Richmond lets a homeowner build one small storage shed under 10 m² (108 square feet) without a building permit, as long as it has no mechanical services. The shed still has to follow the Zoning Bylaw, which keeps backyard buildings in the rear yard, caps their height, and sets setbacks of 1.2 m (4 feet) for most sheds. This page lists the figures from Richmond’s own bylaws and bulletins, and notes the few that couldn’t be confirmed.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Richmond?
- No building permit is needed for one storage building under 10 m² (108 square feet) with no mechanical services.
- A building permit is needed at 10 m² or more, or if the shed contains operating mechanical equipment.
- Zoning still applies: the location has to meet the Zoning Bylaw, and the shed can’t be used as a dwelling.
| Bylaws | Zoning Bylaw 8500 s. 4.7.7, 4.8A.7, 4.8A.9, 4.14 and 8.1.5 (RS1); Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 cl. 5.1.2 |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | No building permit for a single storage building less than 10 m² in area with no mechanical services (Bylaw 7230 cl. 5.1.2). Richmond’s FAQ says one accessory building under 10 m². |
| How area is measured | Bylaw 7230 says “area”; the Zoning Bylaw uses “floor area” at the 10.0 m² mark (4.14.4, 4.8A.9). How roof overhangs count: Not confirmed. |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | Mechanical services (Bylaw 7230 cl. 5.1.2); the FAQ says operating mechanical equipment. An accessory building can’t be used as a dwelling unit (Zoning 4.14.2). |
| Zoning check without a permit | The location must conform to the Zoning Bylaw (Richmond FAQ). Whether a site plan or zoning check is required: Not confirmed. |
| Maximum accessory area | Each detached accessory building up to 70 m², and all of them together no more than 40% of the rear yard (Zoning 4.7.7(a)). RS1 lot coverage is 45% for buildings (8.1.5.1). |
| Maximum height | Under 10 m²: 3.0 m (10 feet) pitched, 2.5 m (8 feet) flat. Over 10 m²: 4.0 m (13 feet) pitched, 3.0 m (10 feet) flat (Zoning 4.14.4(a),(b)). |
| Rear setback | 1.2 m (4 feet) if the wall length is 6 m or less; 2.4 m (8 feet) if longer (Zoning 4.7.7(f)) |
| Interior side setback | 1.2 m (4 feet) if the wall is 6 m or less; 2.4 m (8 feet) if longer, for a side line not on a road (Zoning 4.7.7(f)) |
| Exterior side setback | More than 3.0 m (10 feet) on lots 12.5 m wide or less; more than 4.5 m (15 feet) on lots 12.5 to 15.5 m wide; more than 7.5 m (25 feet) on lots wider than 15.5 m (Zoning 4.7.7(c)-(e)) |
| Front yard | In the rear yard and more than 20.0 m (66 feet) from the front lot line (Zoning 4.7.7(b)). Section 4.8A.9(a) also allows a detached accessory building of 10 m² or less in the rear yard. |
| Separation from the house | Not confirmed for RS1/E. Section 4.8A.7 lets a building of 10 m² or less sit in a required building separation, but it can reduce that separation by no more than 20%. |
| Zones covered | Section 4.7.7 applies “unless otherwise specified in a zone”; RS1 (s. 8.1) used for lot coverage. Other zones differ (for example AG1 allows 70 m² per accessory building). |
| Permit fee | Under 10 m² exempt. Over 10 m² (Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, October 2024 text): minimum $94.25 plus $15.25 per $1,000 over $1,000, a plan processing fee (minimum $83.75), and a $202 inspection charge. Current-year fees not confirmed. |
| Phone | 604-276-4118 (Building Approvals general inquiries) |
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, and because “hazard” isn’t defined, the local building official decides. Where a city’s own documents are silent, the provincial rule is the default, but a city may be stricter; on this page the permit figure comes from Richmond’s own Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 (which adds the no-mechanical-services condition), and the size, height and setback figures come from Richmond’s Zoning Bylaw 8500.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, setbacks, location and area limits apply to every shed, permit or not.
- Electrical: wiring a shed can need a separate permit through Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: Richmond’s Zoning Bylaw doesn’t allow an accessory building to be used as a dwelling unit, and a building with mechanical services needs a permit.
- Easements and rights-of-way: a shed can’t sit on a utility easement or right-of-way, so check the title for one before building.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether a site plan or zoning check is required when no permit is needed.
- The required distance between a shed and the house in a typical RS1 lot.
- How roof overhangs are counted toward the 10 m² limit.
- Current-year permit fees; the fee figures above come from an October 2024 version of the fee bylaw.
Who to contact
Richmond Building Approvals can be reached at 604-276-4118 (general inquiries). Official documents used:
- Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 Section 4 (PDF)
- Richmond Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 (PDF)
- Richmond Building Approvals FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be in Richmond without a permit?
Under 10 m² (108 square feet), as a single storage building with no mechanical services (Bylaw 7230 cl. 5.1.2).
How tall can a shed be in Richmond?
For a shed under 10 m², 3.0 m (10 feet) to the ridge with a pitched roof or 2.5 m (8 feet) with a flat roof. Over 10 m², the limits are 4.0 m (13 feet) pitched and 3.0 m (10 feet) flat.
How far from the property line does a shed need to be in Richmond?
For a wall length of 6 m or less, 1.2 m (4 feet) from the rear line and from a side line not on a road. For a longer wall, 2.4 m (8 feet).
Can a shed go in the front yard in Richmond?
No. Detached accessory buildings go in the rear yard, more than 20.0 m (66 feet) from the front lot line (Zoning 4.7.7).
For province-wide context, 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 Richmond before building.