Delta lets homeowners build one small accessory building without a building permit, but the zoning bylaw still sets strict height and setback limits. This guide covers the rules for single-family lots in Delta’s RS zones, using the typical RS5 lot as the main example. It explains the permit threshold, how tall a shed can be, and how far it has to sit from the property lines and the house.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Delta?
- One accessory building under 10 m² (108 square feet) doesn’t need a permit, unless it contains operating mechanical equipment.
- Larger sheds, workshops and studios need a building permit, applied for online through DeltaOnline.
- Every shed, permit or not, must meet the zoning setbacks, which put it well back from the front lot line.
| Bylaws | Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated 21 April 2026); Delta Building/Plumbing Bylaw No. 8065, 2021, clause 2.2 |
|---|---|
| Permit exemption | City web page and eApply guide: one accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² (107.6 square feet) needs no permit, unless it contains operating mechanical equipment. Bylaw 8065 clause 2.2 only defers to Part 1 of the BC Building Code and states no number. |
| How area is measured | The zoning bylaw defines “floor area” as measured to the outside of the exterior walls, including interior walls and partitions. The permit test isn’t defined separately in the building bylaw. |
| Plumbing and extras | Zoning clause 6.2.16: at most one plumbing fixture, a sink only, in an RS or RD accessory structure; no covered deck or porch |
| Maximum accessory area | No separate cap found for RS zones. Lot coverage is 45% in RS1 to RS5 (for example clause 11.50.5) and 40% in RS6 and RS7. Clause 6.2.17(a)(ii)(3) excludes up to 20 m² of accessory structures from floor space ratio. |
| Maximum height | 3 m (9.8 feet) to the mid-roof or top of a flat roof; 3.75 m (12.3 feet) to the ridge of a pitched roof; 1 storey (for example clause 11.50.7(a)). Detached garages: 3.75 m and 4.6 m (clause 11.50.7(b)). |
| Rear setback | 1 m (3.3 feet) (for example clause 11.50.6). Eaves and gutters may project to within 0.6 m of the lot line (clause 6.2.10). |
| Interior side setback | 1 m (3.3 feet) (clauses 11.10.6 to 11.70.6). Eaves and gutters to no closer than 0.6 m (clause 6.2.10). |
| Exterior side setback | 6.5 m (21.3 feet) (clauses 11.10.6 to 11.70.6). Eaves and gutters to no closer than 5.8 m (clause 6.2.10). |
| Front yard | 12 m (39 feet) from the front lot line for accessory structures in RS1 to RS7 (clauses 11.10.6 to 11.70.6). The bylaw has no outright ban, but the setback keeps sheds behind the house on normal lots. |
| Distance from the house | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) between a principal building and an accessory building in RS and RD zones, measured at the foundations (clause 6.2.13(b)) |
| Zones covered | RS1 to RS7 (Part 11; RS1 is clauses 11.10.x, RS5 is 11.50.x) share these accessory figures. RSC, RSF, RD, A1 and other zones differ or weren’t fully checked. |
| Permit fee | Fees and Charges Bylaw 8386, 2024, Schedule 3: application fee $105 for construction under $8,000 (not small-scale residential), plus a permit fee of $105 base and $16.03 per $1,000 or part over $1,000 |
| Site plan without a permit | Not confirmed. The city says an exempt shed “must be sited in accordance with zoning regulations.” |
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 of 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, that provincial rule is the default, though the city may be stricter. On this page, the 10 m² permit figure and the one-building and mechanical-equipment conditions come from Delta’s own web page and application guide, while the setback, height and area numbers come from the city’s zoning bylaw.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: the height, setback and separation rules above apply to every shed, including one under 10 m².
- Electrical: wiring a shed usually needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC, whether or not a building permit is needed.
- Use as an office or bedroom: Delta limits plumbing in RS and RD accessory structures to one sink (clause 6.2.16), which rules out a bathroom, and the bylaw page doesn’t describe any other rules for sleeping or office use.
- Easements and covenants: Delta’s application guide tells owners to review the property title for rights-of-way and covenants before building.
What isn’t confirmed
- It isn’t clear whether the 1.5 m gap from the house applies to sheds under 10 m².
- Whether a site plan or zoning check is formally required for a shed that doesn’t need a permit isn’t stated.
- The 10 m² limit, the one-building limit and the mechanical-equipment condition appear on the city’s web pages. The building bylaw itself states none of them.
- Whether a shed counts as “small-scale residential” for the permit fee, which would change the application fee, isn’t confirmed. The 2024 fee bylaw may also have been replaced.
- No lane-specific shed setback was found, and zones other than RS1 to RS7 weren’t checked.
Who to contact
City of Delta Application Centre, Development Department: 604-946-3380. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
Can I build two small sheds without a permit in Delta?
The city’s page says “one accessory building” under 10 m² doesn’t need a permit. A second building isn’t covered by that wording, so ask the Application Centre before building a second one.
How close to the fence can a shed be?
An accessory structure in an RS zone must be at least 1 m (3.3 feet) from the rear and interior side lot lines. On a corner lot, the street side needs 6.5 m (21.3 feet).
Can a Delta shed have a sink or a bathroom?
An RS or RD accessory structure may have one plumbing fixture, and it can only be a sink (clause 6.2.16), unless the lot has an in-ground pool, which allows three. A covered deck or porch isn’t allowed either.
How tall can a shed be in Delta?
Accessory structures are limited to one storey, 3 m (9.8 feet) to the top of a flat roof and 3.75 m (12.3 feet) to the ridge of a pitched roof. Detached garages get slightly more.
For the provincial picture, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC, and compare nearby cities on Shed Rules by City.
The figures on this page are a general guide, checked 26 October 2026. Always confirm with the City of Delta before building.