Esquimalt’s rules for a backyard shed come from two places: the Township’s Zoning Bylaw, which sets height, setbacks and coverage, and an older Building Permit Guide that says an accessory building under 10 m² (108 square feet) doesn’t need a permit. This page sets out the figures for the RS-1 single-family zone with clause numbers, and it flags the points the Township’s documents don’t settle.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Esquimalt?
- The Township’s Building Permit Guide says no permit is needed for an accessory building under 10 m² (108 square feet).
- The guide adds that the shed must still meet other bylaw rules such as setbacks.
- That guide is from 2013 and the current building bylaw has no 10 m² clause, so a call to the Township is wise before building.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 1992, No. 2050 (consolidated to 24 June 2024), s.34 (RS-1). Building Regulation Bylaw 2017, No. 2899 (consolidated 6 November 2023), s.3.2. |
|---|---|
| Permit exemption | Building Permit Guide (October 2013), section 1: no permit for “an accessory building less than 10m2 (107 sq. ft.).” Bylaw 2899, s.3.2 only says the bylaw doesn’t apply to buildings exempted by the BC Building Code, and it has no 10 m² clause. |
| How area is measured | Not stated. Zoning s.2 defines an accessory building as over 1.0 m² in area, subordinate to the house, and with no shower, bathtub or cooking facilities. |
| Use limits | Zoning s.2: an accessory building has no shower, bathtub or cooking facilities. A shed attached to the house counts as part of the house (s.21(2)). |
| Maximum total area | All accessory buildings and structures combined: 10% of the parcel (RS-1, s.34(8)(b)). All buildings combined: 30% (s.34(8)(a)). |
| Maximum height | 3.6 m (11.8 feet) (RS-1, s.34(6)(b)). A flat roof (under 3:12 pitch) is measured to its highest point (s.15(1)); a pitched roof is measured to the midpoint between eaves and ridge (s.15(2)). |
| Rear setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (s.34(9)(b)(iii)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (s.34(9)(b)(ii)). |
| Exterior (corner) side setback | 3.6 m (11.8 feet) (s.34(9)(b)(ii)). |
| Front yard | Not allowed: “No Accessory Building shall be located in front of the front face of the Principal Building” (s.34(9)(b)(i)). |
| Separation from the house | 2.5 m (8.2 feet) from the principal building (s.34(9)(b)(iv)). |
| Zones covered | RS-1 was checked in detail. RS-2 (panhandle), RS-3 (waterfront) and RS-4 and RS-4A have the same 3.6 m height and 1.5 m setbacks, and RS-3 also needs 4.5 m (14.8 feet) from the high-water mark. RS-5 and other zones weren’t read. |
| Permit fee (if needed) | $100 for work valued up to $1,000, then $13 per $1,000 up to $100,000, plus a plan-processing fee of 25% of the permit fee (minimum $50). Fees double if work starts before the permit (Bylaw 2899, Schedule A and the Building Permit Guide). No separate shed fee is published. |
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. “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 a city may be stricter. On this page, the 10 m² permit figure comes from Esquimalt’s 2013 Building Permit Guide (the current Bylaw 2899 defers to the Code), while the height, setback and coverage figures come from the Township’s Zoning Bylaw 2050.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: the Township’s guide says an exempt accessory building “must still comply with other bylaw requirements, such as setbacks.”
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: a building with a shower, bathtub or cooking facilities isn’t an accessory building under the zoning definition. Using a shed as an office or bedroom raises separate Building Code questions.
- Easements and rights-of-way: sheds can’t be built over utility easements or covenants registered on title.
- Principal building first: no accessory building can be erected before the house is built or being built (Zoning s.21(1)).
What isn’t confirmed
- The 10 m² exemption appears only in a 2013 guide that cites an older, replaced building bylaw. The current Bylaw 2899 has no 10 m² clause.
- How the 10 m² is measured, and any hazard, plumbing or electrical conditions, aren’t stated.
- Whether a site plan is needed for a shed that doesn’t require a permit isn’t published.
- Lane setbacks and the rules for RS-5 and other zones weren’t confirmed.
- The zoning bylaw copy reviewed is consolidated to 24 June 2024, so later amendments could change a figure. The building department phone number also differs between the Township’s pages.
Who to contact
Township of Esquimalt Development Services: 250-414-7103, or building@esquimalt.ca for building inspection. (The 2013 guide lists 250-414-7108 for Building Inspection, which couldn’t be confirmed as current.) Official documents used:
- Esquimalt Zoning Bylaw 2050
- Esquimalt Building Regulation Bylaw 2899
- Esquimalt Building Permit Guide
Frequently asked questions
Can a shed go in the front yard in Esquimalt?
No. In RS-1 an accessory building can’t be located in front of the front face of the house.
How tall can an Esquimalt shed be?
Up to 3.6 m (11.8 feet) in RS-1. Height is measured to the top of a flat roof, or to the midpoint between eaves and ridge on a pitched roof.
How far must a shed be from the house?
At least 2.5 m (8.2 feet) from the principal building in RS-1. A shed attached to the house is treated as part of the house and must meet the house’s setbacks.
How much of the lot can sheds cover?
All accessory buildings and structures combined can cover up to 10% of the parcel in RS-1.
For the province-wide 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 Township of Esquimalt before building.