The City of Duncan sets shed size, height and placement in Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, and its “Do I Need a Building Permit?” handout says a new accessory building larger than 8 square metres (86 square feet) needs a permit. The City’s Building Bylaw No. 3254, 2026 doesn’t state that number itself, so the 8 m² figure comes from the handout. Zoning also gives small sheds a reduced setback if they’re under 10 m². The figures below come from the City’s own documents.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Duncan?
- The City’s handout says no permit is needed for a new accessory building of 8 m² (86 square feet) or less within the required setbacks. Anything larger needs one.
- One shed under 10 m² (108 square feet), no taller than 3 m (9.8 feet) and sitting on the ground, can be as close as 1 m (3.3 feet) to the rear or interior side lot line.
- Any accessory building must stay at least 1.2 m (3.9 feet) from the house.
| Zoning bylaw | City of Duncan Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (amended to 24 August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Building bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 3254, 2026. Cl. 6.1 only exempts work that the BC Building Code doesn’t cover and gives no shed size. |
| Permit threshold | Larger than 8 m² (86 square feet), per the City handout. A shed of 8 m² or less within the required setbacks doesn’t need a permit. |
| How area is measured | Not confirmed for the permit test. Zoning cl. 3.3.2(a) uses gross floor area for the reduced-setback shed. |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | Not confirmed beyond the “within the required setbacks” wording. Zoning cl. 3.3.4: no dwelling use, no bathing facilities and no more than two plumbing fixtures that drain. |
| Max total accessory area | No accessory area cap found. Parcel coverage for all buildings is 50% in LDR (cl. 4.3.1) and MDR (cl. 4.7.1). |
| Max height | 5 m (16.4 feet); 7.5 m with a detached suite on the second storey (LDR cl. 4.3.1). MDR and HDR: 5 m (cl. 4.7.1, 4.12.1). No separate flat and pitched roof limits. |
| Rear setback | LDR 1.5 m (4.9 feet), cl. 4.3.1. MDR and HDR 1.2 m (3.9 feet), cl. 4.7.1, 4.12.1. |
| Interior side setback | LDR 1.5 m (4.9 feet). MDR and HDR 1.2 m (3.9 feet). |
| Small shed exception | One shed under 10 m², 3 m or lower, on the ground or non-permanent blocks, may be 1 m (3.3 feet) from the rear or interior side lot line (cl. 3.3.2) |
| Exterior side setback | LDR 3 m (9.8 feet), cl. 4.3.1. MDR and HDR 4 m (13.1 feet). |
| Front yard | LDR 6 m (19.7 feet). MDR and HDR 4 m (13.1 feet). |
| Distance from house | At least 1.2 m (3.9 feet) from the house, measured between exterior wall faces, cl. 3.11.1 |
| Zones covered | LDR (cl. 4.3.1), MDR (cl. 4.7.1) and HDR (cl. 4.12.1) residential zones. Cl. 3.3.2 and 3.11.1 apply in every zone. |
| Building permit fee | Plan review fee $50 for work up to $25,000. Permit fee $8 per $1,000 of value, minimum $50. Double the fee if work starts without a permit (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, Schedule E and F). |
What the BC Building Code says
BC Building Code 2024, Division A, 1.1.1.1(2)(e) says the Code doesn’t apply to accessory buildings under 10 m² in building area that don’t create a hazard. “Hazard” isn’t defined, so the local building official decides, and where a city’s own documents are silent the provincial rule is the default, though the city may be stricter. On this page, the 8 m² permit-free figure comes from Duncan’s own handout, which is stricter than the provincial default of 10 m², and the height, setback and spacing figures come from Duncan’s Zoning Bylaw No. 3166.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: setbacks, height, spacing from the house and coverage limits apply to every shed.
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs a permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: an accessory building can’t be used as a dwelling, can’t contain bathing facilities and can have no more than two drained plumbing fixtures (cl. 3.3.4). Office use should be checked with the City.
- Easements and covenants: a shed can’t sit on a right-of-way or easement, and covenants on title can add limits.
What isn’t confirmed
- Any bylaw clause that sets the 8 m² permit size. It appears only in the City’s handout.
- How area is measured for the permit test, and any electrical or hazard conditions on the exemption.
- Whether a site plan is needed for a shed that doesn’t need a permit.
- A cap on total accessory building area, any lane setback, and separate flat and pitched roof height limits. None were found.
Who to contact
City of Duncan, Development Services (Building Inspector): 250-746-6126. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
What size shed can be built in Duncan without a permit?
The City’s handout says 8 m² (86 square feet) or less, within the required setbacks. That is smaller than the 10 m² (108 square feet) provincial default.
Can a small shed sit closer than 1.5 m to the fence?
Yes, one shed can. Under Zoning Bylaw cl. 3.3.2, a single shed under 10 m² that is 3 m (9.8 feet) or lower and sits on the ground or on non-permanent blocks may be 1 m (3.3 feet) from the rear or interior side lot line.
How far must a shed be from the house?
At least 1.2 m (3.9 feet), measured between the exterior wall faces or supporting structures of each building (cl. 3.11.1).
How much is a shed building permit in Duncan?
For work up to $25,000, the plan review fee is $50 and the permit fee is $8 per $1,000 of value with a $50 minimum. Starting without a permit doubles the permit fee.
For the provincial rule and other cities, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC and Shed Rules by City.
These figures are a general guide checked 26 October 2026. Confirm them with the City of Duncan before building.