Port Moody exempts small accessory buildings from its building bylaw, but the zoning bylaw still controls where a shed can go and how big it can be. This guide covers the rules for a typical single-family lot in the RS1 zone. It explains the permit threshold, the size and height limits, and the setbacks from each property line and from the house.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Port Moody?
- Under 10 m² (108 square feet) of floor area, the building bylaw doesn’t apply, so no building permit is needed.
- At 10 m² or more, a building permit is required, and the shed can be up to 65 m² in RS1.
- A small shed still has to follow the zoning rules for its zone, including setbacks and the 2.0 m gap from the house.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 2018 No. 2937 (consolidated for convenience, amendments to July 2026); Building Bylaw 2019 No. 3200 |
|---|---|
| Permit exemption | Building Bylaw 3200, clause 5.3(b): the bylaw doesn’t apply to “an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres” |
| How area is measured | Building Bylaw 3200 doesn’t say. The zoning bylaw measures “Floor Area” from the outside of the exterior walls, which is the likely method but isn’t stated for the permit test. |
| Small second building | Zoning clause 5.2.2(d): a second building under 10.0 m² in a residential zone isn’t counted as an accessory building, but it must follow all development regulations for its zone |
| Maximum accessory area | 65 m² (700 square feet) for accessory buildings in RS1 (clause 8.4.3(c)(ii)). Total lot coverage for all buildings is 40% (clause 8.4.3(c)(i)). |
| Maximum height | 3.7 m (12.1 feet) for a flat roof; 4.5 m (14.8 feet) for a roof with a slope over 3:12, measured to the highest point (clause 8.4.3(b)(ii)) |
| Rear setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (clause 8.4.3(f)(ii)) |
| Interior side setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (clause 8.4.3(e)(i)) |
| Exterior side setback | 3.0 m (9.8 feet) (clause 8.4.3(e)(ii)) |
| Front yard | Must be located behind the front building face (clauses 8.4.3(d)(ii) and 8.4.7(b)). Only a garbage enclosure under 10 m² may go in the front yard (clause 5.3.2(b)(iv)). |
| Distance from the house | 2.0 m (6.6 feet) between buildings (clause 8.4.3(g)(ii)) |
| Zones covered | Figures are for RS1. RS1-S allows 45% coverage and a 0.9 m accessory side setback (clause 8.5.3). RS2 caps accessory height at 4.0 m with 1.5 m rear and side setbacks (clause 8.6.3). Small-scale multi-unit housing lots in RS1 have a 4.0 m accessory height (clause 8.4.4). Other zones weren’t fully checked. |
| Permit fee | Fees Bylaw 2025 No. 3524: construction value of $0 to $5,000 has a minimum permit fee of $178.60. From $5,001 to $20,000 it’s $178.60 plus $24.69 per $1,000 or part over $5,000. |
| 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 10 m² permit exemption comes from Port Moody’s own Building Bylaw 3200, which matches the provincial figure, and the setback, height and area numbers come from the city’s zoning bylaw.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: the height, setback, front-yard and 2.0 m separation rules apply to every shed, even one under 10 m².
- Electrical: wiring a shed usually needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC. Port Moody’s building page says the city doesn’t issue gas or electrical permits.
- Use as an office or bedroom: the zoning bylaw treats a home office as a “Home Occupation” use, which may be carried out in a permitted accessory building, so check the conditions before setting one up.
- Easements and covenants: a registered easement or covenant on the property title can limit where anything may be built, so check the title first.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether hazards, electrical work, plumbing or use as a dwelling remove the under-10 m² exemption isn’t stated in the bylaw clause.
- How floor area is measured for the permit exemption isn’t defined in the building bylaw.
- Whether a site plan is required for a shed that doesn’t need a permit isn’t stated.
- It isn’t clear whether the zoning bylaw’s allowance for eaves to project into setbacks applies to sheds, since the wording refers to the principal building.
- The height rule for a roof slope of exactly 3:12 is unclear, and RS3 and later RS zones, RT zones and site-specific lots weren’t checked.
- The fee table is based on construction value only, so the fee class for a shed isn’t confirmed.
Who to contact
City of Port Moody Building Division: 604-469-4534. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
Does an 8 by 10 foot shed need a permit in Port Moody?
An 8 by 10 foot shed is 80 square feet, about 7.4 m², which is under the 10 m² threshold in Building Bylaw 3200. No building permit is needed, but the shed must still meet the zoning setbacks and sit behind the front of the house.
How far must a shed be from the house?
The RS1 zone requires 2.0 m (6.6 feet) between an accessory building and other buildings (clause 8.4.3(g)(ii)). Because a second building under 10 m² must still follow the zone’s development regulations, plan on that gap for small sheds too.
Can a shed go in the front yard?
No. In RS1, accessory buildings must be behind the front building face. The only front-yard exception in the bylaw is a garbage enclosure under 10 m².
How large and tall can a shed be?
In RS1, accessory buildings can total up to 65 m² (700 square feet) and reach 3.7 m (12.1 feet) with a flat roof or 4.5 m (14.8 feet) with a pitched roof over 3:12. Other zones, such as RS2, have different height limits.
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 Moody before building.