Building a backyard shed in Maple Ridge mostly comes down to three things: the size of the building, how tall it is, and how far it sits from the property lines. The City’s Building Bylaw lets a shed up to 10 m² (108 square feet) go up without a building permit, but the zoning rules on height and setbacks still apply. This page pulls the figures from the City’s own bylaws for a single-family lot, with clause numbers so each one can be checked.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Maple Ridge?
- A shed with a floor area not exceeding 10 m² (108 square feet) can be built without a building permit (Building Bylaw 8097-2026, s.10.6(e)).
- Even then, it must follow the Building Code, the zoning setbacks and height limit, and any electrical, plumbing or gas work needs its own permit.
- A shed over 10 m² needs a building permit. A prefabricated structure over 10 m² also needs a sealed engineer’s letter (Accessory Building Guide).
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (consolidated to 28 July 2026); Building Bylaw 8097-2026. |
|---|---|
| Permit-free size | Floor area not exceeding 10 m² (108 square feet), Building Bylaw s.10.6(e). The City’s building permits web page says a permit is needed for structures “over 100 square feet” (9.3 m²). The bylaw is the enacted text, so this page uses 10 m². |
| How area is measured | The building bylaw says “floor area” (s.10.6(e)) and does not define it further. Zoning lot coverage is measured to the outermost walls or posts and excludes eaves and roof overhang (Zoning Bylaw, definition of Lot Coverage). |
| Conditions that still apply | An exempt shed must comply with the Building Code, the bylaw and all other City bylaws (s.10.6(e)). Electrical, plumbing and gas permits are still required (Accessory Building Guide, page 2). Whether a hazard or dwelling use removes the exemption is not stated in the bylaw text. |
| Zoning check without a permit | Not confirmed as a formal step. The City’s guide points owners to Planning (604-467-7341) for zoning, watercourse and covenant questions. |
| Total accessory area | No separate cap found for residential accessory buildings. All buildings together may cover 40% of an RS-1 lot (s.605.6(1)). The 15% / 279 m² cap in s.401.4(2) does not apply to accessory buildings to a residential use. |
| Maximum height | 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in RS-1 (s.605.8(2)). Height is measured to the highest point if the roof is flat or under a 4:12 pitch, and to the roof mid-point if the pitch is 4:12 or steeper (s.403.4(2)). |
| Rear setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (s.605.7(2)(b)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (s.605.7(2)(c)). |
| Exterior side setback | 3.0 m (9.8 feet) (s.605.7(2)(d)). |
| Front yard | 7.5 m (24.6 feet) from the front lot line in RS-1 (s.605.7(2)(a)). RS-1b is 6.0 m, RS-1c is 9.0 m and RS-1d is 3.0 m. |
| Separation from the house | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) from the building face of a residential building (s.605.7(2)(e)). |
| Zones covered | RS-1 read in full (s.605). RS-1a, RS-1b, RS-1c and RS-1d use the same 1.5 m rear and side setbacks, 3.0 m exterior side setback and 4.5 m height. RS-2 (s.610) and RS-3 (s.611) allow 6.0 m height with a 7.5 m front setback. Other zones were not checked. |
| Building permit fee | Plan application fee $180.25, plus $154.50 for the first $5,000 of construction value and $14.16 per extra $1,000 up to $25,000, before tax (Fees & Charges Bylaw 7575-2019, Schedule A, consolidated 15 May 2026). Sheds within the permit-free size do not need one. |
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 with a building area under 10 m² that don’t create a hazard. This wording is verified from a BC Building Code Appeal Board decision. The Code doesn’t define “hazard,” so the local building official decides. Where a city’s documents are silent, this provincial rule is the default, but a city can be stricter. On this page, the 10 m² permit-free figure comes from Maple Ridge’s own Building Bylaw (s.10.6(e)), and the height and setback figures come from its Zoning Bylaw.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, setbacks and lot coverage still apply to a permit-free shed.
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs an electrical permit. Technical Safety BC regulates this work: Technical Safety BC.
- Use: a shed can’t be used as a bedroom, dwelling or office space without the right approvals.
- Easements, covenants, streams and flood or slope areas can limit where a shed can go, whatever its size.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether a hazard, or electrical or plumbing work, removes the 10 m² exemption. The bylaw text doesn’t say.
- Whether a site plan or zoning sign-off is needed for a permit-free shed.
- The setback from a lane.
- Which fee line applies to a small accessory building, since the fee schedule has no shed-specific line.
- The gap between the bylaw (10 m²) and the City’s web page (100 square feet, or 9.3 m²).
Who to contact
Maple Ridge Building Department: 604-467-7311. Planning (zoning questions): 604-467-7341. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a 10 m² shed in Maple Ridge?
The Building Bylaw says sheds not exceeding 10 m² (108 square feet) of floor area can be built without a permit. The City’s web page uses 100 square feet (9.3 m²), so a shed between those two sizes is worth confirming with the Building Department.
How close to the fence can a shed go?
In the RS-1 zone, an accessory building must be at least 1.5 m (4.9 feet) from the rear and interior side lot lines, and 3.0 m (9.8 feet) from a side lot line facing a street.
How tall can a backyard shed be?
The limit is 4.5 m (14.8 feet) in RS-1, measured to the highest point on a flat or low-slope roof, or to the roof mid-point on a roof of 4:12 or steeper.
Can a shed go in the front yard?
In RS-1, accessory buildings must be set back 7.5 m (24.6 feet) from the front lot line, which in practice keeps them behind the front of the lot. Other zones use different front setbacks.
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 Maple Ridge before building.