Pitt Meadows sets clear limits on how big, how tall and how close to the lot lines a backyard shed can be, but the City’s documents don’t state a shed size below which a building permit isn’t needed. This page lists the figures that are confirmed in the Zoning Bylaw, with clause numbers, and flags the ones that still need a call to the Building Division.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Pitt Meadows?
- The size below which a shed needs no permit is not stated in the City’s Building Bylaw 2131 or on its permit pages. Check with the Building Division before building.
- The Building Bylaw requires a permit to construct a building and exempts only what the BC Building Code exempts (s.5.2, s.8.1).
- Zoning applies either way: 4 m maximum height, setbacks from the lot lines, and no more than two accessory buildings per lot.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 2505, 2011 (consolidated version), s.4.13 and zone sections; Building Bylaw 2131, 2003 (consolidated version), s.5.2 and s.8.1. |
|---|---|
| Permit-free size | Not confirmed. Bylaw 2131 has no shed-size exemption. s.5.2 only exempts what BC Building Code Division A Part 1 exempts, and s.8.1 requires a permit before constructing a building. |
| How area is measured | Not confirmed for permits. Zoning s.4.13(e) caps accessory building lot coverage at 46 m² (100 m² in the A and RR zones). |
| Conditions that still apply | Not confirmed. The City’s accessory building checklist lists structural plans, geotechnical items, septic filing and covenants where they apply. |
| Zoning check without a permit | Not confirmed. Zoning s.4.13(i) says no lot-line setback applies to an accessory building under 10 m², in the rear yard, and no higher than 2 m, so zoning still has to be checked. |
| Total accessory area | 46 m² (495 square feet) of accessory building coverage (s.4.13(e)); no more than two accessory buildings per lot (s.4.13(b)). The RS zone caps all buildings at 30% of the lot (s.10.1.4(a)). |
| Maximum height | 4 m (13.1 feet) (s.4.13(d)); 9 m in the A and RR zones. The bylaw does not separate flat and pitched roofs. |
| Rear setback | 1.2 m (3.9 feet) for buildings of 10 m² or more (s.4.13(f)). None for a rear-yard building under 10 m² and no higher than 2 m (s.4.13(i)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.2 m (3.9 feet) for buildings of 10 m² or more (s.4.13(f)); same under-10 m² exception (s.4.13(i)). |
| Exterior side setback | 3 m (9.8 feet) from a lot line next to a road for buildings of 10 m² or more (s.4.13(f)). s.4.13(d) also says not less than the principal building setback (4 m in the RS zone, s.10.1.5(a)). The two clauses are not reconciled, so confirm. |
| Front yard | Buildings of 10 m² or more must be in the rear yard (s.4.13(f)). All accessory buildings must be at least the principal building’s front setback from the front lot line (s.4.13(d); 7.5 m in the RS zone, s.10.1.5(a)). A separate rule for buildings under 10 m² is not stated. |
| Separation from the house | Not confirmed. No separation distance was found. A structure joined to the house by a continuous foundation, wall or roof is treated as part of the house (s.4.13(c)). |
| Zones covered | s.4.13 applies to agricultural, residential and CD zones that allow homes. The RS zone (s.10.1: 30% lot coverage, 7.5 m front and rear, 4 m exterior side) and the R-3 and R-4 zones (5.5 m front, 1.8 m exterior side) were read. Multi-family zones differ. |
| Building permit fee | 1.0% of construction value ($10 per $1,000) for residential work including garages (Bylaw 2131, Schedule 1(b)); minimum permit fee $100 and application fee $100 (Schedule 1(l),(m)). The fee is doubled, up to $2,500, if work starts without a permit (Schedule 1(o)). |
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. In Pitt Meadows, the City’s documents are silent on a shed size threshold, so the 10 m² provincial rule is only the starting point and has not been confirmed by the City. The height, area and setback figures on this page come from the City’s Zoning Bylaw.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, setbacks, the two-building limit and lot coverage apply to every 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, watercourse setbacks and flood-plain rules can limit where a shed can go.
What isn’t confirmed
- The shed size below which no building permit is needed, and what removes that exemption.
- How the exterior side setback works, since two clauses give different answers (3 m, or the 4 m principal setback).
- Whether a shed under 10 m² can sit in the front yard once the setback is met.
- How far a shed must be from the house.
- Lane setbacks, and rules for zones other than RS, R-3 and R-4.
Who to contact
Pitt Meadows Building Division: 604-465-2428, building@pittmeadows.ca. Official documents used for this page:
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (Consolidated)
- Building Bylaw No. 2131, 2003 (Consolidated)
- Accessory Building Checklist
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a building permit for a small shed in Pitt Meadows?
The City’s documents don’t give a size below which a permit isn’t needed. The Building Bylaw requires a permit for construction and exempts only what the BC Building Code exempts, so call the Building Division on 604-465-2428 before building.
How many sheds can be on one lot?
Accessory residential buildings and structures are limited to two per lot unless the zone says otherwise (Zoning Bylaw s.4.13(b)).
How tall and how large can a shed be?
Accessory buildings can be up to 4 m (13.1 feet) high and cover up to 46 m² (495 square feet) in most residential zones (s.4.13(d),(e)). The A and RR rural zones allow 9 m and 100 m².
How far from the property line does a shed need to be?
A shed of 10 m² or more must be in the rear yard and at least 1.2 m (3.9 feet) from the rear and side lot lines, or 3 m (9.8 feet) from a lot line next to a road (s.4.13(f)). A rear-yard shed under 10 m² and no higher than 2 m has no lot-line setback (s.4.13(i)).
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 Pitt Meadows before building.