are allowed in the side and rear yards and can’t be at the front of the principal building.
How much shed area can a lot have?
A total of 50 m² or 10% of the rear yard, whichever is greater.
How close to the fence can a shed be?
At least 1.5 m (4.9 feet) from side and rear lot lines, or 4.5 m (14.8 feet) where the yard faces a street other than a lane.
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 City of Courtenay before building.