In the Village of Cumberland, a shed under 10 m² (108 square feet) that doesn’t create a hazard is outside the Building Bylaw. The Village’s own brochure words the line slightly differently (“more than 10.0 m²” needs a permit), so a shed of exactly 10.0 m² is not covered by either text. Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, adopted 9 February 2026, limits accessory buildings in the R-1 and R-2 zones to 50 m² (538 square feet) in total, 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in height, and 1.5 m (4.9 feet) from side and rear lines. The Village’s brochure says every detached shed must meet these zoning rules, whatever its size.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Cumberland?
- A shed under 10 m² (108 square feet) that creates no hazard is exempt from the Building Bylaw.
- The bylaw says nothing about a shed of exactly 10.0 m². The Village’s 2025 brochure says an accessory building of “more than 10.0 m²” needs a building permit, which differs slightly from the bylaw’s “less than 10.0 m²”. Ask the Village if your shed is exactly 10.0 m².
- Zoning applies to every shed, permit or not: 4.5 m height, 50 m² total and 1.5 m setbacks.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (adopted 9 February 2026; consolidated 27 July 2026; s.6.1 and Table 10.5(2)). Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012 (consolidated January 2020; s.2(b)(ii)). |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | Bylaw 949 s.2(b)(ii): the bylaw does not apply to accessory buildings “less than 10.0 m² in building area that do not create a hazard”. The 2025 Village brochure says an accessory building with a floor area of “more than 10.0 m² (107.6 square feet)” requires a building permit. At exactly 10.0 m² the two texts do not match and neither answers it. |
| How area is measured | Bylaw 949 says “building area” (definition not checked). 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 | The shed must not create a hazard (Bylaw 949 s.2(b)(ii)). No accessory building can contain a dwelling unit or sleeping unit (Zoning s.6.1(3)). |
| Site plan or zoning check without a permit | The brochure says all detached accessory buildings, regardless of size or foundation, must meet the Zoning Bylaw (setbacks, height, floor area, lot coverage). A site plan requirement is not confirmed. |
| Max total accessory area | 50.0 m² combined in R-1 and R-2; 100.0 m² in R-3 (Table 10.5(2)). R-1 lot coverage is 50% (Table 10.4(1)); one accessory building under 10.0 m² may be left out of the coverage calculation (Table 5.4(1), note 1). |
| Max height | 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in R-1 and R-2; 6.0 m in R-3. A non-sloping roof (under 4% slope) is measured to its highest point; a sloping roof to its mid-point (s.4). |
| Rear setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (Table 10.5(2)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (Table 10.5(2)). |
| Exterior (corner) side setback | 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in R-1, R-2 and R-3 (Table 10.5(2)). |
| Front yard | In the residential zones the minimum front setback for an accessory building is 3.0 m (9.8 feet), so a front-yard ban isn’t stated. Interchange zones (Part 15) do ban accessory buildings in a front yard. |
| Separation from house | Not confirmed. No figure found in s.6.1 or Table 10.5(2). |
| Zones covered | R-1 and R-2 are identical. R-3 differs (100 m², 6.0 m). R-MHP allows 25.0 m². R-RTMU and R-MU allow 50 m² with a 3.0 m exterior side setback (Table 10.5(2)). |
| Building permit fee | Not confirmed for sheds. Bylaw 949 Table 14.2 lists a $50 processing fee for work up to $10,000, but the permit fee for that row was unclear in the text read. |
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. Cumberland’s Building Bylaw 949 uses the same 10 m² and no-hazard wording, so the permit size on this page comes from the Village’s own bylaw and matches the provincial rule, while the height, area and setback figures come from Zoning Bylaw No. 1238.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: setbacks, height, total area and lot coverage apply to every detached accessory building.
- Electrical: wiring is regulated by Technical Safety BC. See Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: no accessory building can contain a dwelling unit or sleeping unit (s.6.1(3)).
- Easements and rights-of-way: check the land title for utility easements before choosing a spot. The brochure advises hiring a BC Land Surveyor if the property lines are uncertain.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether Building Bylaw 949 (a January 2020 copy marked “not the official version”) is still the current building bylaw.
- Whether a shed of exactly 10.0 m² needs a permit. The bylaw says “less than 10.0” and the brochure says “more than 10.0”.
- The permit fee for a shed, and whether a site plan is needed when no permit is required.
- Any required distance between a shed and the house.
Who to contact
Village of Cumberland: 250-336-2291. Official documents used: Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, Building Bylaw No. 949 and the Building in Cumberland Brochure.
Frequently asked questions
What size shed is exempt from a permit in Cumberland?
Under 10.0 m² (108 square feet), if it creates no hazard. The exact 10.0 m² case is unclear, so ask the Village.
How tall can a shed be?
Up to 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in R-1 and R-2. R-3 lots can go to 6.0 m.
How far from the property line must a shed be?
1.5 m (4.9 feet) from rear and interior side lines, and 4.5 m (14.8 feet) from a street-facing side line.
How much total shed area is allowed?
50 m² (538 square feet) of accessory buildings combined in R-1 and R-2, and 100 m² in R-3.
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 Village of Cumberland before building.