Parksville’s Building Bylaw No. 1387 doesn’t apply to a one-storey building under 10 m² (108 square feet) that is accessory to a single dwelling unit, so a small backyard shed usually needs no building permit. The City’s Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 2000 still controls height, setbacks and lot coverage. The figures below are for the RS-1 (Single Family Residential) zone, with RS-2 and SLR-1 differences noted, and the City’s online bylaw copies are consolidations marked unofficial.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Parksville?
- No building permit is needed for a one-storey building under 10 m² (108 square feet) that is accessory to a single dwelling.
- Zoning still applies: in RS-1, an accessory building can be up to 5.0 m (16.4 feet) tall, 1.2 m (4 feet) from the rear line and 0.6 m (2 feet) from an interior side line.
- Larger buildings need a permit applied for with a BC Land Surveyor site plan,.
| Zoning bylaw | Zoning and Development Bylaw 1994 No. 2000: RS-1 s.202, RS-2 s.203, SLR-1 s.249, accessory buildings s.609; the consolidation used runs to 29 July 2026 and includes Bylaw 2000.148 |
|---|---|
| Building bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 1387 (consolidated to Bylaw 1515). Section 3(b)(ii) says the bylaw doesn’t apply to “a one storey building that is less than 10 m2 in floor area, accessory to a single dwelling unit”. Section 3(b)(i) also exempts buildings the Building Code exempts. The City’s 2020 Building Permits brochure says exemptions may apply to structures under 10 m². |
| How area is measured | “Floor area” in the building bylaw. Zoning defines gross floor area to the outside face of exterior walls, excluding parking. Roof overhang treatment isn’t stated. |
| Max total area | RS-1 and RS-2: no cap on accessory area, but maximum lot coverage 33% applies (s.202.6). SLR-1: 90 m² (969 square feet) combined accessory floor area (s.249). |
| Max height | 5.0 m (16.4 feet) for accessory buildings (s.202.2, s.203.2). Flat roofs are measured to the highest point of an exterior wall; gable, hip and gambrel roofs to the average level between eaves and ridge. |
| Rear setback | 1.2 m (4 feet) in RS-1 (s.202.3), RS-2 (s.203.3) and SLR-1 (s.249.6) |
| Interior side setback | RS-1 and RS-2: 0.6 m (2 feet) (s.202.3, s.203.3). SLR-1: 1.0 m (3 feet 3 inches) (s.249.6). |
| Exterior side setback | RS-1: 4.5 m (14.8 feet) (s.202.3). RS-2: 3.0 m (9.8 feet) (s.203.3). SLR-1: 3.5 m (11.5 feet) (s.249.6). |
| Front yard | Front lot line setback for accessory buildings is 4.5 m (14.8 feet). RS-2 also requires accessory buildings to sit behind the front face of the house (s.203.3(a)). |
| Separation from house | RS-2: at least 3.0 m (9.8 feet) from any part of the principal building (s.203.3(a)). RS-1 and SLR-1 state no separation for accessory buildings; their 3.0 m rule applies between single family buildings. |
| Zones covered | RS-1 (s.202), RS-2 (s.203) and SLR-1 Small Lot Residential (s.249). Other zones weren’t read. |
| Permit fee | Fees Bylaw 1515, Schedule B: $100 for the first $1,000 of value plus $7.30 per $1,000 up to $100,000, plus a $35 file fee. City examples: $10,000 of value is $165.70 and $20,000 is $238.70. Plumbing is $10 for the first fixture and $5 for each additional one. |
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, but “hazard” isn’t defined and the local building official decides. The 10 m² permit figure on this page comes from Parksville’s own Building Bylaw No. 1387, s.3(b)(ii), which matches the provincial size but adds one-storey and single-dwelling conditions (and s.3(b)(i) also exempts whatever the Building Code exempts), so the City may be stricter than the province on a specific site.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: Bylaw 2000 sets height, setbacks and lot coverage for every accessory building, and a principal building must exist or be under construction on the lot (s.609).
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: an accessory building can’t be used as a dwelling, and sleeping or office use can bring it under permit rules.
- Easements and covenants: utility rights-of-way and covenants on title can limit where a shed can go.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether Building Bylaw 1387 was amended after its 2015 consolidation isn’t confirmed. The posted copy was uploaded in 2021 and is “consolidated for convenience”, and the City says its online bylaws aren’t official. The City’s online bylaw copies are consolidations marked unofficial; figures here come from the zoning bylaw consolidated to 29 July 2026.
- Whether a damage deposit applies to accessory buildings isn’t confirmed. It wasn’t found in Building Bylaw 1387 or the City’s Building Permit Fees sheet.
- Whether the building bylaw’s cross-reference to the Building Code matches the numbering in the 2024 Code isn’t confirmed.
- Whether a site plan or zoning check is needed when no permit applies, whether electrical or plumbing removes the exemption, and any setback from a lane weren’t confirmed.
Who to contact
City of Parksville: 250-248-6144 (shown on the City’s fee sheet). Building inspection requests: 250-954-3065 or building@parksville.ca. Official documents used: Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 2000 (Consolidated), Building Bylaw No. 1387 (PDF) and the Building Page.
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be in Parksville without a permit?
Under 10 m² (108 square feet) of floor area, one storey, and accessory to a single dwelling unit (Bylaw 1387, s.3(b)(ii)).
How close to the fence can a shed go in RS-1?
1.2 m (4 feet) from the rear lot line, 0.6 m (2 feet) from an interior side lot line and 4.5 m (14.8 feet) from an exterior side lot line (s.202.3).
How tall can a shed be?
5.0 m (16.4 feet) for accessory buildings. Sloped roofs are measured to the average level between the eaves and the ridge.
How much total accessory space is allowed on a lot?
RS-1 and RS-2 have no cap on accessory area, but total lot coverage is limited to 33%. SLR-1 caps combined accessory floor area at 90 m² (969 square feet).
For province-wide context, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC and Shed Rules by City.
These figures are a general guide checked 26 October 2026, so confirm them with the City of Parksville before building.