The Municipality of North Cowichan sets backyard shed height, setbacks and lot coverage in Zoning Bylaw No. 2950, with different numbers for each residential zone. Its Building Bylaw 3172 defers to the exemptions in Part 1 of the BC Building Code instead of naming a shed size, and its detached garage and accessory building page gives a 10 square metre (108 square feet) permit rule only for kits and pre-assembled structures. Because of that, the permit-free size for a site-built shed is listed as not confirmed. The zoning figures below come from the Municipality’s consolidated bylaw, current to 14 September 2026.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in North Cowichan?
- The Municipality says kits, packages and pre-assembled structures larger than 10 m² (108 square feet) need a building permit. A clear permit-free size for other sheds is not confirmed.
- Call the Building department at 250-746-3105 to confirm before building a shed, especially if it has power or plumbing.
- Zoning applies to every shed: 5 m (16.4 feet) maximum height and at least 1.22 m (4 feet) from the house.
| Zoning bylaw | Municipality of North Cowichan Zoning Bylaw 1997 No. 2950 (current to 14 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Building bylaw | Building Bylaw 3172 (current to 31 October 2025), s.2(2)(a): the bylaw doesn’t apply to buildings exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code |
| Permit threshold | Not confirmed for site-built sheds. The Municipality’s page says kits, packages and pre-assembled structures larger than 10 m² (108 square feet) need a permit. |
| How area is measured | Not confirmed for the permit test |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | Not confirmed. The page says structures with plumbing, gas or electrical connections need a floor plan showing fixtures, and electrical and gas permits come from Technical Safety BC. |
| Max total accessory area | No accessory area cap found. Lot coverage for all buildings: R1 30% (s.56(5)); R2 30%, or 35% with a detached accessory dwelling unit (s.57(5)); R3 30% or 35% depending on lot size (s.58(5)). |
| Max height | 5.0 m (16.4 feet) in R1, R2 and R3 (s.56(7)(b), 57(7)(b), 58(7)(b)). No separate flat and pitched roof limits. |
| Rear setback | R1 3.0 m (9.8 feet), s.56(6)(b). R2 and R3 1.5 m (4.9 feet), s.57(6)(b), 58(6)(b). |
| Side setback | R1 3.0 m (9.8 feet). R2 and R3 1.0 m (3.3 feet). A separate exterior side figure for accessory buildings is not listed. |
| Front yard | R1 and R2 6.0 m (19.7 feet); R3 5.0 m (16.4 feet). No outright front-yard ban found. |
| Distance from house | No accessory building within 1.22 m (4 feet) of any principal building, measured eave to eave (s.16) |
| Zones covered | R1 (s.56), R2 (s.57) and R3 (s.58). Zones such as R1-U, R2-R, R3-R, R3-S and R3-MF use different numbers. Agricultural zones were not collected. |
| Building permit fee | $150 for construction value up to $5,000; $150 plus 1% of construction value above that. Double the fee if work starts without a permit (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, Schedule C). |
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, North Cowichan’s Building Bylaw 3172 points to the Code’s exemptions without naming a size, so the provincial rule is the default for site-built sheds, and the height, setback and coverage figures come from the Municipality’s Zoning Bylaw No. 2950.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: setbacks, height, spacing from the house and lot coverage limits apply to every shed, and the Municipality requires a Planning Compliance Form with building permit applications.
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs a permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: a shed used as an office or dwelling falls under different rules, so check with the Municipality before changing its use.
- Easements, covenants and development permit areas: a shed can’t sit on a right-of-way or easement, and properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve or a development permit area may have extra requirements.
What isn’t confirmed
- The size below which a site-built shed needs no building permit. Only the kit and pre-assembled rule (over 10 m²) is stated, and the Building Bylaw points to the BC Building Code, which was not read for this page.
- How area is measured, and which conditions (hazard, services) remove an exemption.
- Whether a site plan or planning check is needed for a shed that doesn’t need a permit.
- A cap on total accessory area, a separate exterior side setback for accessory buildings, any lane setback, and separate flat and pitched roof height limits. None were found.
Who to contact
Municipality of North Cowichan, Building: 250-746-3105. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
Does a backyard shed need a permit in North Cowichan?
It depends on the shed. Kits and pre-assembled sheds larger than 10 m² (108 square feet) need one, and for other sheds the exact size isn’t confirmed, so call 250-746-3105.
How close to the lot line can a shed go?
In R1 the shed needs 3 m (9.8 feet) at the side and rear. In R2 and R3 it needs 1 m (3.3 feet) at the side and 1.5 m (4.9 feet) at the rear.
How tall can a shed be?
Accessory buildings in R1, R2 and R3 can be up to 5.0 m (16.4 feet) tall, measured from grade to the highest point.
How far must a shed be from the house?
At least 1.22 m (4 feet) from any principal building, measured from eave to eave under zoning section 16.
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 Municipality of North Cowichan before building.