Port Coquitlam doesn’t publish one simple shed rule sheet, so the details are spread across the zoning bylaw, the building bylaw and a city permit page. This guide pulls them together for a typical single-family lot in the RS1 zone. It covers when a building permit is needed, how large and tall a backyard shed can be, and how far it has to sit from the property lines.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Port Coquitlam?
- Up to about 9.3 m² (100 square feet), the city’s page says a building permit isn’t required, but zoning rules still apply.
- Over that size, or if the city considers the building a hazard, a building permit is required before construction starts.
- Permit or not, the shed must stay behind the front setback, keep 1.2 m from the rear line, and fit inside the 12% or 90 m² area cap.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 2008 No. 3630, Section III clause 2 (Accessory Residential Buildings); Building and Plumbing Bylaw 2009 No. 3710, clause 5.2 |
|---|---|
| Permit size limit | City page: a permit is required for an accessory building over 100 square feet (9.3 m²) or one considered a hazard. Bylaw 3710 clause 5.2 only defers to Part 1 of the BC Building Code and gives no number. |
| How area is measured | Not confirmed for the permit test. The zoning bylaw defines “floor area, interior” as measured to the inside of the walls. |
| Maximum total area | Lesser of 12% of the lot area or 90 m² (969 square feet), all detached accessory buildings combined (clause 2.5). Total lot coverage in RS1 is 50% (Table 2.4). |
| Maximum building depth | 7.5 m (24.6 feet) (clause 2.6) |
| Maximum height | 3 m (9.8 feet) for a flat roof or a pitched roof under 4:12 (clause 2.7.1); 4.2 m (13.8 feet) at 4:12 to under 5:12; 4.5 m (14.8 feet) at 5:12 to under 6:12; 4.8 m (15.7 feet) at 6:12 or steeper (clauses 2.7.2 to 2.7.4) |
| Rear / lane setback | 1.2 m (4 feet); eaves and gutters may project an extra 0.6 m (clause 2.8.1) |
| Interior side setback | 1.2 m (4 feet) in RS1 (clause 2.8.4 and Table 2.4) |
| Exterior side setback | 2.4 m (7.9 feet) in RS1 (clause 2.8.4 and Table 2.4) |
| Front yard | Not allowed within the zone’s front setback area, which is 6.0 m in RS1 (4.0 m if the lot has lane access, rear-only parking, or is within 400 m of a bus stop) (clause 2.8.3). Nothing within a 5 m triangle at lane and street corners (clause 2.8.2). |
| Distance from the house | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) if the shed is over 10 m². Nothing is stated for smaller sheds (clause 2.8.5). |
| Plumbing and use | No sleeping or living in it (clause 2.3). A sink and toilet are allowed in A and RS zones, but not a shower or bathtub (clause 2.4). |
| Zones covered | Figures are for RS1. The 12% or 90 m² cap applies in A and RS zones. RS2, RS3 and RS4 use the same side and rear numbers in Table 2.4. RT, RD and RA zones weren’t checked. |
| Permit fee | Fees and Charges Bylaw 4415, Schedule E, Table 1: construction value up to $5,000 is $120 at application. From $5,000.01 to $50,000 it’s 0.8% of value plus $20, charged at application and again at issuance. |
| Site plan without a permit | Not confirmed |
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 of less than 10 m² in building area that don’t create a hazard, and “hazard” isn’t defined, so the local building official decides; where a city’s own documents are silent, that provincial rule is the default, though the city may be stricter. On this page, the permit-size figure (100 square feet) comes from Port Coquitlam’s own permit page, while the setback, height and area figures come from the city’s zoning bylaw, not from the provincial Code.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: the setback, height, area and front-yard rules above apply to every shed, including ones too small for a permit.
- Electrical: wiring a shed usually needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC, even when no building permit is needed.
- Use as an office or bedroom: the bylaw bars anyone from using an accessory building for human habitation (clause 2.3), so a shed can’t be set up as a bedroom or suite.
- Easements and covenants: the city tells owners to check the property title for easements, rights-of-way and covenants before building, since these can limit where a shed may go.
What isn’t confirmed
- The 100 square foot permit limit appears only on the city’s web page. The building bylaw itself gives no size number.
- How the city measures a shed’s size for the permit test isn’t stated.
- Whether a site plan or zoning check is needed for a shed that doesn’t require a permit isn’t stated.
- Which electrical or plumbing features would trigger a permit isn’t spelled out.
- The zoning table says RS setbacks are measured to the principal building only, and it isn’t clear whether that affects sheds.
- Rules for RT, RD and A zones weren’t checked. The city’s page says setbacks are measured to the roof overhang, while the bylaw lets eaves project 0.6 m into the setback, so measuring to the overhang is the safer choice.
Who to contact
City of Port Coquitlam Building Division: 604-927-5444. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
Does a 10 by 10 foot shed need a permit in Port Coquitlam?
A 10 by 10 foot shed is exactly 100 square feet. The city’s page requires a permit for buildings over 100 square feet, so it sits right on the line, and a quick call to the Building Division before ordering is a smart move.
How close to the back fence can a shed go?
The zoning bylaw sets 1.2 m (4 feet) from the rear property line or lane. It lets eaves and gutters stick out 0.6 m into that gap, but the city’s page says to measure to the overhang, so measuring to the overhang is the safer choice.
Can a backyard shed have a sink or toilet?
In A and RS zones, an accessory building may hold a sink and a toilet, but not a shower or bathtub, and nobody may live in it (clauses 2.3 and 2.4). The city lists plumbing among the work that needs a permit, so check before adding fixtures.
How tall can a shed be?
A flat roof, or a pitched roof under 4:12, is capped at 3 m (9.8 feet). Steeper pitched roofs can go up to 4.8 m (15.7 feet) at 6:12 or more, measured to the peak (clause 2.7).
For the provincial picture, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC, and compare nearby cities on Shed Rules by City.
The figures on this page are a general guide, checked 26 October 2026. Always confirm with the City of Port Coquitlam before building.